Agenda, decisions and draft minutes

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.

Councillors M Greene and N Greene declared disclosable interests in Minute No. 252 (Lansdowne Programme) and refrained from participating in the discussion and voting thereon.

To confirm and sign as a correct record the minutes of the Meeting held on 30 September 2020.

The Minutes of the Cabinet meeting held on 30 September 2020 were confirmed and signed as a correct record.

To receive any public questions, statements or petitions submitted in accordance with the Constitution, which 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 a public question is 4 clear working days before the meeting.

The deadline for the submission of a public statement is midday the working day before the meeting.

The deadline for the submission of a petition is 10 working days before the meeting.

The Leader advised that 1 public question had been received in relation to Agenda Item 9 (Lansdowne Programme). The Leader advised that a copy of the public question had been circulated to the Cabinet and had been published on the Councils website.

To consider recommendations from the Overview and Scrutiny Board on items not otherwise included on the Cabinet Agenda.

Cabinet were advised that there were no additional recommendations from the Overview and Scrutiny Board on items not otherwise included on the Cabinet Agenda on this occasion.

The Western Gateway Rail Strategy is an area wide rail strategy which outlines how rail will help deliver the overall vision and objectives for transport in the Western Gateway area.

The Portfolio Holder for Transport and Sustainability 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.

Cabinet were advised that the Western Gateway Rail Strategy is an area wide rail strategy which outlines how rail will help deliver the overall vision and objectives for transport in the Western Gateway area.

RECOMMENDED that Council:-

(a)         endorse the Western Gateway Rail Strategy; and

(b)         pursue the six route maps as identified in the Rail Strategy and support the development of any business cases or feasibility studies arising.

Voting: Unanimous

Portfolio Holder: Transport and Sustainability

This report brings forward the recommendation of the award of a contract modification to the current contract with United Living in order to progress the timely removal and replacement of the cladding system at Sterte Court.

The work will deliver the removal of the current cladding system in response to the most recent Fire Risk Assessment.  It will address issues with poor workmanship and other identified fire safety issues.

The works will replace the current cladding with a new system that is compliant with technical and legal requirements, remove the current fire risks presented by the cladding and remove the need for other ongoing mitigation actions currently in place.

The works will importantly address our local priority to deliver the national fire safety agenda of improving fire safety standards across homes for residents in the BCP area.

The Portfolio Holder for Homes 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.

Cabinet were advised that the report brought forward the recommendation of the award of contract modification to the current contract with United Living in order to progress the timely removal and replacement of the cladding system at Sterte Court, and that the work will deliver the removal of the current cladding system in response to the most recent Fire Risk Assessment and will address issues with poor workmanship and other identified fire safety issues.

In relation to this Cabinet were advised that the works will replace the current cladding with a new system that is compliant with technical and legal requirements, remove the current fire risks presented by the cladding and remove the need for other ongoing mitigation actions currently in place.

Further to this Cabinet were informed that the works will importantly address our local priority to deliver the national fire safety agenda of improving fire safety standards across homes for residents in the BCP area.

Councillor Kieron Wilson addressed the Cabinet supporting the paper and stressing its importance. In addition Councillor Wilson praised the officers for their work.

RECOMMENDED that Council:-

(a)    Approve the award of a contract modification to United Living to the value of £3.384m in order to deliver the removal of the current cladding system and installation of a new cladding system at Sterte Court, together with a budget of £0.25m for unexpected remediation works and a 5% project contingency allowance, and delegate authority to the Director for Housing to agree the detailed terms in liaison with the Section 151 Officer and Monitoring Officer and to enter into the relevant agreements;

(b)    Approve the waiver of the right to charge leaseholders the cost of the works which may otherwise be recoverable for the reasons set out in Appendix B;

(c)    Approve the budget virement of £3.816m within the HRA in order to support the delivery of the works;

(d)    Approve the delegation to the Section 151 Officer to finalise the details and authorise submission of a bid to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) seeking government grant toward the replacement of the works.

Voting: Unanimous

Portfolio Holder: Homes

Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole have separate legacy Housing Allocation Policies which require alignment, as per the Statutory Order from Government.

The BCP Housing Allocation Policy seeks to harmonise each policy providing criteria used to consider applications for the BCP Council Housing Register.  It sets out the eligibility, qualification and assessment criteria on which different housing circumstances of person will be prioritised. 

All nominations to social housing properties managed by BCP Council, Poole Housing Partnership (PHP) and local housing associations will be made in accordance with the policy and administered through a revised BCP HomeChoice scheme.

Implementation for the new policy is proposed for July 2021 when the IT system is fully mobilised in line with the approved policy.

RESOLVED that the proposed Policy be approved.

Voting: Unanimous

Portfolio Holder: Homes

Reason

This report is for approval of a new BCP Housing Allocations Policy which is required for alignment as per the Statutory Order agreed with Government.

The Portfolio Holder for Homes 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.

Cabinet were advised that Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole have separate legacy Housing Allocation Policies which require alignment, as per the Statutory Order from Government.

In relation to this Cabinet were informed that the BCP Housing Allocation Policy sought to harmonise each policy providing criteria used to consider applications for the BCP Council Housing Register and set out the eligibility, qualification and assessment criteria on which different housing circumstances of person will be prioritised. 

Further to this Members were advised that all nominations to social housing properties managed by BCP Council, Poole Housing Partnership (PHP) and local housing associations will be made in accordance with the policy and administered through a revised BCP HomeChoice scheme.

Cabinet were advised that implementation for the new policy was proposed for July 2021 when the IT system is fully mobilised in line with the approved policy.

Cabinet were informed of the following recommendations from the recent meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Board:

1.      That paragraph 8.1 of the Housing Allocations Policy document be amended to include the following wording:

“…will be able to approve minor technical amendments to the allocations policy. Where a change will negatively impact on any single tenant group or any group covered by the Equalities Act this should be referred back to cabinet for approval?”

2.      That section 18 of Appendix C to the Housing Allocations Policy be amended to include the following wording:

“You currently live in the BCP council area and have done so for at least two years continuously prior to the application. Where there is a break in occupancy during this time of up to 6 months due to enforced family move this can be considered on a case by case basis where the household has been a long term (10yrs plus) resident in the BCP Council area”.

In respect of recommendation 1 from the Overview and Scrutiny Board the Portfolio Holder advised that paragraph 8.1 of the policy would be amended to take account of the fact that minor changes will be agreed by senior officers, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Homes, and that this will assist in ensuring the scheme continues to meet legislative and best practice requirements, changes may involve clarification on wording etc as felt appropriate over time. And that before adopting any changes to the scheme that relate to a major change in policy which significantly impacts on any single group the Council will comply with the procedures as set out in Part 6 of the Housing Act 1996 and the Policy should be referred back to Cabinet for approval.

With regards to recommendation 2 from the Overview and Scrutiny Board the Portfolio Holder advised that section 18 of Appendix C be amended to make reference to the following:

‘applicants who have had a break  ...  view the full minutes text for item 251.

The recent change in leadership of the Council has resulted in a review of the Lansdowne Programme by the relevant Portfolio Holders and officers. The outcome, which is supported by consultation responses gathered over the life of the Programme, is that there should continue to be a focus on delivering high quality public realm improvements to Holdenhurst Road, whilst also allowing access to all traffic.

This revised scheme for Phase 1 of the Lansdowne Programme remains focused on the heart of Lansdowne and aims to deliver benefits to the area that help to deliver the long-term vision the Council and other stakeholders have for this part of Bournemouth.  

The revised scheme is at preliminary design stage. This design requires approval from Cabinet to enable it to progress quickly towards detailed design and then delivery.   

RESOLVED that Cabinet:-

(a)         approves the preliminary design of the revised scheme, enabling the Programme Team to progress the detailed design and begin early contractor engagement;

(b)          notes that significant public and stakeholder consultation has taken place over the last 5 years, resulting in the preliminary design appended to this report;

(c)          notes the timeline for delivery; and

(d)          delegates authority to the Director of Development, as Senior Responsible Officer for the Lansdowne Programme, in consultation with the relevant Portfolio Holder(s), to:

- progress the detailed design

- approve the final design

- start early contractor engagement

- move to delivery phase, subject to the Traffic Regulation Order   process

Voting: Nem. Con. (2 abstentions)

Portfolio Holder: Regeneration, Economy and Strategic Planning

(Councillors M Greene and N Greene declared disclosable interests in respect of this item and refrained from participating in the discussion and voting thereon.)

Reasons

By Cabinet approving these recommendations, it will enable the Programme Team to move the scheme through the preliminary design phase to detailed design and on to delivery.

This will facilitate delivery of phase 1 of the Lansdowne Programme relating to improvements along Holdenhurst Road, the outskirts of Lansdowne Roundabout and Meyrick Road (north).

It will also ensure expenditure of the Dorset Local Enterprise Partnership funding in line with the required timelines.

The Portfolio Holder for Regeneration, Economy and Strategic Planning presented a report and additional addendum sheet, copies of which had been circulated to each Member and copies of which appear as Appendix 'D' and ‘E’ to these Minutes in the Minute Book.

In presenting the report the Portfolio Holder thanked the Overview and Scrutiny for their robust discussion at their recent meeting and highlighted that the addendum sheet sought to address the points raised.

Further to this Cabinet were advised that the recent change in leadership of the Council had resulted in a review of the Lansdowne Programme by the relevant Portfolio Holders and officers. The outcome of which is supported by consultation responses gathered over the life of the Programme that there should continue to be a focus on delivering high quality public realm improvements to Holdenhurst Road, whilst also allowing access to all traffic.

Cabinet were informed that this revised scheme for Phase 1 of the Lansdowne Programme remains focused on the heart of Lansdowne and aims to deliver benefits to the area that help to deliver the long-term vision the Council and other stakeholders have for this part of Bournemouth, and that the revised scheme was at preliminary design stage, and that this design required approval from Cabinet to enable it to progress quickly towards detailed design and then delivery.

In respect of the changes that had been made to the scheme the Portfolio Holder advised that it was still hoped that pedestrianisation for the area would be able to be achieved in the future.

Further to this the Portfolio Holder thanked the Lead Member for equalities for looking at the equalities impact assessment which still required further work.

The Chairman of the Overview and Scrutiny Board addressed Cabinet, expressing thanks that the decisions from the Board as set out below had been dealt with in the published addendum:

The Overview and Scrutiny Board resolved that:

1.    Officers be requested to review the cabinet report and amend it accordingly in light of concerns raised by the Board regarding the inclusion of all options for the programme within the report.

Note: The board also raised further concerns regarding the accuracy of Appendix A to the report and that there wasn’t further detail included with the report on the risk register.

2.    The administration be urged to publish the results of the consultation in advance of the Cabinet meeting on November 11 broken down to reveal the views of respondents including business and local stakeholders.

The Leader highlighted the tight timescale and the Portfolio Holder advised that the timeframe hasn’t changed and that in order to ensure that this could be met only a limited number of changes had been made to the scheme, and there was a high level of confidence that the timeframe would be met.

RESOLVED that Cabinet:-

(a)         approves the preliminary design of the revised scheme, enabling the Programme Team to progress the detailed design and begin early contractor engagement;

(b)          notes that significant public  ...  view the full minutes text for item 252.

Pursuant to the Shareholder Agreement for Tricuro, which is a Local Authority Trading Company wholly-owned by BCP Council and Dorset Council, the Executive Shareholder Group (the “ESG”) sets an annual cap on pay.  Any remuneration above that cap requires the approval of the ESG.  Tricuro wishes to appoint a permanent Managing Director and has requested that the remuneration for the Managing Director is approved at up to £120,000 per annum (i.e., in excess of the annual cap on pay set at £100,000).

RESOLVED that:-

a)    Cabinet delegates authority to the ESG members from time to time to:

i)   agree that Tricuro is permitted to set the remuneration package for the Managing Director of Tricuro to a sum of up to £120,000 per annum;

ii)  determine and approve such further details of this remuneration package as may be required; and

iii)ratify the approval of interim remuneration arrangements.

Voting: Unanimous

Portfolio Holder: Adults

Reasons

The Board of Tricuro is progressing with the process of permanent recruitment of Managing Director for the company. Having obtained Human Resources advice and information on rates paid nationally for similar posts, the Board has requested that the remuneration package for the Managing Director role is raised to up to £120,000 per annum. The Executive Shareholder Group discussed this proposal at its meeting on 14th September 2020 and agreed with the Board’s proposal in principle. This recommendation is presented to Cabinet for consideration and approval. The Tricuro Board has also approved interim remuneration arrangements and Cabinet is requested to ratify this approval.

The Portfolio Holder for Adults presented a report, a copy of which had been circulated to each Member and a copy of which appears as Appendix 'F' to these Minutes in the Minute Book.

Cabinet were advised that Tricuro wished to appoint a permanent Managing Director and have requested that the remuneration for the Managing Director is approved at up to £120,000 per annum (i.e., in excess of the annual cap on pay set at £100,000).

In relation to this Cabinet were informed that pursuant to the Shareholder Agreement for Tricuro, which is a Local Authority Trading Company wholly-owned by BCP Council and Dorset Council, the Executive Shareholder Group (the “ESG”) sets an annual cap on pay, and that any remuneration above that cap requires the approval of the ESG. 

Further to this the Portfolio Holder advised that in relation to paragraph 6(i) of the report that since the paper had been published that there have been discussions about the most effective way to secure stability in Tricuros leadership and a reduction in cost of the interim appointment options which will now be taken forward for consideration are recruitment of a permanent managing director or appointment of a managing director on a fixed term contract on the permanent managing directors terms and conditions. The Portfolio Holder advised that both options would produce reductions in cost and that in the fixed term contract the length of the contract would be negotiated to ensure there is a sufficient period of stability for the company which is the key point here.

Councillor Diana Butler addressed the Cabinet expressing concern with regards to possible annual incremental increases. In relation to this the Portfolio Holder stressed that the previous cap had been set back in 2015 and that it was now 2020 and the cap hadn’t been raised in the years in-between previously and so it wasn’t anticipated that it would be going forwards, however this would be a matter for the ESG.

RESOLVED that:-

a)    Cabinet delegates authority to the ESG members from time to time to:

i)   agree that Tricuro is permitted to set the remuneration package for the Managing Director of Tricuro to a sum of up to £120,000 per annum;

ii)  determine and approve such further details of this remuneration package as may be required; and

iii)ratify the approval of interim remuneration arrangements.

Voting: Unanimous

Portfolio Holder: Adults

This report includes 2020/21 budget monitoring information as at the end of August 2020 and an updated MTFP.

The projection for the 2020/21 revenue account is a balanced position after Covid-19 pressures, mitigation action and other budget variances are reflected. The pressures due to the pandemic have grown since the June report, partially offset by further government support announced on 2 July. This includes significant funding to replace a proportion of lost sales, fees and charges.

The updated 2020/21 projections for reserve movements, the capital programme and housing revenue account (HRA) are also included.

Financial planning is an iterative process with the latest refresh of the MTFP extended to cover the period 2021/22 to 2023/24 included in the report. The plan is based on the most recent information available and a set of assumptions that will need to be refined through the autumn. The current plan is showing a funding gap to close for next year of £13.4 million with the financial strategy setting out the process that the council will now adopt to be able to set a balanced and lawful budget for 2021/22.     

RESOLVED that Cabinet:-

a)           Notes the current budget position for 2020/21;

b)           Notes progress made in refreshing the MTFP and the key financial planning assumptions as set out in Appendix D2 and D3;

c)           Accepts the grant awarded for additional revenue and capital expenditure as set out in paragraph 86.  

d)           Approves the financial strategy as referenced in paragraphs 125 to 138 and as set out in Appendix D4

e)           Notes the actions of the report and the requests for future reports from both the Corporate Director for Children’s and the Chief Executive; and

f)            Requests the Corporate Director for Transformation to bring forward a report outlining how £15 million of ongoing Transformation savings will be achieved in 2021/22.

RECOMMENDED that Council:-

(a)         Requests that the Audit and Governance Committee review the financial regulations and consider whether new provisions are required for larger scale budget management actions taken by officers; and 

(b)         Approve the revenue and capital virements as set out in paragraphs 32 and 109.

Voting: Unanimous

Portfolio Holder: Leader of the Council

Reasons

·           To comply with accounting codes of practice and best practice which requires Councils to regularly monitor the annual budget position and have a rolling multi-year MTFP.

·           To present a proposed financial strategy to support the delivery of a balanced budget for 2020/21.

·          To ensure the financial regulations remain fit for purpose

The Leader presented a report, a copy of which had been circulated to each Member and a copy of which appears as Appendix 'G' to these Minutes in the Minute Book.

Cabinet were advised that this report included 2020/21 budget monitoring information as at the end of August 2020 and an updated MTFP.

In relation to this Cabinet were advised that the projection for the 2020/21 revenue account was a balanced position after Covid-19 pressures, mitigation action and other budget variances are reflected. The pressures due to the pandemic have grown since the June report, partially offset by further government support announced on 2 July. Cabinet were informed that this included significant funding to replace a proportion of lost sales, fees and charges, and that the updated 2020/21 projections for reserve movements, the capital programme and housing revenue account (HRA) were also included.

Cabinet were further advised that financial planning was an iterative process with the latest refresh of the MTFP extended to cover the period 2021/22 to 2023/24 included in the report, and that theplan was based on the most recent information available and a set of assumptions that will need to be refined through the autumn. In relation to this it was reported that the current plan is showing a funding gap to close for next year of £13.4 million with the financial strategy setting out the process that the council will now adopt to be able to set a balanced and lawful budget for 2021/22.    

RESOLVED that Cabinet:-

a)           Notes the current budget position for 2020/21;

b)           Notes progress made in refreshing the MTFP and the key financial planning assumptions as set out in Appendix D2 and D3;

c)           Accepts the grant awarded for additional revenue and capital expenditure as set out in paragraph 86.  

d)           Approves the financial strategy as referenced in paragraphs 125 to 138 and as set out in Appendix D4

e)           Notes the actions of the report and the requests for future reports from both the Corporate Director for Children’s and the Chief Executive; and

f)            Requests the Corporate Director for Transformation to bring forward a report outlining how £15 million of ongoing Transformation savings will be achieved in 2021/22.

RECOMMENDED that Council:-

(a)         Requests that the Audit and Governance Committee review the financial regulations and consider whether new provisions are required for larger scale budget management actions taken by officers; and 

(b)         Approve the revenue and capital virements as set out in paragraphs 32 and 109.

Voting: Unanimous

Portfolio Holder: Leader of the Council

The Adult Skills and Learning service currently use the Oakdale Learning Centre as a base for the western side of the BCP Council area. This building is life expired and replacement has been a long-held ambition for the Borough of Poole.

An options report which includes a mix of housing and a new adult learning hub for the Oakdale site has been developed but is unaffordable at this time. An alternative site for the Adult Learning Service has come forward at the Dolphin Shopping Centre and subject to the relevant planning approval and with excellent public transport routes would be ideally located for the service users.

Housing options for the Oakdale site will be brought forward when developed.

RESOLVED that Cabinet:-

(a)          Considers the options set out in the Oakdale Learning Centre Options Report (Appendix 1), to build a new learning centre on Site 2 (or alternative site), and releasing Site 1 for residential housing, to be unaffordable at this time;

(b)          Approves the relocation of Skills & Learning to premises in the Dolphin Centre on a 10 year lease with no break clause;

(c)          Approves a £920k increase in capital investment programme for adaptation work at the new Skills and Learning premises, on the basis that prudential borrowing repayments will be charged to the Skills and Learning service;

(d)          Accepts a contribution of £400k from Legal and General towards the cost of £920k adaptation works;

(e)          Notes the resulting £123k revenue pressure on the Council’s Medium Term Financial Plan for loss of annual Service Charge income from the Skills & Learning service;

(f)           Delegates authority to the Corporate Property Officer to agree the detailed terms of the lease and all associated documents in liaison with the Section 151 Officer, Monitoring Officer and the relevant Portfolio Holder/(s); and

(g)          Notes that a further paper on housing options at the Oakdale site will be brought forward in due course.

Voting: Unanimous

Portfolio Holder: Covid Resilience, Schools and Skills

Reasons

To improve access to employability and enterprise skills, Maths, English, vocational and digital skills, a Job Club, well-being and professional development for unemployed and underemployed people and those with the greatest barriers to learning and work.

To enhance the vibrancy of Poole Town Centre with a dynamic and modern Skills campus likely to attract more passing footfall and increasing awareness of the service among residents and business.

To relocate the service with a reduced overall space requirement having considered the impact of Covid-19.

To ensure the council deliver on the ‘Promoting Lifelong Learning’ objective of the Fulfilled Lives, Brighter Futures and Connected Communities corporate plan by maintaining the delivery of adult community education in Poole.

To resolve the council’s increasing essential maintenance and repairs costs for the Oakdale Centre and register Skills and Learning’s need for suitable alternative accommodation.

To release land for residential development in the Oakdale ward as identified in the local plan.

The Portfolio Holder for Covid Resilience, Schools and Skills presented a report, a copy of which had been circulated to each Member and a copy of which appears as Appendix 'H' to these Minutes in the Minute Book.

Cabinet were advised that although the format of learning had currently changed to meet the restrictions and implications of the Covid pandemic with a blended learning model utilising online formats, that the Adult Skills and Learning service currently use the Oakdale Learning Centre as a base for the western side of the BCP Council area, and that this building is life expired and replacement has been a long-held ambition for the Borough of Poole.

Further to this Cabinet were advised that an options report which includes a mix of housing and a new adult learning hub for the Oakdale site has been developed but is unaffordable at this time, and that an alternative site for the Adult Learning Service has come forward at the Dolphin Shopping Centre and subject to the relevant planning approval and with excellent public transport routes would be ideally located for the service users.

In addition Cabinet were advised that Housing options for the Oakdale site will be brought forward when developed.

RESOLVED that Cabinet:-

(a)          Considers the options set out in the Oakdale Learning Centre Options Report (Appendix 1), to build a new learning centre on Site 2 (or alternative site), and releasing Site 1 for residential housing, to be unaffordable at this time;

(b)          Approves the relocation of Skills & Learning to premises in the Dolphin Centre on a 10 year lease with no break clause;

(c)          Approves a £920k increase in capital investment programme for adaptation work at the new Skills and Learning premises, on the basis that prudential borrowing repayments will be charged to the Skills and Learning service;

(d)          Accepts a contribution of £400k from Legal and General towards the cost of £920k adaptation works;

(e)          Notes the resulting £123k revenue pressure on the Council’s Medium Term Financial Plan for loss of annual Service Charge income from the Skills & Learning service;

(f)           Delegates authority to the Corporate Property Officer to agree the detailed terms of the lease and all associated documents in liaison with the Section 151 Officer, Monitoring Officer and the relevant Portfolio Holder/(s); and

(g)          Notes that a further paper on housing options at the Oakdale site will be brought forward in due course.

Voting: Unanimous

Portfolio Holder: Covid Resilience, Schools and Skills

The delivery of the council’s Estates and Accommodation Strategy will enable the organisation to reduce its exposure to a large and inefficient office accommodation estate, whilst at the same time supporting the development of single council identity where staff work in modern and flexible ways, delivering services that are transformed in order to be as customer focused and financially efficient as possible.

The creation of the BCP Council Civic Centre and relocation of the customer service offer to local libraries represents the first phase in the council’s Estates and Accommodation Strategy and comprises the necessary investment in the Bournemouth campus and libraries, plus the associated work required to allow for the disposal of the legacy Poole and Christchurch civic offices.

It is proposed to focus on the remodelling of the service accommodation as a priority in order to move the project forward promptly, and to establish a Members Working Group in order to allow for appropriate engagement to take forward the development of Civic space as part of a subsequent phase of the project.

The project budget requested reflects the decision to deliver a more pragmatic and financially sustainable solution to the council’s main office requirements that is fit for purpose and appropriate in the context of the significant and ongoing impacts created by the Covid 19 pandemic.

The Leader presented a report, a copy of which had been circulated to each Member and a copy of which appears as Appendix 'I' to these Minutes in the Minute Book.

The Leader advised that the delivery of the council’s Estates and Accommodation Strategy would enable the organisation to reduce its exposure to a large and inefficient office accommodation estate, whilst at the same time supporting the development of single council identity where staff work in modern and flexible ways, delivering services that are transformed in order to be as customer focused and financially efficient as possible.

In relation to this Cabinet were informed that the creation of the BCP Council Civic Centre and relocation of the customer service offices to local libraries represented the first phase in the council’s Estates and Accommodation Strategy and comprises the necessary investment in the Bournemouth campus and libraries, plus the associated work required to allow for the disposal of the legacy Poole and Christchurch civic offices.

Further to this Cabinet were advised that it is proposed to focus on the remodelling of the service accommodation as a priority in order to move the project forward promptly, and to establish a Members Working Group in order to allow for appropriate engagement to take forward the development of Civic space as part of a subsequent phase of the project.

In relation to this it was highlighted that the project budget requested reflected the decision to deliver a more pragmatic and financially sustainable solution to the council’s main office requirements that is fit for purpose and appropriate in the context of the significant and ongoing impacts created by the Covid 19 pandemic.

Councillor Diana Butler addressed the Cabinet meeting highlighting the importance of retaining ownership of the Poole Civic Centre, and in relation to this the Leader supported the comments made and advised that there was no intention currently to dispose of the building.

RECOMMENDED that Council:-

(a)          Notes the progress being made on the 3 stage process towards delivering the council’s ‘New Normal’ accommodation ambitions, specifically the BCP Council Civic Centre and associated customer services centres

(b)         Approves the decoupling of the service and civic elements of the Estates and Accommodation Project, and to establish a Member Working Group to inform future civic requirements to be delivered separate from the service accommodation phase of the project

(c)          Approves the project budget set out in Appendix 1 and delegates authority to the BCP Council Corporate management Board to approve expenditure from this budget to deliver the project

(d)         Approves the procurement approach for the delivery of the council’s ‘New Normal’ office requirements

(e)          Authorises the commencement of the procurement process and delegates authority to award contracts to the Chief Executive in consultation with the Leader and appropriate senior officers as appropriate, in accordance with delegated authorities and the council’s financial regulations

Voting: Unanimous

Portfolio Holder: Leader of the Council

Since the formation of BCP Council on 1^st April 2019, the council has operated under the three legacy Adult Social Care Charging policies for Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole. It is therefore necessary to adopt a new single charging policy in order to operate a fair and equitable approach to adult social care charging. A public consultation was launched on the proposals for the new policy in January 2020 and concluded in March 2020. The results of this consultation have informed the drafting of a new single policy. This new Adult Social Care Charging policy, subject to Cabinet approval will be implemented on 1^st April 2021.

RESOLVED that Cabinet:-

(a)          Approves the new Adult Social Care Charging Policy; and

(b)          Approves the mitigation measures as recommended by Health and Adult Social Care Overview and Scrutiny Committee which are set out in paragraphs 18 to 22 of the report.

Voting: Unanimous

Portfolio Holder: Adults

Reason

The outcome of the consultation has been used to inform the development of this policy and demonstrates that the majority of respondents do not object to the introduction of charges which would apply equally to all BCP residents. Establishing a new single policy with clear and fair underpinning principles is necessary to introduce equitable charging for residents who receive Adult Social Care services from BCP Council.

The Portfolio Holder for Adults presented a report, a copy of which had been circulated to each Member and a copy of which appears as Appendix 'J' to these Minutes in the Minute Book.

Cabinet were advised that since the formation of BCP Council on 1^st April 2019, the council has operated under the three legacy Adult Social Care Charging policies for Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole, and that it is therefore necessary to adopt a new single charging policy in order to operate a fair and equitable approach to adult social care charging. In relation to this Cabinet were advised that a public consultation was launched on the proposals for the new policy in January 2020 and concluded in March 2020, and that the results of this consultation have informed the drafting of a new single policy. Further to this Cabinet were advised that this new Adult Social Care Charging policy, subject to Cabinet approval will be implemented on 1^st April 2021.

Councillor Diana Butler addressed the Cabinet expressing concern with regards to some aspects of the questions within the consultation, and with some of the associated costs and charges for the provision of services. In relation to this the Portfolio Holder thanked Councillor Butler for her comments and in relation to this advised that most people who do attend a day centre don’t actually contribute to the cost of their care, and that it is a relatively small number who actually pay the full cost of their care and that is a cost to the council.

RESOLVED that Cabinet:-

(a)          Approves the new Adult Social Care Charging Policy; and

(b)          Approves the mitigation measures as recommended by Health and Adult Social Care Overview and Scrutiny Committee which are set out in paragraphs 18 to 22 of the report.

Voting: Unanimous

Portfolio Holder: Adults

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

The Leader advised that the latest Cabinet Forward Plan had been published on the Council’s website, and that the next updated Forward Plan was due to be published on the 17 November.