INFIGHTING among Christchurch councillors was ramped up after plans were revealed to restructure the council’s committee structure.

A motion put forward to full council by six members opposed to Local Government Reorganisation sets out a series of changes to the make up of the authorities meeting boards.

No fewer than 23 membership changes are proposed in the plan, which will be debated at a meeting on Tuesday.

The majority of the alterations, 16, concern removing councillors, who were in favour of the Future Dorset proposals to merge the council with Bournemouth and Poole next year, from roles.

Former leader of the council Cllr Ray Nottage could lose his spot on the resources, planning and licensing committees.

It is also proposed to remove planning committee chairman Cllr Lisle Smith and vice chairman Cllr Tavis Fox. In total six members currently on the board responsible for housing development applications could be removed, with the overall membership being reduced from 11 to ten.

Seven changes are proposed for the ten-member licensing committee.

Four alterations are set out for the ethical governance committee, three for resources, two for community and one for scrutiny.

The motion was put forward by Cllr Colin Bungey, Cllr Peter Hall, Cllr Trish Jamieson, Cllr David Jones, Cllr Denise Jones and Cllr Fred Neale.

Cllr David Jones told the Daily Echo: “I think it is fair to say a number of councillors feel it would be more appropriate to rearrange the committees at this stage as we run into the last few months of the council.

“We think it is appropriate to reorganise the committee membership. We are looking at the way in which committees can function.

“The situation we are looking at is different to where we were in May because we believed we would be working as an ongoing council.”

Cllr Claire Bath and Cllr Smith could be moved from three of the committees they currently sit on.

The latter has chaired three of the four planning meetings since being appointed in May and said she was unaware of the reason behind the motion.

“I think they are unnecessary changes, but I do not know the reason behind them as of yet,” Cllr Smith said.

“If approved they are going to require additional training and provide more work for officers, who are already dealing with more than normal.

"No one has told me I have been doing a bad job (as planning chairman) and I really enjoy working in planning.”