Drew Mellor, the Conservative leader of BCP Council announced his resignation with immediate effect on Monday 13 February.

He is the member for the Talbot and Branksome Woods ward.

Graham Farrant, BCP Council chief executive said: “I’d like to thank Cllr Mellor for his service as leader of the council for the last two and half years.

“The chairman has agreed to call an extraordinary meeting to elect a new council leader. In the meantime, the council will continue to function and deliver essential public services for our residents and communities.”

The deputy leader, Phil Broadhead, will assume interim leadership of the council until the extraordinary council meeting, which will take place at 7pm on 21 February. Once this is complete, the scheduled full council meeting will take place to consider the budget for 2023/24 and Council Tax levels.