CALLS from Portland to consider scrapping the town council have failed to get support across the water in Weymouth.

But borough councillors have promised to check out the situation in a year's time after admitting there was something 'very wrong' on the island.

Portland Town Council is funded by a precept paid by islanders although it does not have many powers, and some people still question whether it should continue to operate.

There have been a number of attempts in recent years to get a review of the town council's existence and in May Portlanders narrowly voted to keep it in an election.

Following a similarly narrow vote at the annual Portland town meeting, the borough council's management committee considered a request to undertake a review under the Local Government Act and to consider abolishing the town council.

Former councillor and Portland resident Harry Booth told the management committee: "All I'm asking is for you to set up a review. I'm sure a lot of people will be happy to give the council their views on the town council."

Mr Booth said there was always a shortage of people to stand at town council elections and the situation needed reviewing urgently.

But Coun Chris McGown, who is not a member of the committee, urged councillors to reject calls for a review, saying: "All the information you need is right in front of you. The result of the poll clearly stated that the people of Portland wanted the town council.

"You should be aware there is a lot of misinformation being fed across Portland about the town council."

The borough council's director of tourism and corporate services, Ian Locke, told the management committee that if a review was backed, it could not be carried out for at least a year because of the council's current workload. He also reminded councillors that the government regarded the dissolution of parish and town councils as 'wholly undesirable' unless there was a boundary change.

Coun Howard Legg said it would be a retrograde step to abolish the town council.

Management committee chairman and community leadership brief holder Coun Anne Thomas successfully urged the committee to review the situation in a year's time. She will shortly be holding discussions with Portland town clerk Derek Wolfe and town councillors.