Cllr Alex Winning gave the resounding confident message following an independent review of the council.
A Local Government Association corporate peer challenge team revisited the authority in November to carry out a progress review 10 months on from they carried out a detailed assessment.
The progress review report said the council had taken significant strides after receiving 11 recommendations.
It highlighted the success of the transformation programme to set a balanced budget in 2025/26 without exceptional financial support and deliver service improvements.
This came following a year in which the authority had to use the flexibilities from government to borrow £18.4million to balance its 2024/25 revenue budget.
The peer challenge team said the transformation work needed to “shift towards innovation”, and a ‘deputy chief executive’ type role could assist with this as well as the council’s corporate functions.
Speaking at cabinet on Tuesday, January 27, Cllr Winning said the report was “pretty unequivocal” in showing the council was improving “rapidly” and building strong foundations for the future of the city.
The Labour leader said: “Tonight’s report should really leave no doubt. We have turned the corner and the city will see the results of that soon if not already.
“The future is looking very bright for Southampton and this authority.”
The progress review said that nearly 70 per cent of the action plan responding to the 11 peer challenge recommendations had been completed.
All of the other actions were under way, with no areas stalled or unaddressed.
Cllr Winning said: “This is a council that really is moving forward with purpose, discipline and determination.”