The Bournemouth, Dorset and Poole (Structural Changes) Order 2018

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Order)

This Order provides for the establishment, on 1st April 2019, of a single tier of local government for a new local government area comprising the existing Boroughs of Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole and a single tier of local government for the remainder of the county of Dorset (articles 3 and 7). The counties and boroughs of Bournemouth and Poole, the county of Dorset and the districts in the county of Dorset are abolished on 1st April 2019.

A new county and a new district, both to be known as Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole, are created for the same area as the existing boroughs of Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole. A new district council, the Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council, is created for the new district and will be the sole principal authority for the district. There will be no county council for the new county.

A new county and a new district, to be known as Dorset, are created for the same area as the remainder of the county of Dorset (except Christchurch). With effect from 1st April 2019, the Dorset Council will be the sole principal authority for the district. There will be no county council for the new county.

The term of office of councillors of Bournemouth and Poole Borough Councils, Dorset County Council and of all the existing district councils in Dorset will end on 1st April 2019.

Part 4 of the Order contains arrangements relevant to Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole. Article 11 provides for the establishment of Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council to operate as a shadow authority before it takes on the full functions of a local authority on 1st April 2019. The members of the shadow authority are the councillors of Bournemouth, Poole and Christchurch Borough Councils. Article 12 provides for the creation of a shadow executive committee to discharge the functions of the shadow authority. Article 23 provides for the creation of a Central Implementation Team to support the shadow executive committee. The shadow authority and shadow executive committee are tasked with making all necessary arrangements in advance of 1st April 2019 (including preparing and keeping under review an implementation plan and appointment of key officers); the costs of the shadow authority and shadow executive committee are to be met by the existing Borough Councils (articles 12 to 23).

Part 5 of the Order deals with electoral matters for Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council including provision that a whole council election of councillors of Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council is to take place on the ordinary day of elections in 2019 and in every fourth year thereafter (article 24).

Part 6 of the Order contains arrangements relevant to Dorset, in similar terms as those contained in Part 4 in relation to Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole. Dorset Council is established to operate as a shadow authority and provision is made to ensure the transition of functions and responsibilities from the County Council and District Councils. The costs of the shadow authority and shadow executive are to be met by the existing County Council and district councils (articles 25 to38).

Part 7 of the Order deals with electoral matters for Dorset Council including provision that a whole council election of councillors of Dorset Council is to take place on the ordinary day of elections in 2019, on the ordinary day of elections in 2024 and 2029 and in every fourth year thereafter and for all parish council elections in the newly established administrative county and district of Dorset to take place on the same days as the election of councillors to Dorset Council in 2019 and in subsequent years (article 39 and 40).

Part 8 of the Order imposes general transitional duties on the County Council and on the existing District and Borough councils, in particular to cooperate with each other and the shadow authorities and shadow executives.

The Schedules set out the electoral wards of Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council and Dorset Council.

A full regulatory impact assessment has not been prepared as this instrument will have no impact on the costs of business and the voluntary sector.