Meeting documents

The Council considered a report by the Chief Executive in relation to the future of local government in Bournemouth, Dorset and Poole.  The meeting was arranged in response to a formal request from ten County Councillors (Peter Wharf, Paul Kimber, David Harris, William Trite, Steve Butler, Michael Bevan, Janet Dover, Mike Byatt, Daryl Turner and Trevor Jones). Updated Appendices to the report were circulated prior to the meeting.

The Chief Executive introduced the report and explained the rationale for the consideration of future options for Dorset, and that no decisions were being considered at this point.  It was noted that the discussion would enable members to express views at an early stage on potential options based on guidance from the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) and based within existing organisational boundaries.  More detail would be presented to members in due course after the LGA’s financial assessment had been analysed in early April 2016. It was further explained that a detailed financial assessment and a full business case would be required to progress any proposal to change the councils across Dorset, that this could be progressed, if there was an appetite to do so, within the challenging and ambitious timetable detailed within the report and could result in a new structure from 2019.  All principal authorities in Dorset with the exception of East Dorset District Council were committed to exploring options for the whole of the County.  Clarification was provided in relation to the recent formation of a combined authority between all councils in Bournemouth, Dorset and Poole to focus on economic growth at a strategic level.

The Council noted that the key drivers for the exploration of options for the future were the need to provide the best services and outcomes possible for Dorset residents and the imperative to meet the financial challenge of all councils needing to save £100m collectively over the next four years.  A further driver was the introduction of the Cities and Local Government Devolution Act 2016 which brought a simplified process for exploring proposals to change structures through consensus of all parties, ideally within the optimum population size of 300-700k, but also allowed the Secretary of State power to impose change if necessary.  If change was decided upon, there would be considerable consultation and engagement required with the public, communities, town and parish councils, staff and partners to explain the opportunities and risks of making changes to the ways councils operated.  The Council’s duty of care to its residents was also highlighted.

Members shared their views and concerns in relation to the proposals to remain with current structures or to explore options to become a unitary authority or authorities.  Of those present 28 of 39 members took the opportunity to explain their views.  The following themes emerged from the debate:

(a)        The majority of members recognised that in the current financial climate and with the scale of future funding reductions across all tiers, local government had to change.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 33.