CALLS for local government reorganisation-supporting Christchurch councillors to be reinstated to committees have been rejected.

Despite a recommendation from the Conservative Party’s Dorset area chairman, Chris Loder, the leader of Christchurch council, Cllr David Flagg, said that it was “not the business of the council” to act on it.

Mr Loder’s suggestion followed his decision to overturn a formal censure placed on nine councillors for their support of the county’s council mergers.

It was made just weeks after the council approved a raft of changes to its committee structure at its September meeting, most of which involved the removal of these members in favour of those who had backed the council’s opposition to local government reorganisation.

At the end of August, a panel led by Mr Loder met to consider an appeal by the impacted councillors, Cllrs Claire Bath, Bernie Davies, Tavis Fox, Cllr Wendy Grace, Vicki Hallam, Ray Nottage, Lisle Smith, Sue Spittle and Trevor Watts, against the reprimand.

In September, he published a report into his findings which said that there was “a lack of credible evidence” of the Christchurch Conservative group’s policy and that the censure made in July was “unenforceable”.

At Tuesday’s meeting of Christchurch council, resident Brian Case, asked Cllr Flagg whether he would be acting on the recommendation to reinstate councillors’ committees positions.

However, Cllr Flagg said that Mr Loder’s recommendation was not part of the council’s “business”.

“The motion was tabled in accordance with the constitution’s procedural rules,” he said.

“The motion was carried with members voting 13 to eight with one abstention.

“The committees consist of experienced councillors all working for the best interests of Christchurch residents as we move towards the new unitary authority.

“Mr Loder’s recommendation does not form part of the business of this council.”

As part of the committee changes agreed in September, the former leader of the council, Cllr Ray Nottage, lost his spot on the resources, planning and licensing committees.

The shake-up also saw planning committee chairman, Cllr Lisle Smith, and vice -chairman, Cllr Tavis Fox, removed from their positions.