THE Parliamentary order that will make Dorset’s major council merger law is to be presented to MPs at the end of the month.

The Structural Change Order has been “finalised”, according to a report to the Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Joint Committee, and “is due to be presented to Parliament on March 29”.

“In the event that this is delayed for some reason we are assured that this would be for a short period and would not affect the overall timetable for Parliamentary consideration,” the report states.

The order, which is scheduled to pass through various drafts before being signed into law as a statutory instrument in late July, will include financial principles such as the maximum period over which council tax can be equalised between the boroughs.

Tory Christchurch MP Sir Christopher Chope has said he will seek to challenge the order in Parliament. On Friday he was tight-lipped however, saying: “We will be looking to challenge it, but will wait and see what is presented.”

Meanwhile Poole Liberal Democrats have suggested they would support a move to challenge Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) through a judicial review in Christchurch, where the Conservative-controlled borough council rejected the plan.

“Ever since the LGR decision we have had people asking us what can we do to stop this,” said Vikki Slade, pictured, councillor for Broadstone and Lib Dem Parliamentary candidate. “We were denied a referendum on it and we have had very little public engagement. I still do not see any evidence that this is in Poole’s interests.

“If there is anything I can do to help Christchurch get that review going I will gladly do it, and plenty of others in Poole will help.

“I will be happy to meet with councillors or even Chris Chope, although we would have to avoid talking about every other political topic.”

Sir Chris said he would welcome cross-party collaboration on the issue, He said he would contact Cllr Slade and praised her “constructive” approach.