To consider recommendations from the Overview and Scrutiny committees on items not otherwise included on the Cabinet Agenda.
Minutes:
Cabinet was advised that recommendations had been received from the Health and Adult Social Care Overview and Scrutiny Committee and the Environment and Place Overview and Scrutiny Committee on items not otherwise indicated on the Cabinet agenda.
The Chair of the Health and Adult Social Care Overview and Scrutiny Committee, Councillor Patrick Canavan provided Cabinet with the background relating to the item and presented the recommendations from the Committee as set out below, copies of which had been circulated to Members of the Cabinet and published on the Council’s website prior to the meeting.
Recommendation from the Health and Adult Social Care Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 19 May 2026
BCP Suicide Action Prevention Plan
The Health and Adult Social Care Overview and Scrutiny Committee Recommend to Cabinet that, following approval by the Health and Wellbeing Board on 26 June 2026, the Committee request Cabinet support the Strategy and Action Plan and ensure that the necessary resources are made available for implementation.
(Unanimous Decision)
The Leader thanked Councillor Canavan and the Committee for bringing their recommendation to Cabinet and expressed support on behalf of the Cabinet.
In addition, the Leader advised that a more formal response would be presented to the Health and Adult Social Care Overview and Scrutiny Committee in due course.
The Chair of the Environment and Place Overview and Scrutiny Committee, Councillor Chris Rigby provided Cabinet with the background relating to the item highlighting the public interest at the meeting and reminding members that this had been taken to the Committee following a petition presented to the Council and presented the recommendations from the Committee as set out below, copies of which had been circulated to Members of the Cabinet and published on the Council’s website prior to the meeting.
Recommendation from the Environment and Place Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 15 July 2026
Christchurch Harbour
The Environment and Place Overview and Scrutiny Committee recommend that Cabinet expedite the development of a robust harbour protection policy as outlined and lobby the Govt to improve protection through the NPPF
Voting: Unanimous
The outline mentioned in the recommendation is as follows:
Propose that what is needed is a robust harbour protection policy with:
· a presumption of no net deterioration
· planning policies requiring new developments to achieve neutrality or better
· council Land Management practises that reduce pesticides and fertilisers
· regular monitoring and public reporting
· support for wetland creation and river restoration project
· partnership commitments with water companies, the Environment Agency, neighbouring councils et cetera
Christchurch harbour needs to be made a material consideration in every relevant council decision on, for example, drainage, flood risk, recreation, highways and development
Yes it's ambitious, but if BCP want to be taken seriously as a national leader in Environmental Protection it needs to adopt a policy with an overarching objective to restore and maintain Christchurch harbour in favourable ecological condition, by ensuring that all council decisions contribute to improved water quality, reduced pollution and enhanced biodiversity; applying the precautionary principle where there is uncertainty.
AND we need this now, so that it can be embedded into the developing local plan.
The Leader thanked Councillor Rigby and the Committee for bringing their recommendation to Cabinet following which Councillor Vanessa Ricketts addressed the Cabinet as the petitioner organiser of the original petition submitted to Council.
Councillor Ricketts highlighted the importance of the petition presented to Council and of the discussion and recommendations from the recent Environment and Place Overview and Scrutiny Committee and in addition emphasised the public support for this.
Councillor Andy Hadley, Portfolio Holder for Climate Response, Environment and Energy, commented on the Committee’s recommendations and thanked the Committee, residents and those who had attended the meeting with an interest in Christchurch Harbour for raising their concerns and for their determination to improve water quality in the harbour.
Councillor Hadley advised that, as a local authority, the Council had almost no powers over water quality in rivers and harbours, as responsibility primarily sat with the Environment Agency and Wessex Water, with Natural England also having a role.
Councillor Hadley advised that the catchments of the two rivers were extensive, covering much of Dorset, Wiltshire and Hampshire, and that the Committee had heard from the Environment Agency that 70% of the issues derived from upstream. Councillor Hadley stressed the need to work with river catchment partnerships further upstream in both catchments.
Councillor Hadley reported that he and Councillor Andy Martin had recently had the opportunity to make direct representations to the Chief Executive of Natural England on this issue while at Hengistbury Head. Councillor Hadley advised that assurances had been received from the Wessex Team Lead that action would be taken during the summer in the River Avon catchment area to address diffuse water quality issues, particularly in relation to farming run-off. Councillor Hadley noted, however, that the same action could not be taken in relation to the River Stour because the water quality was considered too poor, which required Government action.
Councillor Hadley advised that he had recently spoken to the Director of Planning and that it appeared the Council could not deviate from national planning guidance. Councillor Hadley also referred to advice from the Director of Public Health that the risk to human health from open water swimming was very low, although there was an increased risk for people who were immunocompromised, who should follow healthcare advice and take additional precautions. Open water swimming could increase the risk of gastrointestinal illness.
Councillor Hadley advised that he had repeated his previous request to the bathing waters team at DEFRA for the harbour to be designated as bathing waters, recognising the range of waterborne uses beyond swimming. Councillor Hadley noted that, although legislation had changed to allow this, the department was still working through the implications, and Government action was needed more swiftly.
Councillor Hadley informed Cabinet that he had previously sought support from local MPs and that this could be pursued again. Alongside lobbying and highlighting the responsibilities of other bodies, Councillor Hadley stressed that the Council should seek to convene meetings of all relevant parties and advised that he would provide the Environment and Place Overview and Scrutiny Committee with a response outlining this within the next two months.
Councillor Andy Martin addressed the Cabinet highlighting the importance of this issue and of the recent discussions with the Chief Executive of Natural England as mentioned by Councillor Hadley. In addition, Councillor Martin stressed the need to pull everyone who has an interest in this together.
Further to this Councillor Martin emphasised that planning policy should be pushed to go as far as we can on this, and that the advice from public health seems to go against the huge body of evidence which we have had from the Christchurch Harbour and Marine Society (CHAMS) and the experts from Bournemouth University, the clubs and all water users.
In closing Councillor Martin highlighted that whilst not our fault, the catchment area being huge, that it was our harbour and our responsibility to do all the things we would talk about, all the lobbying, convening, bringing people together, encouraging and indeed shaming if that was merited in terms of responsibility of this pollution.
Councillor Mike Cox addressed the Cabinet thanking those involved in bringing forward the petition and the huge amount of work which had taken place in presenting this.
The Leader advised that a formal response would be presented to the Environment and Place Overview and Scrutiny Committee in due course.
Councillor Kieron Wilson declared an interest in respect of this item and remained present for the discussion thereon.