To receive a verbal update on the outcome of the Community Governance Review following the Council meeting held on 14 October, including any resultant implications to the Charter Trustees.
Minutes:
The Head of Democratic Services, Richard Jones, provided a verbal update on the Community Governance review following BCP Council’s meeting of 14 October 2025.
Trustees were advised that, following BCP Council’s decision to create new Town Councils at its meeting on 14 October, the Charter Trustees were to be dissolved on 31 March 2026. Early actions were underway ahead of that dissolution, including the convening of a Task & Finish Group (T&F) to discuss legal and other considerations.
Various Orders to be actioned included the agreement of the transitional arrangements required to provide continuity between the existing Mayoralty/Trustees and the new Town Council. This could include the creation of a shadow Council, to be in effect from 1 April 2026 until the elections for the new Town Council.
Other matters to be considered included the transfer of assets to the new Town Council, a budget for 2026/2027, contacting the College of Arms for the formal transfer of the Coat of Arms, Charters etc., Tax rates, staffing requirements (including an interim Clerk), the mapping of new parish areas and contacting regulators.
The budget for 2026/2027 would be an ‘anticipated’ budget to ensure sufficient provision for Town Council services. Once formed, the Town Council would then determine how they wished to use that money. The Town Council as not required to spend up to the anticipated amount, as any surplus would then be used to bolster reserves.
As part of this budget, the Tax would be set by BCP Council for the first year. The BCP financial team would then help advise the Town Council to set their own Tax for 2027/2028 and beyond.
Charter Trustee reserves would transfer to the new Town Council, though a review exercise was required to determine the final amount.
Trustees sought further information on the transfer of specific assets, such as civic vehicles and number plates, together with revenue generating sites such as car parks and beach huts. Officers advised that the transfer of assets was limited to civic/ceremonial regalia and mandatory assets like allotments, and there was no intention to transfer revenue generating assets at this time. The team maintained comprehensive records of civic assets which would allow for safe transition.
Trustees were reminded of the need for caution when seeking to commit the new Town Council on certain issues or the transfer of certain items. For example, the decision to transfer a civic vehicle could be taken by a shadow Council, but this would be committing the new Town Council to that decision despite the Town Council being unwilling to take ownership of a vehicle and all of the implications inherent to that (e.g. maintenance, employment of chauffeurs, etc.)
For this reason, it was suggested that Trustees could seek to keep many services or such assets within BCP Council until the new Town Council was properly established.
The Mayor referenced a proposed Beating of the Land Bounds event and, given the above, sought feedback from Trustees on a suitable time for the event to take place. Trustees suggested the event should take place after Poling Day in 2026.
Cllr Rice left 18:51