Agenda item

Following a request from a Councillor for scrutiny of this issue to be added to a Board agenda, the Chairman has agreed that this should be received as an urgent item owing to the implementation timetable for the decision.  The Board is asked to consider the matter and make recommendations as appropriate.

The Chairman advised that he had agreed that this item had been added to the agenda for this meeting as an urgent item of business, this was at the request of a Board member and as the decision had already been taken scrutiny of the issue needed to take place as soon as possible and it would not be practical to wait for a future scheduled meeting. The Chief Executive introduced the issue concerning the Officer Decision Record a copy of which had been circulated to Board members and which appears as Appendix ‘B’ to these minutes in the Minute Book. The purpose of the decision was to upgrade the offer on the seafront and to help alleviate previous issues which had occurred with disposable barbeques. In the ensuing discussion a number of issues were raised by the Board including:

·       Why the funding was not included as part of the capital budget and why the decision was taken under emergency powers. In order to introduce the scheme for summer 2021 this was the only route available.  Different funding streams were considered and whilst it was a judgement call the decision was appropriate on the weight of evidence.

·       That it would not reduce people using disposable barbecues.

·       Officers expressed their confidence that they would be a good edition to the seafront as facilities for local people.

·       Whether the Council had looked at experiences of other Council’s who had installed electric barbecues. It was noted that there was already one installed in Boscombe which was used.

·       There were concerns raised that CIL funding was being used for this project as it was felt not to be a strategic issue or much needed infrastructure. Ongoing costs would not be funded through CIL but would be absorbed within operational expenditure.

·       There were concerns raised as to why this was treated as an urgent decision and why it was not considered earlier.

·       Whilst the Board didn’t suggest that there should be a ban on disposal barbecues, introducing the electric barbecues without restrictions on the use of disposable barbecues on the beach would not help.

·       The Board asked why a smaller test amount was not introduced with the option to increase numbers if successful.

·       The reason the barbecues would be free to use was to help encourage their use and it would not be cost effective.

·       In response to issues concerning theft or vandalism it was explained that there were cameras in place and people would need to go to a significant effort to remove them.

·       That encouraging use of communal barbecues in a Covid environment didn’t appear to be a good idea, especially with expected visitor numbers as the barbecues would encourage people to congregate and cause congestion along the prom.

·       Board members also commented that they thought the barbecues were a good idea.

·       Timing of the installation and that disruption along the seafront should be minimal.

A motion was proposed and seconded that:

“The O&S Board support the proposal on the basis that it would be trialled as intended, measured and reviewed in 12 months-time”.

This motion was discussed by the Board, there were some concerns raised that the motion did not propose any reduction in the number of barbecues being installed and therefore there would not be any reduction in financial expenditure so there didn’t appear to be a particular benefit in reviewing the decision to trial them.

The Chairman proposed a short adjournment to allow the full wording of the motion to be submitted.

-       The meeting adjourned between 8:00pm and 8.06pm     -

When the meeting resumed the Chairman outlined the motion and suggested it be put to the vote. The motion was put and lost by 6 votes in favour and 7 against.

A further recommendation to Portfolio Holders and Officers was then proposed and seconded as follows:

RECOMMENDED: That Portfolio Holders and Officers be recommended that the Board recommends the purchase of six double barbeques at three locations for summer 2021 to evaluate risks identified. This will then be reviewed in October 2021 in terms of expansion to Phase 2 in 2022.’ 

Voting : For – 8, Against 6, 1 Abstention

A Councillor requested that the concerns raised by the members of the O&S Board should be put before Cabinet in relation to the issues arising as this was a decision which had already been taken. The Chairman undertook to follow up on this issue.

A Board member requested urgent scrutiny on how strategic decisions are made. There was a need to understand what constituted an urgent decision and a need to scrutinise the process around urgent decision making and the use of strategic CIL funding.

It was suggested that this could be added to the workflow of the Board. The Chairman advised that he would be happy to add this to the work programme.

A further motion was moved and seconded that it be:

RECOMMENDED to the Audit and Governance Committee to consider a review of urgent decision-making powers.

A Councillor requested that there should be safety messages in several languages along with contact numbers. It was noted that there would be pictorial safety messages in place.