THE final legal order required to establish Dorset's new councils has been approved by Parliament.

Days before the planned April 1 mergers, last week confirmation was given by the government that final piece of legislation to enable it had been approved.

The adoption of affirmative orders, which outlines details of how issues such as mayoralties and civic functions will be managed, paves the way for the county’s local government mergers to take place.

A series of orders covering the legal framework for areas including finance and staffing arrangements, have been agreed by Parliament over the last year.

The affirmative order establishes charter trustees in Bournemouth and Poole which will take over the management of the historical functions of the two borough councils.

In its budget, £258,000 has been earmarked by Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole council to cover the trustees’ costs. From 2020/21 funding will come from additional council tax precepts charged in each of the towns.

In Christchurch, the mayoralty will be transferred to the new Christchurch town council to oversee.

Final confirmation of the order’s approval was given in a letter from the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government last week.

The affirmative order also included provision for Dorset’s local government pension funds to the new Dorset Council.

It was approved in the House of Lords earlier this month along with similar orders for mergers in Suffolk and Somerset.

Parliamentary under-secretary of state Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth said the move would help with the “capture and retention” of the boroughs’ historic traditions.

He said: “These provisions are sensible and necessary consequential changes in the light of the establishment of the new councils Parliament has approved.

“They ensure a smooth transition to the new arrangements and continued effective local government.”

The order was the final piece of legislation required before the abolition of Dorset’s existing top and second-tier councils and replacement with the two new unitary authorities on Monday.