Transfer of data about some social care clients between Dorset’s two new unitary councils is unlikely now to take place until at least a month after change over day on April 1st.

Programme officer for the shadow Dorset Council, Keith Cheesman, said the earliest date being offered by the external provider to the new Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council was April 29th.

He told councillors at a meeting of the shadow executive in Dorchester that officers would ensure that the delay would not be a problem for clients or social workers and other solutions were being worked on which would ensure everything was safe and legal.

The situation mainly affects people who are looked after by Dorset County Council’s social work teams and who live in the Christchurch area.

Said brief holder Cllr Jill Haynes: “I just want to assure everyone that the fact that the data might not be available until later in April won’t mean they are left in the lurch…it is a question of capacity on their (BCP) side, rather than anything Dorset Council is doing.”

At a previous meeting she spoke about alternative methods of transferring information, assuring councillors that social workers would have all the information they need on April 1st.

It is expected that many DCC based social workers who currently work in the Christchurch area will transfer across to the new unitary council for the area on April 1st.