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 3 clear working days before the meeting (Tuesday 9 May).
The deadline for the submission of a statement is midday the working day before the meeting (Friday 12 May).
The deadline for the submission of a petition is 10 working days before the meeting.
Minutes:
There were 3 public questions received from Mr Alex McKinstry and 1 public statement from Mr Ian Redmanas follows:
Public Questions in relation to agenda item 7 – BCP Growth Plan
1. A Cabinet supplement from February this year listed three sets of "consultees" on the BCP Growth Plan: namely, Council officers; "businesses across BCP"; and an entity called "the BCP Business Growth Board", which seems to have been constituted around October 2025. Can you provide any further information on this "business growth board", such as: who its members are, including its chair and vice-chair; whether it is independent of the Council; if not independent of the Council, how its members were appointed; how frequently it meets; and what its remit comprises? Can you also confirm whether this board is likely to be a long-term entity or whether it has been formed chiefly to assist with the Growth Plan's compilation?
Response: Historically, Dorset Local Enterprise Partnership (DLEP) led on pan Dorset business-led growth, led by a Dorset LEP board, consisting of representatives from the private sector, local government leaders, and higher education institutions. Since the LEP reforms in 2024 when LEP’s were phased out their responsibilities have moved into councils and to ensure business engagement continues councils have set up Business Growth Boards.
In March 2025 Dorset LEP was wound down and BCP Council invited sector representatives from Universities, Destination Management Board, Port of Poole, Advanced Engineering and Manufacturing, Start-ups (Chair), Business Improvement District , Voluntary Sector, Cultural Sector, Dorset Chamber of Commerce, Finance and Fintech, Retail, Healthcare, Key development sites , Federation of Small Business, Skills Sector (Vice Chair), Hospitality and Accommodation, Low Carbon, Creative and Digital, Bournemouth Airport and Night-time Economy & Events. The Chair and Vice Chair roles were selected from within the Board whereby representatives put forward nominations and the Board voted to appoint the Chair and Vice Chair. The Chair is Dan Ware and the Vice Chair is Phil Sayles.
The BCP Business Growth Board meet a minimum of 4 times per (every quarter) but with the Growth Plan development there have been additional meetings.
The remit of the BCP Business Growth Board is to serve as the strategic “Voice of Business” in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole, shaping and championing economic growth by advising on strategy, influencing investment and policy, and representing business interests across local, regional, and national partnerships. This includes co-ordinating, endorsing and ensuring effective delivery and accountability of the BCP Growth Plan, a 10-year plan.
2. Will the BCP Growth Plan be going out to public consultation?
Response: The growth plan will
not be going for formal public consultation, as this is done by the business
growth board and pulls together existing strategies. These strategies, though,
have been subject to public consultation
Public Question in relation to agenda item 8 – Financial Outturn 2025/26
The table on page 63 (Appendix A1) provides a breakdown of the overspend in the Wellbeing directorate. This includes a £10.8 million overspend on adult care packages, which is offset to some extent by underspends elsewhere; by client contributions and other income; and by £1,955,000 which is described as "Bad debts provision for deferred payment". Can you explain in layman's terms what a "bad debts provision for deferred payment" is, exactly; and as this sum relates to bad debts, is there any possibility of the Council not actually receiving this money?
Response: Bad debt provision is a sum of money an organisation may put aside in the eventuality that clients do not repay their debt to the organisation. In terms of Adult Social Care, the accounts need to reflect that service users may not pay assessed contributions or reimburse the Council for the cost of their care if the Council paid up front under specific arrangements.
To date Adult Social Care has had a provisional £1.955m provision for debts linked to deferred payment agreements. Historic analysis however has shown that no deferred payment agreement debt has ever not been recovered because it is secured by a first charge (typically on a clients’ property in line with national policy) and, so the decision was made that such provision was not necessary. Such a decision to change this provision can only be applied once, hence it is a one-off adjustment,
Public Statement in relation to agenda item 8 - Financial Outturn 2025/26
Recent Freedom of Information responses raise questions about the performance management arrangements for the Council's seafront trading operations. The Council has confirmed that kiosk opening times are not set centrally, staffing deployment by site is not recorded, and no performance reports or comparisons with previous years are held. While revenue data exists, no site-level performance reports or comparative analysis were identified in the FOI response.
Given that these venues occupy prominent seafront locations and are intended to generate income for the Council, the absence of such management information may limit the Council's ability to assess performance, benchmark operations, identify underperforming assets, and demonstrate that best value is being achieved.
I therefore request that the Committee examines whether current performance management arrangements for Seafront Services provide sufficient assurance that commercial objectives are being met and whether opportunities exist to improve returns from these public assets.