A DEPOSED leader of Christchurch council has said the authority is “confused” and suffering from a “total lack of direction”.

Cllr Ray Nottage also said it would be “sheer madness” to consider increasing councillors’ allowances and that they should be frozen until the next elections.

Cllr Nottage was deposed by his own Conservative group earlier this year amid a row over plans to shake up local government in Dorset.

He was one of the architects of plans to replace Bournemouth, Poole and Christchurch councils with one powerful new authority. Christchurch councillors voted to oppose the Future Dorset proposals, but cabinet minister Sajid Javid has said he is “minded” to approve them in January.

Cllr Nottage’s criticism of the council came as an independent panel considered the question of councillors’ allowances.

An email to councillors said the panel would present its recommendations on December 12, and that members had until November 23 to make written representations on the issue.

Cllr Nottage wrote in reply: “In view of the current confused state of this council’s political administration, the effect on officer morale associated with the uncertainty of the future structure of this council and a total lack of direction and the effect on our constituents, it would, in my opinion, be sheer madness to review upwards any allowance or special measure/responsibility multiplier for any member.

“Further, the existing levels should be frozen until the end of this electoral term.”

The reforms backed by Cllr Nottage originally included options for Christchurch to become part of a single council with Bournemouth and Poole or another single council covering the rest of Dorset.

After his resignation earlier this year, Cllr Nottage insisted the Future Dorset plans had majority support on the council until the town’s MP, Chris Chope, weighed in against the idea.

Cllr Nottage said then that local government needed reorganisation and “the current system is untenable”.

Joint committees have already been set up to prepare the way for the planned new council, which should be up and running by April 2019 if Mr Javid gives final approval.

A referendum among Christchurch voters was approved by councillors in March. However, it was postponed following the announcement of June’s snap general election and delays in the government response to Future Dorset.