Agenda item

This report presents the consequential and supplementary provisions required to implement the establishment of new town councils for Broadstone, Poole, and Bournemouth, following the Council’s decision of 14 October 2025.

It outlines the arrangements necessary to ensure the new councils are legally compliant and operationally effective from 1 April 2026. Key recommendations include the formation of Shadow Councils from 1 January 2026 to oversee the recruitment of qualified clerks and address pre-implementation matters, and the agreement of anticipated precept amounts for each council, enabling sound financial planning.

The report details the limited transfer of assets, statutory requirements for allotments, and the continuation of certain services under Service Level Agreements to ensure continuity and mitigate risk. These measures are designed to provide a robust framework for the successful transition to new local governance arrangements and to support effective service delivery from inception.

The Chair of the Community Governance Review Task and Finish Group presented a report, a copy of which had been circulated to each Member and a copy of which appears as Appendix 'B' to these minutes in the Minute Book. The report presented the consequential and supplementary provisions required to implement the establishment of new town councils for Broadstone, Poole, and Bournemouth, following the Council’s decision of 14 October 2025.

It outlined the arrangements necessary to ensure that the new councils were legally compliant and operationally effective from 1 April 2026. Key recommendations included the formation of Shadow Councils from 1 January 2026 to oversee the recruitment of qualified clerks and address pre-implementation matters, and the agreement of anticipated precept amounts for each council, enabling sound financial planning. The report detailed the limited transfer of assets, statutory requirements for allotments, and the continuation of certain services under Service Level Agreements to ensure continuity and mitigate risk. The Board was advised that the measures were designed to provide a robust framework for the successful transition to new local governance arrangements and to support effective service delivery from inception. The Board noted an amendment to the report to show that the Whitecliff and Parkstone allotments were managed rather than self-managed. Councillor Ricketts, as an experienced town clerk, shared her knowledge on a number of practical requirements for establishing town councils. A number of issues were raised in discussion of this item including:

• Precept level set – It was emphasised that the proposed budgets were minimal and designed to allow councils to function in their first year for a sufficient Council Tax precept amount. Concern was expressed that the proposed budgets were restrictive and could limit the councils’ ability to act ambitiously in their first year. It was argued that the shadow councils should review the budgets before approval to ensure democratic involvement. Other Board members advised that they would not want to see any rise in the precept level set within the report.
• Recruitment of Clerks – The Board discussed the recruitment process for Town Clerks and in particular the time frame for this and the practicalities of securing someone suited to the position if the salary was not finalised.

• Statutory timeframe – In response to queries by the Board it was confirmed by officers that the statutory deadline for setting precepts was the 31 January. It was explained that if the budget setting was to be done by shadow Councils this would need to be completed by 14 January to allow sufficient time for this to be considered by a Council meeting. Concerns were raised about the complexity of establishing governance frameworks, policies, and financial plans within limited meeting schedules.
• Discretionary spending – It was highlighted that the proposed budgets allowed for discretionary spending of not insignificant amounts for all of the town councils in year one, with significantly more flexibility in year two once setup costs were removed.
• Staffing – The Board asked for further information on staff to support the civic function of the new town councils. It was noted that this would continue in a similar way to it did as present. The staff were employed by BCP Council and the Charter Trustees were currently recharged for staff costs and this would remain the same with the town councils.

The following motion was moved and seconded, “That the O&S Board recommend that the anticipated precept amounts for Broadstone Town Council, Poole Town Council and Bournemouth Town Council, as detailed in the table at paragraph 35 to this report, be referred to the shadow councils for consideration by 14 January 2026 and brought back to an extraordinary meeting of council for determination”

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Following debate on the proposed motion to amend the recommendation outlined in the report at c, it was put to the vote and lost.

Voting: 5 in Favour, 7 against

The Chair thanked the members and officers for their input into the discussion and the Board agreed to note the report.

The meeting adjourned at 7.34 pm and resumed at 7:42pm.