Play areas, allotments, loos, and the operation of the beach and Esplanade are all expected to transfer to the new Weymouth Town Council in April.

But the new council is not expected to get car parks, the Peninsula site, hotels or the harbour.

It is also likely to inherit the existing borough council headquarters in Commercial Road although some space may have to be set aside the Weymouth-based staff working for the new Dorset Council.

Also transferring across will be clocks and monuments, including the Jubilee Clock and the King George III bathing hut. Responsibility for the Weymouth Museum collection will also transfer to the new council.

A report to borough councillors on November 19th lists the likely transfers but warns that there might yet be much to negotiate over whether items are being handed over freehold – or on a long leasehold with a ‘clawback’ arrangement.

The reports says that whatever the management committee decides to do will need to go back to the shadow executive of the Dorset Council for them to confirm with the issue re-emerging at the borough management committee in January 2019 followed by the shadow executive in the same month.

The report also acknowledges that some of the items may not be resolved by the time of local government reorganisation in April 2019.

A similar path will be followed for the transfer of assets to Portland Town Council – also to be considered at the November 19th Weymouth and Portland borough management committee.

The town council will also be looking at allotments, parks, gardens and play areas; all public loos apart from those at Portland Bill; clocks and monuments, civic regalia and the six free car parks on the island. The town council is also asking for the Masonic car park and skate park and the cemetery to be included in the transfer deal although this will be the subject of negotiations.