A new town council for Weymouth has been set up as part of the plans for local government reorganisation in Dorset. Once Weymouth and Portland Borough Council ceased to exist in April 2019, Weymouth would have been the only area in Dorset without a town or parish council.
Background
Two rounds of public consultation took place as part of a Community Governance Review between March 2017 and February 2018.
Weymouth and Portland Borough Council agreed to set up a new parish council for Weymouth on 22 February 2018. This was in anticipation of the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government deciding to support the plans to reorganise local government in Dorset. The Secretary of State’s decision was announced a few days later on 26 February.
Setting up the new council
Weymouth and Portland Borough Council approved the first Order to create the new town council at a special Full Council meeting on 28 June 2018. This Order set the warding arrangements and councillor numbers. There will be 29 town councillors covering the same wards in Weymouth as the current borough council.
The process for transferring of assets to the Weymouth Town Council will be by way of a further detailed Order that will be put before Full Council on 21 February 2019.
Weymouth and Portland Borough Council agreed which assets and functions would transfer to the new town council and set the 2019/20 budget.
Find more information about Weymouth Town Council