Agenda item - Revised BCP Seafront Strategy

The BCP seafront is highly valued by residents and visitors and provides a diverse range of internationally important natural habitats, geology and archaeology. It also sits at the heart of our local tourism industry and generates significant revenue to the Council, helping to fund wider services for the community.

A review of the Seafront Strategy has been undertaken to assess progress to date and refresh priorities in light of significant organisational changes, new pressures and opportunities.

This report sets out a revised BCP Seafront Strategy, updating the vision, key objectives, investment criteria and delivery priorities. It builds on the original strategy adopted in April 2022, by reflecting new priorities such as the removal of barriers to community access, wellbeing, and delivering environmental net gains across biodiversity and carbon reduction. It also strengthens the focus on working with commercial operators to enable regeneration and secure external investment in infrastructure.

The Strategy provides a framework for investment over the next 20 years, along with priorities for the short to medium term.

RESOLVED that Cabinet: -

(a) Approves the BCP Seafront Strategy 2024 subject to the agreed amendment being incorporated; and

(b) Delegates authority to the Chief Operations Officer, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Connected Communities, to identify specific events zones within the Seafront Strategy character areas (see 4.3)

Voting: Unanimous

Portfolio Holder: Deputy Leader and Portfolio Holder for Connected Communities

Finance

Reasons

Supports the Corporate Plan priorities for:

• Our green spaces flourish and support the wellbeing of both people and nature

• Climate change is tackled through sustainable policies and practice

• Our communities have pride in our streets, neighbourhoods and public spaces

• People and places are connected by sustainable and modern infrastructure

• Working together, everyone feels safe and secure

• Our inclusive, vibrant and sustainable economy supports our communities to thrive

• Revitalised high streets and regenerated key sites create new opportunities

• Employment is available for everyone and helps create value in our communities

• Local communities shape the services that matter to them

• High quality of life for all, where people can be active, healthy and independent

In addition, the Strategy:

• Provides a clear vision to guide attracting external investment in infrastructure, public spaces, health and well-being, the environment, and places to eat, drink and stay within the context of the Council’s limited scope for direct investment

• Provides a projects prioritisation framework to support investment to grow and diversify the offer and protect and increase revenue streams

• Provides a guide to attract commercial leisure investment

• Provides a strategic context for seafront development to support future planning applications

The Deputy Leader and Portfolio Holder for Connected Communities presented a report, a copy of which had been circulated to each Member and a copy of which appears as Appendix 'G' to these Minutes in the Minute Book.

Cabinet was advised that the BCP seafront is highly valued by residents and visitors and provides a diverse range of internationally important natural habitats, geology and archaeology, and that it also sits at the heart of our local tourism industry and generates significant revenue to the Council, helping to fund wider services for the community.

In relation to this Cabinet was informed that a review of the Seafront Strategy had been undertaken to assess progress to date and refresh priorities in light of significant organisational changes, new pressures and opportunities.

Cabinet was advised that the report set out a revised BCP Seafront Strategy, updating the vision, key objectives, investment criteria and delivery priorities, and that it built on the original strategy adopted in April 2022, by reflecting new priorities such as the removal of barriers to community access, wellbeing, and delivering environmental net gains across biodiversity and carbon reduction, and also strengthened the focus on working with commercial operators to enable regeneration and secure external investment in infrastructure.

Further to this Cabinet was advised that the Strategy provides a framework for investment over the next 20 years, along with priorities for the short to medium term.

The Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Board, Councillor Stephen Bartlett addressed the Cabinet advising that the Committee at their meeting the previous evening had discussed the report in detail, and that the Board had been supportive of the strategy and recommendations.

The Chair of the Health and Adult Social Care, Councillor Patrick Canavan addressed the Cabinet supporting the involvement of ward councillors and welcoming the shift towards ensuring the importance of safe and healthy communities and expressing the importance of peoples mental and physical health. In addition Councillor Canavan highlighted the importance of maintaining the seafront and ensuring there are working toilets, accessible toilets and clear pathways.

The Deputy Leader, Councillor Millie Earl advised Cabinet of a proposed amendment to the Plan at Appendix 1 in relation to the table with the ‘revised or new objectives 2024’ which appeared at page 497 of the agenda pack and specifically the wording in the last box on the right of the second table, whereby the wording be amended to include reference to children.

In addition the Portfolio Holder for Health and Wellbeing requested that reference also be made to the elderly.

In relation to this the Deputy Leader advised that the exact reference to the elderly would be agreed with officers and the paragraph be amended to read:

Encourage active, healthy and independent lives by removing barriers for all our communities to access the seafront with a particular focus on children, young people those with disabilities and mobility issues. We will also work to enable sports and wellbeing activities through community partnerships.