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

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.