Agenda and draft minutes

To receive any apologies for absence from Councillors.

Apologies were received from Councillor P Hall.

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 M Brooke in respect of agenda item 7D minute no 134 Cotlands Road and York Road Site Development Plan declared that he was a Member of the Bournemouth Development Company.

Councillors were advised that all members of the Council had been granted a dispensation by the Monitoring Officer to take part in debate and vote on the Budget and Council Tax proposals.

To confirm and sign as a correct record the minutes of the Meeting held on 17 December 2019.

The Minutes of the Council meeting held on 17 December 2019 were confirmed as a correct record and signed.

To receive any announcements from the Chairman of the Council.

There were no announcements for this meeting.

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/documents/s2305/Public%20Items%20-%20Meeting%20Procedure%20Rules.pdf 

The deadline for the submission of:

Public questions is Tuesday 11 February 2020.

A statement is midday, 17 February 2020.

A petition is midday, 17 February 2020.

The Chairman advised that 5 public questions and 3 statements have been submitted for the meeting.

Public Question from Graham Chandler

In June 2019 the Public Toilets at Lake Pier were closed in respect of maintenance issues. An Election Pledge, made by the now Leader of BCP, was to refurbish and open closed toilets. Lake Pier was one of those specifically identified. Visitors to Rockley park use the beach at Lake Pier and the car park is invariably full to capacity with people who come to enjoy water sports. Can the Leader provide detailed assurance of when the refurbished building will be brought back in to use, or new facility, will be affected? 

Response by Councillor Vikki Slade (Leader of the Council)

The agreed re-opening and refurbishment programme has been formulated to avoid peak periods such as school holidays as it is preferable to not carry out works during these periods and utilise ‘windows of opportunity’ in early and late Spring and Autumn.  All refurbishments are extensive and not just decoration due to the serious deterioration in the infrastructure of buildings such as walls, roofs, plumbing and electrics.

The Quay toilet was refurbished and re-opened in October 2019, works are currently in progress to re-furbish Poole Park toilets and The Haven is programmed to be refurbished in the Autumn.

Lake Pier was essentially condemned and closed due to notice being served by Building Surveyors resulting from roof failure and extensive damage to the internal electrics. The pumping station outside the building which is integral to the process of conveying waste up the nearby steep slope to connect with the water company’s sewage system is also defective.

The funding allocation provides a one off opportunity to improve the facilities for residents and visitors at Lake Pier and, rather than extensively refurbish and re-open a toilet block that is potentially too large for its actual need, it could be linked with an adjacent café; either in its current position or in another part of the car park. Due to the nearby Site of Special Scientific Interest any change in this area has to be agreed with Natural England and Planning Authority and these discussions are taking place. Work is also well underway on potential designs, together with contingency plans to refurbish and re-open the public toilet block and to replace the sewage pumping station in the event that agreement is not reached.

It should also be noted that temporary toilets have been in place at this location since it was closed.

Public Question from Ian Clark

Wessex Fields Development and Consultation

The funding for phase 1 of the Wessex Fields development includes provision for 500 jobs. The current plan is to only build the road from the A338 up to the boundary line of the development until a decision is made as to the use of the site which is currently out for consultation.

Can the council answer:

a)    How much funding is going to be received for phase 1 of the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 58.

To receive the minutes of the following meetings:

The Committee Minutes for the last cycle of meetings were received.

Voting: Agreed

Please refer to the relevant agenda and reports.

A - Audit and Governance Committee 23 January 2020

Minute No 63 - BCP Constitution

RECOMMENDED:

(b)      That  a report on provisions within the Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council Constitution relating to ‘Voting on Appointments’ be submitted by the Monitoring Officer to the meeting of the Council in March and that the question of whether voting on appointments should continue to be by secret ballot be determined at that meeting;

Note – the remaining recommendations from the Audit and Governance Committee on the Constitution will be considered at the Council meeting on 31 March 2020.

B - Cabinet 20 December 2019

Minute No 98 – Bournemouth International Centre (BIC) short to medium investment plan

RECOMMENDED that Full Council:-

(a) Supports the proposal for up to £4.7m ‘short term’ remodelling programme of the Bournemouth International Centre (BIC), on the understanding that only up to £1.8m of this will be committed in advance of the longer-term BIC development options study;

(b) Approves the use of up to £4.7m of Prudential Borrowing at assumed interest rate of 5.5% over 25 years;

(c) Delegates to the Corporate Director and Portfolio Holder for Destination & Culture responsibility for approving the final specification and phasing of the programme;

(d) A commitment to review spending of uncommitted monies in years 2 and 3 of this project should the BIC long term development plan warrant that;

(e) Delegates approval of the final funding strategy to the Chief Financial Officer, in liaison with Corporate Director and Portfolio Holder for Finance and Destination & Culture; and

(f) Notes that a further report will be brought for Member approval to address ongoing asset management needs across the whole of the BH Live estate.

Minute No 102 – Poole Harbour Recreation Supplementary Planning Document

RECOMMENDED that:-

(a) Cabinet recommends that Council adopts that the Poole Harbour Recreation Supplementary Planning Document; and

(b) any minor changes delegated to the Director of Growth and Infrastructure in liaison with the Portfolio Holder for Strategic Planning.

C - Cabinet 15 January 2020

Minute No 110 – Transition to a Sustainable Fleet Strategy

RECOMMENDED that:-

(a)           the development of a rationalised, long-term BCP Sustainable Fleet Strategy be endorsed;

(b)           the financial impact of the varied approach to fleet replacement by legacy Councils on the BCP Sustainable Fleet Strategy be acknowledged; and

(c)           the Service Director for Environment be authorised to use up to £4m of uncommitted fleet capital budget to acquire critical, high priority vehicles in the transition period to the Sustainable Fleet Strategy.

Minute No 115 – Council Tax Base 2020/21

RECOMMENDED that:-

(a) the report for the calculation of the Council’s Tax Base for the year 2020/21 be approved and the tax base be recommended to Full Council;

(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 is split for the year  ...  view the full agenda text for item 60.

A - Audit and Governance Committee 23 January 2020

The following recommendation arising from the meeting of the Committee held on 23 January 2020 was then considered and approved:-

Minute No 63 - BCP Constitution

The Chairman of the Committee presented the report on voting on appointments and proposed approval as set out on the agenda. 

Voting: Agreed

B – Cabinet 20 December 2019

The following recommendations arising from the meeting of the Cabinet held on 20 December 2019 were then considered and approved:-

Minute No 98 – Bournemouth International Centre (BIC) short to medium investment plan

The Portfolio Holder for Tourism, Leisure and Communities presented the report and proposed approval as set out on the agenda.  He outlined the development of the Plan.

Voting: Agreed

Minute No 102 – Poole Harbour Recreation Supplementary Planning Document

The Portfolio Holder for Strategic Planning presented the report and proposed approval as set out on the agenda.  She outlined the detail of the Plan and preparation in consultation with Dorset Council.

Voting: Agreed

C – Cabinet 15 January 2020

The following recommendations arising from the meeting of the Cabinet held on 15 January 2020 were then considered and approved:-

Minute No 110 - Transition to a Sustainable Fleet Strategy

The Portfolio Holder for Environment and Climate Change presented the report and proposed approval as set out on the agenda. 

A Councillor sought clarification on recommendation c and asked what quantity, type and cost deemed a vehicle critical.  The Portfolio Holder reported that there had been discussion at the Overview and Scrutiny Board and a detailed spreadsheet setting out the variety of vehicles and the prioritisation prepared which she would provide to the Councillor.

Voting: Agreed

Minute No 115 – Council Tax Base 2020/21

The Portfolio Holder for Finance presented the report and proposed approval as set out on the agenda.  He explained that this was a technical report consistent with the relevant legislation which would result in three separate council tax levels.

Voting: Agreed

D – Cabinet 12 February 2020

The following recommendations arising from the meeting of the Cabinet held on 12 February 2020 were then considered and approved:-

Minute No 134 – Cotlands Road and York Road Site Development Plan (SDP)

The Portfolio Holder for Regeneration and Culture presented the report and proposed approval as set out on the agenda.  He reported that the recommendations related to the Council’s joint venture with the Bournemouth Development Company on the development of the Cotlands Road and York Road car parks.

Voting: Agreed

Minute No 124 - Quarter 3 Budget Monitoring Report 2019-20

The Portfolio Holder for Finance presented the report and proposed approval as set out on the agenda.  In presenting the recommendation he outlined the budget position for 2019-20.

Voting: Agreed

The Chairman reported that the following recommendations from the Cabinet meeting held on 12 February 2020 related to the budget and therefore Members were reminded that under Regulation 2 of the Local Authorities (Standing Orders) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2014 votes taken  ...  view the full minutes text for item 60.

A – Restrictions on use of Sky Lanterns and Helium Balloons from land owned by, and events licensed by BCP Council

Background

Many organisations have drawn attention to the problem of sky lantern and balloon releases which end up as litter on land or sea and pose a risk to livestock and marine animals which mistake balloons for food and are injured by the metal in some sky lanterns.

Balloons have been found ingested in endangered turtles, dolphins, whales and seabirds. Livestock have died after eating degraded lanterns, which are accidentally picked up by harvesting machinery and put into winter feeds.

Lanterns also pose a fire risk to crops in the summer months and to thatched roof properties.  In April 2016 a sky lantern landed on a Dorset Nature Reserve near Wareham starting a major gorse fire and just after Christmas 2019 in Germany sky lanterns were believed to have caused the death of dozens of zoo animals.  In addition, sky lanterns are causing a number of false alarm call outs on the coast as people mistake them for distress flares.

The call to ban balloon and sky lantern releases nationally is supported by the Marine Conservation Society, RSPCA, RSPB, BASC and the National Farmers’ Union.

Following the public outcry about plastic in our oceans and the recent Climate and Ecological Emergencies declared not just here but across hundreds of councils and other organisations, now is the time to put an end to this unnecessary activity.

Councillor Vikki Slade will move and Councillor Rachel Maidment will second that

BCP Council proposes that:-

1. Releases of Sky Lanterns and Helium Balloons should not be permitted from land owned by BCP Council.

2. Releases of Sky Lanterns and Helium Balloons should not be permitted at any events licensed by BCP Council.

3. BCP Council Communications team should consider amending their literature to include ideas for alternative commemorative actions, drawing attention to the ban on council land and discouraging organisers from using Sky Lanterns or Balloon Releases at events on private land.

B – Fur Free Markets

Councillor Rachel Maidment will move and Councillor Vikki Slade will second that:

BCP Council notes that:

• The United Kingdom has outlawed the farming of animals for their fur on ethical grounds since 2000 and that the use of one of the most common traps used to catch animals for their fur has been illegal for many years.
• Nonetheless fur products are imported from overseas nations, particularly China, where such bans do not operate and where there is virtually no animal welfare legislation in force.
• Real fur comes from animals raised in deplorable conditions or trapped in the wild and killed inhumanely.
• Regrettably these products are often found for sale on public markets in the UK and customers can inadvertently buy them thinking them to be made of imitation fur.

Accordingly BCP Council resolves to:

• Prohibit the sale of any product wholly or partially made with real animal fur on Council owned land and at Council  ...  view the full agenda text for item 61.

A – Restrictions on use of Sky Lanterns and Helium Balloons from land owned by, and events licensed by BCP Council

The Council was advised that the following motion had been proposed by Councillor V Slade, seconded by Councillor R Maidment

Background

Many organisations have drawn attention to the problem of sky lantern and balloon releases which end up as litter on land or sea and pose a risk to livestock and marine animals which mistake balloons for food and are injured by the metal in some sky lanterns.

Balloons have been found ingested in endangered turtles, dolphins, whales and seabirds. Livestock have died after eating degraded lanterns, which are accidentally picked up by harvesting machinery and put into winter feeds.

Lanterns also pose a fire risk to crops in the summer months and to thatched roof properties.  In April 2016 a sky lantern landed on a Dorset Nature Reserve near Wareham starting a major gorse fire and just after Christmas 2019 in Germany sky lanterns were believed to have caused the death of dozens of zoo animals.  In addition, sky lanterns are causing a number of false alarm call outs on the coast as people mistake them for distress flares.

The call to ban balloon and sky lantern releases nationally is supported by the Marine Conservation Society, RSPCA, RSPB, BASC and the National Farmers’ Union.

Following the public outcry about plastic in our oceans and the recent Climate and Ecological Emergencies declared not just here but across hundreds of councils and other organisations, now is the time to put an end to this unnecessary activity.

BCP Council proposes that:-

1. Releases of Sky Lanterns and Helium Balloons should not be permitted from land owned by BCP Council.
2. Releases of Sky Lanterns and Helium Balloons should not be permitted at any events licensed by BCP Council.
3. BCP Council Communications team should consider amending their literature to include ideas for alternative commemorative actions, drawing attention to the ban on council land and discouraging organisers from using Sky Lanterns or Balloon Releases at events on private land.

RESOLVED that the above motion be unanimously agreed.

B – Fur Free Markets

The Council was advised that the following motion had been proposed by Councillor R Maidment, seconded by Councillor V Slade

BCP Council notes that:

• The United Kingdom has outlawed the farming of animals for their fur on ethical grounds since 2000 and that the use of one of the most common traps used to catch animals for their fur has been illegal for many years.
• Nonetheless fur products are imported from overseas nations, particularly China, where such bans do not operate and where there is virtually no animal welfare legislation in force.
• Real fur comes from animals raised in deplorable conditions or trapped in the wild and killed inhumanely.
• Regrettably these products are often found for sale on public markets in the UK and customers can inadvertently buy them thinking them to be made of imitation fur.

Accordingly BCP Council resolves to:  ...  view the full minutes text for item 61.

The deadline for questions to be submitted to the Monitoring Officer is 10 February 2020.

Question from Councillor L-J Evans

Many Councillors have received emails from Friends of the Earth asking us to support a doubling of tree coverage in the BCP Council area.  Would the Portfolio Holder please tell us whether we are planning to do this and how many trees we are currently planting.

Response by Councillor Felicity Rice (Portfolio Holder for Environment and Climate Change)

This Council is committed to delivering on its promise to tackle climate change and species loss.  Last July we declared a climate and ecological emergency.

Whilst we are committed to planting more trees, we cannot commit to a doubling of numbers in the conurbation without understanding how this could be achieved.  We recognise that much of our open space is already designated for its precious nature and habitats, including heathland and saltmarshes, and managing some of those places for endangered species means preventing an increase in tree cover. 

Firstly, for the long term, we are working on a new Green Infrastructure Strategy to assess and plan for our green spaces for both now and in the future; this will be followed by a more detailed strategy for trees.  We expect to have produced the Green Infrastructure Strategy within the next 12-14 months, which has been funded by the national Future Parks programme, a partnership with the National Lottery Heritage Fund, National Trust and Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government.

The early stages of this work are focussed on pulling together data from Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole into a single place.  We are also gathering ideas and thoughts on how we can deliver real action, to this end we welcome the ideas that have been sent to us by residents, businesses and other local organisations.  They can continue to send us ideas by visiting our website at www.bcpcouncil.gov.uk/climate.

As this work progresses, we’ll develop ideas into a plan, prioritising those proposals and projects that offer the best opportunities to impact positively on climate and ecology.  We have already committed to exploring a number of ideas such as:

·         Purchasing or identifying land available for large tree planting schemes

·         Allowing natural woodland regeneration on some sites

·         Investigating community tree planting schemes

·         Tree planting on suitable grassed amenity spaces

·         Additional street trees

·         Natural burial sites

·         Increasing protection to our existing trees in the conurbation through planning policy

In the shorter term we’ve taken some initial actions already:

Last year the Council announced that we’d start to carbon offset the Bournemouth Air Festival, a scheme that is allowing us to work with several local schools and nature reserves to plant over 200 new trees in 2020.  The scheme also funds the protection of land within the Amazon forest from deforestation.

We have also planted a new hedgerow with 500 tree whips in Hicks Farm this year.

We are also pleased to announce that we will be working with residents so that residents are able to grow native trees from seed in their own gardens, ready for replanting in the next  ...  view the full minutes text for item 62.