PLANS to merge Christchurch Borough Council with Bournemouth and Poole would be a ‘suicide mission’, the town’s MP has warned.

Chris Chope has spoken out just days before a crucial eight-week consultation begins over the future of councils in Dorset.

Labelling the consultation process “seriously flawed”, Mr Chope said the “overwhelming view of the councillors individually is in favour of the status quo - no change.”

The consultation on the reorganisation of all councils in Dorset focuses on four options - no change; Bournemouth and Poole as a unitary, with a second unitary for the rest of Dorset; Bournemouth, Poole and Christchurch as a unitary; and Bournemouth, Poole, Christchurch and East Dorset together.

It is due to start on Tuesday, lasting eight weeks.

Speaking to the Daily Echo, ahead of a launch event today, Mr Chope said: “I think that in Christchurch there is a clear majority of the council who are in favour of the status quo.

“I do not think they have had the opportunity to express a view in council and I hope that they will be able to do so, so people can take a lead from them.

“I am encouraged from my discussions that they do not want to engage in a suicide mission to kill off their own council.”

He added: “The ancient borough would essentially abolish itself.

“Why would anyone want to change if the consequences were to end up paying higher council taxes?

“For the people in say, Somerford, why would they want to pay higher council tax for the same level of service as before?”

He compared the latest review with that which took place in 1994, when the two unitary authorities of Bournemouth and Poole were formed alongside the two-tier Dorset County Council.

“The process itself is seriously flawed”, he added.

“I have also been told that they have not commissioned a business case for a no change option.

“This gives the unfortunate impression that they have already made up their minds and the whole of this process becomes potentially futile.

“The government will not approve any proposal that will impose change.

“The councils are trying to use a process which is not upfront with the people and is designed to try and give people the impression that there is a certain inevitability but that’s not what the Government has said.

“They are trying to have selective consultation.

“Instead of going down the very thorough process that the Local Government Commission of 20 years ago carried out, they are trying to rush this through without maximum consultation.”

“The local people cherish their local council.

“They want to be able to have their councillors as part of their community, they want the distinctiveness that goes with individual areas.

“It seems to me that Christchurch can and should express a view on this or it may find itself sacrificed by default.”

Cllr David Jones, who has called for the consultation to be deferred, added: “I agree completely with our MP over the nature of the consultation exercise. Far too little is being said about the drawbacks of remote unitaries and too little about the good points of the current set-up.”

Delay call made by councillors

Eleven councillors in Christchurch, including the mayor, have signed a letter to Conservative council leader Ray Nottage calling on the local government reform consultation process to be deferred.

The eight Tories, two Independents and the one Ukip member, say as there had been “no opportunity for us to discuss and approve the options before they go to the public we cannot be sure the consultation will be comprehensive.”

They are also express concern that a full business case for merger has not been prepared. 

The letter adds: “Because of this, those being consulted cannot be fully informed and the consultation will not therefore be effective.”

Cllr Nottage was said to be “incandescent” after receiving the letter.

The signatories were Janet Abbott, Colin Bungey, Lesley Dedman, Nick Geary, Colin Jamieson, Trish Jamieson, David Jones, Denise Jones, Peter Hall, John Lofts and Fred Neale.
They want the consultation put back until councillors have had the chance to discuss the options and the process.

Council chief executive, David McIntosh, said the letter was “an internal matter” and the council would not be distracted from the exercise.