The Conservative group on Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council has criticised the creation of new town councils for Bournemouth, Poole and Broadstone, saying the decision goes against the wishes of residents.
Fifty councillors will be elected across the three new town councils following recommendations from the authority’s Community Governance Review Task and Finish Group.
Conservative councillors John Beesley and Gavin Wright, who both sat on the group, said the proposals for Poole only just passed while the Bournemouth recommendation needed the chair’s casting vote.
They said the plans are “undemocratic and against the views of the overwhelming majority of residents according to the council’s own consultation,” highlighting that 76 per cent of respondents in Bournemouth and 65 per cent in Poole opposed the idea.
The pair also warned that residents will face extra costs, with precepts charged in advance to cover elections and set-up. They pointed to other towns such as Weymouth, Blandford and Falmouth where town councils levy hundreds of pounds a year.
Councillor Beesley and Councillor Wright added: “Local communities haven’t asked for them, they have opposed them. However, the current administration wants to impose them on residents regardless.”
They said the move would create more bureaucracy and more councillors, with no cap on future costs to households.
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