HIGHCLIFFE and Walkford councillor Nigel Brooks has left the Christchurch Independents group to become an independent.

He said he would remain a member of the ‘unity alliance’ running BCP Council but that the move would allow him to work cross-party.

Confirmed at Tuesday’s meeting of the council, the decision means that Cllr Brooks will lose his seat on the overview and scrutiny board.

Speaking about the decision, Cllr Brooks said: “I was pleased to be part of the Christchurch Independents team, which is an informal group – and not a political party – for the BCP Council elections in May.

“The over-riding objective of the team was to speak up for Christchurch and see the early harmonisation of council tax.

“This has now been achieved with Christchurch residents looking forward to a reduced BCP Council Tax in 2020/21 and then parity with Bournemouth and Poole’s estimated Council Tax in 2021/22.

Cllr Brooks said the decision to leave the Christchurch Independents allowed him to be a “wholly independent councillor”.

He said he would look to play a part in the “wider aspects” of the ruling coalition while also working with the two non-independent Christchurch councils – Peter Hall (Conservative) and Mike Cox (Liberal Democrat).

Prior to his election in May, he had campaigned for work to fix the zig-zag path at Highcliffe Castle to be funded by Christchurch council.

It prompted the authority to u-turn on its original decision not to cover the costs of the project.

Cllr Brooks is also an independent member of Highcliffe and Walkford Neighbourhood Council having also been elected to it in May.