Cllr Judith Smyth who joined forces with other councillors to get the city council’s Cabinet to think again on Victory Energy has responded to last night’s scrutiny meeting decision.

Cllr Smyth said:

“Victory Energy offers the potential of a local authority investment that could generate very good returns at a time when we’ve seen the Tories cut over £78m here in Portsmouth. There are many other benefits including reducing energy consumption, addressing fuel poverty and reducing our carbon footprint. 

The Lib Dem cabinet made a decision in August 2018 to abort the project – at a potential loss to city council reserves of over £3m. Working in the best interests of he city and across party, the Labour Group backed a call to look again at this decision. We saw that the cabinet decision appeared to disregard and misinterpret advice given to PCC by those in the know. 

I am therefore delighted that the scrutiny panel shared our concern and have asked the Cabinet to think again”.

City MP Stephen Morgan added;

“I fully supported the actions of my colleagues on the city council in calling in the administration’s decision on Victory Energy and welcome the scrutiny panel’s decision last night. Up and down our country councils are needing to be creative and invest in new ways to protect public services. 

With the Tories starving local authorities of cash and cutting budgets by over 40%, we must be ambitious in Portsmouth to ensure the services we all rely on continue to be provided. Last night was a set in the right direction after the Lib Dem’s shortsightedness”.