Agenda and minutes

To receive any apologies for absence from Councillors.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors C Adams, S Aitkenhead, H Allen, S Carr-Brown, B Chick, P Cooper, M Cox, A Filer, A Martin, C Matthews, F Rice and V Slade.

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.

There were no declarations of interest made on this occasion.

Before moving onto the substantive items of business for the meeting the Chair welcomed His Majesty’s Lord Lieutenant of Dorset, Mr Michael Dooley.

Further to this the Chair also highlighted the forthcoming VE day celebrations taking place across Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole to mark the 80^th anniversary of Victory in Europe and the beacon lighting event taking place in the front of the BCP Council Civic Centre on Thursday 8 May with music courtesy of the Poole Borough Band from 9pm followed by the lighting of the beacon at 9.30pm.

In addition the Chair thanked everyone for their support during her time as Chair of the Council.

Councillors are asked to nominate and elect the Chair of the Council until the next Annual Council meeting.

Councillor Simon Bull took the chair for this item.

The following nomination was received:

• Councillor Lesley Dedman – proposed by Councillor David Martin and seconded by Councillor Richard Burton

The proposer and seconder outlined the reasons for the nomination and the nominee’s availability to fulfil the role.

RESOLVED that Councillor Lesley Dedman was elected Chair of the Council until the next Annual Council meeting in 2026.

Councillor Dedman signed and made the declaration of acceptance of office.

“I Councillor Lesley Dedman having been elected to the office of Chairman of BCP Council declare that I take the office upon myself and will duly and faithfully fulfil the duties of it according to the best of my judgement and ability”.

Councillor Dedman thanked Councillors for re-electing her as Chairman of the Council and for the support she had received over the last year from the Civic Team and the Vice-Chair.

Councillor George Farquhar proposed that Councillor Lesley Dedmans name be engraved onto the chain as a mark of respect for years of service as Chair of the Council having been elected three years in a row. This proposal was seconded by Councillor Claire Weight.

Upon being put to the vote the proposal was carried.

RESOLVED that Councillor Lesley Dedmans name be engraved onto the chain.

Voting: Agreed without dissent.

Councillors are asked to nominate and elect the Vice-Chair of the Council until the next Annual Council meeting.

The following nomination was received:

• Councillor Simon Bull – proposed by Councillor Chris Rigby and seconded by Councillor Kieron Wilson

RESOLVED that Councillor Simon Bull was elected Vice-Chair of the Council until the next Annual Council meeting in 2026.

Councillor Bull signed and made the declaration of acceptance of office.

“I Councillor Simon Bull having been elected to the office of Vice-Chairman of BCP Council declare that I take the office upon myself and will duly and faithfully fulfil the duties of it according to the best of my judgement and ability”.

Councillor Bull thanked Councillors for re-electing him as Vice-Chairman of the Council and for the support from the Civic Team over the previous year.

The Council is asked to consider and approve the review of the political balance of the Council, the allocation of seats on Committees to each political group, the appointment of Councillors on Committees and appointments to outside bodies as part of the annual review and following Councillor Karen Rampton’s resignation from the Conservative Group.

The Leader of the Council 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 asked to consider and approve the review of the political balance of the Council, the allocation of seats on Committees to each political group, the appointment of Councillors on Committees and appointments to outside bodies as part of the annual review and following Councillor Karen Rampton’s resignation from the Conservative Group.

Councillor Philip Broadhead proposed an amendment to the figures contained within table 2 which read as follows: -

“Recommendations as agreed but to amend table 2 to make the following changes:

Reduce Conservative seat on environment and place committee from 2 to 1. 

Increase Poole Engage seat on environment and place committee from 0 to 1. 

Reduce Poole Engage seat on Audit and Governance from 1 to 0. 

Increase Conservative seat on Audit and Governance from 1 to 2.”

This amendment was seconded by Councillor Judes Butt.

Discussion took place on the amendment with members expressing concern with regards to the proposed changes.

Voting: 13:47 (4 Abstentions)

The proposed amendment fell with the voting set out as above.

Discussion then took place on the original recommendations as set out on the agenda.

Councillor Patrick Canavan, as Leader of the Labour Group reported that there would be a change to the proposed membership contained within Table 3 as follows: -

-       Councillor Patrick Canavan was to be replaced on the Overview Scrutiny Board by Councillor Michelle Dower; and

-       Councillor Michelle Dower was to be replaced on the Licensing Committee by Councillor Patrick Canavan.

RESOLVED that: -

(a)        the revised political balance of the Council, as set out in Table 1 be approved;

(b)        the allocation of seats to each political group, as set out in Table 2, be approved;

(c)        the appointment of Councillors to Committees and Boards, taking into account the wishes of each political group as detailed in Table 3 and as reported by Councillor Canavan, be approved;

(d)        the allocation of seats to each political group to the outside bodies, as detailed in Table 4, be approved;

(e)        the appointment of Councillors to the outside bodies, as detailed in Table 5, be approved; and

(f)       subject to (b) and (d) above, the appointment of the named unaligned Members to Committees, Boards and Outside Bodies as detailed in Tables 3 and 5, be approved.

Voting: 52:7 (5 abstentions)

The Council is asked to consider and approve the schedule of meetings for 2025/26 and 2026/27 municipal years.

A report was presented to Council, 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 asked to consider and approve the schedule of meetings for 2025/26 and 2026/27 municipal years.

RESOLVED that the schedule of meetings for the 2025/26 and 2026/27 municipal years as attached at Appendix 1 and Appendix 2 to the report be approved.

Voting: Agreed with no dissent