Issue - meetings

The Charter Trustees will be updated on the above.

The Mayor reported that she had received a letter from Councillor Drew Mellor, the Leader of BCP Council, to ask her to consider at the next meeting of the Charter Trustees, whether Poole as a town would like to put forward a bid for city status.

The Charter Trustees discussed the implications of submitting a bid for Poole, including the potential advantages and disadvantages, that there were no background papers provided to the Charter Trustees and no indication of the implications of the bid.  The Honorary Clerk reported that there was no funding associated with achieving city status but the prestige for the town. Charter Trustees highlighted the historic credentials of Poole, key facilities in the Town and the opportunity to enhance its historic status.  Clarification was sought on the cost of making a bid.  A Charter Trustee indicated that she did not see any benefit or gain of being a city.  Councillor Mellor explained that as Leader of BCP Council he had written to the Mayor to request that the item be considered as it was a matter for the Charter Trustees to consider. He confirmed that there was no cost in submitting the bid.  It was suggested that residents were not supportive of a bid, however a case should be developed to test the views of residents. A Charter Trustee highlighted potential divisions that could be created across the BCP conurbation.

The Mayor reported on two emails that she had received from local residents asking the Charter Trustees not to pursue a city status bid.

The Charter Trustees voted on whether they wished a bid to be made for city status for Poole.

The proposal was not supported For – 5; Against – 18; Abstentions – 2

RESOLVED that no action be taken on the submission of a City Status Bid for Poole.