Agenda item

Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole benefit from award winning beaches and beautiful open spaces which residents and visitors enjoy throughout the year. During the summer season, our tourism economy is boosted from being a busy resort area with increased visitor numbers.

Council services in BCP have a strong track record of managing busy summer seasons as part of business as usual activity. However, to provide effective management of additional demands over the last 2 years, core services have been allocated additional funding and overall co-ordination through the Seasonal Response programme. This has provided co-ordination of multi-agency service and enhancement to services such as waste collections, traffic management and promotion of safety of open spaces. Following the success of the multi-agency delivery over Summer 2021, £1.69m of funding was allocated to continue the programme in 2022.

Seasonal Response delivery ran from 9 April 2022 to 4 September 2022 with great success. The additional investment in services has delivered increased output across core services and has supported enhanced resort management and public safety.

This report gives an overview of activity within the programme, considers the challenges presented and sets out future considerations.

The Portfolio Holder for Tourism, Culture and Vibrant Places 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 Committee was provided with an overview of successful activities within the seasonal response programme and some of the challenges experienced, particularly during periods of peak demand. Following a review of the summer season, actions were being developed to address these challenges in time for next year’s season. The Portfolio Holder and Director of Communities responded to questions and comments on the following issues, with input from the Portfolio Holders for Community Safety and Regulatory Services, and Sustainability and Transport, and other Officers in attendance:

• A potential Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) could enable the Council to be more agile and proscriptive in responding to enforcement issues such as unpermitted overnight stays, for example in issuing on the spot fixed penalty notices (FPN) rather than relying on current byelaws. A PSPO could also manage other behaviours identified over the last two years. A PSPO would be subject to public consultation prior to any adoption. 
• The identification of a site for permitted overnight stays might enable stronger enforcement of those who parked in unpermitted areas.
• The multi agency command centre (MACC) was highlighted as a key success and it was confirmed that the Police had been very supportive.
• Temporary Traffic Regulation Orders (TTROs) had proved very effective in addressing traffic congestion and poor parking and suggestions for more permanent solutions, such as boulders on open spaces, could be explored.
• Discussions were ongoing with Government regarding the use of parking fines as a deterrent, including an option to introduce larger fines in certain designated areas with the surplus provided to the DfT.
• Some car parks were underutilised during busy periods. The scope to develop the Beach Check app was discussed and it was noted that as this was now a shared app any changes would need the agreement of all parties.
• Public toilets were a top priority for visitors and there was investment to improve infrastructure for next year. Additional cleaning schedules and temporary toilet cubicles had been introduced over the summer period to cater for increased use.
• Litter enforcement was very difficult as issuing an FPN required an officer to witness the litter being left and obtain the litterer’s name and address. This was resource intensive and hard to spot especially during busy periods. There had also been a shift towards more negative behaviour since the pandemic.
• The Council was looking into the possibility of including a tracking chip in the kid zone wrist bands for parent/carers to use and funding options for this were discussed.
• Options for additional CCTV coverage around Bournemouth Pier during peak times were being considered, to help address anti social behaviour. It was noted that it may now be possible to use CIL money for schemes which result in revenue expenditure.

There was a general consensus of support among Committee members and thanks to the team for the success of the seasonal response this year and an acknowledgement of the learning points being addressed in the development plan for next year.