PORTLAND Town Council has moved one step closer to relocating after a £50,000 payment was agreed.

Members of Weymouth and Portland Borough Council's management committee recently met to discuss the offer.

In return for this sum, Portland Town Council will vacate the council offices in Fortuneswell.

This will allow the town council to relocate to an alternative premises and provide the council with transition funds.

Cllr Jeff Cant, briefholder for finance and assets at the borough council, said an informal meeting took place with Portland Town Council last week to discuss the matter.

He said: "We did reach a sensible compromise which seemed to be good for the town council and its future going forward and the community at large."

The deal is seen as a clean break for both councils. David Brown, head of assets and infrastructure, said both councils could have found themselves involved in a two-year legal battle if a resolution hadn't been found.

A report to councillors suggested the town council could argue it had legal occupancy rights to the building even though the borough owns the building.

The report says: "WPBC might take a view that there is no legal right of occupation, and the PTC might suggest there is.

"If there is a right to occupy then WPBC could not sell with vacant possession. A legal review and potential court debate would be costly to both WPBC and PTC and would be time consuming.

"However even if the basis of occupancy was agreed, there is then the issue of payment for the continued occupancy by WPBC. Would this have to continue?

"There is not a simple clear answer but the historic position is clear.

"Given the lack of certainty, but with the occupancy proving a problem to a vacant possession sale, a compromise offer of payment to the PTC is recommended."

Cllr Ray Nowak, who is also the chairman of Portland Town Council, said it was good to have the report in front of him.

He said: "It's a way of resolving it.

"I think everybody at the town council now saying, 'Let's just put this to bed and get it sorted once and for all.

"The town council is in the process of renting a small office to continue its business. This will go some way towards planning for the future."

Cllr Nowak described the decision as the end of a chapter. He added: "I think the notice to quit was June 6. We are hoping to be out by the end of May."