A major consultation has been launched on important proposals to reshape Dorset's councils. All Dorset councils are jointly considering proposals to reduce the number of local authorities in the county from nine to two. Dorset’s nine councils currently spend £920 million a year delivering services (based on 2015/16). This year the amount of money the Government passed on to Dorset’s councils to run services was £51.9million. That’s £142 million less received in Government funding today than in 2010/11. Despite your councils becoming more efficient, the reality is that they have less money to spend on local services. Dorset’s councils now think it is time to look at a more cost-effective approach for the future. It is now essential that change is considered in order to minimise cuts to services beyond 2019/20, and to ensure councils are sustainable for the future.

Due to the resignation of Councillor David Turtle (Conservative), Bournemouth Council has announced that there will be a By-election for the electoral ward of Kinson North on Thursday 1 September 2016.