Portsmouth has had a council since medieval times, which has been reformed on numerous occasions.

[9] Portsmouth's borough and city statuses and its lord mayoralty were transferred to the reformed district and its council.

This therefore had the effect of restoring the city council to the powers it had held when Portsmouth had been a county borough prior to 1974.

[11] The city remains part of the ceremonial county of Hampshire for the purposes of lieutenancy.

In its capacity as a district council, it is a billing authority, collecting council tax and business rates; processing local planning applications; and it is responsible for housing, waste collection, Trading Standards, and environmental health.

[13] In its capacity as a county council, it is a local education authority, responsible for social services, libraries, and waste disposal.

[15] Political control of the council since the 1974 reforms has been as follows:[16][17] Lower tier non-metropolitan district Unitary authority The role of Lord Mayor of Portsmouth is largely ceremonial.