Decisions

RECOMMENDED that: -

(a)           Cabinet recommends that Council approve £292k of additional resources to support the SEND written statement of action in 2021/22.

(b)           Cabinet recommends that Council approves the £220k additional resources requested in 2022/23 which reduces to £156k in 2023/24, and £137k from 2024/25 onwards.

RESOLVED that Cabinet: -

(c)           notes that Council is being requested to approve the additional resources for future years in advance of the formal budget report for 2022/23 as the request includes the appointment to permanent staff posts.

(d)           Receive further business cases as required

Voting: Unanimous

Portfolio Holder: Covid Resilience, Public Health and Education

Reason

To ensure the local authority is in the best position to meet its statutory responsibilities and to produce a Written Statement of Action which the DfE passes as both ‘fit for purpose’ and deliverable (as judged through a follow up monitoring and inspection).

RESOLVED that Cabinet: -

(a)           Approves the acquisition of the land and buildings known as Carters Quay outlined in red on the attached plan marked Appendix B, which will include the consented Build to Rent residential housing scheme as described in para 1 of this report;

(b)           Approves the payment of the purchase price for Carters Quay as set out in the confidential Appendix A;

(c)           Authorises the Corporate Property Officer in consultation with the Leader of the Council, the Council’s Section 151 and Monitoring Officer to agree the detailed provisions of all legal structure and documentation and enter into the relevant contract/(s);

(d)           approves the intention to grant up to 50-year lease to Seascape Homes and Property Limited subject to their board approval on terms to be agreed by the Corporate Property Officer, in consultation with the Monitoring Officer; and

RECOMMENDED that Council approve: -

(a)           the Capital Investment Programme be amended to include provision for this acquisition to be funded by prudential borrowing, as detailed in the confidential part of this report, and authorises the Section 151 Officer, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Finance, to determine the detailed funding arrangements for the forward purchase of the BTR scheme

Voting: Unanimous

Portfolio Holder: Regeneration, Economy and Strategic Planning

NOTE: Council approval is required for the acquisition of the land, this approval will be sought at Council on the 14 September. 

Reason

To kick start the regeneration of the wider Holes Bay, Poole area through the delivery of this new high quality residential led development.

To contribute to the Council’s Corporate vision, specifically helping to create dynamic places, investing in the homes our communities need, revitalising and re-inventing our high streets and local centres in line with the vision set out in the Big Plan.

The proposals are in accordance with the Capital Investment Strategy (Non-Treasury) 2020-2025 (CIS) objectives and the criteria adopted by Cabinet on 18 March 2020. They are also consistent with the HM Treasury consultation response to the document: ‘Public Works Loan Board: Future lending terms’ which came into effect on 26 November 2020.

RESOLVED that: -

(a)     Approval be given for the proposed FCERM service structure; and

(b)     Support be given to the principle of a ‘Centre of Excellence’ approach and taking up requests to support neighbouring authorities and FCERM delivery bodies for the South West region.

Voting: Unanimous

Portfolio Holder: Environment, Cleansing and Waste

Reason

To allow formation of an independent FCERM service in BCP Council, no longer recognising a single line management structure across BCP and Dorset Councils, but facilitating a collaborative working arrangement.

To enable decisions to be made to take on additional external income related work for regional authorities and the Environment Agency.

RESOLVED that: -

Cabinet agree BCP Council’s support of the Christchurch Business Improvement District (BID); and agree:

(a)           To endorse the BID proposal that will be submitted to BCP Council on 26 July 2021 by the Christchurch BID Steering Group;

(b)          To note that the BID ballot will be run by CIVICA at a cost of £3,000. This cost would be paid for by the BCP Council Economic Development team through existing budgets;

(c)           To note that if the ballot is successful, the Council will pay any BID levy due in relation to the Council’s hereditaments within the BID area (totalling £16,211 per annum) for 5 years. The service units that own the liable premises will pay the levy for their site(s).

(d)          To authorise the Director of Economic Development to complete the ballot papers on behalf of the Council in favour of the BID proposal; and

(e)           To authorise the Head of Legal Services to complete any necessary legal agreements required for the operation of the BID Levy, Ballot and service arrangements and any other necessary matters for the proposed BID in consultation with the appropriate officers.  

Voting: Unanimous

Portfolio Holder: Regeneration, Economy and Strategic Planning

Reason

BCP Council is fully supportive of BIDs and the significant benefits and investment that they bring. The Christchurch BID proposal will help deliver the Council’s strategic aims and objectives including the Dynamic Places objectives in the Corporate Plan. It is therefore recommended that BCP Council supports the Christchurch BID for its first 5-year term.

RESOLVED that: - 

(a)          Cabinet supports the formation of an Enhanced Partnership with the bus operators as a replacement to the existing voluntary Quality Bus Partnership.

(b)         Cabinet delegates authority to the Service Director for Transport and Engineering in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Transport and Sustainability to negotiate, seek stakeholder views and then publish a Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP) on behalf of the Council by the end of October 2021 in line with the requirements of the National Bus Strategy for England.

Voting: Unanimous

Portfolio Holder: Transport and Sustainability

Reason

The recently published National Bus Strategy for England sets out an ambition for every local transport authority and bus operator in England to be in a statutory Enhanced Partnership or a franchising arrangement (entering into an EP does not preclude franchising in the future, however, achieving franchising is lengthy and complex with significant financial risk).

Improving bus services to attract more passengers is a joint aim of the bus operators and the Local Transport Authority (LTA).

An Enhanced Partnership will build on the good work undertaken through the voluntary Quality Bus Partnership over the last two decades.

Not entering into an Enhanced Partnership will result in a significant financial funding loss for the council and for the bus operators.

RESOLVED that the proposed policy be approved.

Voting: Unanimous

Portfolio Holder: Homes

Reasons

To meet our statutory obligation under the The Housing Grants, Construction and Regeneration Act 1996; as amended by the Regulatory Reform (Housing

Assistance)(England & Wales) Order 2002 (RRO) to have a published document in place setting out Council policy on the aims and application of the local grant scheme.

To meet our obligations under the Statutory order and align legacy Council’s policy.

To provide clear and transparent policy for applicants and staff.

To increase our offer to applicants with discretionary funding to maximise use of the grant in line with national good practice and the aims of the Better Care Fund.

RESOLVED that: -

(a)           the Extra Care Housing Strategy be approved; and

(b)           Cabinet authorise the Director of Commissioning working with the Urban Regeneration Company on the identification and development of suitable sites for extra care housing schemes.

Voting: Unanimous

Portfolio Holder: Adults

Reason

Ensuring a diverse, vibrant, sustainable and quality market for Adult Social Care is a key duty for all local authorities under market shaping requirements of the Care Act 2014. This commissioning strategy supports meeting that duty in respect of extra care housing.

The development extra-care housing in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole is a necessary measure to deliver on the Council’s commitments to both promote greater independence and to reduce the numbers of people entering residential care. There are a variety of shapes that extra-care housing provision can take and BCP Council needs to ensure that it has a good range and span of schemes and options.

RESOLVED that the Care Homes of Older People Commissioning Strategy be approved.

Voting: Unanimous

Portfolio Holder: Adults

Reason

Ensuring a diverse, vibrant, sustainable and quality market for Adult Social Care is a key duty for all local authorities under market shaping requirements of the Care Act 2014. This commissioning strategy supports meeting that duty in respect of care homes for older people.