Agenda item

Following the receipt of a valid requisition for an Extraordinary Meeting of the Council and in accordance with the provisions of Part 4D, Procedure Rule 1.2, the following motion is before Council for determination.

The Motion has been proposed by Councillor Lesley Dedman and seconded by Councillor Simon McCormack.

“Since this current administration came into power towards the end of 2020, many of its actions and decisions, and the behaviour of its leadership, have brought BCP council into local and national disrepute.

This culminated in the appalling scenes on the evening of Tuesday April 26, at full council, which would have shamed and embarrassed any council, let alone one of the newest and largest authorities in the country.

The current leadership has lost the trust of residents, many of whom believe this is now a failing council.

The conduct of the leadership of the council, particularly the Leader and Deputy Leader, is creating distrust in and suspicion of the activities and motivations of this council amongst the residents, businesses, visitors and councillors of the conurbation and beyond.

As one of the newest and largest local authorities this council should be a shining example, but the controversial decisions and anomalous plans made by this leadership are destroying the reputation of BCP Unitary council by their concentration on fulfilling their personal and grandiose schemes for the three towns of Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole at any cost, but with no provision for future loss.

The suspicion in the community of the manner in which BCP administration is now managing this council was only exacerbated by the disgraceful and dangerous actions of the Leader and Deputy Leader at the meeting of 26 April in calling into the chamber, to ensure they won a vote, members who had previously apologised for absence and were suspected of having a pathological disorder.

This council therefore has no confidence in the current leadership’s ability to provide the residents of Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole with proper, responsible and reliable local government and seeks the removal from office of its leader.”

Following the receipt of a valid requisition for an Extraordinary Meeting of the Council and in accordance with the provisions of Part 4D, Procedure Rule 1.2, the following motion is before Council for determination.

Councillor Lesley Dedman proposed the motion which was seconded by Councillor Simon McCormack.

“Since this current administration came into power towards the end of 2020, many of its actions and decisions, and the behaviour of its leadership, have brought BCP council into local and national disrepute. This culminated in the appalling scenes on the evening of Tuesday April 26, at full council, which would have shamed and embarrassed any council, let alone one of the newest and largest authorities in the country.

The current leadership has lost the trust of residents, many of whom believe this is now a failing council.

The conduct of the leadership of the council, particularly the Leader and Deputy Leader, is creating distrust in and suspicion of the activities and motivations of this council amongst the residents, businesses, visitors and councillors of the conurbation and beyond.

As one of the newest and largest local authorities this council should be a shining example, but the controversial decisions and anomalous plans made by this leadership are destroying the reputation of BCP Unitary council by their concentration on fulfilling their personal and grandiose schemes for the three towns of Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole at any cost, but with no provision for future loss.

The suspicion in the community of the manner in which BCP administration is now managing this council was only exacerbated by the disgraceful and dangerous actions of the Leader and Deputy Leader at the meeting of 26 April in calling into the chamber, to ensure they won a vote, members who had previously apologised for absence and were suspected of having a pathological disorder.

This council therefore has no confidence in the current leadership’s ability to provide the residents of Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole with proper, responsible and reliable local government and seeks the removal from office of its leader.”

Councillor Dedman explained why the motion had been submitted outlining key concerns relating to the Leader and the Conservative administration and the culture they had created.  Councillor McCormack seconded the motion and set out his reasons including the budget strategy, making inaccurate statements and bringing the Council into disrepute both locally and nationally which had led him to believe that the Leader does not have the integrity as the Council’s current senior public representative.

Members in considering the motion raised a number of issues including the expectations and interests of local residents, the role of Councillors in serving the residents, the transformation programme, the approach to making decisions and not involving the full range of abilities and skills across the Council, representation of opposition members on Future Places, the opportunity to look at an alternative governance model such as the Committee system including requesting a motion be submitted to Council on whether the Leader and Cabinet model should be retained, the lack of consultation with all Councillors on key issues and the lack of confidence in the Leader. 

Councillors from the administration highlighted the work that they had been undertaken on the provision and investment in services and development of the Council with the positive leadership provided by Councillor Mellor.

Following Councillor Dedman summing up, in accordance with the Constitution the Council took a recorded vote on the motion set out above which was lost as follows:

For – 27

Against – 40

Abstentions – 1

The Chairman closed the meeting and indicated that there would be a 10-minute break prior to the start of the Annual Council meeting.