Issue - meetings

This is a progress report on the Council’s work on Levelling Up across Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP). This follows an initial Cabinet report in January 2022 which set out a preliminary response to the Levelling Up agenda, in advance of the Government’s Levelling Up White Paper being released and committed to bringing a more detailed report to Cabinet once the recommended work had been progressed.

This report provides an update on progress to date since January 2022, as well as further information on what the data is telling us, including the commissioned Impact Report from This Is Purpose (appendix 1), and also sets out the next steps.

It is recommended that work continues to progress Levelling Up across Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole as it remains a key national policy. Our overarching local objective for Levelling Up is to use the frameworks of the Levelling Up White Paper and Levelling Up Goals to support the delivery and ambitions of our Corporate Strategy and Big Plan.

RESOLVED that Cabinet: -

(a)     Note the excellent work of officers to positively take forward the Levelling Up agenda;

(b)    Acknowledge the information and recommendations in the Impact Report from This is Purpose and consider which of these if any could be taken forward subject to there being available budgets; and

(c)     Agree work should continue across the Council with a focus on the agreed priorities to level up the BCP Council area

Voting: Unanimous

Portfolio Holder(s): Development, Growth and Regeneration

Reason

The values of Levelling Up intrinsically align with the priorities and commitments made in the Council’s Big Plan and Corporate Strategy. Committing to level up Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole enables the Council and its residents to benefit from this key political agenda and opportunities for investment.

The Lead Member for Levelling up presented a report, a copy of which had been circulated to each Member and a copy of which appears as Appendix 'E' to these Minutes in the Minute Book.

Cabinet was advised the report was a progress report on the Council’s work on Levelling Up across Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP), and that this follows an initial Cabinet report in January 2022 which set out a preliminary response to the Levelling Up agenda in advance of the Government’s Levelling Up White Paper being released and committed to bringing a more detailed report to Cabinet once the recommended work had been progressed.

Further to this Cabinet was advised that the report provided an update on progress to date since January 2022, as well as further information on what the data is telling us, including the commissioned Impact Report from This Is Purpose (appendix 1), and also sets out the next steps.

Cabinet was informed that it is recommended that work continues to progress Levelling Up across Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole as it remains a key national policy, and that our overarching local objective for Levelling Up is to use the frameworks of the Levelling Up White Paper and Levelling Up Goals to support the delivery and ambitions of our Corporate Strategy and Big Plan.

In response to a suggested recommendation from a non-Cabinet Councillor the relevant Portfolio Holder advised that there was already an item on the Cabinet Forward Plan to review the early help offer and they would take on board the Councillors comments. The Lead Member advised that as outlined in the report an increase in support and development opportunities for children and young people was already covered by the recommendations.

RESOLVED that Cabinet: -

(a)     Note the excellent work of officers to positively take forward the Levelling Up agenda;

(b)    Acknowledge the information and recommendations in the Impact Report from This is Purpose and consider which of these if any could be taken forward subject to there being available budgets; and

(c)     Agree work should continue across the Council with a focus on the agreed priorities to level up the BCP Council area

Voting: Unanimous

Portfolio Holder(s): Development, Growth and Regeneration