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 midday on Friday 21 November 2025 [midday 3 clear working days before the meeting].
The deadline for the submission of a statement is midday on Wednesday 26 November 2025 [midday the working day before the meeting].
The deadline for the submission of a petition is Thursday 13 November 2025 [10 working days before the meeting].
Minutes:
The following public issues were received:
Public Question from Alex McKinstry on Agenda Item 7 – External Auditor - Auditor's Annual Report 2024-25 (Value for Money arrangements report):
In its improvement recommendations on governance, the external auditor suggests amending the Constitution to add provisions for investigating all three statutory officers. Presumably this would be a matter for the Constitution Review Working Group to look into. Can you confirm who is currently chair of that working group, and who are the current members?
Response:
Cllr Eleanor Connolly is the current chair of the Constitution Review Working Group and the current members are Cllr Marcus Andrews, Cllr Sara Armstrong and Cllr John Beesley plus one vacancy. Cllr Clare Weight has expressed an interest in filling this vacancy. The Committee will be asked to confirm an appointment as part of the Working Group’s next report (or at the next core meeting of the Committee on 15 January 2026, whichever is earlier). For the avoidance of any doubt, references to the JNC terms are also matters of contract between the statutory officers and BCP Council.
Public Statement from Alex McKinstry on Agenda item 6 – Internal Audit Plan Coverage – Presentation:
I'd be interested to see the audit on seafront planning approvals, mentioned in the Item 6 report, pages 62-63. At this Committee on 30 May 2024, solemn assurances were given by very senior officers, to the effect that all commercial ventures would have planning consent (where required) before trading; and this would extend to all structures on Council land, not just seafront amenities. An entire "culture change" was promised. The importance of planning consent would be inculcated through inductions, training programmes, and all-staff briefings. Yet this didn't prevent an unauthorised ice rink, and other structures, being built through a Grade II listed heritage asset in October, nor did it prevent the rink commencing trading on 13 November - by which time it had actually been recommended for planning refusal. I am absolutely furious that the cast-iron assurances given to this Committee have been reneged upon so blatantly.
Public Statements from Philip Gatrell on Agenda Item 7 – External Auditor - Auditor's Annual Report 2024-25 (Value for Money arrangements report):
Statement 1:
FINANCIAL SUSTAINABILITY LIQUIDITY COMPARISONS:
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS BALANCES *
BCP
31.3.25 Original Draft £ ( 4,221,000) Negative
31.3.24 £ 20,979,000
31.3.20 £ ( 2,038,000) Negative
DORSET COUNCIL
31.3.25 Draft £ 35,519,000
SOUTHAMPTON COUNCIL
31.3.25 Draft £ 33,648,000
*BCP’s Group balances are excluded above for comparison purposes
My 16 October 2025 #3 Statement to this Committee refers concerning the Council’s 31 March 2025 net negative balance of £ (4,221,000) after deducting anomalous negative cash balances £ (11,565,000).
Having highlighted that anomaly I received revised data stated as agreed by the external auditor. These still show an overall negative balance of £ (4,221,035), after now positive “Cash and Equivalents” £ 17,208,185 resulting in a “Bank Overdraft” £(21,429,220). Further enquiries include:
*“Cash” partly being uncleared bankings at 31 March 2025 in conventional accounting methodology.
* Authorised overdraft limit.
*Mandate for 26 school net positive balances £ 1,446,930 set against Council’s “Overdraft” in arriving at the £ (21,429,220) overdrawn balance.
*£ 52,618 Trust funds treated as “Cash” while subjected to “investigations”.
Statement 2:
The external auditor’s report was notified 5 days late and 150 permitted words constrain recording all my related concerns:
Page 16
Summarises the auditor’s “2014 Act” discretionary reporting powers but -
- Despite timeliness obligated by the National Audit Office Code the auditor failed to notify me regarding reasons for not acting positively on the Sections 27 and 28 issues raised and
- Has not answered my Section 26 questions which
- Have relevance to this Committee notwithstanding the auditor’s discretionary powers. Where contextually
- The Committee is respectfully reminded that a Monitoring Officer’s separate reporting duty to all Members remains under “1989 Act” Sections 5 / 5A eg the extant earlier material contravention of “2015 Regulation 2” identified in my 22 July 2025 Statement to Full Council.
Page 39
The belated “Recommendation” regarding the Constitution’s amendment and complaints against the Statutory Officers reflects a more informative fact based narrative in my 28 November 2024 Statement #2 to this Committee.