BOURNEMOUTH council has been condemned for cancelling a month’s worth of meetings “to enable councillors to concentrate on the election”.

Some veteran councillors have voiced their astonishment that members will not be at committee meetings while still drawing their monthly allowances of at least £774.

An email to members from the council’s overview and scrutiny officer said: “Following consultation with chairs and vice-chairs, the following overview and scrutiny meetings in April have been cancelled to enable councillors to concentrate solely on the election.”

It then listed seven bodies that would not be meeting until after the election. In years gone by, meetings continued up until the eve of polling day.

Conservative Basil Ratcliffe, who will retire in May after 23 years on the council, replied: “Personally, I would have thought that one evening out of a whole month could be spared for council business. After all, that is what we are paid for.”

And long-serving independent Ron Whittaker said: “Why do councillors think that cancelling all panels is going to help them get re-elected? It is the work they should be putting in over four years, not just door-knocking in one month.”

But Cllr Beverley Dunlop, chair of the council’s overview and scrutiny management panel, it was sensible to cancel April’s meetings to “allow proper planning for the next scrutiny year.”

“It’s not about allowing councillors to go off and fight the election. It’s about sensible planning and management of the recommendation-making business,” she said.

Cllr Bob Chapman, chairman of the economy and tourism panel, said councillors would still be busy on other issues. He added: “If an issue requires scrutiny, the chairman has the opportunity to call a meeting.”

Former Tory councillor David Clutterbuck said: “I still think they’re being paid their allowances so they should stay there till the bitter end.”

But he said many councillors in his time had “bunked off” April meetings.

“They were busy canvassing and everything else,” he added. “Most of the ones that went off early were the ones that got re-elected.”

Poole will hold all its regular scrutiny panel meetings next month apart from one on April 28.