Javid says Dorset councils merger 'to go ahead'

Local Government Secretary Sajid Javid has announced that plans to replace Dorset's nine councils and create two unitary authorities have been approved.

Subject to Parliamentary approval, the new structure aims to save £108 million over six years and is likely to come into effect from April 2019. Eight of the county's local authorities have voted to support the proposal, with Christchurch council the only authority to oppose it.

Each authority will deliver all local government services in their respective areas. One will cover Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole, and the other will serve the rest of the county. The change is also likely to result in the number of councillors being cut from 331 to about 180.

In a joint comment, the council leaders of Bournemouth, Dorset County, North Dorset, Poole, West Dorset and Weymouth & Portland, East Dorset and Purbeck councils, said: “Now we have received this decision, we can collectively focus our efforts, through the established Joint Committees, on creating two brand new councils. This will be a challenge but we will work hard to ensure our communities receive the services they expect and deserve. This is about so much more than the reorganisation of council structures in Dorset. The opportunity to change the way we provide services will help us save money, give greater accountability to council tax payers and service users, and protect public services for future generations.”

Rebecca Knox, chair of the Dorset Area Joint Committee and leader of Dorset County Council, said: “On behalf of the Dorset Joint Committee I am delighted that we have been given this opportunity to create a new council for the heart of the county across Dorset. It is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to remodel local services with our communities and partners to be responsive, innovative and above all else, efficient and effective.

“As a Joint Committee we have already begun the work needed to take this huge step forward to providing better, joined-up services, that make sense for residents across the breadth of the county area. We have a strong financial case and will take this work forward making clear decisions at our meetings, supported by our task and finish groups. We are committed to building on our positive collective work to develop a thriving economy, support and encourage aspirations for our young people and deliver services that make a positive difference to people’s lives.

“We will work with our colleagues in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole to make sure individuals who rely on our services, staff and services are transferred in a seamless and positive way. “Local Government Reform offers an opportunity to move to shared and collective delivery, with a democratic mandate that can act quickly as we work even more closely with our communities and partners to make sure Dorset is a great place to live and work. The way forward for Dorset will focus on investing in our future, good education, a growing economy and good service delivery. It is what our staff strive to deliver, what our residents need, and why councillors carry out the work they do.”