COUNCIL bosses in Poole have recommended plans which would see the authority merge into one administrative structure with Bournemouth.

At a meeting on Tuesday (July11) Borough of Poole's cabinet considered developing a single officer structure for all services.

A report drawn up by Andrew Flockhart, chief executive of Borough of Poole, and the managing director of Bournemouth, Jane Portman, says the move is driven by the need to save significant amounts of money and attempt to protect frontline services.

There are no details about the potential sale of council offices but the report says each council will keep its sovereignty.

Borough of Poole will make a final decision on the proposal at its full council meeting on Tuesday (July18).

Bournemouth's cabinet will discuss the report on Wednesday, July 19, before it goes to full council the following week.

The proposal for Bournemouth and Poole is similar to the arrangements that have been in place at Christchurch and East Dorset for the past three years. There is a single officer structure under the leadership of chief executive, David McIntosh, but there are still two separately elected political entities.