COUNCIL tax should be equalised across Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole as soon as a new unitary authority is created, a councillor claims.

At present Christchurch residents in Band D pay some £200 a year more than those in the neighbouring boroughs. There remains considerable uncertainty over how long the Government would allow for this to be rectified if the Future Dorset plan is approved.

Christchurch council leader David Flagg made his demand at a meeting of the Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Joint Committee on Friday, which voted to inform the Government that it is planning to achieve tax 'harmonisation' within ten years.

However both Christchurch representatives - Cllr Flagg and Cllr Trish Jamieson - voted against the motion.

"I can't support what is on here this morning, because harmonisation to me means an equal tax banding and precept from day one," he said.

"It is a new unitary authority we are talking about, not Christchurch, Bournemouth and Poole.

"Everyone who lives under that new authority should pay the same council tax for the same services."

The committee heard that five options for equalising council tax across the three boroughs were being considered by a task and finish group headed up by Bournemouth council leader John Beesley.

These could see Band D taxpayers for Poole and Bournemouth pay £29 and £24 extra per year respectively for seven years, while Christchurch residents could save £948 over the same period through their rates being frozen or reduced.

The report to the meeting states: "Harmonisation could be undertaken by the end of year seven."

Bournemouth councillor Mike Greene, a member of the group, told the committee that the wording "within ten years" meant the possibility of day one harmonisation "has not been ruled out".

"Council tax payers in the Christchurch area would see a freeze or reduction in their council tax throughout the harmonisation period, I would be most surprised if any residents did not want to see that," he said.

Poole councillor David Brown said: "At the end of the day the Department for Communities and Local Government will decide that. What is the likelihood that a seven year harmonisation would be acceptable to DCLG?"

Christchurch council strategic director Ian Milner said the Joint Committee had been told the Government expects harmonisation to be completed "within ten years".

However the borough's MP Christopher Chope told the Echo he had been informed five years would be the "absolute maximum" tolerated by the Government. "Up to two years is the maximum that has ever been implemented elsewhere," he said.