It is truly disgraceful that the Borough of Poole issues a press release detailing the numbers and scale of potential redundancies among borough employees without a single council decision being taken on the matter.

It is unforgivable that the decision on so many employees losing their livelihoods has been taken behind closed doors by officers in collusion with the new leader The constitution of the council is quite clear – this decision should be made by the cabinet in open session (not the leader working on her own) when it would then have been subject to the call-in provisions, meaning that a panel of councillors could scrutinise the decision in an open and honest manner.

We have had no information regarding the necessity for the job losses, the roles to be lost, the financial effects of the decision, any alternatives considered, the effects upon council services or the effects upon the individuals concerned.

The new leader of the council should immediately reverse this decision until proper procedures have been followed.

Cllr Philip Eades, Branksome West Ward, Borough of Poole