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 3 clear working days for 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.
Minutes:
(a)Public Questions
Public Question from Daniel Glennon
Somerset Council have banned advertising of vehicles powered by petrol, diesel or hybrid power; fossil fuels; and airlines, airports and flights on their platforms. Will BCP Council commit to the do the same and also extend this to funders of fossil fuel projects such as JP Morgan? According to the Financial Times JP Morgan were the biggest financier of fossil fuels between 2016 - 2021, totalling nearly $400bn.
Response by Councillor Andy Hadley, Portfolio Holder for Climate Response, Environment and Energy
Thank you, Daniel, for bringing this to our attention. The intent behind the Somerset product advertising initiative is certainly in line with our ambition to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to help tackle climate change. The implications of this suggestion will be researched and, if it is found viable, will be put before Cabinet for a decision.
With respect to the activities of local business organisations, the Council will continue to work in partnership with major employers to encourage them to take all appropriate action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from all their activities, including procurement and financing. Indeed, we raised this issue with Barclays Bank following a Council resolution last year, who told us that they are committed to aligning their financing portfolios, in every sector, with the goals and timelines of the Paris Agreement.
To achieve our BCP area wide targets, we need to work positively and proactively with all the major local organisations.
Public Question from Soo Chapman
An International team of Scientists has identified 35 vital planetary signs of which 20 are being pushed to record extremes. Life on Earth is "under siege" and there's "little progress on humanity combating climate change". (Bournemouth Echo 28.10.23.)
Shockingly, embarrassingly, neither this significant news (nor a more inspirational Transition Town vision) appears on BCP's website nor on any government website.
Plans are out-dated.
No speedy decarbonising programme is in place for our well-being and protection as the natural world disintegrates.
How will BCP (bearing in mind Councillors' safeguarding brief and adherence to Nolan principles) please address biospherical collapse while informing, incentivising and protecting the public from the dangerous accumulation of greenhouse gases, loss of sea ice & glaciers, rising land and sea temperatures, fossil fuel usage, extreme flooding and species extinction as well as potential societal breakdown which is "feasible" and has been "dangerously unexplored"?
Response by Councillor Andy Hadley, Portfolio Holder for Climate Response, Environment and Energy
Thank you for your question Sue.
I am very conscious that the Climate Change website pages need revision, and I understand a member of our Climate Team is actively discussing with you the sort of information that would be appropriate for, in your words, “informing, incentivising and protecting the public”. The entire Council Website is currently being reworked, and I am keen that the content includes helpful and honest challenge, and practical advice.
Sustainability is at the heart of our new Corporate Strategy, on which we have recently consulted residents. Our Annual Climate Report is also being prepared, which will inform residents of the progress towards our targets.
Significant steps are being taken towards a low carbon future, which includes:
•creation of a Local Area Energy Plan, to inform decisions around low-carbon energy use and generation;
•an Urban Forest strategy, currently out for consultation, and;
•collaborative work on a Local Nature Recovery Plan to protect and increase biodiversity.
The evidence of decades of global under-delivery of change is evident in the more extreme weather events that we all see, and BCP Council, businesses and residents need to play our part in rising to the challenge.
(b) Public Statements
Statement from Mark Elkins
At a packed meeting of Eastcliff and Springbourne Residents Group two weeks ago today we heard that the Authorities did not have the resources to remove Street Prostitutes and Street Drug Users causing issues.
Eastcliff and Springbourne Ward has, along with Boscombe West, the second worst Police Crime map figures in the BCP Council area. It also has very similar levels of deprivation. Yet despite this, Eastcliff and Springbourne Ward, promised at one time Bournemouth Towns Fund funding, is in fact by comparison to Boscombe West starved of resources to deal with the significant problems it faces. Please remedy this.
Statement from Simon Grimston (by Mark Elkins)
Dear Councillors
East Cliff and West Cliff have similar problems of street sex workers and drug dealing and drug use. The examples provided to me come from members of the community. These problems have not just appeared.
We are particularly concerned by the changes to the area relating to licensing and establishment hours. The once peaceful area is being blighted by more and more establishments operating as Nightclubs. West Cliff has a conservation area at its centre and the transformation is negatively impacting residents and businesses that live and work here.
Councillors, use your future decisions to positively impact our neighbourhoods.
(c) There were no petitions received for this meeting.