Decisions

RESOLVED that Cabinet: -

(a)           endorse the partnership approach to radically improving special educational needs and disabilities across the BCP area; and

(b)           delegate authority to the Director of Children’s Services in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Council Priorities and Delivery to sign off the WSoA on behalf of the Council.

Voting: Unanimous

Portfolio Holder: Council Priorities and Delivery

Reason

To ensure the Council meets the requirement of the SEND local area inspection and support the Council in meeting its legal responsibilities regarding SEND through delivery of the eight work programmes drawn up in response to the eight areas of criticism.

RESOLVED that Cabinet:-

(a)         note and endorse the measures underway to improve and transform the planning service;

(b)          approve the actions required for the next 6 months as set out in the report;

(c)          endorse the additional in-year expenditure required to deliver ongoing service improvements for this financial year as shown in the financial implication section;

(d)          agree the proposed funding for the additional expenditure as shown in the financial implication section, with delegated authority to the Section 151 Officer to alter the final funding arrangements once the actual figures at the end of the financial year are known; and

(e)        delegate authority to the Director of Planning in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Planning to review and deliver improvements to the process around planning application publicity.

Voting: Unanimous

Portfolio Holder: Development, Growth and Regeneration

                           Community Safety and Regulatory Services

Reason

To support the transformation of the Planning Service to support the local economy and the areas communities and delivery of the Big Plan.

RESOLVED that Cabinet: -

(a)           approves up to £300,000 of an available £6.5m DCLG Waste Infrastructure capital fund, is utilised to undertake a feasibility study and develop a business case for disposing of, or repurposing existing operational depots across the Council, and building a modern single operational depot to meet future demand;

(b)           supports the £260,000 of ongoing revenue funding requested from 2022/23 onwards, to sufficiently resource the Strategic Waste Team within Environment Services to meet statutory requirements;

(c)           supports the £176,000 of ongoing revenue funding requested from 2022/23 onwards, to sufficiently resource the Commercial Waste Team within Environment Services to ensure there is no business failure;

(d)           notes that £260,000 and £176,000 per annum from 2022/23 onwards will formally be recommended to Council as part of the 2022/23 budget and Medium-Term Financial Plan Update report in February 2022; and

(e)           approves that, a comprehensive service review of commercial waste services is undertaken to identify priority areas for service growth, likely income contributions and associated resource requirements.

Voting: Unanimous

Portfolio Holder: Environment and Place

Reasons

1.    To establish the feasibility of a single consolidated waste depot for BCP Council. The two main existing depots are not fit for purpose and need substantial investment.

2.    To explore opportunities for combining depot provisions with other Council services, realising further asset rationalisation efficiencies and improved collaboration. Also, available site search will explore opportunities to address natural burial site shortage.

3.    To ensure legal compliance with the Government’s Environmental Bill, and other relevant legislation, through sufficient staff resource to effectively design, plan, implement and promote the forthcoming service delivery changes.

4.    To review the future development and rationalisation of existing waste infrastructure (Recycling Centres, transfer stations, ancillary depots) that BCP Council has inherited from the four legacy councils, and ensure legal compliance with the site-specific environmental permits.

5.    To reduce reliance on agency staff currently utilised to meet commercial waste service demands for weighbridge, office based and operational staff resource.

6.    Without these further staff resources, current service levels are not sustainable and a reduction in income generation from commercial waste is likely.

7.    BCP Council commercial waste services currently generate £3.4m of income pa, from 3,000 customers on bin collections, commercial skips, underground bin collections, bulky waste collections and commercial weighbridge transactions. Areas for service expansion have been identified that have the potential to enhance the Council commercial waste offer, and further contribute to the MTFP.

RESOLVED that: -

(a)           the remodelling of the BCP Civic Space as outlined in the report be approved;

RECOMMENDED that: -

(b)           the Phase 1 project budget set out in Appendix 3 of £1.067 million, of which £0.611 million will be funded from prudential borrowing, be forwarded for onward recommendation to Council

RESOLVED that: -

(c)           Cabinet authorises the commencement of the procurement process and delegates authority to award contracts to implement the remodelling project to the Chief Executive, in consultation with the Leader, and Corporate Director Resources, in accordance with delegated authorities and the council’s financial regulations

Voting: Unanimous

Portfolio Holder: Leader of the Council

Reason

To approve the budget and procurement approach required to successfully remodel the civic space in BCP Council Civic Centre.

RESOLVED that Cabinet support and adopt the BCP Economic Development Strategy (EDS).

Voting: Unanimous

Portfolio Holder: Development, Growth and Regeneration

Reason

The strategy will help deliver the council’s strategic aims and objectives including the ‘Dynamic Places’, ‘Connected Communities’ and ‘Sustainable Environment’ objectives in the Corporate Strategy. It will also be part of the BCP Futures brand and help deliver the ‘Iconic’, ‘Rejuvenate Poole’, ‘Infrastructure’ and ‘Act at Scale’ projects of the Big Plan.

The strategy will help us access the government’s Levelling Up and Shared Prosperity Funds.

It is therefore recommended that cabinet supports and adopts the BCP economic development strategy.

To retain the experimental cycle lane on Evening Hill and to investigate provision of a pedestrian crossing and disabled parking spaces to mitigate the impact.

(NOTE: The Council has delayed releasing this decision so that the proposed mitigation could be further developed and presented in concert.  It is noted that the proposed mitigation will be subject to further consultation as part of the statutory Traffic Regulation Order and Noticing processes.)

The proposed decision published on 25 October 2021 was To make and seal the Traffic Order (as advertised) and implement the speed limit reduction on Magna Road as detailed in this report.

The Portfolio Holder for Sustainability and Transport has considered any representations received and determined to confirm the decision outlined above without modification.

Funding of an insulation scheme to improve the energy efficiency of homes, contribute to the target of a carbon neutral area before 2050 and help achieve Government targets. The Council budget of £90,000 for 2021/22 will fund insulation grants for owner-occupiers and private renters named on utility bills with an energy rating of E, F or G, to a wider group than national grants currently allow.

Approve budget for use to assist eligible residents to install grant funded insulation measures in homes with poor energy ratings.

The Portfolio Holder for Sustainability and Transport has considered any representations received and determined to confirm the decision outlined above without modification.

Approve Barclays Bank Plc to be BCP Council’s single Banking Services provider from 1 April 2022.

The Portfolio Holder for Finance and Transformation has considered any representations received and determined to confirm the decision outlined above without modification.

To make a decision on the future of the Experimental Traffic Regulation Order in Tatnam Road at its junction with Sterte Road and Stanley Green Road.

The proposed decision was to make permanent the current Experimental Traffic Regulation Order (ETRO) closing Tatnam Rd at its junction with Sterte Rd and Stanley Green Rd.

The Portfolio Holder for Transport and Sustainability has considered the representations received and determined to confirm the decision outlined above without modification.

Additional comments of the Portfolio Holder are included in the published final decision document.