THERE was a row over political representation on Bournemouth council's committees at a recent meeting.

Conservative councillor Nick Rose asked why there was no member of an opposition party on the borough's corporate overview and scrutiny panel, "one of the most important panels we have".

The authority has seen two changes to its political make-up in recent months, with former UKIP Cllr Laurence Fear defecting to the Conservatives, and Cllr Stephen Bartlett leaving the Tory group in July to become an independent.

Cllr Bartlett, fellow independent Cllr Anne Rey and the Green Party's Cllr Simon Bull are currently the only political opposition to the Conservatives.

Cllr Rose said: "There has been a change in the balance of the council since the membership of council boards and panels was agreed recently, with the balance changing back to how it was after the May 2015 election, when we had 51 Conservatives.

"Why is now that the Corporate Overview and Scrutiny Panel appears to still be 100 per cent Conservative when it did have one non-Conservative after the May 2015 election?"

In response, Cllr Anne Filer, cabinet member for corporate efficiency, said the council had reviewed its political balance in April and July, adopting recommendations from its nominations board with no minority party member on the Corporate panel.

"In fact, of the six scrutiny panels only two have opposition members," she said.

"This was all unanimously agreed at the council meeting last July and unfortunately I don't think you attended this meeting, nor did you make any representations."