Agenda

To receive any apologies for absence from Councillors.

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

To confirm and sign as a correct record the minutes of the Meeting held on 11 September 2019.

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 Monday 23 September 2019.

The deadline for the submission of a statement is 12.00 noon, Friday 27 September 2019.

The deadline for the submission of a petition is 12.00 noon, Friday 27 September 2019.

Happyland is a prime beachfront site that is in need of extensive repair or redevelopment in order to comply with the Council’s obligations under the lease and to ensure the future stability of the cliff. As a result of comprehensive legal and procurement advice, entering into a licence with the Meyrick Estate to allow development of the site is considered the most appropriate course of action. This Cabinet Report sets out the proposed option and seeks approval for the recommendation set out below to enable the redevelopment of the site.

In 2017 Dorset Local Enterprise Partnership (DLEP) awarded Bournemouth Borough Council £8.5 million to deliver fundamental changes to Lansdowne Business District and the Lansdowne Programme was created. DLEP grant conditions require the £8.5m funding to be spent by 31 March 2021. In addition, the Lansdowne Programme requires £2.89m Council  match funding local contribution, increasing the total budget to £11.39m.

The Lansdowne area has been in need of major capital investment for over 30 years.  Investment of £11.39m public funds will help to deliver the Lansdowne Vision where Lansdowne Bournemouth will become an exciting and attractive place to live, work, study and enjoy. Over £200m of private funds have already been invested in the area creating new university facilities, accommodation and offices. The £11.39m will also facilitate increased sustainable travel networks and community/cultural spaces.

 A Lansdowne Programme Update (Appendix 1) outlines the work completed to date as well as key future milestones required to complete all works by 2021/22.

This paper informs the Cabinet of the current status of the Wessex Fields programme which aims to create and retain high quality jobs, reduce congestion and support the re-development of Royal Bournemouth and Christchurch Hospital.  It sets out the reasons for taking this opportunity forward, the key milestones to date and the reasons for the proposed changes. The paper recommends an agreed way forward to ensure progress towards unlocking the employment site for development, and to ensure the retention of the Dorset Local Enterprise Partnership (DLEP) funding.

Refuse and recycling waste collections are a statutory function which local authorities are required to by law provide. Separate garden waste collections are a discretionary service that Councils can legally charge householders a reasonable fee for. Chargeable garden waste collections have been operated by the legacy Councils since 2012.

The service is popular with 49,681 subscribers for 2019, collecting 14,250 tonnes of garden waste across BCP in 2018/19.

There are several variations in the service across BCP which over time need to be reviewed and aligned to ensure parity.

In December 2018, the Government published a new Waste and Resource Strategy for England and consultations on many aspects of waste management followed in April/May 2019. These consultations included proposals on garden waste bin size, collection frequencies and whether garden waste collections should be provided free of charge by local authorities.

Full alignment of garden waste collection services across BCP must consider the Government’s new waste strategy, outcomes of subsequent consultations and associated legislation (requiring compliance by 2023).

From 1 April 2020, BCP will be responsible for operating waste & cleansing services within the Christchurch area, meaning a pragmatic operating model is required to ensure sustained service delivery and a smooth transition for Christchurch residents.

A new waste strategy and uniform collection methodology for BCP will take time to develop, agree and implement across the conurbation. Alignment of waste & cleansing services will provide parity across BCP, greater flexibility operationally, financial efficiencies and environmental improvements.

In December 2018, the Government released a new Waste Strategy, ‘Our Waste, Our Resources: A strategy for England’. The strategy sets out proposals for how the Government’s ambitious aims will be achieved. These proposals have recently been consulted on and are likely to significantly impact on the tonnage, composition and value of waste that BCP is required to manage. BCP will be required to comply with new legislation resulting from the National Waste Strategy by 2023.

Ensuring that the Council’s Safeguarding responsibilities are fulfilled and delivered is the responsibility of all officers and Councillors.  The BCP Council Corporate Safeguarding Strategy sets out how the Council will deliver its safeguarding duties; the accountabilities of individual officers and Councillors; the training and development standards across the Council and how the Council will monitor the delivery of the framework.

The Dorset Business Growth Programme, run by WSX Enterprise Ltd, provides free business advice to people running or setting up small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole, and Dorset.  It has been very successful in helping create new businesses and new jobs in the area.

The programme receives EU funding from the European Structural Investment Fund, match funding and in-kind support from local partners and local authorities. 

At the beginning of the programme, Bournemouth Council agreed to be the Accountable Body, and subsequently agreed to guarantee the obligations of WSX Enterprise as to the delivery of the programme as set out in the funding agreement provided by the Ministry for Housing Communities and Local Government (MHCLG). Bournemouth Council made appropriate legal and financial provisions so as to protect the Council’s interests. These agreements have novated over to BCP Council. The original funding is coming to an end and a project extension has been applied for by WSX Enterprise Ltd.  For this to be granted, BCP Council is requested to extend the term of its commitment accordingly.

To consider the latest version of the Cabinet Forward Plan for approval.