BCP Council’s “costly” splitting of its planning committee has come into effect this month. 

The controversial proposal received much criticism earlier this year after it was revealed it would cost £25,200, according to the local authority. 

This was announced together with a new formation of the advisory group (TAG), bringing the cost up to £41,300. 

The eastern committee was held on Thursday, May 9 and Paul Hillard – the former vice chair of the whole committee – was elected as its chair, nominated by former chair Marion Le Poidevin.

Read more: Council under fire for 'costly' planning committee divide

Cllr Poidevin, who is on both eastern and western committees, was elected vice chair of the eastern side. A western chair has not been elected. 

At this week’s annual council, councillors could not agree with how the two planning committees – western and eastern – should be split. 

Canford Cliffs councillor John Challinor said planning applications put before the committee can have ramifications for the whole conurbation, adding a “broad split on each committee is the way forward”.  

Poole Labour councillor Sue Aitkenhead said it is “not good practice in planning to swap over to have more people from one area on one committee and one on another”. 

She said: “As planners we should have a hat on that doesn't just look at one area but looks at the whole thing. 

“But at the same time on the other side of the argument I recognise that in Poole we don't have an ideal situation. We don’t have a town council that can speak up for our area like Christchurch has.” 

Oakdale councillor Felicity Rice said: “My understanding is that the idea of setting up two committees was that councillors involved in each committee would be more local to what was being discussed.” 

Boscombe councillor George Farquhar disagreed: “We are three towns, we have our own identities. But we are a unitary authority and we have to deliver for the whole [area], not just the seats that vote us in.” 

Green’s Joe Salmon explained he believed the benefit of splitting the committees meant councillors sat on each committee would only have to “boffin up” on their side of the conurbation. 

“Being on the planning committee is a big commitment. If we’re not having the benefit of having councillors based in the east on the east committee and based in the west on the west committee, we’re making this the worst possible idea,” he said.