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Javid approves Dorset councils merger
Housing and communities secretary Sajid Javid has approved a reorganisation of councils in Dorset which will see two local authorities review their housing strategies.
The reorganisation, which is still subject to parliamentary consent, would see the county’s nine existing councils replaced with two unitary authorities from April 2019.
One of the new authorities will merge Bournemouth Borough Council, Borough of Poole and Christchurch Borough Council – all of which are currently Conservative-led.
Bournemouth currently directly manages a stock of around 5,000 homes, while an ALMO manages Poole’s 4,500 units.
Poole’s ALMO, Poole Housing Partnership, survived a review towards the end of 2017.
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Christchurch Borough Council transferred its stock to a housing association in the early 1990s. It was the only council to oppose the reorganisation.
It is understood the three authorities will be reviewing their future housing management strategy over the next 12 months.
Bournemouth also owns a housing company, Seascape Homes and Property Limited, which purchases properties to let as private rented accommodation.
In a written statement to parliament on Monday, Mr Javid said: “I am satisfied that these new councils are likely to improve local government and service delivery in their areas, generating savings, increasing financial resilience, facilitating a more strategic and holistic approach to planning and housing challenges, and sustaining good local services.”
The other councils to merge – East Dorset, North Dorset, Purbeck, West Dorset and Weymouth & Portland – are all non-stock-retaining.
