On May 9 the Hampshire Chronicle editorial was concerned about the Liberal Democrat majority of 33 out of 45 seats on Eastleigh Council and the lack of open discussion about finances and services as a result of this majority.

I am also concerned having read Tim Edgeley’s report in the Daily Echo (January 16) about Eastleigh. The Department for Levelling Up figures shows that Eastleigh Borough Council currently has a debt of £350,487,000.  That is £350 million

Thus Eastleigh Borough Council has more than £2,500 worth of debt per resident. 

Of this debt, £487,000 is tied up in short-term loans in the household sector, whilst a whopping £350 million is in long-term PWLB (Public Works Loan Board) loans. These are given to local authorities on behalf of the Treasury to fund capital projects.

Taking into account its population of 136,974 people, the research shows that Eastleigh has a debt of £2,559 per resident, twice that of Southampton. 

Southampton has a total debt of £287,897,000, making the total debt per person £1,164. 

New Forest District Council has a debt per person of £671.

Gosport's council has a current debt of £604 per person.

Fareham has a current debt of £417 per person.

Hampshire County residents for all city Council districts have a current debt at £140 for each resident.

Test Valley's is only £49 for each resident. 

Research shows UK councils currently owe a combined £97.8bn to lenders, equivalent to £1,141 per resident, as of September 2023, which is half that of Eastleigh

There is no reason why Eastleigh is so much in debt, it does not have any poor or deprived areas as Southampton does in Totton, Calmore, parts of Bitterne, whom it must borrow for to pay lenders to invest in services in these areas. Eastleigh’s residents are in a higher income bracket than Southampton’s.

I believe that it has arisen as a result of an absence of robust discussion of what debts are being incurred, and how money is being spent.

Rupert Pitt,

St Cross Road,

Winchester

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