DORSET'S senior councillors will be going on tour in the autumn.

New Lib Dem Dorset Council leader Nick Ireland is proposing to take Cabinet meetings to some of the market towns from September.

The group, which oversees and directs council business, does not usually meet in August, along with most other council committees.

He told councillors at the July Cabinet meeting, held where it usually is at County Hall in Dorchester, that they could expect to be meeting elsewhere from September.

Cllr Ireland said the details had yet to be finalised but the market towns were the most likely venues, provided that the council's broadcasting equipment will work.

The leader has also announced that some portfolio holders, who sit on the Cabinet, are having their titles shortened after it became apparent that some found their job descriptions a bit of a mouthful.

Although most council meetings are held in Dorchester some committees do meet elsewhere with planning committees often at Sturminster Newton and Wimborne.

Other internal changes being proposed include splitting the licensing committee into two groups, one to deal with premises and event licensing and the other to deal with other licensing issues which include gambling, sex establishment licensing and taxi driver applications.

It is expected that the current chair, Cllr Derek Beer (Lib Dem Shaftesbury Town), will chair both groups if the change is approved.