CHRISTCHURCH council will consider whether to scrap its portfolio holders at a meeting on Tuesday next week.

The full council will be asked to terminate the senior roles which have been assigned to members since 2001, and to transfer their responsibilities to the heads of the borough’s various committees.

Leader David Flagg said the move would result in more transparency and reduced costs, with the borough no longer paying portfolio holders the special responsibility allowance - usually between £3,500 and £4,000.

“Many members feel this will be more open and transparent,” he said. “We have previously had reports from portfolio holders every three months.

“Now they will be every six weeks and will be discussed in the committees.

“Portfolio holders had no decision making powers.

“They would have if we were a cabinet system, and many members feel there has been a gradual slide towards a cabinet system, and don’t feel that is correct.”

According to a report for the meeting, the council will be reviewing the allowances paid to members.

“The changes proposed in this report will require a review of the special responsibilities paid to members,” it says.

“The council is currently seeking to establish a new independent remuneration panel which will undertake a review of members’ allowances in July 2017.”

The borough is also proposing to make a change to its constitution to divide its policy and resources committee into separate resources and community committees, and also to allow the town’s sole UKIP councillor Janet Abbott to sit on three committees.

Under existing balance rules, designed to ensure proportional representation of political parties on committees, UKIP would not have a place.

Cllr Flagg said: “We wouldn’t want to bar anybody elected by members of the public from any of our committees.”

Under the proposals, Cllr Abbott would sit on the scrutiny and policy overview, licensing and joint audit committees. At least one of the borough’s two independents will sit on every committee.