Agenda and minutes

To receive any apologies for absence from Councillors.

Apologies were received from Councillors M Cox, M Greene and N Greene.

Councillors are required to comply with the requirements of the Localism Act 2011 regarding disclosable pecuianry interests. Declarations received will be reported at the meeting.

There were no declarations of interest made on this occasion.

To confirm and sign as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 21 May 2019.

The Minutes of the Council meeting held on 21 May were confirmed as a correct record and signed.

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 following the links:-

https://democracy.bcpcouncil.gov.uk/documents/s2305/Public%20Items%20-%20Meeting%20Procedure%20Rules.pdf

The deadline for the submission of public questions is Tuesday 9 July 2019.

The deadline for the submission of a statement is 12.00 Noon on Monday 15 July 2019.

The deadline for the submission of a petition is 12.00 Noon on Monday 15 July 2019.

The Chairman advised that public questions had been submitted by

Public Question from Mark Elkins

Can the BCP Council consider removing Littledown petty parking restrictions to alleviate congestion caused by poor past planning policy? This has the advantage of giving RBH and Deansleigh Road business visitors and staff somewhere easier to park without having to enter the congested RBH/Deansleigh Road transport system wasting considerable time stationary with polluting engines running. Littledown residents and their visitors could then park in their own streets and it would offer football fans visiting our successful Premier League Club somewhere else to park taking the pressure off more generous minded local citizens who allow parking in other nearby areas.

Response by Councillor Andy Hadley (Portfolio Holder for Transport and Infrastructure)

Thank you for your generous proposal.

Through the Local Transport Plan, the Council has an overarching strategy which aims to reduce carbon emissions and improve quality of life for residents. One of the key approaches of the strategy is car parking measures which, balance supporting our local economy whilst encouraging the use of alternatives to the car, particularly for single occupancy commuter trips.

The parking restrictions in Littledown were introduced a number of years ago to protect residents from all day commuter parking, in recognition of the proximity to a number of large employer sites, such as JP Morgan and the Royal Bournemouth Hospital. The restrictions apply Mon-Fri 10am-11am & 2pm-3pm only, within the residential streets, and double yellow lines apply to the distributor road through the estate and on corners to these roads. If these restrictions were to be revoked it would cause additional congestion through the junction of Castle Lane and Chaseside, as more motorists would be entering this side of the junction, as well as causing additional congestion on these residential roads, as motorists search for available parking. These residential estate roads are narrow and were not designed for on road parking, especially at the scale that would be seen if no restrictions were in place. Additional traffic in this area would also increase the risk to road safety for families that live there and children playing in the street.

These restrictions do not prevent visitors to the Premier League Club, as match days are generally at the weekend or in the evenings when the yellow lines do not apply.

Public Question from Anna Moreton

In view of the successful lawsuits recently against Monsanto, and the World Health Organisation’s classification of glyphosate as a probably carcinogenic to humans and the fact that studies show the great harm glyphosate and all such chemicals do to earthworms, bees, butterflies and amphibians, what are the council’s plans for phasing out the use of chemical pesticides and the introduction of non-chemical alternatives in our public places, playgrounds and parks so that they are a safe environment for our children and can help reduce the alarming decline of bees and insects, and improve biodiversity in our local environment?

Response by Councillor Dr Felicity Rice (Portfolio Holder for Environment  ...  view the full minutes text for item 11.

To receive the records of decisions of Cabinet and minutes of other Committees and to consider any recommendations arising from these meetings as follows:

The Record of Decisions of Cabinet and the Committee Minutes for the last cycle of meetings were received.

Voting: Unanimous

The recommendations arising from the meeting of the Cabinet held on 12 July 2019 were then considered and approved:-

Minute No. 15                         Princess Road Housing Scheme

The Portfolio Holder for Housing presented the report and proposed approval of the scheme as set out.

Concerns were expressed with regards to the lack of social housing, in relation to this Portfolio Holder stressed that it wasn’t viable for social housing on the site, however Cabinet Members had supported the principle of social housing as a priority going forward.

Councillor Ann Stribley proposed that the report be deferred, the proposition was seconded by Councillor Ann Filer but fell on being put to the vote.

The substantive motion was then put to the vote and carried.

Voting: For – 70; Against – 0; Abstentions – 3

Minute No. 18                       Review of Planning Call-in arrangement                        within BCP Constitution

The Portfolio Holder for Strategic Planning presented the report and proposed adoption of the changes to the Constitution as set out.

Following comprehensive debate an amendment was proposed by Councillor Broadhead to remove the last line in recommendation 2, this being to remove the line; ‘which would affect the wider public interest’. This proposition was seconded by Councillor Haines but fell on being put to the vote with voting For – 33; Against – 37; Abstentions - 1

Prior to the substantive motion being put to the vote a proposal was made by Councillor Haines to take the vote on recommendation 2 separately, this was seconded by Councillor Anderson but fell on being put to the vote.

The substantive motion was then put to the vote and carried.

Minute No.  19                    Approval of Youth Justice Plan 2019/20

The Portfolio Holder for Children’s Services presented the report and proposed that the plan be endorsed.

Voting: For – Unanimous

Minute No. 24                     Appointments to Outside Bodies

The Leader proposed that appointments be made to the Dorset Pension Fund.

RESOLVED that Councillors J Beesley, Dr F Rice and D Brown be appointed to sit on the Dorset Pension Fund.

Voting: For - Unanimous

To seek approval for establishing within the Constitution a Corporate Parenting Board.

The Portfolio Holder for Children and Families submitted 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.

Council approval was sought for establishing within the Constitution a Corporate Parenting Board.

RESOLVED that:-

(a)           a Corporate Parenting Board be established in the Councils Constitution;

(b)           paragraphs 4-13 of the report form the Terms of Reference for the Corporate Parenting Board; and

(c)           the Terms of Reference are to be kept under review by the Board, as its role develops

(d)           nominations be sought from group leaders and those Members not aligned to nominate elected members to the Board.

Voting: Unanimous

The Council is asked to approve the establishment of a Health and Wellbeing Board for the BCP area taking account of the proposed business protocol, membership and terms of reference as set out at Appendix 1 and 2 to the report.

The Leader of the Council submitted a report, a copy of which had been circulated to each Member and a copy of which appears as Appendix ‘B’ to these Minutes in the Minute Book.

Members were requested to approve the establishment of a Health and Wellbeing Board for the BCP area taking account of the proposed business protocol, membership and terms of reference as set out at Appendix 1 and 2 of the report. Further to this Members were advised that the Terms of Reference of the Board would be set at the first meeting the following week.

RESOLVED that:-

(a)           the meeting and business protocol, including the proposed membership of the Board for the BCP area taking account of the proposed business protocol, membership and terms of reference as set out at Appendix 1 and 2 to the report be agreed;

(b)           the terms of reference for the Board as set out at Appendix 2 to the report be agreed; and

(c)           it be acknowledged that the first meeting of the new Health and Wellbeing Board would be held on 24 July 2019 at which the Board will review both Appendix 1 and 2 and submit any proposed amendments as appropriate to reflect its key strategic objectives.

Voting: Unanimous

(A) Climate Emergency

Councillor Simon Bull will move and Councillor Chris Rigby will second the following motion:

Full Council notes:

1. Humans have already caused irreversible climate change, the impacts of which are being felt around the world. Global temperatures have already increased by 1 degree Celsius from pre-industrial levels. Atmospheric CO2 levels are above 400 parts per million (ppm). This far exceeds the 350 ppm deemed to be a safe level for humanity;
2. In order to reduce the chance of runaway Global Warming and limit the effects of Climate Breakdown, it is imperative that we as a species reduce our CO2eq (carbon equivalent) emissions from their current 6.5 tonnes per person per year to less than 2 tonnes as soon as possible;1
3. Individuals cannot be expected to make this reduction on their own. Society needs to change its laws, taxation, infrastructure, etc., to make low carbon living easier and the new norm;
4. Carbon emissions result from both production and consumption;
5. Unfortunately, the current BCP Council plans and actions are not enough. The world is on track to overshoot the Paris Agreement’s 1.5°C limit before 2050;2,3
6. The IPCC’s Special Report on Global Warming of 1.5°C, published last October, describes the enormous harm that a 2°C rise is likely to cause compared to a 1.5°C rise, and told us that limiting Global Warming to 1.5°C may still be possible with ambitious action from national and sub-national authorities, civil society, the private sector, indigenous peoples and local communities;
7. Councils around the world are responding by declaring a Climate Emergency and committing resources to address this emergency.

Full Council believes that:

1. National, regional and local have a duty to limit the negative impacts of Climate Breakdown, local governments that recognise this should not wait for their national governments to change their policies. It is important for the residents of Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole and for the UK that towns and cities commit to carbon neutrality as quickly as possible;
2. Large conurbations are uniquely placed to lead the world in reducing carbon emissions, as they are in many ways easier to decarbonise than rural areas – for example because of their capacity for heat networks and mass transit;
3. The consequences of global temperature rising above 1.5°C are so severe that preventing this from happening must be humanity’s number one priority; and,
4. Bold climate action can deliver economic benefits in terms of new jobs, economic savings and market opportunities (as well as improved well-being for people worldwide).

Full Council calls on BCP council to:

1. Declare a ‘Climate and Ecological Emergency’;
2. Pledge to make BCP Council and its operations carbon neutral by 2030, taking into account both production and consumption emissions (scope 1, 2 and 3)5;
3. Work with partners, businesses and the wider community to investigate, make recommendations and set a target date for how early the Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole region can be made carbon neutral, ahead of the UK target of 2050;
4. Call on Westminster to provide the powers and resources to make the 2030  ...  view the full agenda text for item 15.

(A)          Climate Emergency

The Council was advised that the following motion had been proposed by Councillor S Bull, seconded by Councillor C Rigby and supported by Councillors L Allison, R Burton, L-J Evans, G Farquhar, A Hadley, M Howell, L Lewis, M Le Poidevin, S Moore, P Parris, V Slade and K Wilson in accordance with Procedure Rule 13.

That this Council notes that:-

1.     Humans have already caused irreversible climate change, the impacts of which are being felt around the world. Global temperatures have already increased by 1 degree Celsius from pre-industrial levels. Atmospheric CO2 levels are above 400 parts per million (ppm). This far exceeds the 350 ppm deemed to be a safe level for humanity;

2. In order to reduce the chance of runaway Global Warming and limit the effects of Climate Breakdown, it is imperative that we as a species reduce our CO2eq (carbon equivalent) emissions from their current 6.5 tonnes per person per year to less than 2 tonnes as soon as possible;1
3. Individuals cannot be expected to make this reduction on their own. Society needs to change its laws, taxation, infrastructure, etc., to make low carbon living easier and the new norm;
4. Carbon emissions result from both production and consumption;
5. Unfortunately, the current BCP Council plans and actions are not enough. The world is on track to overshoot the Paris Agreement’s 1.5°C limit before 2050;2,3
6. The IPCC’s Special Report on Global Warming of 1.5°C, published last October, describes the enormous harm that a 2°C rise is likely to cause compared to a 1.5°C rise, and told us that limiting Global Warming to 1.5°C may still be possible with ambitious action from national and sub-national authorities, civil society, the private sector, indigenous peoples and local communities;
7. Councils around the world are responding by declaring a Climate Emergency and committing resources to address this emergency.

Full Council believes that:

1.     National, regional and local have a duty to limit the negative impacts of Climate Breakdown, local governments that recognise this should not wait for their national governments to change their policies. It is important for the residents of Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole and for the UK that towns and cities commit to carbon neutrality as quickly as possible;

2.     Large conurbations are uniquely placed to lead the world in reducing carbon emissions, as they are in many ways easier to decarbonise than rural areas – for example because of their capacity for heat networks and mass transit;

3.     The consequences of global temperature rising above 1.5°C are so severe that preventing this from happening must be humanity’s number one priority; and,

4.     Bold climate action can deliver economic benefits in terms of new jobs, economic savings and market opportunities (as well as improved well-being for people worldwide).

Full Council calls on BCP council to:

1.     Declare a ‘Climate and Ecological Emergency’;

2.     Pledge to make BCP Council and its operations carbon neutral by 2030, taking into account both production and consumption emissions (scope 1, 2 and 3)5;  ...  view the full minutes text for item 15.

The deadline for questions to be submitted to the Monitoring Officer is 8 July 2019.

Question from Councillor Andy Jones

A key policy of the Boscombe & Pokesdown Neighbourhood Plan is to protect key heritage assets from demolition. This has been made significantly more difficult by the dreadful piece of legislation called permitted development which allows this to happen without the submission of a planning application. Could the Cabinet Member advise whether this Council, as with others, would consider introducing an Article 4 Direction to prevent this happening and if not, why? Could the Cabinet Member further advise when the referendum will take place to ratify the Neighbourhood Plan following its postponement in May?

Response by Councillor Margaret Phipps (Portfolio Holder for Strategic Planning)

Article 4 Direction Question

It is recognised by the Council that non designated heritage assets are under pressure for development and that this matter has been raised previously by the local community in Boscombe and Pokesdown. Article 4 directions may be used to require planning permission for the demolition of a non-designated heritage asset such as a building outside of a conservation area, by removing the demolition rights.

The local community’s extensive commitment and effort in preparing the Boscombe & Pokesdown Neighbourhood Plan has highlighted that the loss of local heritage assets is very important to them. The identified local heritage assets however, even once the neighbourhood plan is formally adopted by the Council, would still not be protected from demolition under current national permitted development legislation. The only route open to prevent the loss of these buildings would be through an Article 4 Direction. It should be noted that compensation may have to be paid should permitted development rights be taken away unless the Local Planning Authority publicises their intention to make an Article 4 Direction at least one year ahead of it taking effect.

Consequently, although there would be considerable time and staff resource needed by the local planning authority to bring an Article 4 Direction into effect, it does seem reasonable to explore this matter further and I have therefore asked officers to explore the implications of introducing such a mechanism.

Neighbourhood Plan Question

I am pleased to report that he final version of the Boscombe and Pokesdown Neighbourhood Plan Examiner’s Report is expected this week. The Planning Department have recently received a draft of the Examiner’s Report for fact checking and that has been shared with the Neighbourhood Forum.

Once the final examiners report is received the Council then has to decide on the action to take in response to each recommendation and a report will be taken to Cabinet on 11^th September. The Council is then required to organise the Referendum. The Local Planning Authority have been in contact with Electoral Services and it is anticipated that a Referendum could be held in late October, but at this time the Council is unable to confirm a precise date.

Supplementary Question from Councillor Andy Jones

With regards to the cost of the referendum, will it be picked up by the Council rather than the Neighbourhood Forum?

Response by  ...  view the full minutes text for item 16.