THE county elections will not delay a decision on local government reorganisation (LGR) plans, councils are being advised.

Last week there was speculation that the purdah period in the run up to the Dorset County Council elections on May 4 would prevent Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) Sajid Javid announcing his 'minded to' decision.

During purdah, councils are prohibited from officially announcing new policies, although councillors can speak freely.

Christchurch MP Christopher Chope, who opposes the proposal to join his town with Bournemouth and Poole councils in one of two large new unitary authorities, told the Daily Echo: “It would make it very difficult, purdah is very strict.”

He said he hoped the LGR decision would not be considered a priority by the government as Brexit negotiations get under way.

However Matt Prosser, chief executive of the Dorset Councils Partnership, which put forward the LGR proposal, said purdah would not be an issue.

He said: "There is no suggestion that the Secretary of State could not make his announcement about the Future Dorset proposal within the Dorset County Council pre-election ‘purdah’ period, which started on March 27.

"The consideration of the Future Dorset proposal is ongoing work for DCLG and therefore any announcement relating to it can be regarded as part of that planned business."

Dorset County Council leader Robert Gould said he had received legal advice that purdah would not hinder the decision.

"I hope that that is not the case, we certainly hope to have an early announcement on this," he said.

Under the LGR plans the county council and five of six districts would be merged to create the other new unitary authority. Christchurch, East Dorset and Purbeck councils have opposed the plans.

"We have had some quite positive feedback from DCLG, I don't think there is any great problem at this stage," said Mr Gould

"Candidates and councillors can make their comments, purdah is really more about making new statements of policy.

"As far as LGR is concerned, it is the agreed policy of the council. It is not really a controversial issue in that sense. I don't think purdah should prevent a discussion."

The Daily Echo has asked DCLG for clarification and an indication on when to expect an announcement but has received no response.