A HOST of public services are to be merged across parts of Dorset in a bid to save council taxpayers money.

Dorset County Council has agreed with district council bosses to combine their structures into two “clusters” covering half the county each.

And some major operations such as waste collection and IT could be integrated across the entire county.

The move comes as councils face a budget squeeze which brings the threat of cuts to services next year.

Under the new programme, known as Pathfinder: * a joint management team and officer structure will manage services for Christchurch+Borough+Council">Christchurch Borough Council, East Dorset District Council and North Dorset District Council * a second “cluster” will deliver services for Purbeck District Council, West Dorset District Council and Weymouth+and+Portland+Borough+Council">Weymouth and Portland Borough Council * some other services – including waste, ICT and procurement – will eventually be integrated across all seven councils in the scheme Merging the waste service could save £1.2 million.

The proposals will now have to be approved by councillors on all the authorities involved. There would be no change to each council’s political structure.

The council leaders and chief executives who have agreed the project say it will keep decision-making local while joining up management and services to save money.

Cllr Mike Goodman, chairman of the management committee of Weymouth and Portland council, speaking for all the authorities in the group said: “It’s a great step forward and will protect front-line services. We will also be looking to improve the way services are provided across district and county council levels in the future to make even more efficiencies.”

The full impact on jobs is not certain, although officers say they expect to make savings in management costs and protect frontline services.

But Alan Martin, regional organiser for the public services union Unison, said the changes could have a “fundamental impact on a large number of our members”.

He said discussions about closer “partnership working” had been going on for three years. “The councils will see this as just an extension of that but where it’s being trumpeted as a cost-saving measure, it gives us concern for the terms and conditions and workloads of our members,” he added.

Michael Turvey, chief executive of Christchurch Borough Council said: “The potential for savings is great. “The main thrust is to protect the front line services but we will be closely examining top management posts in order to reinvest in these services.

“There is a long way to go yet though and we are looking to implement the changes by 2011/2012. ”

Dorset County Council leader Cllr Angus Campbell said the scheme was a start but there was a “long way to go” in closer co-operation between councils.