THE publication of the first set of business plans for major schemes from the council-owned urban regeneration company has been pushed back.
Officials from BCP FuturePlaces had been expected to present papers to BCP Council chiefs at a cabinet meeting on Wednesday, October 26.
The company, which is an arms length local authority-owned organisation, had been expected to make recommendations for residential-led redevelopments in Poole for Chapel Lane, Constitution Hill and Poole Civic Centre car parks.
The cabinet forward plan, published in late September, also had outline business cases items for Christchurch and Poole civic centre buildings listed for this week’s meeting.
However, when the agenda was published last week, no items related to FuturePlaces were listed.
This was the second delay to some of the plans, as the Civic Offices in Christchurch and Civic Centre in Christchurch project were first earmarked for cabinet in September.
A BCP Council spokesperson told the Daily Echo: “The reports have been deferred until 14 December Cabinet to enable sufficient time for FuturePlaces to brief Lord Kerslake the new independent chair on company activity and the pending outline business cases.”
As reported, former head of the civil service Lord Bob Kerslake was appointed chair of FuturePlaces by council chief executive Graham Farrant using his powers to make an urgent decision after last month’s full council meeting did not take place as a mark of respect to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.
The company said Lord Kerslake’s appointment marked the end of its “start-up” phase.
The outline businesses cases are understood to set out the recommendations for the developments of the sites and proposed a delivery route.
FuturePlaces needs council approval before it can press ahead with producing a full business case.
In the new year, outline business cases are expected for projects at Holes Bay, Poole Quay, Poole North, Wessex Fields, Westover Road, and Bscombe.
BCP Council has loaned the urban regeneration company £8million to fund its initial activity. This working capital loan, which will be paid back as projects are brought forward, represents around 50 per cent of the local authority’s current unearmarked reserves.
Discussing the outline business plans in the summer, FuturePlaces managing director Gail Mayhew said: “We are committed to taking the best of a place and making it better and to do that we will make sure residents, local businesses and key stakeholders are at the centre of any plans we take forward.
“Following the outline business case, we will undertake full scale engagement and consultation with local communities so that we give people the opportunity to influence and shape any future development before we present a full business case to the council in autumn 2023.”
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel