THE former leader of BCP Council has been accused of “ducking out of his responsibility” after he resigned just eight days before councillors were due to set the budget and council tax levels for the next financial year.

Conservative councillor Drew Mellor announced his resignation with immediate effect in a statement issued on Monday afternoon.

His deputy Cllr Philip Broadhead is now interim charge until members meet to vote on the next leader at an extraordinary council meeting on Tuesday, February 21.

This will take place before debate begins in the Bournemouth Town Hall chamber on the administration’s budget proposals for 2023/24.

Bournemouth Echo: Cllr Drew MellorCllr Drew Mellor (Image: BCP Council)

Following Cllr Mellor’s resignation, leaders of the other political groups have slated his 28-month tenure at the top of the local authority.

Former council leader and Liberal Democrat councillor Vikki Slade said: "What Cllr Mellor fails to acknowledge is that residents will face a huge council tax rise because of his administration’s serious mismanagement of the council’s budget.

Bournemouth Echo: Cllr Vikki SladeCllr Vikki Slade (Image: BCP Council)

“Now he’s ducking out of his responsibilities, leaving residents to pick up the tab.

“During the scrutiny meeting earlier this month I called him a coward for putting forward cuts that would not bite until after the election and he has now proved to be exactly that – what more cowardly act than to resign just as your budget paper is published?”

Poole People leader Cllr Mark Howell said Cllr Mellor’s leadership had been “catastrophic” for the council’s finances.

“In a final act of irresponsibility, he has resigned a week before he was scheduled to present his published budget to council,” Cllr Howell said.

Cllr Mohan Iyengar, leader of the Poole Engage group, said: "The leader has resigned, and councillors can now use it as an excuse to be more politically split and time-wasting, or use it as a chance to tone down the politics and show residents how we can work closer to get the most serious things done."

Bournemouth Echo: Cllr Mohan IyengarCllr Mohan Iyengar (Image: BCP Council)

Labour councillor George Farquhar said Cllr Mellor had brought the council into disrepute.

"Cllr Mellor has in less than two years brought the local authority and the council to the point of bankruptcy, raided the reserves that they are unable to support the local authority from a risk of a Section 114, and acted in a financially reckless manner whilst supported fully by Cllr Broadhead as deputy," he said.

A Section 114 notice is imposed if a council cannot balance its budget and means a ban on all new spending except to fulfil legal obligations and existing commitments.

In a joint statement, Green Party councillors Simon Bull and Chris Rigby said: "We welcome the resignation of Cllr Mellow as leader of BCP Council. The writing has been on the wall but he wasn’t reading it.

Bournemouth Echo: Green Party councillors Simon Bull and Chris RigbyGreen Party councillors Simon Bull and Chris Rigby (Image: BCP Council)

"We have had bad policies put before us which have been unquestioningly supported by his party. The council now has a financial black hole and, we are of the opinion that all of the administration are culpable in the mismanagement.”

In a statement, the Christchurch Independents said: "The two-year Tory leadership of Drew Mellor has been an unmitigated disaster for BCP Council and more importantly for all residents across the conurbation.

"The Christchurch Independents put a vote of no confidence in him nearly a year ago.

"Even Cllr Mellor’s resignation statement was all smoke and mirrors.

"He resigned because he had run out of road on his administration’s budget, with no more financial conjuring tricks left.

"He was stopped from taking the Council over the precipice by the chief financial officer, the auditors and ministers."

The arrangements for the appointment of a new leader were confirmed late on Monday.

Cllr Broadhead said residents will see no change to services in the interim period.