A BRIDPORT councillor has attacked proposals to address ‘unprecedented’ financial pressure on local authorities in Dorset.

Cllr Kelvin Clayton, chairman of the West and South Dorset Green Party, has labelled information in the consultation over local government reorganisation as 'highly inadequate'.

More than 9,000 people have had their say so far and the district, borough and county councils are jointly encouraging more people to share their views.

The consultation sets out a number of options for the future of local government including retaining all nine councils, and three different options for a conurbation council and a Dorset council.

Cllr Clayton said that his party's response to the consultation has hit out at the lack of information given to the public.

He added: “Earlier in the year we understand that consideration was being given to local area boards. Is this still the case? If it is, how will they be organised and why is there no reference to them in the consultation?

"What will be the role of town and parish councils in this re-organisation? The public need answers to these questions in order to give an informed opinion – they have a democratic right to know what they are being consulted about.”

Cllr Clayton said the party have given "cautious support" to option 2b, which would see two authorities created, one covering west Dorset, Weymouth and Portland, Purbeck, east Dorset and north Dorset - with another covering Poole, Bournemouth and Christchurch.

He said: “Whilst we are fundamentally opposed to the huge, ideologically driven cuts being imposed on Dorset by the Conservative government, we also believe that there is a longstanding and strong case for local government reform.

"We give cautious support to the proposed option 2b, not on economic grounds, but in the belief that if done well it could increase local democracy, accountability and public engagement whilst improving service delivery through making local government more joined-up.”

The public consultation on these changes is being conducted by Opinion Research Services on behalf of the nine councils, and closes on October 25.

Dorset County Council chief executive Debbie Ward said: “This level of detail has not yet been defined and would be the decision of any new authority. However, town and parish councils remain an important part of the county local government structure, and nothing in the consultation reduces their role.”

To take part in the consultation, visit reshapingyourcouncils.uk