A SINGLE vote backed a report on the dissolution of the Stour Valley and Poole Partnership – with three committee members abstaining.

Dorset Council has decided to take the revenue and benefits service for the northern and eastern parts of its area back in house. It has been run jointly with BCP Council.

The detail of the change is expected to be settled soon – although it could mean Dorset Council having to pay up to £1.66 million in compensation to the Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole council if an agreement cannot be reached.

The new, separate, services are not expected to come fully into effect until 2023.

Part of the existing service is run jointly between the two councils as the Stour Valley and Poole Partnership. 

Dorset Council’s finance portfolio holder Cllr Gary Suttle has said that even if the compensation has to be paid the Dorset-only single system should break even within two years, with savings to Dorset Council from then onwards.

He has said it will mean a better service for Dorset residents who, he alleges, often get passed from person to person to sort out claims, frequently having to give their details time after time.

“This is the opportunity to give Dorset residents a significantly improved service and deals with all the things people often complain of. It will be worth it even if we have to pay up,” he said.

The joint Stour Valley Partnership Board was only attended by one Dorset councillor, two having sent their apologies.

The sole representative, Cllr Andrew Kerby, said he would not vote on the chief officer’s report dealing with future plans for the service, adding that he suspected ten years down the line the two services would be getting back together again.

“It’s not what I want so I can’t vote for the report,” said Cllr Kerby. He said the proposed use by Dorset Council of an external enforcement team concerned him, claiming it would not be as good as an internal team.

Cllr David Brown said he was worried about the costs of the ‘divorce’ although was told it was likely to be on amicable terms, but if that failed, Dorset Council would end up paying the full costs as it wanted to end the partnership which had been first agreed in 2014 and then amended when Dorset Council same into being five years later.

At the vote Cllr Lesley Dedman and Cllr David Brown joined Cllr Kerby in abstaining, leaving the chair, Cllr May Haines the only councillor to vote and even she said she was doing so reluctantly, only to allow the process to continue, saying she did not support what was happening.

A further report on the change to services will be brought to the partnership’s next meeting in April, setting out the details of a timetable leading up to the separation of the services at the end of March 2023.