Issue - meetings

RECOMMENDED that: -

the Community Governance Review Task and Finish Group draft recommendations, as set out in the schedules within the attached report be approved for publication and consultation with interested parties.

The Leader of the Council, Councillor Millie Earl presented the report on the Community Governance Review – Draft Recommendations and outlined the recommendations as set out on the agenda.

Councillor Kate Salmon proposed the following amendment to the recommendation to read: -

“The Community Governance Review Task and Finish Group draft recommendations, as set out in the schedules within the attached report excluding appendix K be approved for publication and consultation with interested parties.

That Appendix K be replaced with a new recommendation to leave those parts of Bournemouth not otherwise referred to within the report unparished.

This amendment was seconded by Councillor Joe Salmon.

Comprehensive discussion took place on the amendment with a number of members expressing concern with regards to the removal of ‘K’ prior to the public consultation.

Voting: For:14, Against:47, Abstentions:2

The proposed amendment fell with the voting set out as above.

Councillor Patrick Canavan proposed an amendment to the motion with the following additions to read: -

‘The Community Governance Review Task and Finish Group draft recommendations , as set out in the schedules within the attached report be approved for publication and consultation with interested parties subject to the amalgamation of Appendices G,H, I & K thus forming a single Town Council for Bournemouth and that the Head of Democratic Services be delegated to make any consequential adjustments to ward boundaries and electoral distribution.’

This amendment was seconded by Councillor Eleanor Connolly.

Members discussed the amendment and a number expressed concern with regards to the size of town council that would potentially be created with the amalgamation of areas.

Voting: For:10, Against:44, Abstentions:8

The proposed amendment fell with voting set out as above.

Councillors Paul Slade and Vikki Slade left the meeting at 8.43pm prior to the vote on the above amendment.

With both amendments having fallen, discussion then took place on the original recommendations as set out on the agenda.

Members spoke both in support and against the recommendations and proposed consultation with some members highlighting the benefits of town and parish councils and other members expressing concern with regards to the potential additional tier of local government.

RESOLVED that: -

the Community Governance Review Task and Finish Group draft recommendations, as set out in the schedules within the attached report be approved for publication and consultation with interested parties.

Voting: For:42, Against:19, Abstentions:1

The meeting adjourned at 9.27pm and reconvened at 9.45pm

Councillors Brian Hitchcock, David Martin, Chris Matthews, Pete Miles, Bernadette Nanovo, Karen Rampton, and Vanessa Ricketts left the meeting at 9.27pm

The Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007 (Part 4) devolved power from the Secretary of State to principal councils to carry out community governance reviews and put in place or make changes to local community governance arrangements.

The Council commenced a review following the Council decision in October 2024 at which the terms of reference and timetable were approved.

Cabinet is asked to consider the draft recommendations of the Task and Finish Group and to make a recommendation to Council.

RECOMMENDED that: -

the Community Governance Review Task and Finish Group draft recommendations, as set out in the scheduleswithin theattached reportbe approvedfor publication and consultation with interested parties.

Voting: Unanimous

Reason

The Task and Finish Group considered the representations received during the first stage of the review process which invited representations from local stakeholders and other interested parties. The views of these representations have helped shape the draft recommendations.

The Chair of the Community Governance Task and Finish Group, Councillor Oliver Walters presented a report, a copy of which had been circulated to each Member and a copy of which appears as Appendix 'A' to these Minutes in the Minute Book.

Cabinet was advised that the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007 (Part 4) devolved power from the Secretary of State to principal councils to carry out community governance reviews and put in place or make changes to local community governance arrangements.

In relation to this Cabinet was informed that the Council had commenced a review following the Council decision in October 2024 at which the terms of reference and timetable were approved, and that Cabinet was now asked to consider the draft recommendations of the Task and Finish Group and to make a recommendation to Council.

The Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Board, Councillor Bartlett addressed the Cabinet advising that the Board at their meeting the previous evening had had a complicated and thorough debate on this item following which the Board had agreed seven recommendations in respect of the recommendations of the Task and Finish Group, these being: -

1.    That the draft recommendations of the Task and Finish Group relating to proposals for Burton and Winkton (A), Hurn (B), Highcliffe & Walkford (C) and Christchurch Town (D) be recommended to Council, for approval for publication and consultation, without amendment.

(Unanimous Decision)

2.    That the draft recommendations of the Task and Finish Group relating to Broadstone (F) and Poole Town (J) be recommended to Council, for approval for publication and consultation, without amendment.

(Majority Decision)

3.    That the draft recommendations of the Task and Finish Group relating to Bournemouth Town (K) not be recommended to Council for approval for publication and consultation.

(Majority Decision)

4.    That the draft recommendations of the Task and Finish Group relating to Southbourne (I)) be recommended to Council, for approval for publication and consultation, without amendment.

(Majority Decision)

5.    That the draft recommendations of the Task and Finish Group relating to Boscombe and Pokesdown (H) be recommended to Council, for approval for publication and consultation, without amendment.

(Majority Decision)

6.    That the draft recommendations of the Task and Finish Group relating to Throop and Holdenhurst (E) be recommended to Council, for approval for publication and consultation, without amendment.

(Majority Decision)

7.    That the draft recommendations of the Task and Finish Group relating to Redhill and Northbourne (G) be recommended to Council, for approval for publication and consultation, without amendment

(Majority Decision)

Members addressed the Cabinet where the following comments were raised: -

·      Support of the removal of (k) Bournemouth Town

·      The importance of the consultation and of the need to ensure communications are balanced

·       Expressions of concern in relation to the drawing of the boundaries particularly with regards to Southbourne and the surrounding areas

The Chair of the Task and Finish Group responded to the comments raised and highlighted in particular the work which will be carried out in  ...  view the full minutes text for item 125

The Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007 (Part 4) devolved power from the Secretary of State to principal councils to carry out community governance reviews and put in place or make changes to local community governance arrangements.

The Council commenced a review following the Council decision in October 2024 at which the terms of reference and timetable were approved.

Cabinet is asked to consider the draft recommendations of the Task and Finish Group and to make a recommendation to Council.

The Lead Member of the Task and Finish Group presented a report, a copy of which had been circulated to each Member and a copy of which appears as Appendix 'A' to these Minutes in the Minute Book. The Board was informed that the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007 (Part 4) devolved power from the Secretary of State to principal councils to carry out community governance reviews and put in place or make changes to local community governance arrangements. The Council commenced a review following the Council decision in October 2024 at which the terms of reference and timetable were approved. Cabinet would be asked to consider the draft recommendations of the Task and Finish Group and to make a recommendation to Council. The Lead Member explained the rationale behind some of the recommendations outlined in the report which may be viewed as by some as contentious. The Board considered the recommendations for each of the Parishes outlined in the report by areas across the conurbation.

Christchurch Area - There was support from both Ward Councillors and Board Members for all of the recommendations outlined in the report in relation to the Christchurch Area Town and Parish Councils which were broadly in line with the current Councils.

1.       RESOLVED that the O&S Board Recommend to Cabinet that the draft recommendations of the Task and Finish Group relating to proposals for Burton and Winkton (A), Hurn (B), Highcliffe & Walkford (C) and Christchurch Town (D) be recommended to Council, for approval for publication and consultation, without amendment.

Voting: Unanimous

Poole Area – Ward Councillor spoke in opposition to the consultation, due to the additional layer of bureaucracy and additional Council Tax precept and the confusion that arises from this consultation.  It was noted that the Charter Trustee system could work better if improved. Conversely others noted that in reality there were lots of things which the Council was unable to provide, and there may be services and buildings which would not be able to be supported in the future. These issues would be able to be addressed by a Town Council and it was welcomed that it was a larger size Town Council which would be democratically accountable.

The Board reflected that the heritage of the three distinct towns was important. It was felt that it was important that Poole was its own distinct entity and areas where there is a Town Council have a better sense of identity and therefore it should go out for further consultation.

Concerns were raised regarding submissions which covered areas such as Hamworthy and Canford Cliffs which were dismissed by the working group in favour of a greater Poole Town Council area. Poole proposals received were for the whole of Poole including those areas which were now removed such as Broadstone. There were concerns raised in the way in which the working group operated in suggesting new areas. However, it was confirmed that the working group could put forward these as  ...  view the full minutes text for item 115