HAMPSHIRE'S transport chief has quit his role due to negotiations on devolution.

Cllr Seán Woodward, the county council's cabinet lead member on economy, transport and environment has offered to step down from the role.

He said he wanted to avoid any danger of a conflict of interest as talks over a combined authority in Hampshire reach a decisive stage.

Council leader Roy Perry has accepted this offer.

Cllr Woodward, who remains a county councillor for Fareham Sarisbury, is also the leader of Fareham Borough Council.

The issue that prompted such a decision surrounded him making decisions which relate specifically to south Hampshire while also being the leader in Fareham - where the council has given ‘in principle’ support to negotiating on a devolution deal specifically for south Hampshire.

As reported, negotiations over a Hampshire-wide deal to transfer power down from Government to local level were launched two years ago.

But the Government has opted for the Solent area instead after resistance to plans for a mayor from some council leaders.

The area would cover Southampton and Portsmouth city councils, Eastleigh, Gosport, Fareham and Havant borough councils, East Hampshire District Council and the Isle of Wight Council.

That would leave councils such as the county council, New Forest District, Test Valley Borough and Winchester City outside of the deal, but Southampton leader Simon Letts says there would be an opportunity for them to join at a later date.

The deal would give power over £1bn in funding for improving roads, education and housing across Hampshire.

However, no announcement was made in Chancellor George Osborne's budget.

Cllr Perry had led the Hampshire-wide bid but has now criticised the Government for its insistence on a mayor and indicated that the authority would not be involved at this stage.

Though he has not ruled the county council out of any devolution deal in the future.

Cllr Mel Kendal, currently lead member for Income and Capital Receipts will now include Economic Development in his brief, and Cllr Rob Humby, currently Assistant to the Executive - Rural Affairs Champion, will become Executive Member for Environment and Transport.

Cllr Woodward, who has been in the role for three years, said: "Neither I nor the County Council can afford any potential for suggestion that I may favour one part of Hampshire over another -while negotiations are ongoing around a possible devolution deal for South Hampshire - which would involve the new Combined Authority assuming economic development and transport powers."

Leader of Hampshire County Council, Councillor Roy Perry, said he had valued Cllr Woodward's input in his role.

He said: “He and I are agreed however, there must be no opportunity for any misperception that executive members of the county council would have anything other than the interests of the whole of Hampshire at the forefront of their minds when taking executive decisions for the county council.

For this reason, I have agreed that Cllr Woodward should stand down as the Executive Member for Economy, Transport and Environment.

“I continue to be in close dialogue with the Government to see how we might achieve a rational devolution deal for the whole of Hampshire, rather than just a part of the county.”