A POOLE councillor trying to uncover details of "secret meetings" where super council merger plans were discussed has called the lack of information "absolutely disgusting."

Liberal Democrat group leader Mike Brooke is demanding to know what discussions were had before the proposal to merge Bournemouth, Christchurch, East Dorset and Poole to make one authority for the conurbation was revealed in September.

Should it go ahead the move would mean the end of plans for a Dorset-wide combined authority, which has been under consideration since last year.

Cllr Brooke told the Echo: "There's no traceable paper trail which is absolutely disgusting. What I want to know is what discussions have the group leaders had on the alternative possibilities - where's the paper trail that shows becoming a combined authority is not better than being merged?

"All the decision making process has to be made public - and I've not seen anything - just four leaders saying this is what we are proposing to do."

He added: "I'm being told it's early days and nothing has been done - but it's not early days - they have been talking since May. Because no one is coming up with any information I have been forced to put in freedom of information requests to try to find out.

"They must tell us how they arrived at this point - we have a right to know, we have a right to be involved. This is a decision for all councillors across all parties - not just four leaders talking in secret behind closed doors. There are 160 odd councillors and just four leaders pushing this - it's not right."

A comment from Cllr Janet Walton, leader of Borough of Poole on behalf of all four councils said: “The leaders of all nine councils in Bournemouth, Dorset and Poole have agreed to work together to seek agreement on the future shape of local government in Poole, Bournemouth and Dorset. In doing so, we are committed to working together to explore the options and develop a case for change which best serves the long-term interests of residents and businesses.

“Further reductions in the level of government funding for local services mean we must consider ambitious solutions if our councils are to continue to provide the services our residents expect and deserve. Alongside this financial challenge, it is important that we realise the potential for the economic prosperity of the area through the Government’s desire to devolve greater powers to local authorities.

“A report outlining the case for change and the options for the future structure of local government in Dorset will be considered by all nine councils by the end of 2015. Should all the councils agree to the proposal, further work will be commissioned to examine the options in greater detail and develop the case for a preferred option.”