Laura Sharman 14 March 2016

County votes in favour of unitary council

The majority of councillors at Dorset County Council have voted in favour of pushing ahead with a unitary council.

The council will now explore two options of cutting the number of councils from nine to two in Dorset.

The first option is one unitary council for the county and one for Bournemouth and Poole, while the other would see a unitary council set up for for East Dorset, North Dorset, Purbeck, West Dorset and Weymouth and Portland and one for Bournemouth, Poole and Christchurch.

Cllr Robert Gould, leader of Dorset County Council, said: 'We now have a clear consensus around having one, new council serving the whole "shire" Dorset area, with an enhanced role for town and parish councils to deliver local services and strengthen their identity.

'This would simplify the structure of local government for residents, save money and help our case for a really ambitious devolution deal for Dorset.'

The council will now develop a business case for both options, with a public consultation being held in the summer.

SIGN UP
For your free daily news bulletin
Highways jobs

Head of Planning and Coastal Management

East Suffolk Council
£87,358 - £99,018 per annum, plus benefits
Following a restructure which has placed the current postholder in a critically important role East Suffolk
Recuriter: East Suffolk Council

Deputyship Caseworker

Essex County Council
£23344 - £26620 per annum
Deputyship CaseworkerPermanent, Full TimeUp to £24,309 per annumLocation
Recuriter: Essex County Council

Engineer

Bristol City Council
£40,221 - £51,515
As part of a friendly and enthusiastic team, you will play an important role in designing innovative urban transport and public realm projects 100 Temple Street Redcliff Bristol BS1 6AN
Recuriter: Bristol City Council

Intelligence Manager - Quantitative and Qualitative Research

Essex County Council
Up to £69262 per annum
Intelligence Manager - Quantitative and Qualitative ResearchFixed Term, Full Timeup to £69,262 per annumLocation
Recuriter: Essex County Council

Research Strategy and Governance Manager

Essex County Council
Up to £70364 per annum
Research Strategy and Governance ManagerFixed Term, Full Timeup to £70,364 per annumLocation
Recuriter: Essex County Council
Linkedin Banner

Partner Content

Circular highways is a necessity not an aspiration – and it’s within our grasp

Shell is helping power the journey towards a circular paving industry with Shell Bitumen LT R, a new product for roads that uses plastics destined for landfill as part of the additives to make the bitumen.

Support from Effective Energy Group for Local Authorities to Deliver £430m Sustainable Warmth Funded Energy Efficiency Projects

Effective Energy Group is now offering its support to the 40 Local Authorities who have received a share of the £430m to deliver their projects on the ground by surveying properties and installing measures.

Pay.UK – the next step in Bacs’ evolution

Dougie Belmore explains how one of the main interfaces between you and Bacs is about to change.