Title

LEGAL

Council's legal challenge to Dorset reorganisation to proceed to High Court

Christchurch BC has been given permission to take its case against local government reorganisation in Dorset to the High Court.

Christchurch BC has been given permission to take its case against local government reorganisation in Dorset to the High Court.

The council had previously warned it would take legal action against the unitary plans, arguing a referendum found 84% of its residents were against the proposal.

Christchurch leader, Cllr David Flagg, said: ‘While the Government might believe that our case is absurd that it is clearly not the view of the judge and we believe we have a strong legal argument.

‘The council has been thorough and meticulous in its approach, and being granted permission sends a strong message that the case is wholly with merit.

'I am pleased that we are able to continue to challenge the abolition of Christchurch BC in line with the wishes of those we were elected to represent and we will continue to do so.'

LEGAL

Forward motion for SEND?

By Rob Powell | 15 January 2026

Local government funding is a huge talking point as the new year kicks into gear, with cumulative SEND deficits being one of the areas strongly in need of he...

LEGAL

Challenging the LGR wisdom

By Heather Jameson | 15 January 2026

As local government faces the next round of reorganisation, Dorset Council chief Catherine Howe challenges the assumption that only county-scale leaders can ...

LEGAL

LGR will fail without an estate strategy

By Kane Lennon | 14 January 2026

Kane Lennon says reorganisation offers councils an opportunity to reshape the public estate, and if they take it seriously they will emerge better equipped f...

LEGAL

Digital thinking must drive reorganisation

By Geoff Connell | 14 January 2026

Geoff Connell says digital, data and technology are critical to the effective design of new unitaries and cannot be pieced together as an afterthought.

Popular articles by Laura Sharman