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:-
The deadline for the submission of public questions is Wednesday 5 June 2019.
The deadline for the submission of a statement is 12.00 noon, Tuesday 11 June 2019.
The deadline for the submission of a petition is 12.00 noon, Tuesday 11 June 2019.
Minutes:
The Leader advised that public questions had been submitted by Mr John Sprackling and Mr Conor O’Luby and that a statement had been submitted by Mrs Susan Chapman.
Public Question from John Sprackling
103 of the report presented to the Shadow Executive meeting on 12 February 2019 in relation to Agenda item 9 - 2019/20 Budget and Consolidated Medium Term Financial Plan (MTFP) Update said "The budget (for the Scheme of Member Allowances) makes provision for a total cost of £1.034m which is a £500k saving on the consolidated budgets for the four predecessor councils."
According to my calculations, the total cost to date is £1.185m, with the Chairmen of six Committees still to be appointed at, potentially, an additional cost of £46,000.
What saving is to be made to cover this over-spend please?
Response by Councillor Vikki Slade (Leader of the Council)
When setting the budget for the 2019/20 financial year consideration was given to a number of factors which would impact on the amount that needed to be budgeted for Member Allowances in the first year of the BCP Council. These included:
· For the period to the 6 May 2019 of the new Council all members of the predecessor authorities were paid a basic allowance and no Special Responsibility Allowances (SRAs) were paid during this period.
· Certain SRAs will not become payable until the first meeting of the relevant Committee/Board. For example the SRA payable to the Chairman of Audit and Governance Committee will only be payable from the 25 July 2019 onwards.
· Councillors are restricted to claiming just one SRA.
Once estimates of these issues are taken into account then the current projection is that the Members Allowance element of this 2019/20 budget will not be overspent.
Public Question from Mr Conor O’Luby
The former Bournemouth Borough Council's grant of planning permission for the so-called 'A338-Wessex Fields Link' represents one of the most egregious displays of contempt for local public opinion in recent times. Can the Cabinet confirm that they will undertake a serious review of both this and other such damaging schemes e.g. the Winter Gardens scheme?
Response by Councillor Mark Howell (Portfolio Holder for Regeneration and Culture and Deputy Leader)
We commit to review each of the major regeneration and development schemes at an appropriate point, and in any case before the next significant decision is made on each scheme. The reviews will be brought before the Cabinet to ensure that there is maximum transparency around any decisions. For many of the schemes there are significant funding deadlines attached which will need to be seriously considered as part of the decision making process.
Statement from Mrs Chapman
Distinguished economist Professor Joseph Stiglitz, recipient of prestigious prizes including the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences, argues the climate crisis is our third world war and needs a bold response. Civilisation is at stake if we do not implement a Green New Deal. The 40s mobilisation crisis parallels the current global climate crisis.
Porto Santo's smart, fossil-free energy system with reversible batteries feeding back to the grid from electric vehicles shows how local authorities can profit from clean energy production. Renault is integrating an electrical ecosystem; an example it would be good for BCP to follow.
The Chairman thanked Mrs Chapman for her statement.