COUNTY councillors will be urged to exclude Christchurch from a new Dorset unitary authority, according to a report seen by the Daily Echo.

Dorset's top tier authority is due to make a decision on the local government restructuring plans at a meeting on January 26.

The report claims that, due to "the weight of public opinion" and "financial and other analytical evidence", two new unitary councils should be formed from the existing nine authorities, with Christchurch included with Bournemouth and Poole.

The proposal has been condemned by Christchurch independent councillor Colin Bungey, who said it was "ignoring the wishes of Christchurch people".

The report claims this approach would provide "the greatest financial benefit overall", as well as new boundaries which "most closely reflect Dorset’s geography and the way in which it functions economically".

It states: "This option would deliver the most balanced division of population and electoral divisions between the two unitary authorities (based on current boundaries)."

However, it also notes difficulties with this option, chiefly the need for "disaggregation" of county council services provided in Christchurch, which is currently closely linked with East Dorset District Council. The authorities share many administrative functions.

Also, the report states: "The forecast surplus achieved would not be distributed equally between the two new authorities".

Plans to restructure local government in the county and form new unitary 'super councils' have been under way for several months, prompted by financial difficulties as the government gradually withdraws grant support.

The nine councils are each due to make a decision on their preferred option, including no change, based on a financial analysis by government body Local Partnerships, a 'case for change' by PricewaterhouseCoopers, and the consultation analysis by Opinion Research Services.

Earlier this month Christchurch council voted to reject any change to the current arrangement.

The Bournemouth, Poole and Christchurch option has already received support from six Dorset MPs, excluding Christchurch MP Chris Chope and South Dorset MP Richard Drax.

Christchurch councillor Colin Bungey has claimed the support for combining the authority with Bournemouth and Poole reveals it was “stitched up right from the very beginning”.

“We have said no to this, the great majority of Christchurch people have said no,” he said. “This recommendation is a total farce.”

“The battle commences now.”

Cllr Bungey said it was “strange” that the county authority would vote on the issue before the district councils, as “if two or three districts say they prefer ‘no change’, then they are really stymied”.

The ‘super council’ consultation found 54 per cent of Christchurch residents opposed the town’s merger with Bournemouth and Poole, although among respondents to the household survey 63 per cent were in favour of the two-council options.