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 mid-day on Thursday 16 May 2024 [mid-day 3 clear working days before the meeting].
The deadline for the submission of a statement is mid-day on Tuesday 21 May 2024 [mid-day the working day before the meeting].
The deadline for the submission of a petition is Wednesday 8 May 2024 [10 working days before the meeting].
Decision:
The Deputy Leader advised that all public questions and statements would be taken in the order in which they were received, and that owing to the significant number of statements which had been received the period allowed for public issues would be extended to 30 minutes. In relation to this the Deputy Leader advised that the two questions received would be read and answered first, and that the 30 minutes would commence once the meeting moved onto statements received.
Further to this the Deputy Leader advised that any statements remaining at the end of the extended 30-minute time limit would be included in the minutes of the meeting.
In addition the Deputy Leader advised that all questions and statements submitted had been circulated the previous day to members of the Cabinet for them to read in advance of the meeting.
Minutes:
The Deputy Leader advised that two questions and 48 statements had been received, and that all public questions and statements would be taken in the order in which they were received.
In relation to this the Deputy Leader advised that owing to the significant number of statements which had been received all relating to Agenda Item 10 (Improvement of the environment in Poole Park through a trial closure of a park entrance to motor traffic) the period allowed for public issues would be extended to 30 minutes, and that further to this the two questions received would be read and answered first, and that the 30-minute time limit would commence once the meeting moved onto the statements received.
Further to this the Deputy Leader advised that any statements remaining at the end of the extended 30-minute time limit would be included in the minutes of the meeting, and that all questions and statements submitted had been circulated the previous day to members of the Cabinet for them to read in advance of the meeting.
Public question relating to Agenda Item 10 – Improvement of the environment in Poole Park through a trial closure of a park entrance to motor traffic
Public Questions received from S Baker
As Poole Park was gifted to the people by Lord Wimborne in the late 1800s;
1. Is there a legality issue over BCPs approach to closing vehicular access before any consultation even took place?
Poole Park was gifted to the people for the people and when eventually the results of the consultation became available I understand that 63% of the very high number of participants, desired the vehicular entrance to remain open.
2. What authority does BCP have to ignore the result of their own consultation in pursuing this undemocratic approach? The people have spoken!
Furthermore, I might add that as a daily user of the park - as a pedestrian and cyclist - I have never seen a single survey being conducted on the number of cars using the car parks, or the number of cars travelling through, effectively using the park as a cut through.
This should have been carried out before any consultation!
Response by the Portfolio Holder for Climate Response, Environment and Energy, Councillor Andy Hadley
On the legality issue the original conveyance in March 1886 of the land which would become Poole Park was to the corporation of Poole, this was and I quote “for the land to be laid out and used as a public park and pleasure gardens for the benefit of the Borough of Poole and the inhabitants thereof” the management of the park from its inception has therefore been a matter for the authority to decide.
Repeated surveys have highlighted that the significant flows of traffic on the carriageways through the park detract from the environment for leisure, the principal purpose of the park. There are five car parking areas with dedicated parking for those with disability and the ability to still use two vehicular ... view the full minutes text for item 3