JOINT committees could be set up to discuss merging Dorset's councils into two unitaries before approval may be granted.

At a meeting today (Mon June 26), county councillors will consider the creation of two new committees - one with members from Bournemouth and Poole, the other with members from the county and those district councils which backed the Future Dorset proposal for local government reorganisation.

Christchurch, East Dorset and Purbeck councils, which rejected Future Dorset, will be able to send councillors if they wish.

The committees would seek solutions to the various obstacles in the way of the proposal, although it has not yet been approved by Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government Sajid Javid.

According to a report prepared for the county's people and communities panel, the new committees are intended to be precursors, without executive powers, for the 'implementation committees' which would be set up if the two unitaries plan gets the go-ahead.

The report by chief executive Debbie Ward states: "It had been expected that there would be a decision, most likely to be a 'minded to' rather than 'full' in late March.

"This was not received and no decision has since been possible, with the county council and General Elections being held.

"The Future Dorset submission presents a plan to achieve structural change to local government by April 2019, to support the future of sustainable services across the county.

"To achieve this timetable and maintain the ambition to secure sustainable services across the county joint development needs to take place.

"To achieve this in a timely and considered way it is proposed that two new joint committees are established with membership from each of the authorities who have supported the Future Dorset submission, with the opportunity for each of the authorities who have not, to consider being part of the joint committee structure, should they wish to do so."

The committees would look at ways of rearranging the provision of services, bringing council tax into line across the county, boundaries and elections and devolution of powers to town and parish councils.

It is proposed that one have six county members and two councillors each from North Dorset, West Dorset and Weymouth and Portland, and the other, eight members from Bournemouth, six from Poole and two from Dorset.

On the latter committee, the two Dorset members would also "represent Christchurch residents" should the borough choose not to send its own councillors.