A LAST-MINUTE bid by the Conservative group to secure a majority on Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council has been dismissed by its target audience.

Election results at the beginning of the month left it three seats short of a majority and ahead of the first meeting of the new council on Tuesday and it has struggled to win the support of other councillors.

On Thursday, its leader Cllr Bob Lawton made three “key pledges” aimed mainly at winning the support of the eight independents in Christchurch.

Most were suspended by the Conservative Party earlier this year for their opposition to the merger with Bournemouth and Poole and its proposals for a seven-year period to level council tax and the planning committee structure.

Conservative group leader Cllr Bob Lawton said: “We saw the political landscape change considerably as a result of the local elections which has given us the opportunity to speak to colleagues from across all parties as we look to build a new future together.

“Whilst there are some differences, it is equally clear that there is a tremendous amount we share in common.

“In particular, it has become clear that there is a strength of feeling around certain issues which needs addressing immediately.”

He made three promises which he said the group would “commit to” should it form a new controlling group on Tuesday.

The first was to reduce the planned seven-year council tax harmonisation period from seven years to two which he said would be funded through “short-term savings in the budget”.

The second was to “review” the planning committee system to give the public “greater input” in decisions in their area.

The third was an agreement that the conurbation did not need a permanent transit site for travellers which he said would “sow discord” amongst communities.

Deputy Conservative group leader Cllr Philip Broadhead said: “We all know that, as the largest group and being only three short of a majority, the Conservatives are the best placed to deliver a strong council which actually gets things done.

"Rather than strike back-room deals, we are open and honest about the compromises we will make to ensure that the voices and key issues of residents are heard."

He added that they would be outlining more of their plans in the coming days.

However, Christchurch independent Cllr Margaret Phipps said it was too “late in the day” and said they would continue in their talks to form a coalition with non-Conservative groups.

“This is a very clear u-turn and it is rather late in the day,” she said. “Christchurch residents made their views very clear over a long time and they ignored them.”

“They told them they got it wrong at the ballot box emphatically but it should not have taken them this long to know that.

“As it stands we are still talking to the others and putting this out out of the blue does not change that.”

Meetings between representatives of most of the non-Conservative group have been ongoing since the election results as they tried to organise a ruling coalition with the 39 seats needed for a majority.

Decisions on a controlling administration and who will take up key roles, including leader, within the new council will be confirmed at Tuesday’s council meeting.