A NEW cabinet position has been created at Bournemouth council which will focus on local government reorganisation (LGR).

It was announced as part of leader John Beesley's cabinet reshuffle at a full council meeting on Tuesday.

Councillor Philip Broadhead will be heading up the new portfolio local government reorganisation and economic growth.

Cllr Broadhead, an estate agent, has not held a cabinet position before, but has been vice-chairman of the health and adult social care scrutiny panel.

According to Cllr Beesley the new portfolio will focus on "local aspirations as well as the Government agenda". He also said the work done would not just be for Bournemouth, but for Bournemouth, Poole and Christchurch.

During the meeting Cllr Beesley also announced that Cllr Lawrence Williams would be leaving his post as cabinet member for tourism, leisure and the arts to serve as mayor this year. He has been replaced by Cllr Pat Oakley.

Cllr Michael Filer will also be leaving the council's executive and stepping down as the cabinet member for waste.

The portfolio will be merged with transport, sustainability and carbon management - which will remain in the hands of Cllr Mike Greene.

All other cabinet positions remain unchanged.

During Tuesday's meeting Cllr Beesley thanked both Cllr Williams and Cllr Filer for their "dedicated service" on the cabinet and explained why he was only making two changes to the borough's executive.

He called it a year of "unprecedented times" mentioning the speed and pace of the shared services agenda with neighbouring councils, the difficulty the council faces at finding an additional £10.5million in savings over the next two years and also the probability of local government reorganisation.

Speaking at the meeting, he said: "I am confident that at some stage LGR will go ahead and as a result now would be the wrong time to make substantial changes to cabinet."

The changes to the cabinet came into effect on Thursday.