CONTROVERSIAL plans for a merger between Southampton’s two business voices hang in the balance, the Daily Echo can reveal.

A proposal that the boards of directors behind Business Southampton and the city’s Chamber of Commerce be unified has already been thrashed out.

But a key deadline of March 31 was missed and now the chamber has agreed another merger with its counterparts in Portsmouth and the north of the county, significantly complicating the process.

Meanwhile, port boss Doug Morrison, a founder member of Business Southampton, refused to comment on speculation he was considering pulling docks owner ABP out of the organisation unless it joins forces with its rival.

First suggested in 2008, talks about a merger of the two groups have rumbled on ever since as bosses look to stop competing for members and to cut costs. They took a new turn in March this year, when the pair agreed to formalise discussions, with chamber president Jan Ward and Business Southampton chairman Malcolm Le Bas reportedly even shaking hands on the idea.

The plans now being considered centre on retaining both brands but creating one board of directors to run both.

The 130 member companies of Business Southampton, known as City Champions, are to be quizzed on their views later this month, while the board of the Southampton and Fareham Chamber of Commerce (SFCC) have already agreed it in principle.

Since then, however, the chamber has pressed ahead with separate plans to create one Hampshire Chamber and the Southampton branch is to disappear as a result.

The merger plan is now likely to have to go before a county-board unfamiliar with the situation and focussed on its own internal challenges.

Director general of the SFCC Jimmy Chestnutt said: “The facts are that a working party considered a proposal to produce boards in common so you would have one board made of members of the existing boards that would run both organisations. They would bring the two together and reduce competition. My hope and ambition was that we would effectively merge.

“Originally the deadline was the 31st of March but the dates have slipped. As the days go by more and more responsibility for decision making goes to the Hampshire Chamber.”

Sally Lynskey, chief executive of Business Southampton, said: “Business Southampton’s position is exactly the same as always. We agreed to a joint working party to explore a single vision for Southampton. Those proposals have now been received and are being considered by our board who have asked city champions for their views.

“This process, as has always been the case, will continue until July when a decision will be made.”

The SFCC dates from 1851 and has 1,000 members, from small traders to major companies, paying from £146 to £1,468 a year. Business Southampton today has more than 130 members, who pay up to £30,000 a year.