New Shadow Dorset Council formed

The Shadow Dorset Council consists of all 174 members for the Dorset Area (drawn from the existing Dorset area councils) and will ensure the safe and legal transition from the six existing councils to the new Dorset Council in April next year, with elections due to take place in May 2019.

It was established when the Structural Order, confirming the creation of the new unitary council, was approved by Parliament and ratified by the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, James Brokenshire MP.

Digital was embraced at the first meeting of the Shadow Dorset Council with a live broadcast of the meeting via livestream and councillors used remote handsets to cast votes on decisions.

Councillor Hilary Cox was appointed the chairman of the Shadow Dorset Council and Cllr Peter Shorland was appointed vice chairman. Member nominations to other committees were also approved including the 20 seats of the newly established Shadow Executive Committee which meets for the first time on 18 June, when the leader of the Shadow Dorset Council will be elected and announced.

Councillor Hilary Cox said, “Wow. Shadow Dorset Council. A unitary council for our residents. Something I have dreamt of for 21 years. I am delighted to see us all come together to form our new Shadow Dorset Council. This is a huge occasion for local government in Dorset and one which should be celebrated. However it’s a huge task and as a Shadow Council we must work together to make it happen.

“The new ‘Dorset Council’ will serve around 377,000 residents so combined with the new authority for Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole, we will be within the 20 largest local authorities in the country. We will have a more unified voice and will create stronger and better links both nationally and locally. This is huge opportunity to better streamline our services for our residents and to make them more accessible and modern. I look forward to taking this journey together in creating our new Dorset Council for April next year.”