Public Issues
To receive any public questions, statements or petitions submitted in accordance with the Constitution. Further information on the requirements for submitting these is available to view at the following link:-
https://democracy.bcpcouncil.gov.uk/ieListMeetings.aspx?CommitteeID=151&Info=1&bcr=1
The deadline for the submission of public questions is 12 noon, 3 clear working days before the meeting.
The deadline for the submission of a statement is midday the working day before the meeting.
The deadline for the submission of a petition is 10 working days before the meeting.
Minutes:
The Leader advised that there had been no petitions received on this occasion, but that one question had been received by a member of the public in relation to Agenda Item 14 (Cabinet Forward Plan), and that two statements had been received by members of the public one in relation to Agenda Item 9 (The Stour Valley) and one in relation to Agenda Item 6 (Financial Outturn Report).
Question from Alex McKinstry on Agenda Item 14
This question relates to Item 14 on today's agenda - the Cabinet Forward Plan - wherein it is signified that the external assurance review of BCP Council, commissioned by Government, is due for consideration today. Can the Leader confirm whether the review document has in fact been received by BCP Council, and if so, why it has not been included on this morning's agenda? Can the Leader also confirm roughly when the review document will be made available to the press and public; do we necessarily have to wait until the next Cabinet meeting in September?
Response by the Leader of the Council and Portfolio Holder for Dynamic Places
Just to confirm that we have not yet received the formal report from government, it is expected shortly, possibly next week. Myself and the Chief Executive had a meeting with the Secretary of State himself, the Right Honourable Micheal Gove on the 4th July, and we stressed to him the importance of having the review published in time for todays Cabinet meeting, he did assure us he would do his best to ask his staff to make sure that happened. I am aware that the Chief Exec had a follow up conversation yesterday and we are expected to have that imminently. However, it is appropriate that the Cabinet democratic process is followed in the way that that is revealed to the public, but we are expecting that maybe next week is when we will be sent that officially.
Statement from Sarah Fisher on Agenda Item 9
I know, in writing from BCP, that BCP does not have a mandate for a Visitor’s Centre (VC) at Throop.
However, it does have one for Hicks Farm, Muscliffe (Policy CS36).
BCP has purchased 13 acres in Muscliffe for Woodland Burial Development (WBD).
Both WBD and VC will require similar core facilities – car park, café, communal & maintenance buildings etc.
It would be innovative and fiscally prudent to combine the above into one multi-purpose facility in Muscliffe and solve the intractable Throop transport issues, without compromising the essential community asset and social good these projects aspire to.
Please may Cabinet consider these proposals.
Statement from Mike Greene on Agenda Item 6
While delighted by the £10.6m surplus from 2022/23, I am surprised it was not closer to £20m, reflecting the savings efforts made.
Pages 41-46 demonstrate significant savings of around £8m achieved during Q4.
I ask Members to probe this discrepancy carefully.
In particular, Paragraphs 69-72 on Page 47 suggests more than £8m may have been taken from ... view the full minutes text for item 3