COUNCILLORS are being warned to prepare for a local election in Weymouth and Portland 'just in case' a deadline is missed and there's no answer on a local government shake-up.

And it could lead to money being spent on an election in which newly-elected councillors serve for just a year.

It comes as a council chief expresses his 'frustration' about the process in a leaked letter to councillors, which has been passed to the Dorset Echo.

As reported, Weymouth and Portland Borough Council will cease to exist next year if the green light is given to local government reorganisation (LGR) and two new unitary authorities are established.

In November, Communities Secretary Sajid Javid said he was 'minded to' support the Future Dorset submission.

But there has yet to be a final announcement that the government is behind the move.

A third of the borough council is due for re-election in May and the authority may have to proceed with the election if an announcement on LGR isn't made by March 6.

Matt Prosser, Chief Executive of the Dorset Councils Partnership which includes Weymouth and Portland, has given councillors an update.

In a letter he says following a discussion with a government official, it is 'highly unlikely' there will be an announcement this week.

He says: "Whilst final processes have been positive, the final announcement is subject to political sign-off, and then any announcement subject to agreement with any other government communications. Whilst this decision is important to us in Dorset, for government it sits within a raft of other national and international decisions."

Mr Prosser adds: "For Weymouth & Portland members I sought assurance that this delay would not have an impact on the proposal to postpone the 2018 elections in the borough....There is still time for the elections to be postponed, but it will be tight and political groups should prepare for an election just in case.

"This is a hugely frustrating time as the Programme Team is gathering pace without the final announcement. Our local MPs are working hard for us inside government to ensure an announcement is made a quickly as possible now."

In response to questions from the Echo, Mr Prosser said: “Our elections team are fully prepared should we need to hold an election in May 2018, for twelve seats on the borough council.

"We are keeping members updated as soon as information becomes available. Local political groups are aware of the need to be prepared, should a decision not be forthcoming in time to postpone 2018 elections.”

The council said it was unable to say what the bill would be for holding an election because there are "too many variables".