COUNCILLORS on the new Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole council are set for a lecturing with its meetings continuing to take place at Bournemouth University.

With no council facility in the conurbation being large enough to hold all 76 councillors, the new unitary authority will continue to use the university's lecture hall.

The facility has been used to hold meetings of the larger shadow authority, consisting of 120 members while smaller committee meetings have made use of a range of council rooms.

Before the merger was formally agreed, councillors had also considered using the Bournemouth International Centre as the venue for its meetings but the university was chosen instead.

A task and finish group set up to consider the issue visited both facilities before recommending the university's lecture hall "on the basis that the available room at the university is large enough, has sufficient space to enable attendance by members of the public, available parking and is available".

And despite the number of councillors set to be reduced following elections in May, the arrangement will continue.

A shadow authority spokesman said: "The lecture theatres at Bournemouth University’s Talbot Campus will be used for full council meetings of the Bournemouth Christchurch and Poole Council, just as they have successfully been used for shadow authority meetings to date.

"This is the most logistical, technological, and administratively sensible location to accommodate all 76 Councillors, plus ensure enough room and the right facilities for the public to attend as well as for officers supporting the meeting."

The new council's committees will continue to meet at existing council facilities although final details have yet to be determined.