Recommendations from the Overview and Scrutiny Committees
To consider recommendations from the Overview and Scrutiny committees on items not otherwise included on the Cabinet Agenda.
Decision:
Cabinet was advised that recommendations had been received from the Health and Adult Social Care Overview and Scrutiny Committee and the Environment and Place Overview and Scrutiny Committee on items not otherwise indicated on the Cabinet agenda.
The Chair of the Health and Adult Social Care Overview and Scrutiny Committee, Councillor Patrick Canavan provided Cabinet with the background relating to the item and presented the recommendations from the Committee as set out below, copies of which had been circulated to Members of the Cabinet and published on the Council’s website prior to the meeting.
Recommendation from the Health and Adult Social Care Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 19 May 2026
BCP Suicide Action Prevention Plan
The Health and Adult Social Care Overview and Scrutiny Committee Recommend to Cabinet that, following approval by the Health and Wellbeing Board on 26 June 2026, the Committee request Cabinet support the Strategy and Action Plan and ensure that the necessary resources are made available for implementation.
(Unanimous Decision)
The Leader thanked Councillor Canavan and the Committee for bringing their recommendation to Cabinet and expressed support on behalf of the Cabinet.
In addition, the Leader advised that a more formal response would be presented to the Health and Adult Social Care Overview and Scrutiny Committee in due course.
The Chair of the Environment and Place Overview and Scrutiny Committee, Councillor Chris Rigby provided Cabinet with the background relating to the item highlighting the public interest at the meeting and reminding members that this had been taken to the Committee following a petition presented to the Council and presented the recommendations from the Committee as set out below, copies of which had been circulated to Members of the Cabinet and published on the Council’s website prior to the meeting.
Recommendation from the Environment and Place Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 15 July 2026
Christchurch Harbour
The Environment and Place Overview and Scrutiny Committee recommend that Cabinet expedite the development of a robust harbour protection policy as outlined and lobby the Govt to improve protection through the NPPF
Voting: Unanimous
The outline mentioned in the recommendation is as follows:
Propose that what is needed is a robust harbour protection policy with:
· a presumption of no net deterioration
· planning policies requiring new developments to achieve neutrality or better
· council Land Management practises that reduce pesticides and fertilisers
· regular monitoring and public reporting
· support for wetland creation and river restoration project
· partnership commitments with water companies, the Environment Agency, neighbouring councils et cetera
Christchurch harbour needs to be made a material consideration in every relevant council decision on, for example, drainage, flood risk, recreation, highways and development
Yes it's ambitious, but if BCP want to be taken seriously as a national leader in Environmental Protection it needs to adopt a policy with an overarching objective to restore and maintain Christchurch harbour in favourable ecological condition, by ensuring that all council decisions contribute to improved water quality, reduced pollution and enhanced biodiversity; applying the precautionary principle where there ... view the full decision text for item 25
Minutes:
Cabinet was advised that recommendations had been received from the Health and Adult Social Care Overview and Scrutiny Committee and the Environment and Place Overview and Scrutiny Committee on items not otherwise indicated on the Cabinet agenda.
The Chair of the Health and Adult Social Care Overview and Scrutiny Committee, Councillor Patrick Canavan provided Cabinet with the background relating to the item and presented the recommendations from the Committee as set out below, copies of which had been circulated to Members of the Cabinet and published on the Council’s website prior to the meeting.
Recommendation from the Health and Adult Social Care Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 19 May 2026
BCP Suicide Action Prevention Plan
The Health and Adult Social Care Overview and Scrutiny Committee Recommend to Cabinet that, following approval by the Health and Wellbeing Board on 26 June 2026, the Committee request Cabinet support the Strategy and Action Plan and ensure that the necessary resources are made available for implementation.
(Unanimous Decision)
The Leader thanked Councillor Canavan and the Committee for bringing their recommendation to Cabinet and expressed support on behalf of the Cabinet.
In addition, the Leader advised that a more formal response would be presented to the Health and Adult Social Care Overview and Scrutiny Committee in due course.
The Chair of the Environment and Place Overview and Scrutiny Committee, Councillor Chris Rigby provided Cabinet with the background relating to the item highlighting the public interest at the meeting and reminding members that this had been taken to the Committee following a petition presented to the Council and presented the recommendations from the Committee as set out below, copies of which had been circulated to Members of the Cabinet and published on the Council’s website prior to the meeting.
Recommendation from the Environment and Place Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 15 July 2026
Christchurch Harbour
The Environment and Place Overview and Scrutiny Committee recommend that Cabinet expedite the development of a robust harbour protection policy as outlined and lobby the Govt to improve protection through the NPPF
Voting: Unanimous
The outline mentioned in the recommendation is as follows:
Propose that what is needed is a robust harbour protection policy with:
· a presumption of no net deterioration
· planning policies requiring new developments to achieve neutrality or better
· council Land Management practises that reduce pesticides and fertilisers
· regular monitoring and public reporting
· support for wetland creation and river restoration project
· partnership commitments with water companies, the Environment Agency, neighbouring councils et cetera
Christchurch harbour needs to be made a material consideration in every relevant council decision on, for example, drainage, flood risk, recreation, highways and development
Yes it's ambitious, but if BCP want to be taken seriously as a national leader in Environmental Protection it needs to adopt a policy with an overarching objective to restore and maintain Christchurch harbour in favourable ecological condition, by ensuring that all council decisions contribute to improved water quality, reduced pollution and enhanced biodiversity; applying the precautionary principle where there ... view the full minutes text for item 25