LAST ditch attempts to block Christchurch from joining Bournemouth and Poole councils will be go to the High Court today.
The borough council’s judicial review will take place in London after months of strong opposition to the Future Dorset proposals.
It is understood a group of senior council officers will be in attendance, alongside deputy council leader Trish Jamieson and Christchurch Mayor Lesley Dedman.
After seeking detailed legal advice from counsel, the local authority progressed its objections to the merger, which will see Christchurch, Bournemouth and Poole join to form one single unitary authority.
The basis for Christchurch Borough Council’s challenge is the view that the regualtions drafted by former Communities Secretary Sajid Javid were beyond his powers. This issue was raised in the House of Commons by Christchurch MP Sir Christopher Chope.
Christchurch Borough Council leader David Flagg (above) said: “We have been thorough and meticulous in our approach and simply being granted permission to have our case heard sends a strong message that it is wholly with merit.”
The announcement of a legal challenge in May intensified divisions among Christchurch’s Conservative majority group.
As reported by the Daily Echo, the nine Christchurch councillors who have campaigned for the merger to take place have been formally censured by their Tory colleagues.
Anti-merger councillors walked out of the inaugural meeting of the Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Shadow Authority last month, citing a potential conflict of interest with the legal challenge.
However, former Christchurch leader Ray Nottage still became chairman of the authority.
This move has been questioned by some members. Cllr Flagg said it was disappointing some councillors had not supported the borough council’s stance to Local Government Reorganisation.
Today’s hearing will take place before Sir Ross Cranston, who will be sitting as a judge of the High Court.
Sir Ross is a former Labour MP, representing Dudley North between 1997 and 2005.
During this time he served as solicitor general for three years.
The 70-year-old retired from the High Court in 2017 after ten years in the role, and he is currently a professor in law at London School of Economics.
Article originally appeared on Daily Echo
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