IF you are privileged to become the leader of any council you know you are taking up the hot seat. And if I were in that seat in Bournemouth today I might be wishing I had on a pair of asbestos trousers.

Councillor Stephen MacLoughlin is the man perched in that seat right now and is the subject of opposition calls for him to quit. Well they would, wouldn’t they?

I don’t have any view on that but I am surprised that Cllr MacLoughlin has taken issue with a headline that said “Turmoil in the town hall” saying there’s “no turmoil and everyone is focused on doing the job”. I’m relieved to hear that because with a challenging time of budget cuts ahead, Bournemouth council has a weighty duty to concentrate on what matters.

*Last week, it was announced Cllr MacLoughlin will face a hearing after a meeting decided he potentially breached the council’s code of conduct regarding the use of his council laptop.

*Last week, a councillor was recommended for equality and diversity training following text messages he had previously forwarded.

*Last week, a councillor was suspended from his party amid an investigation into his conduct.

*Last week, it emerged that a councillor had sent an email suggesting councillors could “boycott” the homecoming reception for troops serving in Afghanistan if their own partners and children were not allowed to attend.

These may or may not amount to “turmoil” or divert the council’s attention away from the important issues of local government.

But the chamber pot does seem rather full of other matters at this moment in time.

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