Agenda item

In February 2024, Council approved the one-off in year funding allocation of £358,000, the Town Centre Improvement Fund, to improve Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole town centres.  Funds were divided among the three town centres as defined in the current Local Plans based on the population of their respective towns. The aim of the fund is to generate proposals that will deliver long term benefits rather than a one-off boost to the local economy, and/or to seed fund new ideas that empower partners to unlock new opportunities. 

This report informs Cabinet about the application and scoring process, provides summaries of the proposals and recommends approval for those projects that were successful.

RESOLVED that: -

Cabinet approves the projects selected following the application process and:

(a)          Notes the benefits the projects will bring to town centres.

(b)          Authorises transfer of the funds to the applicants, enabling delivery of the projects, in accordance with the Scheme Document.

(c)          Ringfences the remaining funds for Coastal BID to submit an appropriate future project bid within a reasonable timescale.

(d)          Delegates authority to the Chief Operations Officer in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Destination, Leisure and Commercial to review and determine future applications and monitor delivery.

Voting: Nem.Con (1 abstention)

Portfolio Holder: Destination, Leisure and Commercial

Reason

This one-off in year funding enables our partners to create and deliver these inspiring projects, adding to the ongoing positive work to revitalise Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole town centres.

The Portfolio Holder for Destination, Leisure and Commercial Operations presented a report, a copy of which had been circulated to each Member and a copy of which appears as Appendix 'D' to these Minutes in the Minute Book.

Cabinet was advised that in February 2024, the Council had approved the one-off in year funding allocation of £358,000, the Town Centre Improvement Fund, to improve Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole town centres. 

In relation to this Cabinet was informed that the funds had been divided among the three town centres as defined in the current Local Plans based on the population of their respective towns, and that the aim of the fund was to generate proposals that will deliver long term benefits rather than a one-off boost to the local economy, and/or to seed fund new ideas that empower partners to unlock new opportunities. 

Cabinet was advised that the report informed Cabinet about the application and scoring process, provided summaries of the proposals and recommends approval for those projects that were successful.

Members addressed the Cabinet expressing concern that ward members had not been properly engaged in the process and urged the cabinet to defer until the relevant consultation has taken place.

Cabinet members spoke in support of the recommendations but echoed the comments around meaningful consultation. In relation to this it was proposed that recommendation ‘(a) endorses the application and scoring process’ be removed from the recommendations as Cabinet members felt they couldn’t support the application and scoring process in light of the comments from members and concerns raised with regards to consultation. This amendment to the recommendation was supported by the proposer and seconder and agreed as the substantive motion.

RESOLVED that Cabinet approves the projects selected following the application process and: -

(a)          Notes the benefits the projects will bring to town centres.

(b)          Authorises transfer of the funds to the applicants, enabling delivery of the projects, in accordance with the Scheme Document.

(c)          Ringfences the remaining funds for Coastal BID to submit an appropriate future project bid within a reasonable timescale.

(d)          Delegates authority to the Chief Operations Officer in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Destination, Leisure and Commercial to review and determine future applications and monitor delivery.

Voting: Nem. Con. (1 abstention)

Portfolio Holder: Destination, Leisure and Commercial Operations

Reason

This one-off in year funding enables our partners to create and deliver these inspiring projects, adding to the ongoing positive work to revitalise Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole town centres.

Councillors Millie Earl and Andy Martin declared interests in this item and remained present for the discussion and voting thereon.

Councillor Andy Hadley declared an interest in this item as a Director of the Poole BID, addressed the Cabinet and then left the meeting for the discussion and voting thereon.

The meeting adjourned at 12.18 pm

The meeting reconvened at 12.33 pm

The Leader advised that in order to accommodate Portfolio Holders with other commitments the running order would be amended to deal with Agenda Items 10, 13 and then 14 before returning to Agenda Item 9 and taking the rest of the items in order.