Negotiations between Dorchester town council and the district over assets in the county town have been described as “a tale of truculence and inflexibility.”

Dorchester Mayor, Susie Hosford, said it had become apparent that the district council wanted to keep anything which might make even the slightest profit while they were happy to hand over everything which had a cost.

She was speaking about negotiations over land and property owned by the district council in Dorchester which could be transferred to the town prior to the new unitary Dorset Council coming into being in April next year.

During the debate angry voices were raised about how town councillors felt they had been strung along by the district.

Town policy committee chairman Gareth Jones said the episode had been “a tale of truculence and inflexibility which has proved deeply depressing.”

Town councillors have offered to take over local facilities, such as public loos, but wanted a share of car park income in return, to help pay for the service.

Said Cllr Hosford: “The bottom line is that they want to give away anything which costs them money and keep anything which has an income. They simply won’t have a discussion about sharing car park income…which is already in the unitary council’s budget.”

She said that district negotiators were working on the ‘divide and rule’ principle by talking to each town council separately.

Cllr Alistair Chisholm told the town council policy committee that the district were being unfair: “The way the district council is treating this town is appalling and has been for years.”

Last year’s Mayor Tim Harries said he was fuming about the district council attitude: “They’re the idiots I always thought they were over the last 30 years.”

Town clerk Adrian Stuart warned that if a deal could not be made facilities like the toilets would transfer to the new unitary Dorset Council who, he said, were likely to have more important things to do than operate toilets.

He said another area of concern was the funding which had always been offered by the district council to Dorchester Arts and the Citizens Advice Bureau. He said that is that stopped it would be beyond the ability of the town council to step in and support those organisations.

There are also worries over the redundant All Saints Church in High East Street which is used as a store by the County Museum. Mr Stuart has previously told town councillors that it could not take over the building without a substantial ‘dowry’ to pay for repairs and maintenance.