REDLANDS will be the venue for the first election count of the new Dorset Council when it comes into being next year.

The centre’s two sports halls will also host vote counts for town and parish councils, taking place at the same time in May – but these will not be counted until the following day.

Members of the shadow executive heard in Dorchester on Monday that finding a suitable venue with enough room and car parking for a single count had proved to be a difficult task.

Around eighty seats for the new Dorset unitary council are expected to be contested along with the first ever elections for the new Weymouth Town Council, which is being created at the same time on May 2nd, 2019.

At this stage there are no estimates for how many of the 1,800 town and parish council seats will need to hold an election.

Weymouth councillor Colin Huckle told the meeting he doubted if the venue would be big enough and suggested Weymouth Pavilion as an alternative – but was told that staff were confident the Redlands hub does provide enough space.

Monitoring officer for the council Jonathan Mair said it had been a difficult task to find a suitable venue where a single count could be held: “Officers have been to Redlands and are satisfied that it can work within the space,” he said.

Chief executive Matt Prosser, who is expected to act as Returning Officer, said the current plan was to hold the count for the Dorset Council on the Friday, following the Thursday election, with town and parish councils being counted and declared on Saturday.

Councillors heard that administering the count in one location made the task easier and more secure.