Dorset (unitary authority)


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

History and statutory process

Statutory Instruments for re-organisation of Dorset were made in May 2018. These implemented the Future Dorset plan to see all councils then existing within the county abolished and replaced by two new unitary authorities on 1 April 2019.
As regards to planning decisions, highways, cleaning, education and social care no confusion remains as to the potentially relevant body between two tiers of local government.
Significant saving follows from one highly skilled and well-remunerated executive and one body of councillors as compared to six each of varying functions. Co-working measures had long been shown locally to make inroads towards an efficient, combined approach. This delivers better value for ratepayers.
Allaying fears of democratic deficit, the council area's population, approximately 367,000, is smaller than the most populous and complex or larger unitary authorities such as Birmingham City Council and Wiltshire Council.
The vast majority of the unitary authority area retains another tier of local government, by having a civil parish, a late Victorian innovation which has been reduced to a consultative planning and minor amenities role such as co-funding events, festivities, footpaths and sports facilities during the 20th century. The funding of civil parishes is through a small tax supplement to council tax known as civil parish precept.