Asset transfer agreed for Portland Town Council

Her careful reading of a lengthy list of items spotted that a rescue ring relating to the days when Flag Officer Sea Training was based on Portland was to have gone to the new Dorset Council along with a ship's flag from HMS Portland.

Cllr West said the only appropriate place for both would be Portland and succeeded on Thursday evening in persuading borough councillors to back the transfer to the island.

“I'll be celebrating tonight with a tot of rum,” said Cllr West after the meeting.

The items were amongst a list of items which will now transfer to Portland Town Council – although many of the transfers could take a year or more to come about.

Cllr Ray Nowak welcomed the transfers, which will also include playing fields, cemeteries and car parks, as well as the Olympic Rings, but said it was a shame it was all being decided at the last minute.

Cllr Ian Bruce said that the transfer process would not necessarily end with the list before councillors because assets could still be transferred once the new Dorset Council was formed, although he warned that the 16 out of 82 councillors who will represent the area in the future would have to fight for what they wanted.

It had been believed that all assets would automatically switch to the Portland town council in April when the new council structures come into place – but many of the assets will now be operated 'on licence' for a year, until legal transfers are concluded.

Among the changes still to be agreed are whether or not the Portland Town Council could take over the running of the Portland Bill car park toilets in addition to others on the island. The car park itself will go to the new Dorset Council.

Amongst the more unusual items included in the list of objects to be transferred between the councils are a bottle of Calvados, a cannon ball from Louviers, cuff links, a kneeling stool, a wig, a ship's bell from HMS Sandpiper, a bullet case, two sail boats and a picture of Princess Anne.