Agenda and minutes

To receive any apologies for absence from Councillors.

Apologies were received from Councillors J Challinor, J Clements, and D Flagg for that part of the meeting held on 20 February 2024.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors H Allen, J Bagwell, J Beesley, P Broadhead, J Butt, P Canavan, B Castle, J Challinor, J Clements, P Cooper, B Dove, D Farr, D Flagg, C Goodall, J Hanna, M Howell, R Maidment, C Matthews, P Miles, K Rampton, M Tarling and L Williams for the reconvened meeting on the 27 February 2024.

Councillors are requested to declare any interests on items included in this agenda. Please refer to the workflow on the preceding page for guidance.

Declarations received will be reported at the meeting.

The Chairman advised that the Monitoring Officer had granted all Members dispensations in respect of the following agenda items:

- Item 11: Budget including Council Tax;

- Item 6: Safety Valve - debate on petition/motion.

Councillor L Northover declared an interest in respect of agenda item 16, as she was a Council appointed trustee for Russell Cotes. Councillor Northover advised that she would leave the room for the duration of the item.

To confirm and sign as a correct record the minutes of the Meeting held on 9 January 2024.

RESOLVED: That the minutes of the meeting held on 9 January 2024 be agreed as a correct record.

Voting: Nem.Con.

To receive any announcements from the Chairman.

The Chairman announced the passing of former Poole Councillor Geoff James and former colleague Karl Hopton. Cllr Haines paid tribute to Mr James.

Council stood to mark their passing with a minute’s silence.

The Chairman updated Council on their activity since the last meeting, which included:

• Woodhouse community chest event;
• Holocaust Remembrance Service;
• Youth Parliament hustings;
• Bereavement Umbrella;
• Royal Visit at the Coastal Lookouts.

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 3 clear working days before the meeting (Wednesday 14 February 2024).

The deadline for the submission of a statement is mid-day the working day before the meeting (Monday 19 February 2024).

The deadline for the submission of a petition is 10 working days before the meeting (Tuesday 6 February 2024).

The Chair confirmed that all public questions and statements would be taken in the order in which they had been received. Any questions and statements remaining at the end of the 15-minute time limit for public issues would be circulated to all parties within two working days and included in the minutes of the meeting.

Public Questions from Jo Keeling:

During a meeting chaired by MP Conor Burns with regards to the Highmoor Farm Planning Application, David McNair, Director of Bournemouth Nuffield Hospital stated that the Nuffield had made enquiries with the council to purchase Wessex Fields in order to build a replacement hospital in this location. Talks were progressing 2019/2020 however they came to an end for reasons he stated he was not privy to.

May I ask who the talks were with? When these talks concluded? Who in the council stopped the potential sale of this land to the Nuffield as I am led to believe it was during the leadership of the first administration? Why did the Nuffield move from Wessex Fields to Talbot Village? Is it indeed a fact they were ‘put off’ from the Wessex Fields site as is rumoured to be the case. If so, why?

Response from Councillor Vikki Slade, Leader of the Council and Portfolio Holder for Dynamic Places:

Thank you for your question. I can confirm that in early 2020 a community

meeting was held at The Bridge to discuss the options for the Wessex

Fields site which I was involved with alongside the Chief Executive. This

resulted in the agreement to go out to tender with a soft market testing of the site to determine what the interest might be around its use.

A significant number of responses were received to this exercise which

was conducted by an external organisation which sent its report to the

Council in October 2020. One of these organisations was the Nuffield

Hospital.

Just to clarify that the reason that it took so long was due to the global pandemic. The Council moved to a response phase with non-essential

work being paused, which included the tendering for the soft market testing,

and that was let in June 2020 with the report received by the Council

sometime in October 2020. Our period of leadership ended on 30 September 2020.

No meetings were held with any of the potential users who had responded to that market testing, and beyond the initial expression of interest, BCP had no record of further discussions once the pandemic commenced. No direct offer to purchase the site was made by Nuffield or anyone else during my leadership of the council.

In December 2020, when the Conservative administration had taken

control, a paper was brought to Cabinet sharing the results of the soft

market testing. I have just been sighted on this for the first time in preparation for this answer. The Cabinet paper sought a decision to sell all or part of the Wessex Field site, and the recommendation which was passed  ...  view the full minutes text for item 71.

Council is advised that a petition with 2,279 valid signatures has been received from Mr Adam Sofianos requesting that:

“We the undersigned petition the council to REJECT the Government’s Safety Valve project.

STOP Safety Valve. SUPPORT our children. SUPPORT our schools.

What’s happening?
Safety Valve is a controversial Government schools project, which forces councils to make drastic cuts in support for children with special educational needs & disabilities (SEND). BCP Council has been selected as a 2024 entrant, and is expected to sign a binding contract in March. The best chance to stop this is to raise public awareness and demand a council vote.

What would this mean for SEND children and families?
SEND support is NOT a golden ticket or a free pass. It just offers a child a chance to better access education and improve their lives.
But the objective of Safety Valve is to reduce the amount spent on SEND, by cutting the support delivered to children. For BCP this includes slashing new plans by 50%, pushing up to 90% of new plans into mainstream schools, and making further cuts to support for children aged 16+.

What about the effect on schools?
The BCP proposal could mean taking money from schools. Considerations include cutting 11% from the main schools budget, and raiding the reserves of well-run schools. This would have a terrible domino effect, and would push many schools closer to insolvency.

Is this legal?
All councils are obliged by law to deliver statutory SEND services. Almost all councils are struggling to uphold this duty already. Nationally, councils lose 98% of all SEND tribunal cases.
But Safety Valve doesn’t change the law. In fact, it would make BCP more exposed to legal challenges than ever before.

Why is this even happening?
The Government has been under-funding SEND services for years, and a deficit has been growing in all councils. It’s now so big that it could push many councils into insolvency by 2026.
But rather than increase funding, or make schools policy more inclusive, the Government is using Safety Valve to force councils to slash support for some of our most vulnerable children. This could affect thousands of struggling BCP families.
Ironically, Safety Valve won’t even solve the financial issues. The deficit is too big. There are other solutions, but nothing can happen until after the election. For now, we need to hang on.

What can we do about it?
Sign this petition! By doing so, we together demand that BCP leaders agree to hold a Full Council debate and vote on Safety Valve. And if the Council votes to reject it, that decision must be binding.

STOP Safety Valve. SUPPORT our children. SUPPORT our schools.”

In accordance with the Constitution a petition with 2,000 + signatures will be referred for debate at a meeting of full Council. The Council is asked to consider the petition and to determine next steps.

Notice of Motion in accordance with Procedure Rule 10 in relation to this matter

The following  ...  view the full agenda text for item 72.

Consideration was given to a petition calling for BCP Council to reject the Government’s Safety Valve project, with the following as justification:

“STOP Safety Valve. SUPPORT our children. SUPPORT our schools.

What’s happening?

Safety Valve is a controversial Government schools project, which forces councils to make drastic cuts in support for children with special educational needs & disabilities (SEND). BCP Council has been selected as a 2024 entrant, and is expected to sign a binding contract in March. The best chance to stop this is to raise public awareness and demand a council vote.

What would this mean for SEND children and families?

SEND support is NOT a golden ticket or a free pass. It just offers a child a chance to better access education and improve their lives.

But the objective of Safety Valve is to reduce the amount spent on SEND, by cutting the support delivered to children. For BCP this includes slashing new plans by 50%, pushing up to 90% of new plans into mainstream schools, and making further cuts to support for children aged 16+.

What about the effect on schools?

The BCP proposal could mean taking money from schools. Considerations include cutting 11% from the main schools budget, and raiding the reserves of well-run schools. This would have a terrible domino effect, and would push many schools closer to insolvency.

Is this legal?

All councils are obliged by law to deliver statutory SEND services. Almost all councils are struggling to uphold this duty already. Nationally, councils lose 98% of all SEND tribunal cases.

But Safety Valve doesn’t change the law. In fact, it would make BCP more exposed to legal challenges than ever before.

Why is this even happening?

The Government has been under-funding SEND services for years, and a deficit has been growing in all councils. It’s now so big that it could push many councils into insolvency by 2026.

But rather than increase funding, or make schools policy more inclusive, the Government is using Safety Valve to force councils to slash support for some of our most vulnerable children. This could affect thousands of struggling BCP families.

Ironically, Safety Valve won’t even solve the financial issues. The deficit is too big. There are other solutions, but nothing can happen until after the election. For now, we need to hang on.”

The petition organiser, Mr Adam Sofianos, provided Council with background relating to the submitted petition and reported that the petition was the most signed petition in BCP Council history.

Members sought clarity from Mr Sofianos on a number of points.

Cllr P Canavan moved a motion regarding the Safety Valve, seconded by Cllr P Cooper, requesting that BCP Council resolves to:

(a)    Ensure that this Council is able to debate and consider any contract or arrangement regarding the possible application of Safety Valve prior to this being agreed;

(b)    Ask the Leader and/or Chief Executive of the Council to write to the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, seeking an urgent  ...  view the full minutes text for item 72.

RECOMMENDED that Council: -

(a)  approves the report for the calculation of the council’s tax base for the year 2024/25 and recommends the tax base to Full Council; and

(b)  pursuant to the report, and in accordance with the Local Authorities (Calculation of Council Tax Base) Regulations 1992, as amended, the amount calculated as the council tax base for Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council for 2024/25 is 146,342.

Councillor M Cox presented the report and recommendations as set out on the agenda.

The proposal was seconded by Councillor D Brown.

Council moved to a vote where the motion as follows was carried.

RESOLVED that Council: -

(a)       approves the report for the calculation of the council’s tax base for the year 2024/25 and recommends the tax base to Full Council; and

(b)       pursuant to the report, and in accordance with the Local Authorities (Calculation of Council Tax Base) Regulations 1992, as amended, the amount calculated as the council tax base for Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council for 2024/25 is 146,342.

Voting: Nem.Con.

RECOMMENDED TO COUNCIL that:

(a)    the Minimum Revenue Provision (MRP) change for 2023/24 set out in paragraphs 16-32 of the report be approved; and

(b)    the Treasury Management Strategy 2024/25 set out at Appendix 4 of the report be approved.

Councillor M Andrews presented the report and recommendations as set out on the agenda.

The proposal was seconded by Councillor E Connolly.

Council moved to a vote where the motion as follows was carried.

RESOLVED that:-

(a)       the Minimum Revenue Provision (MRP) change for 2023/24 set out in paragraphs 16-32 of the report be approved; and

(b)       the Treasury Management Strategy 2024/25 set out at Appendix 4 of the report be approved.

Voting: Nem.Con.

RECOMMENDED that Council: -

(a)  delegate the decision for the early years formula to Cabinet on 6 March to allow time for the consultation with the sector and Schools Forum to conclude; and

(b)  agree the local mainstream formula as set out in paragraphs 45 to 47 and appendix 3a, which remains dependent on final decisions from the DfE. In the event that these decisions have not been received by the time of the Council meeting, then the final decision is delegated to the Corporate Director for Children’s Services in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Children’s Services.

Councillor R Burton presented the report and recommendations as set out on the agenda.

The proposal was seconded by Councillor M Cox.

Council moved to a vote on each recommendation separately, where the motion as follows was carried.

RESOLVED that Council: -

(a)       delegate the decision for the early years formula to Cabinet on 6 March to allow time for the consultation with the sector and Schools Forum to conclude; and

Voting: For - 60; Against - 0; Abstentions - 13.

(b)       agree the local mainstream formula as set out in paragraphs 45 to 47 and appendix 3a, which remains dependent on final decisions from the DfE. In the event that these decisions have not been received by the time of the Council meeting, then the final decision is delegated to the Corporate Director for Children’s Services in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Children’s Services.

Voting: For - 38; Against - 25; Abstentions - 10.

RECOMMENDED to Council: -

(a)  That revenue budgets for 2024/25 and provisionally for 2025/26 to 2028/29 are set using the following principles:

i.      That dwelling rents are increased by 7.7 per cent (CPI for September 2023 + 1 per cent) from 1 April 2024 in line with the Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities Policy statement on rents for social housing published in February 2019 (Rent Policy Statement).

ii.     That garage, garage bases and parking plot rental charges are increased by 7.7% from 1 April 2024.

iii.    That leasehold services are charged to leaseholders in line with actual costs incurred.

iv.    That shared ownership dwelling rents are increased in line with lease terms.

v.     That the changes to services charges are agreed as set out in appendix 2.

vi.    That the bad debt provision is set at £0.4 million.

vii.   That the depreciation budget is set at £12.4 million.

viii.  That HRA reserves are maintained at a minimum level of 5 per cent of total expenditure in line with good practice at £2.2 million.

(b)  That capital budgets for 2024/25 and provisionally for 2025/26 to 2028/29 are set using the following principles.

i.      That the planned maintenance programme as set out in Appendix 5 is agreed.

ii.     That the major project capital programme as set out in Appendix 6 is noted.

iii.    That the 2024/25 budgets of £0.4 million for feasibility works and £3 million for the acquisition of individual properties (Acquire and Repair) are approved.

(c)  The HRA Delivery Plan is approved as set out in appendix 7.

Cllr T Trent and Cllr J Bagwell declared a pecuniary interest as they were subject to proposed increases to garage rental prices and left the room for the duration of the item.

Councillor K Wilson presented the report and recommendations as set out on the agenda.

The proposal was seconded by Councillor M Cox.

Council moved to a vote where the motion as follows was carried.

RESOLVED that Council: -

(a)       That revenue budgets for 2024/25 and provisionally for 2025/26 to 2028/29 are set using the following principles:

i.         That dwelling rents are increased by 7.7 per cent (CPI for September 2023 + 1 per cent) from 1 April 2024 in line with the Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities Policy statement on rents for social housing published in February 2019 (Rent Policy Statement).

ii.       That garage, garage bases and parking plot rental charges are increased by 7.7% from 1 April 2024.

iii.     That leasehold services are charged to leaseholders in line with actual costs incurred.

iv.     That shared ownership dwelling rents are increased in line with lease terms.

v.       That the changes to services charges are agreed as set out in appendix 2.

vi.     That the bad debt provision is set at £0.4 million.

vii.    That the depreciation budget is set at £12.4 million.

viii.  That HRA reserves are maintained at a minimum level of 5 percent of total expenditure in line with good practice at £2.2million

(b)       That capital budgets for 2024/25 and provisionally for 2025/26 to2028/29 are set using the following principles:

i.        That the planned maintenance programme as set out in Appendix 5 is agreed.

ii.      That the major project capital programme as set out in Appendix 6 is noted.

iii.    That the 2024/25 budgets of £0.4 million for feasibility works and £3 million for the acquisition of individual properties(Acquire and Repair) are approved.

(c)       The HRA Delivery Plan is approved as set out in appendix 7.

Voting: Nem.Con.

RECOMMENDED that Council: -

(a)  Undertakes a recorded vote in relation to the following items as required by the Local Authorities (Standing Orders) (England) (Amendments) Regulations 2014.

i.      Agrees that a net budget of £356.9m, resulting in a total council tax requirement of £258.6m, is set for 2024/25 based on the draft local government financial settlement figures published by government in December 2023.

ii.     Agrees an increase in council tax of 2.99% for 2024/25 in respect of the basic annual threshold and the collection of the additional social care precept of 2%.

iii.    Confirms the key assumptions and provisions made in the budget as proposed and as set out in Appendix 3.

iv.    Agrees the allocations to service areas in the budget as set out in Appendix 5.

v.     Agrees the implementation of £41m of savings as set out in Appendix 5a.

vi.    Approves the flexible use of capital receipts efficiency strategy as set out in Appendix 6.

vii.   Approves the asset management plan as set out in Appendix 8.

viii.  Agrees the treasury management strategy (TMS) and prudential indicators as set out in paragraphs 74 to 79 and Appendix 9.

ix.    Accepts and supports the formal advice of the chief finance officer on the robustness of the budget and the adequacy of the reserves as set out in paragraphs 95 to 101 and Appendix 10.

(b)  Approves the implementation of a freeze on all non-essential expenditure from 1 April 2024 and until such time as the Corporate Management Board have provided Cabinet Members with assurance that all the £41m of 2024/25 budget savings have been delivered.

(c)  Delegate to the Chief Executive, in consultation with the Director of Finance, Leader, and Portfolio Holder for Finance, the allocation of any additional resources that become available through the final 2024/25 local government finance settlement or any other means.

(d)  Requests that the Corporate Director for Children’s Services produces for the April Cabinet a detailed delivery plan to limit the high needs expenditure projections to those included within the DSG management plan presented to the Department for Education and Schools Forum in January 2024. 

(e)  Approves the chief officers’ pay policy statement 2024/2025 for consideration and approval by the council in accordance with the provisions of the Localism Act 2011 as set out in paragraphs 103 to 105 and Appendix 12.

(f)   Requests that the Director of Finance provides Council with a schedule setting out the rate of council tax for each category of dwelling further to councillors’ consideration of the decision required in respect of (1) above and after taking account of the precepts to be levied by the local police and fire authorities, neighbourhood, town and parish councils, and chartered trustees once these have been determined prior to the Council meeting on the 20 February 2024.

Note – in respect of recommendation (f) above the schedule setting out the rate of council tax for each category of dwelling after taking account of the precepts to be levied by the  ...  view the full agenda text for item 77.

Councillor M Cox presented the report and recommendations as set out on the agenda.

The proposal was seconded by Councillor D Brown.

Councillor P Broadhead moved an amended budget, seconded by Councillor J Beesley.

Conservative Group – Amendment (1) to the 2024/24 Budget

Funding Source:

(a)  To only be implemented if the specific one-off contingency set aside to manage the risk of delivery or delay in the £41.2m in savings, efficiencies and additional resources is not needed.

£1.177m Use of funds from the one-off contingency budget if not required

(b)  Ongoing resources from not disposing of an income generating asset.

£0.160m Net operating income from cancelling sale of Christchurch Bypass Car Park

Application of the one-off resources set out as follows.

Application of the ongoing resources set out as follows.

Councillors C McCormack and M Tarling declared a non-pecuniary interest in that they were members of the Christchurch Premises Committee which was debating the future of the Christchurch By-pass car park. Councillors McCormack and Tarling left the room while the amendment was debated.

Councillors M Cox and Cllr P Hilliard declared a non-pecuniary interest in that they were members of Christchurch Town Council but not members of the Premises Committee. The Councillors confirmed that they would remain in the room and deliberate on the item.

Following debate on the amendment, Council moved to a vote, as follows:

For – 13; Against – 42;  Abstentions – 16.

The amendment was lost.

Councillor P Broadhead moved a second amended budget, seconded by Councillor J Beesley.

Conservative Group – Amendment (2) to the 2024/24 Budget

Funding Source:

To only be implemented if the specific one-off contingency set aside to manage the risk of delivery or delay in the £41.2m in savings, efficiencies and additional resources is not needed.

£1.537m Use of funds from the one-off contingency budget if not required

£1.537m Total

Application of these one-off resources set out as follows.

Cllr Slade declared a non-pecuniary interest as she was the Chair and lead Member for youth clubs, and left the room for  ...  view the full minutes text for item 77.

PLEASE NOTE: Should the Council wish to discuss the detail of Appendix 1 it will be necessary to exclude the press and public and move into exempt session. If applicable, the following resolution should be moved:

“That under Section 100(A)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded from the meeting for the following item of business on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 1 in Part I of Schedule 12A of the Act and that the public interest in withholding the information outweighs such interest in disclosing the information.”

This report invites the Council to approve the appointment of the recommended candidate to the position of Chief Operations Officer in accordance with the Council’s Constitution and statutory requirements.

Because of the timescales involved, it has not been possible to complete the recruitment process before the agenda has to be published for the Council meeting, so the details of the recommended candidate will be circulated as soon as possible and before the meeting.

A summary of the recommended candidate’s skills, experience and employment history will be circulated as Appendix 1 of this report, before the meeting.

The Leader of the Council, Councillor V Slade, presented the 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, and proposed the recommendations as set out therein.

The proposal was seconded by Councillor M Phipps.

Council moved to a vote where the motion as follows was carried.

RESOLVED that Council approves the appointment of the candidate named in Appendix 1 to the position of Chief Operations Officer.

Voting: Nem. Con.

The Chair moved an adjournment of the meeting. This was seconded by the Vice Chair.

Council agreed by majority to adjourn until 7pm, Tuesday 27 February 2024.

The meeting was adjourned at 23:23.

RECOMMENDED that the revised BCP Council Tenancy Strategy 2024-2029 as set out in appendix 1 be approved.

Following further recording of Apologies for Absence and Declarations of Interests, the reconvened meeting resumed at 7pm on 27 February 2024, at agenda item 12.

Councillor K Wilson presented the report and recommendations as set out on the agenda.

The proposal was seconded by Councillor M Earl.

Council moved to a vote where the motion as follows was carried.

RESOLVED that the revised BCP Council Tenancy Strategy 2024-2029 as set out in appendix 1 to the report be approved.

Voting: Nem. Con.

RECOMMENDED that Council delegate the investment of the Active Travel Fund 4 grant to the Service Director for Infrastructure in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Climate Response, Environment and Energy.

Councillor A Hadley, presented the report and recommendations as set out on the agenda.

The proposal was seconded by Councillor R Burton.

Council moved to a vote where the motion as follows was carried.

RESOLVED that Council delegate the investment of the Active Travel Fund 4 grant to the Service Director for Infrastructure in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Climate Response, Environment and Energy.

Voting: Nem. Con. Abstentions – 1.

PLEASE NOTE: Should the Council wish to discuss the detail of Appendix 4 it will be necessary to exclude the press and public and move into exempt session. If applicable, the following resolution should be moved:

“That under Section 100(A)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded from the meeting for the following item of business on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 3 in Part I of Schedule 12A of the Act and that the public interest in withholding the information outweighs such interest in disclosing the information.”

RECOMMENDED that Council agrees: -

(a)  the disposal of the south section of the car park on the open market, subject to a future Cabinet resolution to appropriate the site for planning purposes once the South Car Park is formally closed;

(b)  to delegate authority to the Corporate Property Officer, in consultation with the Director of Finance, the Director of Law and Governance and the Portfolio Holder for Dynamic Places to select the preferred offer and finalise the detailed terms of the disposal; and

(c)  to support the reprovision of the car park and the development of a business case by the Director of Infrastructure for the modernisation and improvement of the retained car parking area, based on the use of prudential borrowing, in consultation with the Director of Commercial Operations, the Ward Councillors and the relevant Portfolio Holder.

Councillor M Cox, presented the report and recommendations as set out on the agenda.

The proposal was seconded by Councillor V Slade.

Council moved to a vote where the motion as follows was carried.

RESOLVED that Council agrees: -

(a)    the disposal of the south section of the car park on the open market, subject to a future Cabinet resolution to appropriate the site for planning purposes once the South Car Park is formally closed;

(b)    to delegate authority to the Corporate Property Officer, in consultation with the Director of Finance, the Director of Law and Governance and the Portfolio Holder for Dynamic Places to select the preferred offer and finalise the detailed terms of the disposal; and

(c)    to support the reprovision of the car park and the development of a business case by the Director of Infrastructure for the modernisation and improvement of the retained car parking area, based on the use of prudential borrowing, in consultation with the Director of Commercial Operations, the Ward Councillors and the relevant Portfolio Holder.

Voting: For - 34; Against - 5; Abstentions – 13.

RECOMMENDED that Council:-

(c)  agree the acceptance of grants, delegations for delivery and capital virements for schemes over £1m as set out in Appendix C to the submitted report.

Note – resolutions (a) and (b) were resolved matters by the Cabinet.

Councillor M Cox presented the report and recommendations as set out on the agenda.

The proposal was seconded by Councillor D Brown.

Council moved to a vote where the motion as follows was carried.

RESOLVED that Council:-(c) agree the acceptance of grants, delegations for delivery and capital virements for schemes over £1m as set out in Appendix C to the submitted report.

Voting: Nem. Con.

Note – resolutions (a) and (b) were resolved matters by the Cabinet.

RECOMMENDED that Council approve: -

(a)    An upfront grant of £2million to enable the Russell-Cotes to establish themselves as an independent organisation

(b)    Asset Transfer of the study centre, Exeter Road storage to the Charity (estimated value £500,000), subject to appropriate overage clause.

Note – resolutions (c) to (f) were resolved matters by the Cabinet.

Following her earlier declaration, Cllr L Northover left the meeting for the duration of the item.

Cllr O Brown left the meeting at 19:37.

Councillor Andy Martin presented the report and recommendations as set out on the agenda.

The proposal was seconded by Councillor Mike Cox.

Council moved to a vote where the motion as follows was carried.

RESOLVED that Council approve: -

(a)       An upfront grant of £2million to enable the Russell-Cotes to establish themselves as an independent organisation;

(b)       Asset Transfer of the study centre, Exeter Road storage to the Charity (estimated value £500,000), subject to appropriate overage clause.

Voting: For - 40; Against - 0; Abstentions – 9.

Note – resolutions (c) to (f) were resolved matters by the Cabinet.

PLEASE NOTE: Should the Council wish to discuss the detail of Appendix 1 it will be necessary to exclude the press and public and move into exempt session. If applicable, the following resolution should be moved:

“That under Section 100(A)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded from the meeting for the following item of business on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 3 in Part I of Schedule 12A of the Act and that the public interest in withholding the information outweighs such interest in disclosing the information.”

RECOMMENDED that Council:

(a)    approve option 2 to progress the scheme to planning approval only and request that DLUHC approve the remaining Towns Fund Grant for re-allocation across the remaining programme;

(b)    authorise officers to submit a Project Adjustment Request to DLUHC for reallocation of the remaining Royal Arcade grant towards other approved Boscombe Towns Fund projects;

(c)    delegate agreement of the grant re-profiling to the Director of Investment and Development, the Chief Operations Officer, Director of Finance and Director of Law and Governance in consultation with the Leader of the Council and Portfolio Holder for Dynamic Places;

(d)    approve the removal of £3.4m council prudential borrowing from the capital programme originally approved as part of the Towns Fund Update Cabinet paper on 11 January 2023.

Cllr O Brown returned to the meeting at 20:01.

The Leader of the Council, Councillor V Slade, presented the report and recommendations as set out on the agenda.

The proposal was seconded by Councillor A Martin.

Council moved to a vote where the motion as follows was carried.

RESOLVED that Council:

(a)       approve option 2 to progress the scheme to planning approval only and request that DLUHC approve the remaining Towns Fund Grant for re-allocation across the remaining programme;

(b)       authorise officers to submit a Project Adjustment Request to DLUHC for reallocation of the remaining Royal Arcade grant towards other approved Boscombe Towns Fund projects;

(c)       delegate agreement of the grant re-profiling to the Director of Investment and Development, the Chief Operations Officer, Director of Finance and Director of Law and Governance in consultation with the Leader of the Council and Portfolio Holder for Dynamic Places;

(d)       approve the removal of £3.4m council prudential borrowing from the capital programme originally approved as part of the Towns Fund Update Cabinet paper on 11 January 2023.

Voting: For - 39; Against - 9; Abstentions – 5.

PLEASE NOTE: Should the Council wish to discuss the detail of Appendix 1 it will be necessary to exclude the press and public and move into exempt session. If applicable, the following resolution should be moved:

“That under Section 100(A)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded from the meeting for the following item of business on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 3 in Part I of Schedule 12A of the Act and that the public interest in withholding the information outweighs such interest in disclosing the information.”

RECOMMENDED that Council:

(a)    approve the release of the parties from their obligations under the Development Agreement dated 26th May 2017, subject to the financial settlement outlined in paragraph 21 to 23 of the Exempt Report at Appendix 1; and

(b)    delegate authority to the Corporate Director for Resources, Chief Operations Officer, the Director of Finance, the Director of Law and Governance and the Corporate Property Officer in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Dynamic Places and the Portfolio Holder for Transformation and Resources to explore terms and make recommendations in a future cabinet report for a further head lease restructure to facilitate an alternative scheme on the Development Agreement site with L & G or its successor.

The Leader of the Council, Councillor V Slade, presented the report and recommendations as set out on the agenda.

The proposal was seconded by Councillor M Earl.

Cllr A Hadley declared a non-pecuniary interest as he was a director of Poole Business Improvement District.

Council moved to a vote where the motion as follows was carried.

RESOLVED that Council:

(a)       approve the release of the parties from their obligations under the Development Agreement dated 26th May 2017, subject to the financial settlement outlined in paragraph 21 to 23 of the Exempt Report at Appendix 1;

(b)       delegate authority to the Corporate Director for Resources, Chief Operations Officer, the Director of Finance, the Director of Lawand Governance and the Corporate Property Officer in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Dynamic Places and the Portfolio Holder for Transformation and Resources to explore terms and make recommendations in a future cabinet report for a further head lease restructure to facilitate an alternative scheme on the Development Agreement site with L & G or its successor.

Voting: Nem. Con. Abstentions – 1.

The deadline for questions to be submitted to the Monitoring Officer is 12 February 2024.

The Chair confirmed that in Councillor P Canavan’s absence his question, and the Portfolio Holder’s answer, would be circulated by email and included in the minutes of the meeting.

Question from Councillor P Canavan:

Bournemouth’s culture sector is a strong Unique Selling Point for the town and one I would suggest should form a central pillar of any strategy to regenerate the town centre. I welcome the additional one-off money announced at Cabinet on 7 February but could the Leader tell me the exact amount of money allocated and what this will be spent on?  

Also, what concrete & achievable plans has the Council developed as a result of the Town Centre Summit and the so-called Days of Action to regenerate Bournemouth Town Centre and does it include a strong cultural offer that compensates for the loss of GIANT and The Ivy. 

Response from Councillor V Slade, Leader of the Council and Portfolio Holder for Dynamic Places:

The financial constraints that BCP council is having to work under have made it necessary to find savings and efficiencies across every department of the council, including culture.

We recognise the importance of culture to the wellbeing and prosperity of the residents of BCP and as part of our tourism offer.  The additional funding provided by the revised Local Government settlement and reported to Cabinet on 7^th February enabled us to restore £76,000 towards culture.  Cabinet have agreed that this should go to grassroots and community based cultural organisations but given that this fund has only been agreed at the meeting this evening, it would be premature for us to make further plans about how it will be used.  The intention is for the fund to be used as a grant pot through which community organisations can bid, but the details around this have not yet been confirmed. 

One of the key priorities of this administration is Bournemouth Town Centre and we were quick to seek the ideas of the community through the Summer Survey, which was followed up in the autumn by the Town Centre Summit where we asked key partners to work with us to revitalise the town centre.  The opportunity to invest additional funds through the final settlement which we are referring to as the Town Centre Improvement Fund. Although details are still to be finalised, this is proposed to be split across the 3 town centres as follows: Bournemouth £179K, Poole £119K, Christchurch £60K.

In terms of the Town Centre Summit, this has been successful in bringing partners together to take collective action on priorities raised and in terms of lobbying Government to support us.   

Work achieved by the council to date includes the use of UKSPF funding for increased cleansing and graffiti teams including new reporting systems, the purchase of new bins (due to be delivered in march), restoration and planting of planters at Beale Place, The Triangle and Lansdowne, increased parking enforcement and a change to the late evening closure at Horseshoe Common to support restaurants.  Additional  ...  view the full minutes text for item 86.

To consider any urgent decisions taken by the Chief Executive in accordance with the Constitution.

The Chief Executive reported on an urgent decision taken in respect of the DHSC Accelerating Reform Fund Grant.

The meeting of 20 February 2024 ended at 23:23.

The meeting of 27 February 2024 ended at 20:40.