Dorset County Council

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Dorset County Council
Arms of Dorset County Council.svg
Coat of arms
Dorset County Council logo.svg
Council logo
Type
Type
Structure
Seats46 councillors
Length of term
4 years
Elections
First-past-the-post
Last election
 4 May 2017
Meeting place
Dorchester - County Hall (geograph 3007327).jpg
County Hall, Dorchester
Website
www.dorsetforyou.gov.uk

Dorset County Council (DCC) was the county council for the county of Dorset in England. It provided the upper tier of local government, below which were district councils, and town and parish councils. The county council had 46 elected councillors and was based at County Hall in Dorchester. [1] The council was abolished on 31 March 2019 as part of structural changes to local government in Dorset. [2]

Contents

Responsibilities for services

Map of Dorset's eight former districts. 1-6 were administered by Dorset County Council, but 7 and 8 were the unitary areas of Bournemouth and Poole, which were self-governed on local issues. Dorset districts.png
Map of Dorset's eight former districts. 1-6 were administered by Dorset County Council, but 7 and 8 were the unitary areas of Bournemouth and Poole, which were self-governed on local issues.

Dorset County Council's responsibilities included schools, social care for the elderly and vulnerable, road maintenance, libraries and trading standards.

The county council's area was also administered by six smaller authorities that have their own district or borough councils. The responsibilities of these councils included local planning, council housing, refuse collection, sports and leisure facilities, and street cleaning. The district areas are further divided into civil parishes, which have "parish councils" or "town councils"; the latter of which often use a town hall. Typical activities undertaken by a parish council included maintaining allotments, footpaths, playing fields and the local community or village hall. On some matters, the county council shared responsibilities with the district and parish councils. These included economic development and regeneration, emergency planning, tourism promotion and coastal protection.

No.DistrictType of councilPopulation (mid-2008 est.)Extent of area (hectares) [3]
1 Weymouth and Portland Borough council65,0004,175
2 West Dorset District council97,200108,148
3 North Dorset District council67,90060,992
4 Purbeck District council46,00040,440
5 East Dorset District council85,90035,437
6 Christchurch Borough council45,8005,040

Dorset Waste Partnership

In 2011 Dorset County Council became "host authority" for the newly-formed Dorset Waste Partnership, whereby, in theory, the six borough and district councils within Dorset worked together to collect and dispose of the county's waste. As host authority, Dorset County Council employed the waste partnership's staff and provided support facilities, such as IT, customer services and procurement. [4] A new system of kerbside collections was rolled out across the county in five stages, beginning with Christchurch in October 2012. [5]

The new service attracted criticism from the start [5] and came under particularly heavy censure from October 2014, when it was rolled out across Weymouth and Portland: by the end of the month the Council was receiving 1,100 calls a day relating to the new service, [6] while a "spokesman" admitted that 300 bins had still not been delivered to Weymouth and Portland's residents. [6] Bags of waste meanwhile mounted up on Weymouth's streets: the partnership refused to collect them on the grounds that the waste was not in authorised "blue sacks", [7] but residents claimed that they had never been issued with these sacks in the first place. [7] Complaints, mainly involving missed collections, continued into 2015 and 2016. [8] [9] [10] [11]

In February 2015 it was revealed that the partnership was £2.76 million over budget, [12] and Steve Burdis, director of the Dorset Waste Partnership, was suspended from his post as three separate investigations into the overspend got underway. [13] A report by Dorset County Council's monitoring officer found that unlawful activity had contributed to the overspend, [14] including the awarding of two vehicle hire contracts worth £765,000 and £808,000 without following compliant tendering processes:indeed, in the case of the £765,000 contract, "it seems that no tendering process was followed at all". [14] In addition, a three-year consultancy contract worth £270,000 "also amounted to an unlawful direct award". [14] Steve Burdis was dismissed in March 2016. [15] As for the Dorset Waste Partnership, it effectively ceased to exist in April 2019 with the dissolution of Dorset County Council and the various borough and district councils; waste became the responsibility of the two new unitary authorities in Dorset, Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council and Dorset Council, with most of the partnership's staff and assets being transferred to the latter. [4]

2015-19 local government reorganisation

In September 2015, the Dorset Echo reported plans to merge the borough and district councils of Poole, Bournemouth, East Dorset and Christchurch, creating one breakaway "super-council" across the south-eastern part of the county. [16] A meeting of leaders and chief executives of all nine of Dorset's local authorities followed on 12 October 2015, "to discuss options for the future of local government in the area". [17] That was followed by a series of public consultations and, ultimately, by statutory instruments for the reform of local government across Dorset, drawn up in May 2018. Under these proposals, dubbed "Future Dorset", all existing councils within the county would be abolished and replaced by two new unitary authorities. The first would be formed from the existing unitary authorities of Bournemouth and Poole which merged with the non-metropolitan district of Christchurch to create a unitary authority to be known as Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council. The other was created from the merger of the existing non-metropolitan districts of Weymouth and Portland, West Dorset, North Dorset, Purbeck and East Dorset and was to be known as Dorset Council. The two new authorities came into being on 1 April 2019. [18]

History

The council was established in 1889 under the Local Government Act 1888, covering the administrative county. It was reconstituted under the Local Government Act 1972 with the addition of the County Borough of Bournemouth, the Municipal Borough of Christchurch and part of the Ringwood and Fordingbridge Rural District from Hampshire. [19] In 1997 Bournemouth and Poole were both made unitary authority areas, making them independent from the county council. [20]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dorset</span> County of England

Dorset is a ceremonial county in South West England. It is bordered by Somerset to the north-west, Wiltshire to the north and the north-east, Hampshire to the east, the Isle of Wight across the Solent to the south-east, the English Channel to the south, and Devon to the west. The largest settlement is Bournemouth, and the county town is Dorchester.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bournemouth</span> Town in Dorset, England

Bournemouth is a coastal resort town on the south coast in the Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole unitary authority area in the ceremonial county of Dorset, England. The town's urban subdivision had a population of 187,503 at the 2011 census making it the largest town in the county; the town is part of the South East Dorset conurbation, which has a population of 465,000.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Christchurch, Dorset</span> Town and civil parish in England

Christchurch is a town and civil parish on the south coast of Dorset, England. The parish had a population of 31,372 in 2021. It adjoins Bournemouth to the west, with the New Forest to the east. Part of the historic county of Hampshire, Christchurch was a borough within the administrative county of Dorset from 1974 until 2019, when it became part of the new Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole unitary authority.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Weymouth and Portland</span> Former non-metropolitan district and borough in England

Weymouth and Portland was a local government district with borough status in Dorset, England from 1974 to 2019. It consisted of the resort of Weymouth and the Isle of Portland, and includes the areas of Wyke Regis, Preston, Melcombe Regis, Upwey, Broadwey, Southill, Nottington, Westham, Radipole, Chiswell, Castletown, Fortuneswell, Weston, Southwell and Easton; the latter six being on the Isle of Portland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">East Dorset</span> Former non-metropolitan district in England

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Bournemouth Borough Council was the local authority for Bournemouth in Dorset, England between 1974 and 2019. Prior to 1974 Bournemouth had been a county borough within Hampshire. Under the Local Government Act 1972 Bournemouth became a non-metropolitan district within Dorset on 1 April 1974, with the same boundaries as the former county borough. On 1 April 1997 it became a unitary authority, taking over the functions previously provided for the area by Dorset County Council. In 2019 the council was abolished, merging with Christchurch and Poole to form Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bournemouth Borough Council</span>

Bournemouth Borough Council was the local authority of Bournemouth in Dorset, England and ceased to exist on 1 April 2019. It was a unitary authority, although between 1974 and 1997 it was an administrative district council with Dorset. Previously most of the borough was part of Hampshire.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Poole Borough Council</span>

Poole Borough Council was the unitary authority responsible for local government in the Borough of Poole, Dorset, England. It was created on 1 April 1997 following a review by the Local Government Commission for England (1992), becoming administratively independent from Dorset County Council, and ceased to exist on 1 April 2019. Its council comprised 16 wards and 42 councillors and was controlled by a Conservative administration before it was merged into Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council.

Poole was a unitary authority in Dorset, England from 1997 to 2019. From 1974 until 1 April 1997 it was a non-metropolitan district. In 2019 it was abolished and subsumed into Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Grade II* listed buildings in Dorset</span>

The county of Dorset is divided into eight districts. The districts of Dorset are Weymouth and Portland, West Dorset, North Dorset, Purbeck, East Dorset, Christchurch, and the unitary authorities Bournemouth and Poole.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2015 United Kingdom local elections</span>

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole</span> Unitary authority area in Dorset, England

Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP) is a unitary authority area in the ceremonial county of Dorset, England. It was created on 1 April 2019 by the merger of the areas that were previously administered by the unitary authorities of Bournemouth and Poole, and the non-metropolitan district of Christchurch. The authority covers much of the area of the South Dorset conurbation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dorset Council (UK)</span> Local authority in England

Dorset Council is a unitary local authority for the district of Dorset, encompassing almost all of the county of the same name (Dorset) except for the district of Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole. Created in April 2019, the council was formed when the county moved from a two-tier county council and district council system to a one-tier system, with the county divided into two districts administered by two independent unitary authorities.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dorset (district)</span> Unitary authority area in England

Dorset is a unitary authority area, existing since 1 April 2019, in the ceremonial county of Dorset, England. It covers all of the ceremonial county except for Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole. The council of the district is Dorset Council, which is in effect Dorset County Council re-constituted so as to be vested with the powers and duties of five district councils which were abolished, and shedding its partial responsibility for and powers in Christchurch.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2019 Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council election</span> 2019 local election in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole

The 2019 Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council election took place on 2 May 2019 to elect the inaugural members of Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council in England, formed from the former unitary authorities of Bournemouth and Poole, and borough of Christchurch. At the same time an election for the new Christchurch Town Council was held.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alliance for Local Living</span> British political party

The Alliance for Local Living (ALL) is a minor localist party and political group based in Dorset, with separate branches in the two authorities, ALL for Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole and ALL for Dorset. The BCP office is based in Poole, whilst the Dorset office is based in Weymouth. The party has five councillors in total, one on BCP Council and the remaining four on Dorset Council.

The Christchurch Independents (CI) are a political party and group in the Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP) Council, formed by journalist Andy Martin and (former) Conservative and Independent Councillors after the reorganisation of local government in Dorset, with new candidates joining to stand in Christchurch wards for the inaugural 2019 Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council Election. Originally not forming a registered political party, CI was initially the joint-third largest alongside the Poole People and ALL group. In 2020, Christchurch Independents councillor Colin Bungey died, leading to a by-election being held the next year in the Commons Ward, for which the Christchurch Independents were registered as a political party.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Poole Civic Centre</span> Municipal building in Poole, Dorset, England

Poole Civic Centre is an Art Deco municipal building in Poole, Dorset. Since 7 October 2019 the building has been a Grade II listed building. Also sometimes known as Poole Town Hall, the civic centre was the headquarters of Poole Borough Council until 2019.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Town Hall, Christchurch</span> Municipal building in Christchurch, Dorset, England

The Town Hall, Christchurch is a municipal building in Christchurch, Dorset, England. The building, which incorporates a room known as the mayor's parlour on the first floor, and is a Grade II listed building. It is currently the base of Christchurch Town Council.

References

  1. ↑ "County Hall". Dorset County Council.[ permanent dead link ]
  2. ↑ Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (25 May 2018). "The Bournemouth, Dorset and Poole (Structural Changes) Order 2018". Legislation.gov.uk. Retrieved 28 May 2018.
  3. ↑ "Standard Area Measurements (extent of the realm)". Office for National Statistics. 31 December 2007. Archived from the original (ZIP) on 10 January 2011. Retrieved 9 December 2009.
  4. 1 2 "About the Dorset Waste Partnership and Recycle for Dorset", Dorset Council website. Retrieved 3 November 2019.
  5. 1 2 "New Christchurch refuse collection scheme a 'load of rubbish", Bournemouth Echo, 5 November 2012. Retrieved 3 November 2019.
  6. 1 2 "'Urgent' call for review of waste service as rubbish builds up in streets", Dorset Echo, 30 October 2014. Retrieved 3 November 2019.
  7. 1 2 "Waste partnership is standing firm on rubbish bags despite vermin fears", Dorset Echo, 16 December 2014. Retrieved 3 November 2019.
  8. ↑ "Dorset Waste Partnership backlash at county council meeting", Dorset Echo, 13 February 2015. Retrieved 4 November 2019.
  9. ↑ "Bins are still unemptied", Dorset Echo, 20 August 2015. Retrieved 4 November 2019.
  10. ↑ "Dorset Waste Partnership slammed over missed collections", Dorset Echo, 26 August 2015. Retrieved 4 November 2019.
  11. ↑ "RUBBISH! Pensioner, 79, dumps two weeks worth of recycling at Dorset Waste Partnership HQ in protest at service", Dorset Echo, 26 January 2016. Retrieved 4 November 2019.
  12. ↑ "Dorset Waste Partnership now 3m over budget after 'unexpected vehicle costs'", Bournemouth Echo, 4 February 2015. Retrieved 4 November 2019.
  13. ↑ "Dorset Waste Partnership chief suspended as investigation is launched", Bournemouth Echo, 3 March 2015. Retrieved 4 November 2019.
  14. 1 2 3 "Unlawful arrangements in summary", Part 2 of Monitoring Officer Report put before Dorset Waste Partnership Joint Committee, 11 March 2015. Retrieved 4 November 2019.
  15. ↑ "Dorset Waste Partnership director Steve Burdis dismissed", Bournemouth Echo, 22 March 2016. Retrieved 4 November 2019.
  16. ↑ "Future of local authorities being shaken up after plans for 'super council' emerge", Dorset Echo, 18 September 2015. Retrieved 4 November 2019.
  17. ↑ "Future of local government: the three options being considered by councils across Dorset", Bournemouth Echo, 10 January 2016. Retrieved 4 November 2019.
  18. ↑ "New unitary authorities formally takeover from Dorset's nine councils". Public Sector Executive. 1 April 2019. Retrieved 23 August 2019.
  19. ↑ "Local Government Act 1972". legislation.gov.uk . Retrieved 19 August 2023.
  20. ↑ "The Dorset (Boroughs of Poole and Bournemouth)(Structural Change) Order 1995". legislation.gov.uk . Retrieved 19 August 2023.

50°42′58″N2°26′26″W / 50.71611°N 2.44056°W / 50.71611; -2.44056 (County Hall)

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