DORCHESTER: Council back plans for merger

The proposals would see West Dorset District Council’s workforce join up with Weymouth and Portland Borough council to deliver services across both areas, marking the biggest change to local government in the district for 35 years.

Weymouth and Portland councillors backed the proposals at their Management Committee last week and must now be approved by their full council tonight (July 22nd).

West Dorset councillors heard yesterday how the move, which has not been done anywhere else in the country, would protect and improve services and save around £8.5million over the next five years.

The merger would mean a single officer structure for both councils, including one chief executive and management team instead of the current two.

The joint workforce would deliver services to 162,000 residents, over 6,100 businesses and the millions of visitors to the areas governed by the two councils.

West Dorset District Council Leader Robert Gould said:  “We would continue to be two separate authorities, each setting its own budget and council tax. Both would still be able to deliver the services that local people want in the way that is most appropriate for their area.

”But I believe we will be stronger together - the partnership will give us the opportunity to learn from each other and protect valued local services at a time when our government funding is about to fall significantly.”

“Along with savings already identified by our Efficiency Scrutiny Committee, and those that will result from the move to new offices in Dorchester, the savings arising from partnership working will help West Dorset maintain most services at their current levels.”

The two councils have experience of successfully working together through a pioneering revenues and benefits partnership, where they have improved services and saved £200,000 each year - a saving of £1 million since the partnership began.

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