BOURNEMOUTH council’s housing director is to leave the authority after more than four decades, just two months before it is abolished.

Gary Josey is to retire from the head of its housing and communities department ahead of the formation of the new Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP) council in April.

Through his role, Mr Josey has overseen the council’s own house-building work and coroner’s services as well as leading the set-up of its housing companies.

He started working for the council as an apprentice carpenter in 1977, before working his way up to the head of its housing department.

The council’s executive director, Bill Cotton, said: “Having started out as an apprentice and completed a magnificent 41 years of service working for Bournemouth council, ending up as service director for housing and communities, Gary Josey has decided that the time is now right to retire ahead of BCP council coming in.

“I personally would like to thank Gary for his amazing years of long service and dedication to the role and to wish him well in retirement.”

A number of department heads have left the council in recent months ahead of its abolition.

Gary Josey, said: “I’m very proud of everything we have achieved in Bournemouth, in particular our council housing new builds developed with our own workforce and contingent of more than 40 apprentices.

“Our housing teams are out in all hours and have wonderful care and dedication to looking after our tenants.

“Parks and bereavement services are amazing too, always going that extra mile.

“I am sure they will all go from strength to strength in BCP council.”

Mr Josey is the latest in a line of departures of senior council figures from across Dorset to have taken place ahead of the formation of two new councils in April.

Bournemouth council's head of planning, Andrew England, and head of transportation services, Ian Kalra, have left their roles in recent months while Dorset County Council's director of highways, Andrew Martin, has also gone.

The majority of the director positions for the new BCP council have been filled with the remaining head of children’s services appointment due to be made next month.