PURBECK District Council (PDC) is set to back a move that could see land it holds as public open space transferred to parish and town councils.

Members of the council are being recommended to agree the move, which would take place before the Future Dorset merger takes place.

They're also been recommended, by district officers, to approve the transfer of all assets that could generate income to the new unitary Dorset council.

The open space move, which has already been discussed at previous PDC meetings, could see free car parks and public toilets at Corfe Castle and Studland offered up to the relevant parish and town councils.

However, parish councils wanting to take over larger community assets across Purbeck could be disappointed.

PDC chief executive Steve Mackenzie, has already warned the policy of those behind the new unitary council is that if items have an income, or income potential, the new council would want it; anything with a cost, or with no obvious benefit might be transferred.

“The aim of the new authority is to ensure their viability into the future,” he said.

Mr Mackenzie warned that requests from parishes to take over car parks or even industrial estates, which in some places are council-owned, were likely to be rejected.

Meanwhile, a report to full council explained: "The council owns some small parcels of land, often on housing estates, which are retained as open space. The report proposes that such land is transferred to those parish councils which would like control of this land. It also suggests the transfer of assets which are of local amenity value, including the Manor Road car park in Bere Regis and the toilets in Corfe Castle and Studland, be offered to the appropriate town and parish councils."

The report continued: "Several of the town and parish councils in the district have asked whether the district council would be prepared to transfer ownership of some of the assets (public open space) to them. Specific requests have been received from Corfe Castle Parish Council, Langton Matravers Parish Council and Worth Matravers Parish Council.

The full PDC council meeting is schedule for May 8.