Agenda item

This report summarises the issues discussed at the Civic Working Group meetings held since the last Charter Trustee meeting and seeks support for any recommendations arising.

The Chair of the CWG, Councillor Lawrence Williams, updated Trustees on the activity of the Bournemouth Civic Working Group (CWG) following its meeting on 3 October 2025.

Trustees were reminded that, at the CT meeting of 20 May 2025, then Charter Mayor Councillor George Farquhar confirmed that he was gifting his Mayoral portrait to the people of Bournemouth through the Charter Trustees.

Councillor Farquhar had since confirmed that he wished for the portrait to be hung in the Mayor’s Parlour. However, at the CT meeting held on 24 October 2022, Trustees had resolved that no additional portraits were to be hung in the Mayor’s Parlour.

The Civic Team had confirmed that they lack appropriate space for the portrait’s safe long-term storage, while an offer to display and store the portrait had been received from the Russell-Cotes Art Gallery and Museum. Alternatively, the CWG has requested that the civic team explore the feasibility of replacing a current Parlour portrait with Cllr Farquhar’s. To facilitate this, associated measurements and redecorating costs will need to be procured, alongside a review of any other considerations inherent to the hanging of portraits in the room.

It was therefore recommended that Charter Trustees a. accept the gifting of the portrait, and b. consider whether they wish to overturn the 2022 decision to allow for measurements and costings to be undertaken. The recommendations were seconded by Councillor Eleanor Connolly.

Trustees accepted the gifting of the portrait and debated the merits and feasibility of hanging it in the Mayor’s Parlour. Some Trustees felt that the 2022 resolution should be upheld, particularly in light of the impending new Town Council which could instead review the resolution once formed. Other Trustees felt that the resolution should be overturned to allow for the portrait to be hung in the Parlour, if deemed the most appropriate location. In addition, it was suggested that existing portraits could be rotated in and out of the Parlour to various appropriate venues, to allow them to be seen by the wider public.

Connolly Eleanor moved an amendment to recommendation b:, to add "subject to the CWG determining an appropriate location for it and for other portraits to ensure their visibility by the public."

Cllr Lawrence Williams accepted the amendment, and Trustees moved to vote on the substantive motion, where it was:

RESOLVED:- That Charter Trustees:

1. accept the gifting of the Mayoral portrait from Councillor Farquhar; and
2. overturn the 2022 decision that no additional portraits are to be hung in the Mayor’s Parlour so that Cllr Farquhar’s portrait may potentially be hung in the Parlour, subject to costs and subject to the CWG determining an appropriate location for it and for other portraits, to ensure their visibility by the public.

Voting:

a: Unanimous;

b: F:17; AG:2 (2 abstentions)

Trustees were informed that the CWG had agreed that work on the Service Level Agreement for the provision of services from BCP Council should be deferred until the implications of the Council’s decision to create a new Town Council were properly understood. To this end, the Head of Democratic Services would deliver a verbal update under agenda item 7.

The CWG had also discussed various other issues including Trustee attendance at meetings, to be examined in detail under agenda item 8, new processes for the promotion of civic events, and the purchase of new Mayoral robes, as set out within the report.