PARISH and town councils across Dorset could be managing more services in the future.

Dorset Council leader Nick Ireland has invited those interested in taking on services to come forward and start a conversation.

“They need to approach us and we will give them if we can,” said Cllr Ireland, “We need to devolve things… ask your parish, or town, is there something we are doing you think you could do better tell us, feed back to us and we will try and make it happen.”

Several town councils, notably Lyme Regis, Bridport, Dorchester and Swanage, have long lobbied to take on some activities from Dorset Council, inlcuding  the town market in the case of Dorchester.

The new Portfolio holder for transformation and change at Dorset Council, Purbeck councillor Ben Wilson, told a Cabinet meeting that he had no clear view about what could be devolved to the smaller councils at the moment.

“What I am clear on in my own mind today is that we live in a world of grey areas and I think our relationships with our town and parish councils is becoming an increasingly grey area and what I want to see with absolute clarity what that relationship is.

“On a personal basis I believe our town and parish councils are often best equipped to service their resident and therefore, if there are opportunities to devolve to those bodies I would welcome that,” he said.

Weymouth councillor Ryan Hope said the issue was high on the Lib Dem agenda and the group was keen to encourage more town and parish councils to take on roles they felt able to.

Swanage councillor Gary Suttle said that transferring some work to parish and town councils might not always be the best solution as many were not set up to take on the work and would only achieve small savings, even where the switch worked.

He called on the Lib Dem administration to concentrate on bigger issues, such as savings through the wholescale transforming of services, before looking to smaller changes.