DORSET Council is to carry out a review of the way it operates – but that may take another three years with no changes possible before the 2024 election.

The decision may fire the starting gun on a public referendum to bring about faster change to the system.  For that to happen it will require almost 15,000 signatures to start a referendum, which could cost £500,000.

The 47-25 decision calls for an investigation and a vote on either the cabinet or committee system which will tie the next council to whichever system is chosen. A move one councillor, Gary Suttle, described as unfair on the incoming council and showing “a level of arrogance that our opinion is more important than those who succeed us".

Thursday night’s meeting, more than four hours long and at times bad-tempered, rejected a Lib Dem move to switch from the cabinet and leader system to the committee system prior to the elections in 2024.

Council leader Spencer Flower said mid-term was not the time to change the way the council operates, especially in the middle of a global pandemic. He described the Lib Dem motion as “self-indulgent".

Lib Dem leader Cllr Nick Ireland argued that the current cabinet system, with all its members drawn from the Conservative ruling group, was less democratic than the alternative model and needed to be changed as soon as possible. He warned that if the move was lost his group would go for a public referendum to achieve change.

Council leader Spencer Flower described the Lib Dem motion as “naked, opportunistic politics” in its timing, “it’s opposition for opposition’s sake, completely inappropriate, at a time when we’re recovering from the pandemic".

He said to consider the changes now would impact on the council’s day to day business and helping the population cope with the pandemic. Cllr Flower said it would be better for a new council to look at the model of governance after the 2024 election, but his amendment to do that was lost.

Green group leader Clare Sutton said the current model sent out a bad signal to residents, discouraged young people from becoming councillors and failed to make best use of the talents of all.

Other ideas rejected during the evening included a call to improve public consultation by holding ‘people’s assemblies’ over climate change policies.

Cabinet member Cllr Ray Bryan said there was doubt in some councillor’s minds about the ”motives, behaviours and actions” of some of those who were suggesting this.