NIGEL Hedges has been re-elected Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole chairman for a second year.

The Wallisdown and Winton West councillor was voted in at the annual meeting, defeating independent Christchurch Commons councillor Vanessa Ricketts, 39-27. She is a local council consultant who specialises in training for chairmanship and has been a BCP councillor for a year. She claimed that her independence might help council cohesion.

Cllr Hedges said being chairman had been an “eye opener” for him claiming that although he was not the best chair in the world, he always did his best.

“There is so much good work going on across BCP, the chairman’s roles gives an opportunity to make those connections,” he said.

The vice chair’s role went, unopposed, to Penn Hill Cllr Tony O’Neil who took over the role last year.

The meeting decided that councillor allowances for the current financial year will be pegged to the same percentage increase as staff, although that has yet to be finalised.

The council agreed no increase in their general allowances last year.