Agenda and minutes

To receive any apologies for absence from Councillors.

Apologies were received from the Vice-Chair Cllr S Aitkenhead.

To receive information on any changes in the membership of the Committee.

Note – When a member of a Committee is unable to attend a meeting of a Committee or Sub-Committee, the relevant Political Group Leader (or their nominated representative) may, by notice to the Monitoring Officer (or their nominated representative) prior to the meeting, appoint a substitute member from within the same Political Group. The contact details on the front of this agenda should be used for notifications.

Cllr J Beesley substituted for Cllr P Broadhead.

Cllr P Canavan substituted for Cllr S Aitkenhead.

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 26 February 2024.

The minutes of the meeting held on 26 February were approved 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 midday 3 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.

There were no public petitions or questions received on this occasion. There were three public statements received as follows:

From Siobhan Harrington, CEO, University Hospitals Dorset, NHS FT

This is a win-win decision. The land has unique value to NHS & partners.

Health-led campus leads to high-quality jobs, like research & education.

We need more homes, especially for the NHS key workers, who will walk to work.

UHD is an environmental custodian who can make this a net zero site.

This proposal is popular, common-sense use of the land. It’s supported by neighbouring landowners.

We’re local, with a long-term view. We have every interest in making this work. 

Expert opinion has set the price, following the due process, so a fair deal for taxpayers.

We’ve developed a joint vision for the site, over many years. BCP are no longer leading on developing the site, UHD is best placed to progress this.

UHD’s track record includes £24m Pathology Hub, £13m for electrical upgrade, Net-zero buildings. We are keen to further deliver, with partners, the vision for this site.

From Rob Whiteman, Chairman, University Hospitals Dorset, NHS FT

We are keen to work in partnership for the benefit of all our residents. That means taking One Estate approach for best public value.

We’ve prepared a briefing for our stakeholders, on our intentions for Wessex Fields. As a public body we are putting this in the public domain. https://www.uhd.nhs.uk/uploads/comms/uhd_-_wessex_fields_brief_to_bcp_apr_2nd_v1.pdf

We are very keen to meet and discuss this with any councillors and partners. This has been our first opportunity to address councillors. To help explain why we are so keen to progress we also have this short video https://youtu.be/A21heSdLqqE

Thank you

From Cecila Bufton, Chair, Dorset Local Enterprise Partnership (Read by Richard Renault)

“Homes for people delivering health and care services to the people of Dorset are needed now. Human health and social work is the largest employer in the county, with 16% of jobs, with many vacancies, because workers can’t afford to live in BCP, running into thousands. This leaves our services stretched and our citizens waiting on long lists for their health and care needs.

The economy of BCP is stagnating, in part because innovative, entrepreneurial private sector businesses are priced out of the area, unable to find affordable office/manufacturing locations and unable to find highly skilled people they need due to the high cost of living in the area. The LEP, our universities and colleges have invested in health and care innovation and related skills development. To maximise the potential of converting ideas into businesses, we need “start-up” and “grow on” facilities adjacent to our hospitals and university sites”.

This report presents a proposal to dispose of council owned land at Wessex Fields, Riverside Avenue, Bournemouth BH7 7EE, on the open market, or through direct sale, at an agreed RICS Red Book Valuation, to the University Hospital Dorset NHS Foundation Trust.

The Portfolio Holder for Finance 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.

The Board was informed that the report presented a proposal to dispose of council owned land at Wessex Fields, Riverside Avenue, Bournemouth BH7 7EE, on the open market, or through direct sale, at an agreed RICS Red Book Valuation, to the University Hospital Dorset NHS Foundation Trust.

In relation to this the Board was advised that the disposal of land at the Wessex Fields site would generate a capital receipt to support the funding of the Council’s Transformation Investment Programme, and that the Council could achieve specific socio-economic benefits as the purchase by the hospital could unlock substantial health benefits for the wider area and that disposal of the site to University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust could evidence best value in financial terms, as the capital receipt would be determined in accordance with a RICS Red Book Valuation.

A number of points were raised by the Board including:

·        An acknowledgement that the concerns raised by the Asset Disposal Working Group had been alleviated.

·        Questions were raised around support from stakeholders where it was confirmed that letters of support had been received from other stakeholders, and that these would be circulated to Members prior to Council once received.

·        Assurances being sought that there would be sufficient opportunity to ask questions.

A request was made that the University Hospitals Dorset be permitted to display their presentation, the Chairman in consultation with the members agreed to receive the presentation and the meeting adjourned briefly to set this up.

Meeting adjourned at 6.45pm and reconvened at 6.52pm

The Chairman of the University Hospitals Dorset, NHS FT, Rob Whiteman provided the Board with a short presentation following which a number of points were raised including:

·         Assurances were requested with regards to there being a solid transport plan in place, and in relation to this the University Hospitals Dorset advised that there was a really significant programme to reduce car use look at road access, encourage the use of public transport and cycling to ensure a balanced mix. In relation to this UHD advised that they were happy to work with local councillors on this.

·         A member questioned the probity which had been used to determine the plans were achievable and assurances that the plans were deliverable. In relation to this UHD advised that the Heads of Terms had been set out and agreed between the two parties and assurances had been obtained that this could be delivered.

·         A member stressed the importance of transparency and emphasised that the open market was the only way to guarantee best value, supporting the original recommendation of the Asset Working Group.

Councillor Canavan proposed the following recommendation as per the recommendation from the Asset Working Group that:

If Cabinet is so minded to dispose of the site, that it does so by way  ...  view the full minutes text for item 60.

The Overview and Scrutiny Board is asked to consider the identify work priorities for its next meeting.

The Scrutiny Specialist introduced this item and 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.

The Overview and Scrutiny Board were requested to use table three within the circulated draft to be used as the work plan.

In relation to this the Board were advised that the items marked in the red text required further scoping.

Further to this the Board was requested to consider whether to programme dates in the diary for briefings or whether members would prefer these to be added on a more flexible arrangement as and when required.

In relation to this members of the Board requested that where briefings are required could these be facilitated on Teams.

RESOLVED that: -

(a)  Table three be noted as the Boards forward plan; and

(b)  Briefings be arranged on an ad hoc basis as and when required.

Voting: Nem.Con