A POOLE councillor has said it "may be too late" for the authority to have its say on plans for a 'super council' in Dorset.

Cllr David Brown told members of Borough of Poole cabinet that the council was at risk of being left behind in the decision making process.

Speaking at a meeting on Tuesday night Cllr Brown was urging cabinet to agree to hold an all member workshop to discuss options for Local Government Reorganisation.

He claimed that Poole was not being proactive enough throughout this process, and queried why members had not been given the opportunity to discuss a preferred way forward when other local authorities had.

"As we sit here tonight Christchurch Borough councillors are meeting to express their views on the future of local government in Dorset," he added.

"That means another authority is discussing what should happen in Christchurch, Bournemouth and Poole, and this isn't the first time.

"In fact Poole Borough councillors are the only ones who haven't met to discuss what should happen in Poole.

"This means other authorities are driving the agenda and I think this could be detrimental to Poole.

"We need to have reports from officers and then the chance for all members of this council to discuss them.

"It's long over due and I fear that it may even be too late."

However council leader Janet Walton strongly refuted these claims and told members that "it was definitely not too late" for Poole to have it's say.

"Any decision being made by other authorities about Poole is not binding," she said.

"Other authorities are not driving the agenda for Poole in any way and I am quite able to stand up for Poole in meetings with the other council leaders and chief executives.

"It was always intended that there would be seminars and workshops for members to learn more about what is happening and for them to have their say and we are also considering further types of engagement."

At the meeting the cabinet agreed to an all member workshop to discuss options for Local Government Reorganisation.

A public consultation the Combined Authority ends on Friday (June17).