Agenda

To receive any apologies for absence from Councillors.

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.

To confirm and sign as a correct record the minutes of the Meeting held on 22 July 2026.

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 mid-day on Wednesday 26 August 2026 [mid-day 3 clear working days before the meeting].

The deadline for the submission of a statement is mid-day on Tuesday 1 September 2026 [mid-day the working day before the meeting].

The deadline for the submission of a petition is Tuesday 18 August 2026 [10 working days before the meeting].

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

At Quarter 1, the Council is forecasting significant pressures arising from Children’s Services (£11.8m) and Adult Social Care (£8.3m) due to rising demand for care services, increasing placement costs. Pressures are also forecast in Operations (£6.8m). The total general fund forecasted overspend of £27m is of a level unseen at the Council and is real threat to the financial sustainability of the council. Actions to address the position are set out in the report.

Delivery of the Council’s £14.1m savings programme remains a challenge, with only £9.6m currently forecast to be achieved, resulting in a projected £4.5m shortfall.

The Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) deficit remains the Council’s most significant financial risk, with the accumulated deficit forecast to increase to approximately £275.5m by March 2027.

The Council is awaiting approval of its SEND Reform Plan, which would unlock Government support through a High Needs Stability Grant covering 90% of the historic deficit as of March 2026.

The Capital Investment Programme has increased to £149m, with £11m (8%) spent by the end of Quarter 1. Major investment continues in flood defences, transport, fleet replacement and SEND provision.

The Housing Revenue Account remains financially stable and is forecasting a £3.5m surplus.

Overall, the Council faces significant financial pressures and savings delivery risks, requiring ongoing management and recovery actions during the remainder of 2026/27.

This report seeks approval for the publication and delivery of the Learning Disability Big Plan 2026–2031, which sets out the shared priorities for supporting people with a learning disability in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole to live fulfilled lives. The Plan has been developed through the Learning Disability Partnership Board, in partnership with people with lived experience, families, carers, providers, voluntary sector organisations, BCP Council and NHS Dorset. It reflects the Council’s commitment to co-production, person-centred support and the duties set out in the Care Act 2014.

The Big Plan has been shaped through extensive engagement and consultation. Engagement events in 2024 involved over 150 people, followed by formal consultation between February and March 2026, which received 97 responses across online and paper formats. Feedback was broadly supportive of the Plan and its vision, while highlighting the need for clearer communication, more joined-up services, earlier support, greater consistency and a stronger focus on delivery and real-life impact.

The final Plan is structured around seven Big Aims: Where I Live; Staying Healthy; Having a Good Life; Right Care and Support; Keeping Safe; Becoming an Adult; and Support for My Family. These aims focus on improving housing choice, health outcomes, community inclusion, personalised care and support, safety, transition into adulthood and support for families and carers.

Delivery will be overseen by the Learning Disability Partnership Board, with action groups responsible for progressing the agreed priorities and reporting progress quarterly. Further work is required to confirm the delivery arrangements for Right Care and Support and Having a Good Life, including whether dedicated groups are needed or whether actions can be embedded within existing governance structures.

Cabinet is asked to approve the Learning Disability Big Plan for publication and delivery, enabling continued co-production with local people, families and partners and supporting a clearer framework for improving outcomes for people with a learning disability across BCP.

This report seeks approval for a multi-year IT Infrastructure Capital Investment Plan to maintain, modernise and secure the Council’s core digital infrastructure over the period 2026 to 2032.

The Council’s IT infrastructure and end-user devices underpin the delivery of all frontline, statutory and corporate services and support approximately 6,500 users across multiple sites.

A significant proportion of the current estate is reaching, or has exceeded, its effective lifecycle. Without planned investment, the Council faces increasing cyber security risk, rising maintenance costs, reduced system performance and a higher likelihood of service disruption, impacting the delivery of critical services to residents.

Three options have been considered: extending asset lifecycles further, increasing use of revenue-funded models or continuing a structured lifecycle-based capital investment approach.

The first two options are deemed to either increase risk or are not viable given the remaining IT infrastructure requirements.

The recommended option is to continue a lifecycle-based investment programme supported by capital funding, totalling £11.2 million over six years. This approach will ensure technology remains secure, supportable and aligned to service needs.

Approval of this plan provides a stable, resilient and cost-effective foundation to support BCP Council’s strategic objectives and ongoing delivery of reliable, resident-focused services

This report provides performance information on how services provided through the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) are delivered to council tenants to support councillors oversight in ensuring that the council:

·       Provides good quality homes and services to all tenants

·       Makes best use of its resources to deliver what it is required to do as a landlord

·       Resolve issues promptly and effectively when things go wrong.

It provides an update against key performance indicators for quarter 1, 2026-27 and the Tenant Satisfaction Measures (TSM’s) for 2025-26.

This report also sets out how BCP Homes ensures that the council, in its role as a Registered Provider of Social Housing, is meeting its regulatory responsibilities under the Social Housing (Regulation) Act 2023 and is engaging with the Regulator of Social Housing.

This report proposes the relocation of services currently accommodated within the BCP Civic centre Annexe, to allow for its disposal. Options are set out within the proposal detailing various approaches to reprovision services, supporting the Council’s strategic direction for more efficient and effective use of its estate. The proposal forms part of the wider Estates and Accommodation programme and seeks to ensure that operational services are accommodated in locations that better support long-term estate planning.

A range of relocation options have been considered across several Council assets, including the Civic Centre and West Wing, Civic Extension, Civic basement, Parkway House and other potential operational accommodation. These options have been reviewed against service requirements, statutory obligations, operational deliverability, financial implications, impact on other building users and alignment with the Council’s wider estate strategy.

[PLEASE NOTE: Should the Cabinet wish to discuss the detail of the confidential appendices the meeting will be required to move into Confidential (Exempt) Session].

This report seeks approval for disposal of the majority of the Council-owned property and land forming the Hicks Farm buildings complex, Bournemouth.

Securing a future use for these assets has been under review as the various outbuildings are in a significant state of disrepair and have been for many years. There is a current disrepair claim against the Council on the tenanted farmhouse, and the Council is unable to fund the necessary repairs required to bring the site back into use.

The proposed transactions shall secure best consideration in accordance with Section 123 of the Local Government Act 1972.

The disposals are expected to secure capital receipt of c. £1m that can support an improved facility in the western parcel as well as Councils finances.

This report summarises options for the future use of land at Upton Park Farm following the cessation of the farm tenancy on 2 April 2026.

It sets out a coordinated approach to align capital receipt, sustainable commercial revenue, community benefit and environmental impact across the retained land parcels, supporting both the tenancy purchase and longer-term strategic outcomes.

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

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