Prior to 2019, the non-metropolitan county of Dorset had a two-tier structure of local government, with Dorset County Council serving as the upper-tier authority, and the six district councils of Christchurch, East Dorset, North Dorset, Purbeck, West Dorset, and Weymouth and Portland serving as lower-tier authorities. The boroughs of Bournemouth and Poole had both been removed from the non-metropolitan county in 1997 to become unitary authorities, but remained part of the ceremonial county.[4]
Following consultation on proposals described as 'Future Dorset', which concluded in 2018, local government across the whole ceremonial county of Dorset was reorganised with effect from 1 April 2019. The nine previous councils (Dorset County Council, the six lower-tier district councils and the two unitary authorities of Bournemouth and Poole) were all abolished. They were replaced by two unitary authorities: Dorset Council and Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council. [5]
The way the changes were implemented was to redefine the non-metropolitan county of Dorset to remove the borough of Christchurch, which was merged with Bournemouth and Poole to create Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole. The redefined non-metropolitan county therefore covered the combined area of the former districts of East Dorset, North Dorset, Purbeck, West Dorset, and Weymouth and Portland. A non-metropolitan district of Dorset was created matching the new version of the non-metropolitan county. Dorset Council is legally the district council, and there is no separate county council; the district council also performs county council functions, making it a unitary authority.[6]
A shadow authority was established in May 2018 to oversee the transition, comprising all elected councillors from the five districts in the new Dorset Council area, plus all councillors on Dorset County Council except the five who represented divisions in Christchurch.[7] Rebecca Knox, the Conservative leader of Dorset County Council, was appointed leader of the shadow authority.[8]
The new district and council formally came into being on 1 April 2019, at which point the old councils were abolished. The shadow authority continued to run the council until the inaugural election in May 2019.[9]
Governance
As a unitary authority, the council provides both district-level and county-level services. The whole area is divided into civil parishes, which form an additional tier of local government.[10]
Political control
Following the 2024 election, the Liberal Democrats had a two-seat majority on the council.[11] They therefore could have formed a majority administration alone, but opted instead to form an administration with the Green Party.[12][13]
Political control of the council since its formation in 2019 has been as follows:[14]
During the shadow period 2018–2019, Rebecca Knox, Conservative leader of the outgoing Dorset County Council, served as leader of the shadow authority.[15][16] At the first formal meeting of the new Dorset Council after its first elections in 2019, Spencer Flower was appointed leader of the council. He had been the last leader of the former East Dorset District Council.[17]
Since the first election in 2019 the council has comprised 82 councillors representing 52 wards, with each ward electing one, two or three councillors.[25][26][27] As part of the reforms creating the new council, it was specified that the first two elections in 2019 and 2024 should each be for a five year term of office, reverting to the normal four year terms used by other English local authorities from 2029 onwards.[28][29]
Premises
The council has its headquarters at County Hall at Colliton Park in Dorchester, which was completed for Dorset County Council in 1955.[30][31]
Cabinet
On 14 May 2024, the new cabinet was announced, including Green Party councillor from Rodwell and Wyke, Clare Sutton.[32] 'Lead councillors' (deputy portfolio holders) were scrapped to save money.[33][34] Four councillors representing wards in Weymouth were appointed, which was significant as the previous Conservative cabinet had no members from Weymouth, despite it being the largest town in the council's area.[35]
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