THE consultation on the reorganisation of councils in Dorset should be abandoned over a “stealth tax bombshell”, a Dorset MP has claimed.

Christchurch MP Chris Chope has described the ‘Reshaping Your Councils’ consultation document as “dodgy and downright dishonest”.

The eight week consultation ends today.

As well as reiterating his concerns about what he says is ‘misleading information’ published in the paper, he has also called into question the proposed council tax harmonisation process.

Currently Christchurch residents pay around £200 more in council tax, due to Poole and Bournemouth freezing their rates until this year.

“If existing councils are abolished and new unitaries created in their place, logic and fairness should dictate that all residents in the area of each new council would, from the outset, pay the same Band D council tax.

“The consultation paper however rejects such a solution.”

The consultation says the ‘harmonisation’ would take place over a 20 year period where the lowest council tax rate would be increased by the maximum allowable rate.

All rates would eventually become the same under this scheme, the document says.

He added: “Not only is council tax harmonisation a fantasy, but so also is the assertion on page 3 in the consultation document that ‘the two new unitary councils would deliver the services currently provided by the six district and borough councils and Bournemouth, Dorset and Poole.’”

Mr Chope claims he has been told Christchurch residents would be paying twice over for services which could include public conveniences, cemeteries, allotments, verge maintenance and recreational facilities.

“Under options 2a and 2b these services would continue to be provided at no extra cost to residents in Poole and Bournemouth.

“The replication of such services in Christchurch under a town council would also make a mockery of the avowed objective of the reorganisation to remove duplication.

“Great efforts have been put into trying to disguise the stealth tax bombshell for residents of Christchurch which has now been revealed”, he added.

“If the consultation had made it quite clear that under all options other than no change, Christchurch and Weymouth residents would be paying more without receiving any extra service, no-one would be supporting the proposed reorganisation.”

Chief executive defends position on council tax

THE chief executive of Dorset County Council has defended the council tax harmonisation process, saying Christchurch residents would pay less if a merger went ahead.

Debbie Ward has responded to concerns raised by MP Chris Chope (see opposite).

She said: “A fundamental principle of the proposals to reorganise is to reduce the administrative cost of running services in Dorset. 

“Two organisations providing services would of course be much cheaper to run than nine organisation providing those same services – producing at least £25m worth of savings just at an administrative level, with significantly more predicted once service redesign and transformation takes place.

“This in turn means that a greater proportion of available budget can be spent on protecting and investing in frontline services than under the existing arrangements.

“People in Christchurch are already paying more council tax than those in Bournemouth and Poole for the full range of council services.”

“At £1,453 for council services in 2016/17, residents in Christchurch pay almost £200 a year more for their council services, whilst those in Poole pay £1,257 and Bournemouth £1,293. 

“The proposed reorganisation would, over time, ensure all residents within a new unitary council would pay the same.

“I need to emphasise that Christchurch residents are likely to be paying marginally less in future than they would if there was no change”, she claimed.

“Even if a town council is created in Christchurch, residents will not see a new additional charge for this over and above the amount they are already paying to the Borough and County Council.

“The starting point of council tax for the harmonisation of any new unitary authority from option 2a and 2b would be net of any town council precept if one is formed.

“Once council tax has been harmonised, Christchurch residents would be paying the same for their unitary services as Poole and Bournemouth residents plus a town council precept, similar to any area that has a town or parish council. There does not, however, have to be a town council in Christchurch, whether there is a case and support for one needs to be fully reviewed.”

She added: “Because there is a Government-set limit to the level of council tax increase permitted without a referendum, it would take many years to reach a position where all residents of one of council area pay the same.”
She also claimed Christchurch residents could see their council tax rise by a lower amount if merged with Bournemouth and Poole, than they would if there was no change or they joined with rural councils.