Issue - meetings

PLEASE NOTE: Should the Council wish to discuss the detail of the confidential appendix it will be necessary to exclude the press and public and move into confidential (exempt) session. If applicable, the following resolution should be moved:

“That under Section 100(A)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded from the meeting for the following item of business on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 3 in Part I of Schedule 12A of the Act and that the public interest in withholding the information outweighs such interest in disclosing the information.”

Cabinet RECOMMENDS that COUNCIL:

(d)            Agreed to move the project to Full Business Case stage and commit costs estimated at £1.061m;

(e)             Agrees that the needs of the Poole Charter Trustees will be accommodated within the redeveloped Poole Civic Centre and that a location for the Coroner’s Service will be progressed by the Council’s Transformation Programme - Assets and Accommodation Workstream.

Note - resolutions (a) – (c) were resolved matters by the Cabinet

The Leader of the Council, Councillor Philip Broadhead presented the report on the BCP FuturePlaces Ltd – Outline Business Case for Poole Civic Centre Site and outlined the recommendations as set out on the agenda.

Councillor Judes Butt proposed an amendment to the recommendations, amending recommendation (e) and providing the addition of a recommendation (f) as follows: -

(e)             agrees that a permanent home will be accommodated within the Poole Civic Centre building, utilising established historic Mayoral rooms within the redeveloped Poole Civic Centre; and

(f)              that a location for the Coroner’s Service will be progressed by the Council’s Transformation Programme – Assets and Accommodation Workstream.

The proposer accepted the above amendment and addition which therefore along with recommendation (d) set out on the agenda became the substantive motion.

Comprehensive discussion took place on the item which included the following points being raised:

• frustration by the Poole Charter Trustees in not having a base for the Mayorlty
• lack of public consultation

An amendment to recommendation 9(d) was proposed by Councillor David Brown and seconded by Councillor Stephen Bartlett as follows:

Council RESOLVES not to move the project to Full Business Case stage and not to commit costs estimated at £1.061m at this time. Instead to pause this project for further consideration of the Outline Business Case for the former Poole Civic Centre site as set out in Appendix A to this report and further consideration of the potential costs and benefits of the options contained therein, by the next administration of this Council following the forthcoming May 2023 elections.

Meeting adjourned 21:04

[Councillors Anne Filer and Norman Decent left the meeting]

Meeting reconvened 21:20

Comprehensive discussion took place on the proposed amendment during which support was expressed for the deferral to enable more time for the finances and risks to be considered.

A recorded vote on the item was requested and upon receiving the required support the amendment as set out above was put to the vote as follows:

For: 33

Against: 27

Abstentions: 2

(c)             resolves not to move the project to Full Business Case stage and not to commit costs estimated at £1.061m at this time. Instead to pause this project for further consideration of the Outline Business Case for  ...  view the full minutes text for item 24

BCP FuturePlaces Ltd, (“FuturePlaces”) a wholly owned Urban Regeneration Company (URC) was set up with the fundamental purpose to drive “Place Making”, regeneration and property market transformation both across key sites owned by the Council and the wider area to support the aspirations set out in the Council’s Big Plan.

The FuturePlaces business plan approved by Cabinet in June 2022 lists the key sites the company has been tasked with progressing the regeneration of including the former Poole Civic Centre following its decommission as the result of local government reorganisation and the creation of BCP Council.

This report sets out the outline business case (OBC) and highlights FuturePlaces recommended use for this site to be developed for hotel and residential use.

Whilst the OBC considers the overall viability of the recommended option based on high level assumptions, the FBC will confirm the exact design, time, cost, and quality expectations as well as the proposed delivery pathway and overall affordability. It is only at FBC stage that firm consideration can be given as to whether it is still best to progress with the redevelopment proposal and the necessary commitment and funding approvals sought from the Council.

The OBC indicates that the value of the site can be optimised by masterplanning and sequencing development to ensure value uplift benefits are realised and momentum is maintained.

Cabinet is required to review the options outlined in the OBC and consider if the recommended option is the most appropriate and affordable and authorise FuturePlaces to progress with the preparation of a full business case (FBC).

[PLEASE NOTE: Should the Cabinet wish to discuss the detail of the confidential appendices the meeting will be required to move into Confidential (Exempt) Session]

RESOLVED that: -

a)               Approves the Outline Business Case for the former Poole Civic Centre site as set out in Appendix A to this report endorsing the recommended option contained therein;

b)               Ratifies previous report decisions to declare the asset surplus to requirements and notes the proposal to phase the redevelopment of the site to enable the hotel use to progress ahead of residential plans for the reasons outlined in this report;

c)               Agrees to pay FuturePlaces for its development advice and services and costs associated with the preparation of the outline business case totalling £250k, and to include the scheme in the Council’s Capital Investment Programme.

Cabinet RECOMMENDS that COUNCIL:

d)               Agreed to move the project to Full Business Case stage and commit costs estimated at £1.061m;

e)               Agrees that the needs of the Poole Charter Trustees will be accommodated within the redeveloped Poole Civic Centre and that a location for the Coroner’s Service will be progressed by the Council’s Transformation Programme - Assets and Accommodation Workstream.

Voting: Unanimous

Portfolio Holder: Leader of the Council and Portfolio Holder for Development, Growth, Regeneration and Transformation

Reason

To contribute to the Council’s Corporate vision, specifically helping to create dynamic places, investing in the homes our communities need, and delivers against the Big Plan: Rejuvenate Poole and Act at Scale by delivering new homes for local people.

FuturePlaces was formed to ensure BCP Council has the capacity, expertise, and resources to drive investment in regeneration and unlock value from major Council owned sites; it will also enable BCP Council to ensure that we deliver new homes and create well designed, local neighbourhoods.

The Leader of the Council and Portfolio Holder for Development, Growth, Regeneration and Transformation presented a report, a copy of which had been circulated to each Member and a copy of which appears as Appendix 'F' to these Minutes in the Minute Book.

Cabinet was advised that BCP FuturePlaces Ltd, (“FuturePlaces”) a wholly owned Urban Regeneration Company (URC) was set up with the fundamental purpose to drive “Place Making”, regeneration and property market transformation both across key sites owned by the Council and the wider area to support the aspirations set out in the Council’s Big Plan.

In relation to this Cabinet was informed that the FuturePlaces business plan approved by Cabinet in June 2022 listed the key sites the company had been tasked with progressing the regeneration of including the former Poole Civic Centre following its decommission as the result of local government reorganisation and the creation of BCP Council.

Cabinet was advised that this report sets out the outline business case (OBC) and highlights FuturePlaces recommended use for this site to be developed for hotel and residential use, and that whilst the OBC considers the overall viability of the recommended option based on high level assumptions, the FBC will confirm the exact design, time, cost, and quality expectations as well as the proposed delivery pathway and overall affordability. It is only at FBC stage that firm consideration can be given as to whether it is still best to progress with the redevelopment proposal and the necessary commitment and funding approvals sought from the Council.

Cabinet was advised that the OBC indicates that the value of the site can be optimised by master planning and sequencing development to ensure value uplift benefits are realised and momentum is maintained.

Further to this Cabinet was advised that it was required to review the options outlined in the OBC and consider if the recommended option is the most appropriate and affordable and authorise FuturePlaces to progress with the preparation of a full business case (FBC).

RESOLVED that Cabinet: -

a)               Approves the Outline Business Case for the former Poole Civic Centre site as set out in Appendix A to this report endorsing the recommended option contained therein;

b)               Ratifies previous report decisions to declare the asset surplus to requirements and notes the proposal to phase the redevelopment of the site to enable the hotel use to progress ahead of residential plans for the reasons outlined in this report;

c)               Agrees to pay FuturePlaces for its development advice and services and costs associated with the preparation of the outline business case totalling £250k, and to include the scheme in the Council’s Capital Investment Programme.

Cabinet RECOMMENDS that COUNCIL:

a)               Agrees to move the project to Full Business Case stage and commit costs estimated at £1.061m;

b)               Agrees that the needs of the Poole Charter Trustees will be accommodated within the redeveloped Poole Civic Centre and that a location for the Coroner’s Service will be progressed by the Council’s Transformation Programme - Assets and  ...  view the full minutes text for item 134