WEST Dorset District Councillors have given further backing the formation of a partnership with two other local authorities.

The council, along with Weymouth and Portland Borough Council and North Dorset District Council, has already agreed in principle to enter into a tri-council partnership with a shared services structure.

At a meeting of West Dorset District Council members supported the terms of the new partnership, which council leader Anthony Alford said would make all three authorities ‘more resilient’.

He said: “One of the key objective here is to improve the quality of service to our residents, to the residents of all three councils, and this will be done by creating a stronger organisation that is more resilient.”

Cllr Stella Jones said that, while many members were in favour of the partnership, it was important to make sure full information was provided to all councillors so they could make an informed decision on the partnership.

She said: “There are a lot of people with doubts and questions about it because we have not got enough details about it.”

Cllr Trevor Jones added that he would be tabling a motion at a meeting of the executive committee to propose looking at streamlining the member level structure to reflect the streamlining of the officer structure.