THE leader of Poole council has been elected as chairman of the new Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole shadow executive committee – putting her in pole position to be the leader of the new council next year.

Cllr Janet Walton automatically assumes the position of leader of the shadow authority – the precursor for what will be one of the largest local authorities in the country.

Alongside Cllr Walton, the leader of Bournemouth council Cllr John Beesley, was made vice-chairman at the committee’s first meeting in Poole yesterday.

The 16-member committee is made up of eight Bournemouth, six Poole and two Christchurch councillors.

It will be responsible for the majority of the shadow authority’s decisions.

The committee also agreed to start the process of recruiting a chief executive for the new authority.