Agenda item

The Government has announced that Her Majesty The Queen will award new Civic Honours in recognition of her Platinum Jubilee. This has resulted in a competition for places to be awarded city status.

In recognition of this opportunity the Leader wrote to the Mayors of Bournemouth, Poole and Christchurch to ask whether they would want their area to bid for City Status and also sought views from the parish councils. The Charter Trustees for Bournemouth indicated that they would like to take up this opportunity.

Applications for city status must be submitted by an upper tier local authority, so in this case the application would need to be submitted by BCP Council on behalf of the Charter Trustees for Bournemouth.

The Chairman reminded Members to consider the statement made by Mr McKinstry earlier in the meeting on this issue

Councillor Kelsey presented a report, a copy of which had been circulated to each Member on the city status application request from the Charter Trustees for Bournemouth a copy of which appears as Appendix 'B' to these Minutes in the Minute Book.

Councillor Broadhead in seconding the recommendation outlined the process whilst highlighting that there was no proposal to submit a Council wide bid. The proposal was to receive the decisions from the three towns and passport upwards as appropriate.  He explained that it was not the role of the Council, in his view, to consider the decisions that have been taken.  He reported that Christchurch Town Councillors and Poole Charter Trustees had said no but the Bournemouth Charter Trustees had agreed to the submission of a bid.  Councillor Broadhead reported that the city status was a name, and the application process did not require any intensive resource or extra funding.  

The Government had announced that Her Majesty The Queen would award new Civic Honours in recognition of her Platinum Jubilee. This had resulted in a competition for places to be awarded city status.

In recognition of this opportunity the Leader wrote to the Mayors of Bournemouth, Poole and Christchurch to ask whether they would want their area to bid for City Status and also sought views from the parish councils. The Charter Trustees for Bournemouth indicated that they would like to take up this opportunity.

Applications for city status must be submitted by an upper tier local authority, so in this case the application would need to be submitted by BCP Council on behalf of the Charter Trustees for Bournemouth.

Councillors commented on the proposals including expressing the views of Christchurch Town Council and all the Parish Councils in the area who had voted against submitting a bid for city status, the impact on the dynamics of BCP Council if one town becomes a city and the implication for cross boundary wards and residents.  Councillor Hadley reported that he disagreed with the sentiments in the Leader’s letter where Dorchester has a Town Council with delegated powers as the formation of BCP Council left only the ceremonial and historical vestiges of the Towns by the Charter Trustees it did not leave the Towns with sovereign powers as previously described.  He emphasised that having merged Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole the implications of one town gaining city status by default demotes the other two towns precisely the outcome which Christchurch residents overwhelmingly rejected and those of Bournemouth and Poole were not asked.  He referred to the statement from Alex McKinstry indicating that the residents of Bournemouth had not been consulted on the proposal.  Councillor Hadley also reported that many people had moved to the area to get away from cities. He referred to the pressure that staff were under in supporting the transformation programme and the submission of a city status bid was a diversion of effort which was not needed. Councillor Stribley clarified the position on boundaries.  Councillor Farr highlighted the opportunity to support the decision taken by the Charter Trustees.  Councillor Mike Greene indicated that he was not in favour of Bournemouth bidding for city status in his role as a Charter Trustees but as a BCP Councillor he believed that each of the Towns should have the right to adjust what was their civic status.  He highlighted that when BCP Council was set up it was agreed that the Civic Status should remain with the constituent towns.  Councillor Phipps expressed her surprise that this had gone down to the Mayors, highlighting that only the Mayor of Christchurch was originally asked until it was pointed out that there were Parish Councils which the Mayor of Christchurch did not represent.  Councillor Phipps highlighted that surely residents should know the benefits or disbenefits of city status and what it means to be a city.  She felt that this had not been undertaken in the right way.  Councillor Rigby referred to the Bournemouth Charter Trustees debate on the issue and at the end of it having been unsure he chose to vote for the bid to be submitted.  He referred to his recent experience in staying in Stirling, which was a city he outlined the benefits, and that everyone took pride in their location and that was what he wanted to see for Bournemouth to become a green city for the future.

Councillor Kelsey in summing up responded to the issues raised and highlighted that in his opinion Bournemouth deserves to be a city.

RESOLVED that Council approve the submission of an application for city status on behalf of the town of Bournemouth and delegate the submission of the bid to the Chief Executive in consultation with the Leader.

Voting: For – 37, Against – 8, Abstentions – 16

Councillor Farquhar wished to be recorded as abstaining from the decision.

Councillor Andrews left at 11.30 pm

Councillor Bagwell left at 11.35 pm

Councillor Howell left at 11.50 pm