LEADING political scientist Gerry Stoker will be speaking about the future of local government in Dorset next week.

The talk, organised by the 'Uniting the Conurbation' group (UTC), is intended to give their campaign to have Bournemouth, Poole, Christchurch and other towns in the area united under one civic administration a boost.

Professor Stoker, of Southampton University, will speak in Bournemouth about 'The Devolution Revolution' and general changes in national policy and political theory regarding local government organisation.

UTC member and former Bournemouth Council leader Douglas Eyre said: "What we really want to do is promote the discussion, we want people to come along and even if they disagree with our point of view at least we will be discussing the subject."

Mr Eyre said the move was partly prompted by proposals emerging out of the Dorset Local Economic Partnership to have a combined authority above all the existing councils in the county.

"Those of us who remember the days before 1974 remember how difficult it was to reconcile the interests of the rural and urban parts of Dorset," he said.

"We have set out what we think is the case for uniting Bournemouth, Poole and Christchurch councils based on the economic benefits, transport and housing.

"It would also be more democratic than what is currently being proposed."

Mr Eyre added: "I hope we will attract people along on Monday who are interested in the topic.

"The rest of the country is really responding to what the major parties are saying - we have got to have more devolution."

The UTC's campaign to unite 'urban South East Dorset' under one unitary administration began with a meeting in November 2012.

All three councils soon indicated they did not support the idea of a joint authority.

The meeting takes place on Monday, April 13, at 7.30pm in the Wessex Suite of the Wessex Hotel in West Cliff Road.