In response to concerns raised by Cllr David Harris about assets being stripped from Weymouth, Jonathan Mair, Corporate Director - Legal & Democratic Services Monitoring Officer, Dorset Council said: “The Shadow Executive is populated by members of the six existing councils as established by government to oversee the preparations for the new Dorset Council. Dorset Council will be delivering vital public services to all residents across the new council area, as the existing councils do now and we are focused on ensuring assets are distributed appropriately.

"All 172 councillors across the Dorset Area are members of the Shadow Dorset Council which meets throughout the year. Invites have been issued and we are expecting good attendance at our meeting on the 20 February, as we look to set our budget for the new Dorset Council.”

The Shadow Dorset Council is made up of:

* 204 councillor seats (plus 2 vacancies)

* 32 councillors who are both district and county councillors

* 172 individual councillors

The new Dorset Council will have 82 elected members.

A spokesman said: "Officers and members from across county, district and borough council have been working together, to bring the finances for six councils into one new organisation, with one budget, which is estimated to be around £290m."

Portland Mayor Charlie Flack also said that the island is being 'kicked in the teeth' over asset distribution.