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.

There were no declarations of interest made on this occasion.

To confirm and sign as a correct record the minutes of the Meeting held on 14 December 2022.

The Minutes of the meeting held on 14 December were confirmed and signed as a correct record.

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 4 clear working days before the meeting.

The deadline for the submission of a 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 there had been no questions, statements or petitions received from members of the public on this occasion.

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

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

This report calculates and presents the proposed council tax base for council tax setting purposes in line with current legislation and guidance.

The Leader of the Council and Portfolio Holder for Finance and Transformation 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 was advised that the report calculated and presented the proposed council tax base for council tax setting purposes in line with current legislation and guidance.

RECOMMENDED that: -

(a)             Cabinet approves the report for the calculation of the council’s tax base for the year 2023/24 and recommends the tax base to Full Council; and

(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 for 2023/24 is 144,839.

Voting: Unanimous

Portfolio Holder: Leader of the Council

In May 2021 BCP Council was awarded £21.7m from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG), now Department for Levelling Up Homes and Communities (DLUHC), to support the regeneration of Boscombe. The receipt of the grant is dependent on project business cases being submitted to and approved by DLUHC.

Cabinet has approved the content of the Towns Fund Investment plan detailing the key projects and expenditure in principle and has authorised the necessary support to progress the development of these business cases for consideration by DLUHC. It is appropriate that further approvals are sought once the business cases are finalised to confirm the allocation of the approved funds for the individual Towns Fund projects and seek approval for the Council’s match funding contributions.

The purpose of this report is to provide an update on Towns Fund activity to date and to seek approval for the four business cases listed below and to allocate the necessary grant funds towards these projects:

1.      Phase 1 Masterplan

2.      Royal Arcade

3.      Digital Connectivity

4.      Local Transport Projects.

The report also provides a progress update from BCP FuturePlaces on its work to date on the wider masterplan (Phase 2) and regeneration of Boscombe Town Centre.

RESOLVED that Cabinet: -

(a)             Agrees to declare part of Hawkwood Road Car Park surplus to requirements and appropriate the land for planning purposes to facilitate the delivery of Phase 1 of the Masterplan;

(b)            Authorises officers to undertake work to prepare for the possible use of compulsory purchase powers for the acquisition of the third-party land and interests necessary to implement both the Masterplan and the Royal Arcade proposals as set out in paragraphs 12–32 and 42-55 of this report. These preparatory steps are set out in paragraphs 96 -100 of this report.

(c)             Instructs officers to bring a further report to Cabinet, requesting a decision to exercise Compulsory Purchase powers together with a proposed Statement of Reasons, setting out the justification for the use of these powers, if necessary should negotiations by private treaty not be possible;

(d)            Authorises officers to enter into a planning performance agreement and the submission of planning applications for Phase 1 Masterplan and the Royal Arcade projects;

(e)             Agrees that the Council will acquire a high street unit required for the Masterplan Phase 1 and delegates authority to the Chief Executive to conclude the transaction in consultation with the S151 Officer, Monitoring Officer and the Portfolio Holder for Development Growth and Regeneration;

(f)              Acknowledges that the Royal Arcade project is dependent on a successful bid to the Heritage Fund and should that be unsuccessful the project will be brought back to Cabinet for further consideration.

RECOMMENDED that Council: -

(g)            Accepts and approves the remaining allocation of £18.229m Towns Fund grant as outlined in Table 1 for the delivery of the following projects; the Town Centre Masterplan Phase 1, the Royal Arcade, Digital Connectivity and Local Transport projects, subject to the approval of the business cases by DLUHC;

(h)            Approves borrowing of £11.784m towards the Phase 1 Masterplan and Royal Arcade project and adjusts the MTFP to reflect the £420k pressure between 2024/25-2028/29;

(i)               9. Acknowledges the allocation of £2.25m of grant from the Local Transport Plan Capital Programme. This funding is profiled to be utilised over the 2023/24, 2024/25 and 2025/26 financial years.

Voting: Unanimous

Portfolio Holder: The Deputy Leader of the Council and Portfolio Holder for Development, Growth and Regeneration

Reason

The production of an annual report is a statutory responsibility and therefore the endorsement of the four statutory partners (Dorset Council, BCP Council, NHS Dorset, Dorset Police) of the safeguarding partnership is required prior to publication.

The Deputy Leader of the Council and Portfolio Holder for Development, Growth and Regeneration 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 was advised that in May 2021 BCP Council was awarded £21.7m from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG), now Department for Levelling Up Homes and Communities (DLUHC), to support the regeneration of Boscombe, and that the receipt of the grant is dependent on project business cases being submitted to and approved by DLUHC.

Cabinet was reminded that they had approved the content of the Towns Fund Investment plan detailing the key projects and expenditure in principle and had authorised the necessary support to progress the development of these business cases for consideration by DLUHC, and that it was appropriate that further approvals are sought once the business cases are finalised to confirm the allocation of the approved funds for the individual Towns Fund projects and seek approval for the Council’s match funding contributions.

Cabinet was advised that the purpose of this report is to provide an update on Towns Fund activity to date and to seek approval for the four business cases listed below and to allocate the necessary grant funds towards these projects:

1.     Phase 1 Masterplan

2.     Royal Arcade

3.     Digital Connectivity

4.     Local Transport Projects.

In relation to this Cabinet was advised that the report also provided a progress update from BCP FuturePlaces on its work to date on the wider masterplan (Phase 2) and regeneration of Boscombe Town Centre.

Councillor Hilliard addressed the Cabinet requesting that a members briefing be held prior to the report being brought to Council.

In addition, Councillor Hilliard raised the matter of the Kings Park Bowls club and highlighted that there was no mention of the club within the report, and questioned whether the council should be paying for the refurbishment of the Royal Arcade when it is not owned by the Council.

The Lead Member for High Street Renaissance addressed the Cabinet endorsing the paper and in particular the work at the Royal Arcade. In addition, the Lead Member urged members to equate themselves with the whole report which explains the project in detail.

The Portfolio Holder in summing up stressed the importance of there being a community led approach to this project and advised that ward members have been closely involved. Further to this the Portfolio Holder advised that he would look to arranging a drop in session to answer any questions members may have.

RESOLVED that Cabinet: -

(a)             Agrees to declare part of Hawkwood Road Car Park surplus to requirements and appropriate the land for planning purposes to facilitate the delivery of Phase 1 of the Masterplan;

(b)            Authorises officers to undertake work to prepare for the possible use of compulsory purchase powers for the acquisition of the third-party land and interests necessary to implement both the Masterplan and the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 106.

The purpose of this report is to seek Cabinet approval for the Council to accept £883k in grant funding to transform its model of delivery for community family help after successfully submitting a bid to the Department for Education (DfE).

RESOLVED that Cabinet: -

(a)             subscribes to the programme and receive the funding which the Council would administer on behalf of the Council and health partners;

(b)            delegate authority to the Director of Children’s Services in consultation with the Director of Public Health Dorset in conjunction with the Portfolio Holder for Children and Young People to take all the steps necessary to spend the funding up to the budget envelope (including procuring and awarding contracts) to implement the work as outlined in the bid; and

(c)             notes that a subsequent report shall be brought to Cabinet in due course to provide more detail on the transformation project and provide an update on progress made against the bid.

Voting: Unanimous

Portfolio Holder: Children and Young People

Reason

The transformation fund will improve services and outcomes for children, young people and families in BCP and allow the Council and partners it provide help and support earlier, likely reducing the demand on statutory services.

The Portfolio Holder for Children and Young People 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 was advised that the purpose of the report was to seek Cabinet approval for the Council to accept £883k in grant funding to transform its model of delivery for community family help after successfully submitting a bid to the Department for Education (DfE).

The Chairman of the Childrens Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee addressed the Cabinet in support of the report highlighting that the committee would welcome the opportunity to scrutinse this as it moves forwards.

The Portfolio Holder advised that scrutiny would be welcome as this progresses.

RESOLVED that Cabinet: -

(a)             subscribes to the programme and receive the funding which the Council would administer on behalf of the Council and health partners;

(b)            delegate authority to the Director of Children’s Services in consultation with the Director of Public Health Dorset in conjunction with the Portfolio Holder for Children and Young People to take all the steps necessary to spend the funding up to the budget envelope (including procuring and awarding contracts) to implement the work as outlined in the bid; and

(c)             notes that a subsequent report shall be brought to Cabinet in due course to provide more detail on the transformation project and provide an update on progress made against the bid.

Voting: Unanimous

Portfolio Holder: Children and Young People

The Pan-Dorset Safeguarding Children Partnership (PDSCP) is the statutory body which oversees multi-agency safeguarding services which covers the local Dorset and BCP council areas.  This report contains a background and introduction to the functions of the partnership and the council’s responsibilities.

The annual report of the PDSCP is provided as an attachment for consideration by cabinet. The annual report includes reflections on 2021/22; strategic priorities for 2022 to 2024; learning from practice; information from the Child Death Overview Panel; summary of multi-agency training; achievements from each of the statutory safeguarding partner organisations and sub-groups of the partnership.

RESOLVED that Cabinet note the content of the PDSCP Annual Report 2021/2022.

Voting: Unanimous

Portfolio Holder: Children and Young People

Reason

The production of an annual report is a statutory responsibility and therefore the endorsement of the four statutory partners (Dorset Council, BCP Council, NHS Dorset, Dorset Police) of the safeguarding partnership is required prior to publication.

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

Cabinet was advised that the Pan-Dorset Safeguarding Children Partnership (PDSCP) is the statutory body which oversees multi-agency safeguarding services which covers the local Dorset and BCP council areas, and that this report contained a background and introduction to the functions of the partnership and the council’s responsibilities.

Cabinet was informed that the annual report of the PDSCP is provided as an attachment for consideration by cabinet, and the annual report includes reflections on 2021/22; strategic priorities for 2022 to 2024; learning from practice; information from the Child Death Overview Panel; summary of multi-agency training; achievements from each of the statutory safeguarding partner organisations and sub-groups of the partnership.

The Chairman of the Childrens Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee addressed the Cabinet advising that the report had been presented to the the Committee in November and that the Committee had held a good discussion on the item and been very much in support.

RESOLVED that Cabinet note the content of the PDSCP Annual Report 2021/2022.

Voting: Unanimous

Portfolio Holder: Children and Young People

The Chief Executive to report on any decisions taken under urgency provisions in accordance with the Constitution.

Cabinet was advised that there were no urgent decisions taken by the Chief Executive in accordance with the Constitution to report on this occasion.

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.