COUNCIL tax payers in Bournemouth and Poole could see their rates rise by £24 and £29 per year respectively under current super council plans.

However Christchurch ratepayers could see their tax cut in real terms by the equivalent of some £135 per year.

The Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Joint Committee will further discuss options for equalising council tax between the three boroughs on Friday.

The committee, set up to pave the way for a new single unitary authority for the conurbation, should the Future Dorset scheme get Government approval next year, plans to equalise tax in less than a decade and as close to five years as possible.

A task and finish group chaired by Bournemouth council leader John Beesley has looked at 18 possible models for 'tax harmonisation', and settled on five which meet requirements set by the committee in November.

These were that tax should not rise by more than the Government's cap - 1.99 per cent - higher rises require a local referendum, and that Christchurch residents should see their tax frozen or reduced.

A report for Friday's meeting states that, for Band D properties in all three boroughs:

- Poole council tax payers would see an annual increase of around £29 per annum for seven years, below the referendum limit.

- Bournemouth council tax payers could see an increase of around £24 per annum for seven years, again, below the cap.

- Christchurch council tax payers could see a saving of some £948 over the seven year period.

The report states that this would see the new authority forego £8.4 million in council tax over 10 years, however the overall Future Dorset scheme is expected to save £10.3 million per year.

Advocates of the plan say if it is not adopted, Dorset's councils will have to raise tax each year by the maximum value to counter cuts in Government funding and increased demand.

The 18 models examined by the task and finish group included a wide range of possible outcomes.

These included increasing tax in Bournemouth and Poole by between 1.27 per cent and 5.44 per cent in 2019/20, freezing council tax in Christchurch for up to seven years, or a reduction there of up to 8.24 per cent in 2019/20, and introducing a £25 precept for a Christchurch Town Council versus not having one at all.

The Joint Committee meets at Christchurch Civic Offices on Friday at 10am.