RESIDENTS of the Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole conurbation could be paying differing levels of council tax for as long as seven years under plans being considered by the government.

A letter sent to Cllr Janet Walton, the leader of the shadow authority, which is managing the transition to the new council, says that the government is “minded” to require tax levels are made equal by 2026.

However, this has angered some Christchurch councillors who say that anything other than an immediate levelling of rates would be "unfair".

Known as council tax harmonisation, the process has proven to be one of the biggest sticking points in the reorganisation of the local government system from nine to two councils in Dorset.

Councillors in Christchurch have called for all of the conurbation's residents to be paying the same amount from the first day of the new authority's existence to avoid the borough being a "cash cow" for people living in Bournemouth and Poole.

Council tax is £200-a-year higher for a Band D property in Christchurch and Cllr David Jones said that current proposals would see people living in less well-off parts of the borough "subsidising" residents of more affluent parts of the conurbation.

"It's very disappointing that the leaders of the new authority expect the residents of Somerford – one of the most deprived areas of Dorset – to subsidise the residents of Westbourne and West Cliff for the next seven years.

"It's also disappointing to see that it seems our fears that the only reason Bournemouth and Poole wanted Christchurch was as a cash cow are being proven right."

Cllr Jones is due to raise a motion at tonight's meeting of Christchurch council calling for council tax to be made equal from day one of the new council – as is being planned in the Dorset area unitary authority

It says that residents of the borough will be put at a "considerable financial disadvantage" and urges the issue to be raised at December's meeting of the shadow authority.

His proposed motion follows the letter, sent by the parliamentary under-secretary for local government, Rishi Sunak, to the shadow authority leader, Cllr Janet Walton, which says that the government is "minded" to legislate for a maximum seven-year harmonisation process.

“The Secretary of State [James Brokenshire] has had regard to local preferences, the impact on individual council tax bills across the areas concerned and the financial implications for the local authorities," the letter says.

“He has sought to strike a balance between ensuring council tax payers do not experience a large increase in bills and not allowing residents in any one part of the area to be concerned that they are effectively contributing more to the cost of services than others.

“The secondary legislation that we are minded to make this autumn would provide for a maximum period for council tax harmonisation of seven years, with a fully-harmonised council tax to be set by the start of year eight at the latest.”

Modelling work published by the shadow authority so far shows that it has been considering two options – a three or six-year process.

And Cllr Walton said that the letter provided clearer guidance for what limits were likely to be imposed by the government.

“I very much welcome the clarity that this letter brings,” she said. “Development of plans and options for council tax harmonisation are already well advanced.

“Receipt of this letter means that the finance members task and finish group will now be able to conclude its discussions and bring forward recommendations for the new council.”