DECISIONS to support the proposed council reorganisation across Dorset have been labelled as a “betrayal” by a Christchurch councillor.

This week both Purbeck District Council and East Dorset District Council have agreed to support the Future Dorset proposals after previously being in opposition.

These moves leave just Christchurch Borough Council (CBC) in a position against the reorganisation, which the Secretary of State is “minded to approve”.

Under the proposals, Purbeck and East Dorset councils would join with four other authorities to form a single unitary council.

Purbeck District Council leader Cllr Gary Suttle said the councils job is to provide services to residents at a reasonable cost.

“Residents deserve the best representation and this will only be achieved if we are part of the process,” Cllr Suttle said.

“It is important we join this process so that the voice of our residents can be heard and we can do the very best for Purbeck.”

The referendum in Christchurch asking residents whether they are in favour of joining with Bournemouth and Poole to form a single authority concludes today.

Christchurch councillor Colin Bungey said both East Dorset and Purbeck had gone back on what their residents wanted.

“They have betrayed their staff and betrayed their residents.

“I can’t for the life of me understand why these decisions have been made prior to the referendum. It’s very concerning.”

Responses to a public consultation carried out last year by Opinion Research Services found both Purbeck and East Dorset were in favour of merging nine councils into two unitary authorities.

Christchurch councillor Trevor Watts said the Secretary of State now has a clear mandate for the Future Dorset proposal.

“He’s got eight of the nine councils who are going to go with the option and I think it is good news,” Cllr Watts said.

“Christchurch has stuck its head in the sand and missed the opportunity. It’s a chance to join a forward looking and forward thinking authority.”

CBC refused to say how many responses had been received in the referendum.

Chief executive David McIntosh said: “We do not provide figures for postal vote returns during elections and the local poll is being run in the same way as an election so the response rate is not available.”