New town councils proposed for Bournemouth and Poole after governance review
A group of councillors has recommended three new town councils, covering Broadstone, Bournemouth and Poole, is created
Last updated 24th Sep 2025
Three new town councils could soon be established across Bournemouth and Poole following recommendations from a cross-party group of councillors.
The Task and Finish group, made up of 10 councillors from across the political spectrum, has recommended creating Broadstone Town Council, Bournemouth Town Council and Poole Town Council.
These bodies would replace the current Charter Trustees system and sit beneath Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP) Council, taking on their own budgets and responsibilities.
The proposals follow a Community Governance Review and consultation held earlier this year, which invited residents and organisations to have their say.
Parish and town councils - of which there are more than 10,000 across England - can run a wide range of local services, from allotments and car parks to festivals and community events.
Cllr Oliver Walters, chair of the Task and Finish group, said the recommendations aimed to return more decision-making power to communities.
He said: “We analysed all comments submitted by residents and organisations through the consultation and final recommendations bring Poole, Bournemouth and Broadstone back in line with the rest of Dorset and deliver further decision-making power back into the hands of the people living in these areas.”
The recommendations will now be scrutinised by the council’s Overview and Scrutiny Board, Cabinet and then debated at full council in October.
BCP Council leader, Cllr Millie Earl, said: “The council has made a commitment to look at ways in which we could give our communities more say over the decisions that affect their local area.
“I now look forward to the recommendations going through the normal democratic scrutiny process, which will provide all councillors with an opportunity for healthy and meaningful debate on this important matter.”
If approved, the three new councils would mark a significant shift in local governance, giving residents greater influence over services and shaping the future of their communities.