Decisions

RESOLVED that Cabinet:-

(a)          Note that the Chief Executive in his capacity as the Gold Command Officer for COVID 19 will authorise any urgent expenditure to support the Councils response to the coronavirus; and

(b)          Request that the Chief Finance Officer brings forward for Cabinet consideration a fundamental review of the 2020/21 Budget in response to the impact on the Councils finances of the coronavirus and the costs likely to be incurred in support of the most vulnerable within our community.

Voting: Unanimous

Portfolio Holder: Finance

Reason

The Council needs to ensure it has a robust and prudent strategy to manager the impact of Covid-19 on its financial sustainability.

It is RESOLVED that Cabinet:-

(a)           Confirms that permission be granted to create an order to record the unprotected footpath from James Road to Sheringham Road as a Public Right of Way as set out in the TRO report;

(b)           In relation to the Branksome Park and Canford Cliffs Residents Association Road Safety Petition approves:

                    i.        Acknowledgement of the petitioners concerns and they be advised that in the absence of any significant accident record in this area we could not justify any road safety engineering interventions at present;

                  ii.        Forwarding of the petitioners concerns to Dorset Roads Traffic Policing Unit for their consideration relating to speed enforcement;

                 iii.       Informing the petitioners that the Council will investigate and assess options to enhance pedestrian and cycle facilities in the area but that no funding has been identified for implementing this work; and

                 iv.       Advising the local resident group which submitted the petition that its bid for Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) Neighbourhood Portion funding is to be considered alongside all other similar bids received and a decision on potential funding will be made in due course.

(c)           Approves the advertisement of Traffic Regulation Orders as set out in TRO sub-report A;

(d)           Approves the advertisement of changes to on-street disabled bays as set out in the TRO sub-report B;

(e)           In relation to the Anti-Idling Outside Primary Schools Campaign appoves:

                    i.        an Anti-Idling Campaign be undertaken at a small number of primary schools using allocated DEFRA funding;

                  ii.        appropriate enforcement action be used but as a last resort;

                 iii.       should the campaign prove successful, it will be rolled out to additional schools across the BCP area in future years; and

                 iv.       that officer include information to schools about the carbon footprint of different types of transportation methods to educate parents on the impact of how journeys are made.

Voting: Unanimous

Portfolio Holder: Transport and Infrastructure

Reason

To confirm and approve various Traffic Regulation Orders as set out within the individual reports.

RESOLVED that:-

(a)    From the outcome of the consultation, the Cabinet are recommended to progress the three key themes broadly supported by the public:

·                Health, Care, Research and Education;

·                Affordable or Keyworker Housing;

·                Realising the vision of the Living Lab.

(b)    Cabinet delegates authority to the Director for Development in consultation with his senior officers to commission soft market testing to develop viable delivery options relating to the preferred use themes. Once completed, this will be reviewed by the Cabinet with an estimate of a report in Autumn 2020.

Voting: Unanimous

Portfolio Holders: Leader of the Council

Portfolio Holder for Regeneration and Culture

Reason

Adopting the recommendation will demonstrate the Cabinet has listened to the public and will ensure the development of the land delivers an environmentally sound and leading-edge solution, carried out in a manner fitting the essential criteria the Council has identified for the project. The recommendation is a good fit with the following corporate priorities:

a.         Sustainable Environment

b.         Dynamic Places

c.         Connected Communities

d.         Fulfilled Lives

RESOLVED that:-

(a)          Cabinet accepts the findings and recommendations of the Cultural Enquiry and supports their implementation.

(b)          Cabinet supports the plan to hold “A Cultural Future for Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole” conference at Lighthouse Poole.

(c)          Cabinet agrees that a cultural strategy and implantation plan for Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole should be developed as a joint initiative of BCP Council and the Cultural Collective.

(d)          Cabinet agrees to openly recruit an independent chair of the Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Cultural Collective (Cultural Compact) and form a multi-sector board and wider stakeholder group to deliver on the recommendations of the Cultural Enquiry.

(e)          Cabinet agrees a three-year standstill settlement (2020-23) for the six funded arts and heritage organisations operating in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole.

(f)            We bring a review back in 12 months which looks at how the work is delivering against the Corporate Plans and Delivery Plans.

Voting: Unanimous

Portfolio Holder: Regeneration and Culture

Reason

To enable BCP Council, the Cultural Collective and local arts and heritage organisations to deliver on the recommendations of the Cultural Enquiry and the priorities of the Corporate Strategy.

RESOLVED that:-

(a)       BCP Council adopts a consistent approach to tackling street-based anti-social behaviour as detailed within paragraphs 16-24 of the Report;

(b)       The Director of Communities is authorised to undertake consultation on varying the Public Spaces Protection Order covering Poole Town Centre as set out in paragraphs 25-26 of the report; and

(c)       Cabinet considered the outcome of the consultation at a future meeting with a view to making recommendations in respect of the Public Spaces Protection Order in light of the consultation process.

Voting: Unanimous

Portfolio Holder: Tourism, Leisure and Communities

Reason

To implement a balanced approach which is fit for purpose for the whole of BCP, applying effective solutions to a complex issue which seeks a reduction of harmful behaviours that impact negatively on the wider community, whilst placing the needs of vulnerable people at its heart.

To approve recommendations for a revised and integrated approach to the management of grassland areas, in order to promote the development of wildflower meadows and wildlife habitats.

RESOLVED that:-

(a)           the development of a long-term BCP Council policy on grass management, taking into account financial and environmental impacts and public expectations be endorsed;

(b)           Cabinet supported recommendations in order to ensure that grass management practices are sustainable and contribute to the Council’s declaration to become carbon neutral by 2030;

(c)           Cabinet supported trials to determine best practice and feasibility of grass management methods;  and

(d)           the implementation of procedures that have the potential to increase biodiversity and carbon capture was endorsed.

Voting: Unanimous

Portfolio Holder: Environment and Climate Change

Reasons

To recommend a range of procedural and operational changes throughout BCP Council’s open spaces that have the potential to reduce our Carbon footprint, increase carbon capture and increase biodiversity, by promoting changes in grass cutting, wildflower meadow development and grassland habitat management. This being in line with the Council Climate Change and Ecological Emergency Action Plan.

RESOLVED that:-

(a)          the Capital Investment Strategy (Non-Treasury) 2020-2025 attached to the Report at Appendix A be approved; and

(b)          Cabinet delegate authority to the Corporate Property Officer to make minor amendments to the Capital Investment Strategy (Non-Treasury) 2020-2025 in consultation with the Cabinet Members for Regeneration & Culture, and Finance.

Voting: Unanimous

Portfolio Holder(s): Finance

                               Regeneration and Culture

Reasons

The purchase of investment assets assists with the management of sound finances and increases the Council asset base, providing a legacy for future generations.

It is appropriate that this Strategy is refreshed to ensure it aligns with the new BCP Council Corporate Strategy and reflects the current investment ambitions of the organisation.

BCP Council is required by Government to implement a Street works Permitting Scheme by April 2020. Approval is sought for the terms of the scheme to be implemented, following consideration of the responses to the statutory consultation.

RESOLVED that:-

(a)          Cabinet approve the conditions to be applied to the BCP Council Street Works Permit Scheme, as described in the attached document, Appendix 2;

(b)          Cabinet delegate authority to the Director of Legal and Democratic Services to make the necessary Legal Order to bring the permit scheme into operation. 

Voting: Unanimous

Portfolio Holder: Transport and Infrastructure

Reasons

DfT require all Local Authorities to introduce a Street Works Permit scheme by April 2020, or as soon as practicably possible thereafter; the approved permit conditions for such a scheme and necessary legal order are required to bring this into operation.

To approve the Council’s entry into a Land Registry restriction on its freehold land at Fernheath, as shown edged in yellow on the attached plan, in favour of the Football Foundation, binding the land for 21 years from commencement of the grant agreement.