10th September 2014
Uniting the Conurbation was established some two and a half years ago by a group of businessmen, residents and former local politicians to promote what we see as the enormous potential benefits of a single unitary Council for the Bournemouth Christchurch and Poole conurbation.
We were encouraged in the early stages by the Government’s City Region Deal proposals and it was a great pity that the bid put forward by DLEP was not successful. It now seems to be a shared view by the main political parties at Westminster that powers and resources should be delegated to City Regions which can show a clear commitment to achieve more visionary and efficient Local Government for their areas .
However, having considered the Strategic Economic Plan “Transforming Dorset” produced and submitted to central government by DLEP, as a group we have great concerns that in governance terms we are travelling down a road which is not good for either the conurbation or the rural part of the County of Dorset.
The urban and rural areas of Dorset have totally different needs and aspirations. By trying to put them together “Transforming Dorset” greatly dilutes the case for both. It rightly emphasises the great natural assets and heritage of the rural county and proposals to stimulate rural towns and villages are quite right but do the folks in the rural parts really want to be promoted as a source of “economic transformation “?
The conurbation, on the other hand, in order to provide the right opportunities for the future must promote a dynamic profile as a place to visit, live in and do business with. We must compete with other major conurbations not only in the UK but world-wide. The message which we send out must be crystal clear.
With the UK Central Government of whatever political colour almost certain to be looking at consolidation of centres of local government, the DLEP document seems to promote to the present Government the prospect of a unitary council for Dorset . That was tried on a two-tier basis from 1974 to 1997 and both rural and urban districts were unhappy with it.
THE URBAN AND RURAL PARTS OF DORSET MUST EACH PROMOTE THEIR SEPARATE IDENTITY,VISION AND GOVERNANCE if we are not to be beset again by the differences which caused so much deadlock during that two tier Council period.
Why not divide future DLEP proposals for economic development into two separate sections? This will bring like strategies together and not water them down.
We would be very happy to meet and discuss the situation with the Board of DLEP because we really believe that it’s essential to get this issue of future governance of our communities sorted out right NOW before a “solution” which nobody wants is inflicted on us.
Yours sincerely
On behalf of UTC
Douglas Eyre
Chair of Steering group
