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 Wednesday 17 July 2024 (3 clear working days before the meeting.)
The deadline for the submission of a statement is mid-day Monday 22 July 2024 (the working day before the meeting.)
The deadline for the submission of a petition is Tuesday 9 July 2024 (10 working days before the meeting.)
Minutes:
The public questions and statements set out in the minutes below are printed as per the wording used within the submissions made in accordance with the constitution.
As a number of public questions were on a similar topic, a single response was given to those questions as set out below.
Public Question from Daniel Glennon
In his response to a question from a resident at the April full council meeting, Councillor Hadley acknowledged that we “need to act with urgency across a wide range of measures" to tackle the climate crisis and this should include individuals "considering a low meat diet".
With this in mind, will the council consider banning all advertising for meat and dairy products on assets they have control over, for example lamppost banners and roundabouts? There is already a similar ban on alcohol, tobacco and gambling.
Further, will the council commit to using its own communications channels to promote the benefits of a plant-based diet to BCP residents?
These would be two easy to achieve and low cost wins in the fight against climate breakdown.
Public Question from Nicola Harris
30 councils have endorsed the Plant Based Treaty to address ? of greenhouse gas emissions which come from the food sector. What we eat matters more than how far it’s travelled because food miles account for just a tiny proportion of emissions. For example, UK meat and dairy production account for around 50% of our methane emissions. Scientists agree we must cut methane by 45% this decade to avoid a 1.5C temperature rise.
During an Instagram Q&A last September, councillor Hadley agreed schools could be encouraged to introduce carbon labelling on menus. When Edinburgh agreed their Plant Based Treaty action plan, they committed to a carbon labelling trial with Klimato in schools and also signed up Edinburgh University. Can the council outreach to schools and invite them to consider carbon labelling, and can the council explore this in areas where they have influence over catering and food menus.
Public Question from Helen Winter
In light of the climate crisis and BCP Council’s declaration of the climate emergency, would the Council consider passing a motion to supply and serve 100% plant-based food at all internal meetings and events?
BCP could join other councils - such as Oxfordshire, Cambridge, Exeter and Norwich - who have led the way on this initiative and signal their commitment to taking action on the climate crisis.
In addition to the environmental benefits, plant-based food is the most inclusive option. It’s not about taking away personal choice – plant-based food is delicious, healthy and for everyone!
Public Question from Chris Jolliffe
An analysis by the Office of Health Economics shows that plant-based diets would save the NHS £6.7bn yearly, with 2.1?million fewer cases of disease. Research consistently shows that local governments are trusted more than national politicians making the council well-positioned to introduce plant-based initiatives and deliver public education. Councils such as Edinburgh and Amsterdam have endorsed the Plant Based Treaty and developed plant-based food strategies. What more can the council do to help normalise plant-based foods and encourage the community to eat them?
Public Question from Sasha Jolliffe
Scientists say we've breached 6 of 9 planetary boundaries for liveability on Earth. Our food system is a main driver of 5 of those breached boundaries: climate change, land-use change, biodiversity loss, water use, nitrogen and phosphorus pollution.
It is well-established that plant-based diets have the lowest environmental impact. Even if we ended fossil fuels today, food emissions alone would breach the 1.5C target of the Paris Agreement. A recent Nature Food study showed that vegan diets result in 75% less greenhouse emissions, water pollution and land use compared to diets containing more than 100g of meat daily. Vegan diets were also shown to cut wildlife destruction by 66% and water use by 54%.
Could BCP join 30 councils, including Edinburgh, Belfast and Amsterdam, in endorsing the Plant Based Treaty and committing to a plant-based food strategy to complement our climate action plan?
Public Question from Colin Middleton
When tendering contracts for public events, such as the Christmas market, can businesses be asked to include plant-based options to promote inclusivity and sustainability and increase the current offerings? When 75% of a menu is plant-based, a tipping point occurs which encourages people to choose more sustainable options. What else can the council do in this area?
Public Question from Tom Harris
Councils have poured £238 million of pension funds into factory farming investments, fuelling human rights abuses, the climate emergency, deforestation, biodiversity loss, and large-scale animal suffering.
According to Feedback Global’s 2022 analysis, through the Dorset Pension Fund, BCP invested £3 million in industrial animal farm companies and £0.5 million in soya animal-feed companies, including JBS and Tyson.
Around 90% of Amazon deforestation is linked to the continued expansion of animal agriculture, where pristine rainforests are torn down to graze cattle and grow animal feed - all to satisfy our appetite for meat and dairy. Since these products end up in our supermarkets, ultimately, we must take collective responsibility in finding solutions to Amazon deforestation.
In support of Plant Based Treaty, could the council liaise with Dorset Council and look at divesting from factory farming and supporting plant-based projects and soft energy solutions?
Public Question from Sarah Ward
According to the British Ecological Society agricultural pollution is the biggest perpetrator of freshwater pollution. They also stated that changes to farming practices to prevent agricultural pollution should be a top priority for restoring England’s waterways. Only 16% of England’s rivers are classified as being in good ecological health and we have seen how passionate local people are about the pollution of our precious rivers.
We can greatly reduce the harm to our environment from agricultural pollution by switching to a plant-based food system.
Will BCP council lead by example and also help to normalise plant-based eating by implementing an action plan to promote and prioritise plant-based eating wherever the council has influence? This action plan could also link to solutions suggested by other residents this evening. We would welcome a meeting with the Portfolio Holder for Climate Response, Environment and Energy to discuss how these solutions could be implemented.
Response from Leader of the Council on behalf of the Portfolio Holder for Climate Response, Environment and Energy
Thank you to the eight members of the public who took the time to send in questions concerning plant-based diets. This issue was raised previously at Council on 12 September 2023 and I will revisit some of the points made on that occasion by my colleague Cllr Hadley. As before, we agree that changing to a meat and dairy free diet is an important component in reducing our carbon footprint. However, we do feel we should promote and encourage rather than mandating plant-based options.
As an administration, we welcome the challenge and will look into the implications of prioritising climate friendly advertising on assets we own and utilising our council’s communication channels to promote the benefits of a low meat and dairy/plant-based diet to residents in its climate-related messaging.
We will need to explore the current methods of carbon labelling and its effectiveness before considering promoting to schools or using in our own catering and food menus.
On serving 100% plant-based food at all internal meetings and events, any councillor in this chamber is welcome to bring a motion and I would welcome further debate with colleagues on this matter if there is an, forgive me, an appetite to do so.
The Council is not able to endorse the Plant-Based Treaty or production of a stand-alone strategy, however we do endorse encouragement towards a low meat and dairy/meat free diet. We prefer to work with the community whilst not attempting to impose veganism, and promotion of a low meat and dairy/plant-based diet will form part of our Climate strategy going forward
The Council does ask for a variety of food options when tendering large events and sustainably forms part of the quality assessment for all our tenders
It is up to members of the Dorset Pension Fund to explore divesting from factory farming and supporting plant-based projects and soft energy solutions – but as a council, we can’t demand this action.
The Council is not able to endorse production of a stand-alone action plan, but will aim to lead by example in promoting and prioritising plant-based eating where it has influence and community support to do so.
The Council believes the steps we have outlined today will help to normalise plant-based foods and encourage the community to eat them.
Public Question from Julie Dinmore (read by Yvonne Orchard)
Whilst understanding that the premises closing is possibly outdated and run down.
Why has NO ALTERNATIVE PREMISES been offered to vulnerable families before closure.
Absorbing into the community (going back to Abuser) on council waiting lists is Totally Unsatisfactory and offers NO SUPPORT that these women and children need.
I should like to know why these families have been abandoned, contrary to UK law which plainly states it is the Councils role to accommodate such families
Response from the Portfolio Holder for Housing and Regulatory Services
Thank you for your question Julie and thank you Yvonne for reading it out and for giving me the chance to address this really important issue.
I want to be clear that no families accommodated at the Bournemouth refuge have been abandoned. There is in fact no one on the waiting list waiting to be accommodated safely after fleeing domestic abuse. We have a statutory duty and we place the safety of anyone fleeing domestic abuse as the highest of priorities. Anyone approaching BCP council will receive the assistance and support they need in order to be safe for those affected by the closure of the refuge. Both BCH a commission partner and the council have provided dedicated staff who have worked tirelessly to support them and move on all households and they have all moved on to their new accommodation.
Half have moved into independent accommodation whilst others who are assessed as still requiring a supported environment moved into alternative supported services and will continue to be supported to move on when they are ready. Every household that has moved into independent accommodation will continue to receive support to settle into their new homes for as long as they need. The decision to close Bournemouth refuge was not taken lightly and whilst the timing was not in line with our original recommissioning plan the decision moves us forward into a model of provision which is informed by an independent assessment and the lived experience of domestic abuse survivors.
The decision was taken in the knowledge that we have sufficient provision to continue to meet the needs of families in the BCP area until our recommissioning work starts later this year. As somebody who is passionate about the issue and has volunteered in domestic abuse services previously I wouldn't support the decision if I didn't have those reassurances. We still have a refuge which provides self-contained accommodation with communal areas for group work and support. We have specialist safe accommodation for individuals with high needs and risks. We have a range of temporary accommodation for family hostels and self-contained dispersed properties. Families and individuals receive support through our in house teams and our commissioned outreach service whilst in temporary accommodation.
The outreach service also delivers support to victims in their own homes and we provide a community scheme which installs additional security measures for people to provide reassurance and keep them safe. I want to be very clear that every person who is experiencing domestic abuse has options and the council and its partners are on hand to provide support and safe accommodation.
Our safe accommodation strategy is due to be published early next year and sets out our council's ongoing commitment to people experiencing domestic abuse. Our commissioning plan sets out the type and amount of provision we will be procuring to meet the needs identified in our independent needs assessment. The plan is due to be submitted for cabinet approval later this year and will reflect the most up to date needs data for the area.
The aim is to ensure we have a range of good quality accommodation and support with a number of delivery options to meet the varying needs of our customers. This will include refuge provision, self-contained accommodation in the community with support, community outreach and specialist support for children.
I want to thank you again for submitting the question and for the clear passion you have on an issue that everyone should take seriously.
Finally, I would like to mention that if anyone listening to this meeting is experiencing domestic abuse, we have a 24-7 helpline which you can contact on 01202 710 777. An email inbox for abuse support at bcha.org.uk as well as drop ins for women on Tuesdays 10am till 12pm at West Hill Family Hub and for men on Fridays 10am to 12pm at the Joy Cafe in Bosco. Any more general information can be found at womensaid.org.uk.
Public Statement from Philip Gatrell (read by Chief Executive)
Regarding the continuum of scrutiny and accountability concerns reflected in my question to Council’s 23rd April 2024 meeting, the Leader’s response:
BBC’s 3rd May 2024 article concerning Ombudsman case 23004502 underscores these failings.
Public Statement from Gillian Parke (read by Chief Executive)
I am writing to submit a concern re the closure of the women’s refuge and the lack of commissioning a replacement service in its place. As a DV survivor who was moved to Bournemouth 30 years ago by the police under a false name, I’m all too aware of the necessity of refuge place, which I really wish had been available to me at the time.
My concern is the potential of completely retraumatising these women by placing them in B&B accommodation or hostels where men are living. And for women, especially with children, the refuge offers support and friendship to develop confidence and self-respect, so what is planned to put in its place? The lack of support still causes me an ongoing depressive illness which I still have to deal with from time to time now.
Public Statement from Elizabeth Glass (read by Chief Executive)
UK100 – Were we asked if we wished to achieve net zero harder and faster than required by the government?
Were we asked whether we would be happy to forego such things as pothole repairs, and lose amenities such as Kings Park Nursery, paddling pools and car park closures to pay for it?
A ‘Which’ survey for 2024 ranked Bournemouth 79th and Poole 88th out of 126 seaside towns – down from last year.
Instead of following the globalist agenda, the council should use its resources to restore the conurbation back to a prime tourist destination. This would provide far greater benefits for the people and businesses in the area.
I urge the new leader to withdraw BCP from the UK100.
Public Statement from John Sprackling (read by Chief Executive)
The Council is developing a business case for improving the remainder of the Beach Road car park, after the sale of a substantial portion for development. I believe that this is unlikely to stack up financially due to the costs incurred on the improvements relative to the Northern part of the site and any road parking income.
The Council should appraise options by assessing the future of the entire site as one project so that the proceeds from the sale can, in part, be earmarked to assist with the costs of improvement of the remainder.
In this way, there is likely to be a better outcome for taxpayers.
Public Statement from Phillip Stanley Watts
If you look back at our history, this area has always been at the forefront of international links from welcoming refugees (especially when our relatives have perished in camps) and also the first to welcome language students into our homes. As children we were taught to respect different cultures.
This helped at the time of the Olympics welcoming so many Olympic teams and their ambassadors into the Mayor's Parlour because their training bases were in this area. International friendship links take many forms whether cultural sporting links, economic and climate animal conservation links with tree planting in Romania. In a time when international friendship is sadly lacking there should be more twinning links not less.
Public Statement from Yvonne Orchard
Ms Orchard chose to withdraw her statement but requested that the Portfolio Holder for Housing & Regulatory Services correspond with her by email.