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:
Cabinet was advised that no statements or petitions had been received on this occasion but that four questions had been received from two members of the public in relation to Agenda Item 7 (The future of BCP FuturePlaces Ltd, investment and development) and Agenda Item 10 (SEND – Accelerated Timeliness).
Questions received from Mr Alex McKinstry on Agenda Item 7
Question 1
Regarding Item 7, the future of FuturePlaces: the table on page 91 states the estimated costs of running FuturePlaces until closure would be £1.06 million. Presumably office rental costs form part of that figure. According to Companies House the registered office of FuturePlaces is BCP Civic Centre, but the company's minutes reveal that board meetings have also been conducted this year at 45 Westminster Bridge Road; "Bourne Gardens", Exeter Park Road; and "The View" (which may be the same property), Bourne Park, Exeter Park Road. Can the Leader / Portfolio-Holder for Finance confirm how much rent and other charges are being paid for each of these premises, and indeed for any other office space utilised by FuturePlaces? Can we also be told which of these premises is being rented from a company associated with ex-Cllr Drew Mellor?
Response by the Leader of the Council and Portfolio Holder for Development, Growth, Regeneration and Transformation
Within the £1.06m estimated costs of running FuturePlaces Ltd until its closure, an amount of £27k has been provided for in relation to premise rental costs at Bourne Gardens. There are no other costs or payments relating to other addresses. The payment for this £27,000 was made to Hinton Road Investment Ltd. Our understanding is that a former Councillor is the sole director of Hinton Road Investment Ltd.
For completeness, in addition to the rent, a total sum of £4,726 excluding VAT has been paid over the last year, for additional room hire, outside of the core office space.
Question 2
Continuing with operating costs: the FuturePlaces chair stated at last week's scrutiny meeting that notice had been given to ex-Cllr Mellor's company in respect of that particular office space. When will the lease expire, what was its original duration (including the start date), and can we have details of any financial penalty imposed by the landlord in respect of the early forfeiture of the lease?
Response by the Leader of the Council and Portfolio Holder for Development, Growth, Regeneration and Transformation
I want to make a correction to what I said last week, as part of this answer. Last week I said that former councillor Mellor had purchased the building that FuturePlaces occupy. Former councillor Mellor has made it clear in public statements that he does not own that building. I am happy to accept that statement at face value and apologise to him for my use of that specific term.
However, his company, Hinton Road Investment Ltd, of which he is the sole director according to the records at Companies House, licences those offices to FuturePlaces and had done since ... view the full minutes text for item 31