WEST Dorset District Council has agreed in principle to enter into a tri-council partnership despite reservations by some councillors.

The leader of the council, Robert Gould, faced tough questions from councillors when he put forward the plans at a full council meeting at South Walks House.

Cllr Alistair Chisholm said the report presented to full council, recommending that councillors approve a business case for the decision, was more of a ‘fait accompli’ and had already been decided.

He also asked whether there was enough public support behind the plans.

Cllr Ros Kayes asked if a move towards a unitary authority would be simpler in the long term and avoid more disruption to staff. Concerns were also raised around extra workloads for council staff and the fact that some services provided by North Dorset District Council are done by private contractors.

Despite councillors’ reservations, the recommendations were approved, though five councillors voted against the plans and four abstained. The partnership could save the three councils £6million by 2020.

The creation of a tri-partnership would see a single work-force serving all three authorities.

The tri-partnership would serve more than 235,000 people and cover more than half of Dorset.

In response to Cllr Chisholm, Cllr Ronald Coatsworth said he had had a positive response when he spoke to the people in his ward about the proposals.

“No one has ever said it’s a bad idea. They think it’s a good idea because we need to save money.”

The recommendations did not mean that West Dorset would lose its sovereignty or identity, Cllr Gould said.

l LATER in the meeting it emerged that 35 members of staff have left the employment of West Dorset District and Weymouth and Portland Borough Councils since April this year. This is out of a total of 550 staff.

Chief executive Matt Prosser told councillors exit interviews are being carried out to try to understand the reason or reasons why such a high volume of staff are leaving.