Agenda and draft minutes

To receive any apologies for absence from Councillors.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors J Bagwell, S Bartlett, O Brown, J Challinor, J Clements, C Matthews, F Rice, V Ricketts, J Salmon, P Sidaway, V Slade, M Tarling, L Williams and K Wilson.

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.

Councillor Mark Howell declared an interest in Minute No. 59 (Cabinet 29 October 2025 – Minute No. 64 – Upton Park Farm – Surrender of Lease) and left the meeting during the discussion and voting thereon.

Councillor Sara Armstrong declared interests in Minute No. 62 (Cabinet 26 November 2025 – Minute No. 84 - Home to School Transport), Minute No. 63 (Cabinet 26 November 2025 – Minute No. 85 - Youth Justice Service Plan 2026-2028) and Minute No. 66 (Appointment of Parent Governor Representatives (maintained schools) Co-opted to Children’s Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee) and left the room during the discussion and voting on those items thereon.

Council was advised that the Monitoring Officer had granted all Members dispensations in respect of the Home to School Transport item at Minute No. and the Community Governance Review item at Minute No. to ensure all Councillors were freely able to fully participate in the debate on these items.

Further to this Council was informed that the granting of this dispensation would be reported to the next meeting of the Standards Committee.

To confirm and sign as a correct record the minutes of the Meeting held on 14 October 2025 and reconvened on the 3 November 2025.

The Minutes of the Council meeting held on 14 October 2025 and reconvened on 3 November 2025 were confirmed as a correct record.

To receive any announcements from the Chairman.

The Chairman updated Council on her activity since the last meeting and made particular reference to: -

-       Remembrance Sunday Service in Christchurch

-       Bournemouth University Graduation Ceremonies

-       Health University Graduation Ceremony

-       Armed Forces Business Event for Veterans

The Vice Chairman updated Council on the events that he had attended since the last meeting including the Remembrance Service in Poole and the Bournemouth University Graduation Ceremonies.

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 Wednesday 3 December 2025 (mid-day, 3 clear working days before the meeting).

The deadline for the submission of a statement is mid-day Monday 8 December 2025 (mid-day the working day before the meeting).

The deadline for the submission of a petition is Tuesday 25 November 2025 (10 working days before the meeting).

Public Questions

Public Question from Susan Stockwell

Cabinet may not improperly influence licensing decisions. However, this is no barrier to departments under the control of this council from properly carrying out their various functions by making objections to strip club licensing. These include but are not limited to, community safety, public health, economic development, tourism, estates, highways and licensing itself. Rising crime in the neighbourhoods around Bournemouth's strip clubs and the evidence both from marches for women's safety and respondents to consultations on licensing policy make such objections essential to carrying out these council functions. Will this council now turn its attention to accepting the evidence in front of them for urgent action on strip club licensing.

Response by the Portfolio Holder for Customer, Communications and Culture, Councillor Andy Martin on behalf of the Portfolio Holder for Housing and Regulatory Services, Councillor Kieron Wilson

Council departments are aware of their ability to object to licences where they feel this is required, additional training and guidance has been given this year to departments including Children’s Social Care. Evidence should support objections and both serious violence and anti-social behaviour rates have declined in Bournemouth Town Centre in the last year. The licensing and community safety teams work closely with Dorset Police to monitor issues related to any licensable premises.

Public Question from Daniel Glennon

"I appreciate the Winter Wonderland, the joy it brings, and the value it adds to our town’s tourism industry.

"However, I have a serious concern regarding the environmental impact of the ice skating rink. Most artificial rinks use chemicals such as glycol and calcium chloride to maintain frozen surfaces; the latter is particularly harmful to aquatic life and soil biology. Each morning I observe large quantities of ice being swept from the rink and deposited directly into the Bourne Stream, one of our town centre’s most valuable and biodiverse natural assets.

"Given this, has the council undertaken a full environmental assessment of the chemicals used to create and maintain the ice, and of the practice of daily disposing significant volumes of contaminated ice into the Bourne Stream, including potential cumulative impacts on water quality, wildlife, and the wider ecosystem, and whether mitigation measures or alternative, impact technologies have been considered?"

Response by the Portfolio Holder for Climate Response, Environment and Energy, Councillor Andy Hadley

The health of the River Bourne is important to the Council.

The Council checked prior to the 2019/20 season, and the Council’s event manager has rechecked with the operator last week that this is still the same process, she also checked with the Environmental Health Officer who is still satisfied.

It was established that the ice is made of pure water with all the glycol circulated through a closed system.

Permission for scaping the shavings into the Bourne was sought prior to the 2019/2020 season of the ice rink commencing and this was granted by the Environment Agency. The ice shavings created by the resurfacing of the rink are purely frozen water. 

As no  ...  view the full minutes text for item 57.

RESOLVED that the Licensing Committee recommends a final version of the Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Driver, Vehicle and Operator Policies for adoption by Full Council on 9 December 2025.

The Chair of the Licensing Committee presented the report on the Review of the Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Driver, Vehicle and Operator Policies and outlined the recommendations as set out on the agenda.

RESOLVED that Council adopted the final version of the Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Driver, Vehicle Operator Policies.

Voting: Unanimous

RECOMMENDED that Council: -

(a)  note the recommendations of the Cross-Party Strategic Asset Disposal Working Group on 19 September 2025; and

(b)  approve to purchase the Farm Business Tenancy at Upton Park Farm, on such terms to be approved by the Director of Finance acting in his capacity as Corporate Property Officer, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Finance.

[PLEASE NOTE: Should the Council wish to discuss the detail of the confidential appendix at Appendix A the meeting will be required to move into Confidential (Exempt) Session].

The Portfolio Holder for Finance presented the report on Upton Park Farm – Surrender of Lease and outlined the recommendations as set out on the agenda.

RESOLVED that Council: -

(a)           noted the recommendations of the Cross-Party Strategic Asset Disposal Working Group on 19 September 2025; and

(b)           approved to purchase the Farm Business Tenancy at Upton Park Farm, on such terms to be approved by the Director of Finance acting in his capacity as Corporate Property Officer, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Finance.

Voting: Unanimous

Councillor Mark Howell declared an interest in this item and left the room for the discussion and voting thereon.

Councillor Pete Miles joined the meeting at 7.30pm.

RECOMMENDED that Council: -

(a)  approve the HRA Asset Management Plan at appendix 1;

(b)  approve the Baseline+ scenario for the HRA 30 Year Business Plan; and

(c)  note that adjustments to the HRA 30 Year Business plans will be made on an annual basis alongside annual HRA budget setting and reported to Cabinet and Council accordingly.

The Portfolio Holder for Communities and Partnerships presented the report on BCP Homes Asset Management Plan and Housing Revenue Account 30 Years Business Plan and outlined the recommendations as set out on the agenda.

Council comprehensively discussed the paper with Members stressing the importance of active engagement with tenants.

RESOLVED that Council: -

(a)           approved the HRA Asset Management Plan at appendix 1;

(b)           approved the Baseline+ scenario for the HRA 30 Year Business Plan; and

(c)           noted that adjustments to the HRA 30 Year Business plans will be made on an annual basis alongside annual HRA budget setting and reported to Cabinet and Council accordingly.

Voting: Unanimous

RECOMMENDED that Council: -

(a)  note the challenges being faced in managing BCP’s sea cliffs and chines, including the impacts of climate change and limited resources allocated to this in the recent past;

(b)support the immediate allocation of £1.446m from reserves to support responses to current cliff management issues and mitigate the lost income from commercial services on the seafront; and

(c)  delegate to the Director of Commercial Operations in consultation with the Chief Operations Officer and Portfolio Holder the allocations of the funding.

The Portfolio Holder for Destination, Leisure and Commercial Operations presented the report on Sea Cliff and Chine Management and outlined the recommendations as set out on the agenda.

Members discussed the report highlighting the importance of the investment with some members expressing concern that the costs would be significant and more investment would be required to effectively support cliff management.

In addition, a member raised the importance of effective scrutiny and was reassured that scrutiny had been engaged.

RESOLVED that Council: -

(a)           noted the challenges being faced in managing BCP’s sea cliffs and chines, including the impacts of climate change and limited resources allocated to this in the recent past;

(b)           supported the immediate allocation of £1.446m from reserves to support responses to current cliff management issues and mitigate the lost income from commercial services on the seafront; and

(c)           delegated to the Director of Commercial Operations in consultation with the Chief Operations Officer and Portfolio Holder the allocations of the funding.

Voting: Unanimous

RECOMMENDED that Council Agree to tender an external provider to deliver a transformation project over three years with a total cost of £1.5 million funded by the flexible use of capital receipts to deliver service improvements and by the end of the project on-going savings in SEND school transport projected at £3 million (net of additional resource requirement).

[PLEASE NOTE: Should the Council wish to discuss the detail of the confidential appendix at Appendix 1, the meeting will be required to move into Confidential (Exempt) Session].

The Portfolio Holder for Children, Young People, Education and Skills presented the report on Home to School Transport and outlined the recommendations as set out on the agenda.

Council stressed the importance of the report and of the statutory duty to provide transport.

RESOLVED that Council agreed to tender an external provider to deliver a transformation project over three years with a total cost of £1.5 million funded by the flexible use of capital receipts to deliver service improvements and by the end of the project on-going savings in SEND school transport projected at £3 million (net of additional resource requirement).

Voting: For:56, Against:1, Abstentions:3

Councillors Lisa Northover and Margaret Phipps advised that the electronic voting was not available on their console and requested their votes for the recommendation be recorded (these are reflected in the voting numbers above which include their votes in support of the recommendation).

Councillor Sara Armstrong declared an interest in this item and left the room for the discussion and voting thereon.

Councillor Margaret Phipps left the meeting at 8.51pm

RECOMMENDED that Council approve the Youth Justice Plan 2025-2026.

The Portfolio Holder for Children, Young People, Education and Skills presented the report on the Youth Justice Service Plan 2025-2026 and outlined the recommendations as set out on the agenda.

RESOLVED that Council approved the Youth Justice Service Plan 2025-2026.

Voting: For:57, Against:0, Abstentions:2

Councillor Judes Butt advised that she had pressed the against button in error and requested that her abstention be recorded in respect of the vote (this is reflected in the voting numbers above which includes Councillor Butts abstention).

Councillor Sara Armstrong declared an interest in this item and left the room for the discussion and voting thereon.

Meeting adjourned at 8.58pm

Meeting reconvened at 9.14pm

Councillors Anne Filer, David Flagg, Paul Hilliard, Mark Howell and Pete Miles left the meeting at 8.58pm

RECOMMENDED that Council: -

(a)           notes the decision of the Cabinet meeting held 1 October 2025 and Council Meeting held 14 October 2025;

(b)           approves the Heads of Terms (HOTs) recommended by officers for the Leasehold disposal of two parcels of land at Kings Park to AFC Bournemouth (Option C); and

(c)           instructs BCP officers to agree the recommended HOTs with AFC Bournemouth, instruct BCP’s legal team accordingly and progress the two leases to completion.

[PLEASE NOTE: Should the Council wish to discuss the detail of the confidential appendices at Appendix A-G the meeting will be required to move into Confidential (Exempt) Session].

The Portfolio Holder for Finance presented the report on the Vitality Stadium land – draft heads of terms and outlined the recommendations as set out on the agenda.

RESOLVED that Council: -

(a)           noted the decision of the Cabinet meeting held 1 October 2025 and Council Meeting held 14 October 2025;

(b)           approved the Heads of Terms (HOTs) recommended by officers for the Leasehold disposal of two parcels of land at Kings Park to AFC Bournemouth (Option C); and

(c)           instructed BCP officers to agree the recommended HOTs with AFC Bournemouth, instruct BCP’s legal team accordingly and progress the two leases to completion.

Voting: For:51, Against:0, Abstentions:3

This report presents the consequential and supplementary provisions required to implement the establishment of new town councils for Broadstone, Poole, and Bournemouth, following the Council’s decision of 14 October 2025.

It outlines the arrangements necessary to ensure the new councils are legally compliant and operationally effective from 1 April 2026. Key recommendations include the formation of Shadow Councils from 1 January 2026 to oversee the recruitment of qualified clerks and address pre-implementation matters, and the agreement of anticipated precept amounts for each council, enabling sound financial planning.

The report details the limited transfer of assets, statutory requirements for allotments, and the continuation of certain services under Service Level Agreements to ensure continuity and mitigate risk. These measures are designed to provide a robust framework for the successful transition to new local governance arrangements and to support effective service delivery from inception.

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.

Council was advised that the report presented the consequential and supplementary provisions required to implement the establishment of new town councils for Broadstone, Poole, and Bournemouth, following the Council’s decision of 14 October 2025.

In addition Council was informed that the report outlined the arrangements necessary to ensure the new councils are legally compliant and operationally effective from 1 April 2026, and that key recommendations included the formation of Shadow Councils from 1 January 2026 to oversee the recruitment of qualified clerks and address pre-implementation matters, and the agreement of anticipated precept amounts for each council, enabling sound financial planning.

Further to this council was advised that the report detailed the limited transfer of assets, statutory requirements for allotments, and the continuation of certain services under Service Level Agreements to ensure continuity and mitigate risk, and that these measures were designed to provide a robust framework for the successful transition to new local governance arrangements and to support effective service delivery from inception.

The Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Board, Councillor Kate Salmon addressed the Council and provided a factual report of the debate of the Board on this item at the meeting the previous evening. 

In relation to this Councillor Salmon advised that there had been an amendment proposed at the meeting in relation to recommendation (c) which sought to take the proposed precepts to the shadow councils in January before coming back to an extraordinary council meeting to take the final decision on setting those precepts. Council was advised that following debate the board had been split on the amendment relating to recommendation (c), but that the move had been narrowly defeated when put to the vote.

Councillor Salmon further advised that the outcome of the discussion by the Overview and Scrutiny Board had been by consensus to note the contents of the report rather than to express either support or objection.

Councillor Patrick Canavan proposed an amendment to the recommendations seeking to take the proposed precepts to the respective shadow councils prior to coming back to council, the recommendation read as follows: -

‘the precept be referred to the shadow councils for consideration’

This amendment was seconded by Councillor Sue Aitkenhead.

Comprehensive discussion took place on the amendment during which members spoke in support of and against the amendment with some concern raised regarding any potential delays this could cause in respect of the recruitment of Town Clerks for the newly established Town Councils and the potential impact of holding the shadow council meetings and an extraordinary council meeting by the required 14 January date.

Councillor Hazel Allen requested a recorded vote in respect of the proposed amendment and upon receiving the required support for a recorded vote the proposed amendment was put to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 65.

The four-year term of Children’s Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee Co-opted Parent Governor Representatives (PGRs) came to an end resulting in Democratic Services commencing the process of recruiting two new PGRs (maintained schools) to sit as a Co-opted Members.

Following an election and in line with good practice, Council is asked to approve the appointment of the two successful nominees.

The Chair of the Children’s Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee, Councillor Sharon Carr-Brown presented 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.

Council was advised that the four-year term of Children’s Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee Co-opted Parent Governor Representatives (PGRs) came to an end resulting in Democratic Services commencing the process of recruiting two new PGRs (maintained schools) to sit as a Co-opted Members, and that following an election and in line with good practice, Council is asked to approve the appointment of the two successful nominees.

In presenting the report the Chair of the Children’s Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee thanked the previously appointed parent governor representatives.

RESOLVED that Council approves the following nominees to be co-opted to the Children’s Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee for a four-year term:

·       Jeremy Payne, Linwood Special School

·       Matt Tuddenham, Highcliffe St Mark Primary School

Voting: Unanimous

Reason

To appoint two new Parent Governor Representatives from maintained schools as Co-opted Members to the Children’s Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

Councillor Sara Armstrong declared an interest in this item and left the room for the discussion and voting thereon.

This is the annual report of the Statutory Scrutiny Officer on Overview and Scrutiny (O&S) activity within BCP Council for which there is an annual requirement to report to Council. This promotes visibility of the O&S function and Council ownership of activity and any improvements required. 

The annual report contains a summary and analysis of O&S activity during 2024-25, reflections on working practices and identified improvements to strengthen the O&S function.

This report was preceded by consultation on proposals with the O&S Board and Committees and comments raised by O&S members are summarised within this report.

The Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Board, Councillor Kate Salmon presented a report, a copy of which had been circulated to each Member and a copy of which appears as Appendix 'C' to these Minutes in the Minute Book.

Council was advised that this was the annual report of the Statutory Scrutiny Officer on Overview and Scrutiny (O&S) activity within BCP Council for which there is an annual requirement to report to Council, and that this promoted visibility of the O&S function and Council ownership of activity and any improvements required. 

Further to this Council was advised that the annual report contained a summary and analysis of O&S activity during 2024-25, reflections on working practices and identified improvements to strengthen the O&S function.

Council was informed that the report was preceded by consultation on proposals with the O&S Board and Committees and comments raised by O&S members are summarised within this report.

In presenting the report the Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Board thanked the previous chairs of the Overview and Scrutiny Committees and to the Scrutiny Specialist and supporting Democratic Services Officers for their hard work and support during this period.

RESOLVED that: -

1.             Council considered and commented on the annual report;

2.             Council agreed the minor amendment to O&S committee remits as outlined in figure one.

3.             To maximise the resource available for O&S work, Council agreed the following:

(i)            for pieces of in-depth work, the constitution be updated to allow one scrutiny topic to be undertaken at a time across the whole O&S function, with one further topic being scoped during the same period;

(ii)          the O&S Chairs and Vice Chairs group role be strengthened to include a responsibility to agree the priority of all work topics across the full O&S committee structure;

(iii)         the O&S Chairs and Vice Chairs group strengthen scoping for all O&S topics by reviewing key lines of enquiry for topics on an ongoing basis to provide peer test and challenge; and

(iv)         the Monitoring Officer be delegated to make the associated updates to the Constitution.

Voting: Unanimous

Reason

The Constitution requires the Statutory Scrutiny Officer to report to Council on an annual basis on the work of Overview and Scrutiny, including recommendations for any changes that may be required to ensure the function remains fit for purpose. The report must be informed by consultation with the Chairs and Vice-Chairs of the O&S Committees and referred to the four O&S Committees for comment. Consideration and comment on the annual report by the O&S Committees and Council upholds principle b) of good scrutiny, as outlined in the Constitution, that O&S shall ‘be a Councillor led and owned function that seeks to continuously improve through self-reflection and development’.

The deadline for questions to be submitted to the Monitoring Officer is Monday 1 December 2025.

Council was advised that there were no questions submitted from Councillors on this occasion.

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

Council was advised that no urgent decisions had been taken by the Chief Executive in accordance with the Constitution since the last meeting of the Council.