BOURNEMOUTH'S new mayor is under fire after allegedly favouring his party despite the strict political neutrality of the role.

Councillor Derek Borthwick was elected to the post last month, replacing Cllr Lawrence Williams, and will be the last Mayor of Bournemouth chosen by the borough council.

The role, which includes chairing full council meetings, is expected to be politically neutral, but in an email to a fellow Conservative Cllr Borthwick says the party should "play this close to us".

The email appears to have been intended for Cllr Ian Clark, but was sent to a resident by mistake. It states: "Hi Ian. See you have seen this one, need to play this close to us, not our job to help the green independents, received a few emails."

The resident sent the email, which concerned council plans to build on Hicks Farm in Throop, on to Independent and Green Group councillor Kieron Wilson.

Calling it a "calamitous mistake", Cllr Wilson said Cllr Borthwick should consider his position.

"It is very disappointing, I expected better of the first citizen of Bournemouth," he said.

"His words imply he is seeking to protect the Conservatives.

"It makes you wonder how often this kind of thing is going on.

"Maybe he should look at his position as mayor. It is a non-political role and he is clearly playing politics."

In an original email the resident concerned expressed fears that the borough would not carry out a proper conservation area appraisal of the Hicks Farm site, which it owns, leading to the buildings on site going the same way as the Holdenhurst Cob Barn – which was delisted and is earmarked for demolition.

"With something like this, a huge development, you need to put residents first, before politics and parties," added Cllr Wilson.

"I don't see why he has done this, although it goes with his track record I suppose."

Cllr Borthwick was the centre of a controversy in 2011 when he was elected to the council as an Independent but switched to the Tory group within a matter of days.

Speaking to the Echo, he denied favouring his own party and said he would apologise to Cllr Wilson if he had offended him.

He said: “I was not speaking as mayor, I was talking as a ward member. I am not that kind of person – I don’t favour anyone. I find myself in a difficult position because I want to do my job as a ward councillor and ensure my residents get the best they can out of me."