CHRISTCHURCH does not want to merge with Bournemouth and Poole, wishes to remain sovereign and says the case for change has not been made.

That, at least, was the view of the borough's 'watchdog' scrutiny committee after nearly six hours of debate over two nights.

The eleven councillors, nearly half of the 23-member Conservative led council, voted unanimously to support a resolution put forward by Cllr David Jones.

The issue will now go to full council on January 31 when the recommendation will be debated.

The council's leadership and portfolio holders are likely to oppose the move and the final vote is set to be on a knife edge. It could hinge on last year's mayor, Independent Cllr Fred Neale, who is known to oppose merger.

Councillors agreed that the creation of a conurbation-wide unitary authority "would not be in the interests of the borough and people of Christchurch."

In an often confusing and tortuous meeting on Monday, Cllr Jones declared: "We don't want any further work done on a greater Bournemouth or our officers to have any friendly chats about it."

He also described the merger plan as "the worst possible option for Christchurch."

The committee heard that there would be no government cash to help for pay the £25m costs of restructuring. It would have to be funded by all nine councils.

Strategic director, Ian Milner, said: "There is no funding for this and there never has been."

On the controversial issue of council tax harmonisation there was concern over the 20-year period to achieve parity between all three councils, which Cllr Jones said would lead to "residents of Somerford subsiding the residents of Sandbanks."

Cllr Peter Hall said the effects on the taxpayers of Christchurch would be "grossly unfair."

Chief executive David McIntosh conceded: "I struggle with the harmonisation process too. We as officers are not particularly comfortable with this and realise that it is unpopular.

"It's a dilemma for you and it's a dilemma for us. We don't support any differential over any period of time."

Cllr Jones also queried whether council leader Cllr Ray Nottage had put Christchurch's case for no change at a meeting of all nine leaders in December - as mandated by the full council two days earlier.

"We did not ask the leader to go and read out a statement, we asked him to go and press the case for no change, as we did the chief executive."

Cllr Hall said the public consultation was flawed and the claim that the public response for change was powerful was "absolute nonsense."

"We are making a huge decision on two percent of the population. The other 98 per cent either did not know about it or weren't interested. It's crazy."

Mr McIntosh said other options put forward would not deal with the scale of the financial issues in Dorset.

"We are trying to deal with a very significant problem here and we need very significant solutions. It's this (merger) or nothing in terms of the scale of what's needed."

The transition costs of £25m will bring forward £28m annually under a restructured system of two unitary councils, said Mr McIntosh.

He also urged the councillors not to back themselves into a corner.

He warned: "You need to be careful not to exclude yourself from future discussions. Some Dorset councils may make their own submission to the Secretary of State...and Christchurch will not escape that process and that would be an unfortunate position to be in."

In response to criticism from Cllr Jones, he added: "I don't advocate project fear but it is my job to advise you of the effects of what you decide."

Legal officer Sophia Nartey said no formal papers has been received from businessman Alistair Somerville-Ford on a threatened judicial challenge to the consultation process.

The recommendation from scrutiny also calls on the council to leave open the option of its own, separate submission to the government and to examine further partnership working with other councils.