A SHAKE-UP in the way Weymouth and Portland Borough Council operates will be for the good of democracy and benefit residents, according to one councillor.

Councillors chose to adopt a new constitution - a set of rules governing its behaviour - at a full council meeting.

Councillor Brian Ellis, chairman of the management committee, said the changes would convince local people that councillors are prepared to lead from the front.

And he told members the new-look constitution was a complete departure from the way local government has worked for the past 40 years.

He said: "Weymouth and Portland Borough Council is going to be different. We're going to engage in our neighbourhood forums and hold our briefholders to account."

Several changes to the old constitution were brought in.

A new rule means no chairman or vice-chairman of a council committee - such as planning - can be re-elected after serving four consecutive years.

And all members of the council's management committee must now take up a brief - a responsibility for a certain area or service.

There was also a new statement of intent regarding neighbourhood arrangements, in an effort by the council to serve the borough's communities better.

Most of the changes were backed by all councillors.

But members clashed over one revision, which stated councillors should no longer be both a brief-holder and a chairman of a committee, other than the management committee.

Conservative councillor Mike Goodman said he saw no reason why someone should not hold both roles, and that the change would not enhance the council.

But independent councillor Jacqui Redfern said: "The biggest issue is spreading the power.

"There's a certain feeling amongst councillors and the public that the power is held by a small group of people - that has got to stop."

Liberal Democrat councillor Peter Farrell agreed, saying he felt spreading the influence was the right move.

The full council voted overwhelmingly to adopt the new constitution, with just two councillors voting against it.

Conservative Ian Bruce was the only councillor to criticise the new constitution.

The new constitution comes into force in March next year.