THE leaders of Christchurch and East Dorset councils have welcomed an intervention by Christchurch MP Chris Chope over a failed funding bid.

Mr Chope called for an answer in Parliament as to why the local authority’s bid for the Transform-ation Challenge Award was unsuccessful.

The award would have moved forward further plans for sharing services between the two councils.

In a question to Kris Hopkins MP, communities and local government minister, in the House of Commons, Chris Chope MP said: “Will my hon. friend agree to meet the leaders of Christchurch and East Dorset councils to discuss the work they have done to improve the quality of services for taxpayers by having shared services?

“Would he also be willing to discuss why he rejected their bid for funding under the transformation challenge award when it seemed to satisfy all the criteria for Part A of the scheme?”

Kris Hopkins replied: “I would be absolutely delighted to meet my hon. friend’s councils.

“They have done some exemplary work in sharing services and we want to ensure that we share that excellent work with other authorities through the transformation network so that they can do it, too.

“There were some exceptional bids for the award scheme and we have had to make difficult choices. His councils were unlucky this time, but perhaps in future bidding rounds they might be successful.”

Cllr Ray Nottage, Leader of Christchurch Borough Council, said: “Our two councils were in the forefront of sharing services and we have achieved a lot since we officially started our Partnership four years ago. We were very disappointed not be given a Transformation Chal-lenge Award, particularly as we were encouraged to bid for it, and we would welcome the opportunity to discuss this with the Minister.”

And leader of East Dorset, Cllr Ian Monks, said the lack of funding meant they would now have to be ‘more selective’ with their plans.