Purbeck District Council is to withdraw its opposition to the reorganisation of councils in Dorset.

The district council agreed to write to the Secretary of State to inform him of its decision following a meeting on Tuesday evening.

Previously, in January 2017, the council voted to not support submission to the Secretary of State of a case to change local government in Dorset.

Six other Dorset councils supported the submission and asked the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government to implement a reorganisation by the formation of two unitary councils.

In November 2017, the Secretary of State announced he was minded to implement the proposed reorganisation.

At their December meeting, Councillors raised a number of concerns. After much debate, 19 members agreed with the recommendation to withdraw opposition and five voted against. There was one abstention.

Councillor Gary Suttle, Leader of Purbeck District Council, said: “Our job is to provide services to our residents and maintain those services at a reasonable cost and level of efficiency.

“Councillors have raised concerns tonight, particularly about local representation. 

"Residents deserve the best representation and this will only be achieved if we are part of the process. It is important we join this process so that the voice of our residents can be heard and we can do the very best for Purbeck.”

Although the council had previously not supported the proposal, it recently became a member of a Dorset Area joint committee comprising Dorset councils. 

This has enabled it to participate in discussions about working together on the delivery of services.

Councillor Suttle recently raised a number of concerns with the Chairman of the Dorset Joint Committee, Councillor Rebecca Knox.

The concerns covered harmonisation of council tax; the important role played by town and parish councils; safeguarding existing Local Plans; management of local development; and safeguarding local decision making.
Councillor Knox has given a number of assurances to Councillor Suttle that these are being addressed.

The Secretary of State is accepting representations on his minded to decision until January 8.

After this date, he will make his final decision.

If he reaffirms his decision to support local government reorganisation in Dorset, the new unitary councils will be formed on 1 April 2019.