The Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP) Council meeting on 16 September 2025 was scheduled to address several key issues, including motions related to repair and reuse initiatives, affordable housing on vacant sites, and managing seasonal parking pressures. Additionally, the council was expected to discuss a motion on standing up for children with additional needs, and to consider the appointment of a Corporate Director of Wellbeing.

Recruitment of Corporate Director of Wellbeing

The council was asked to consider a report concerning the recruitment of a Corporate Director of Wellbeing¹. The Public reports pack stated that the council needed to approve the appointment of the preferred candidate, in accordance with the council's constitution and statutory requirements.

The report noted that the selection process involved advertising the role in the Municipal Journal and the Guardian. Penna, an executive search company, supported the council in resourcing for the role. Candidates underwent a technical interview facilitated by Jillian Kay, Chief Executive of Southampton City Council.

Shortlisted candidates attended an assessment centre where they delivered a presentation to a formal panel. The formal panel comprised of Councillor Millie Earl, Leader of the Council, Councillor David Brown, Portfolio Holder for Health and Wellbeing, Councillor Kieron Wilson, Cabinet Member for Housing & Regulatory Services, Councillor Patrick Canavan, Leader of the Labour Group, Aidan Dunn, Chief Executive, Sarah Deane, Director of People and Culture and Dennis Nelson, Independent Observer.

Candidates also presented to a stakeholder engagement panel consisting of Patricia Miller, Chief Executive Officer of NHS Dorset's Integrated Care Board, Jo Mosely, Assistant Chief Constable of Dorset Police, Melanie Whitfield, Chief People Officer - Executive Services at University Hospitals Dorset, Lorraine Mealings, CEO of Bournemouth Churches Housing Association, Lorraine Stanley, CEO of SWAD (Sex With A Difference) and Jon Matthews, Head of Resourcing, Employee Relations and Change.

The Public reports pack stated that:

The preferred candidate was proposed by the majority of the formal selection panel to be offered the role of Corporate Director of Wellbeing. It is recommended that Council approve this appointment.

A summary of the preferred candidate's skills and career history was provided in an appendix to the report.

Motions

Several motions were scheduled for discussion at the meeting.

Repair and Reuse Initiatives

Councillor R Herrett, seconded by Councillor E Harman, proposed a motion to endorse the Repair and Reuse Declaration, support the Bournemouth Repair café and other organisations promoting repair and reuse, and to write to the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, and Energy and Climate change asking that they support the Repair and Reuse Declaration. The Agenda frontsheet noted that the motion recognised the UK as the second highest producer of electronic waste per capita in the world, and that repair and reuse is central to achieving a circular economy.

Vacant Sites for Affordable Housing

Councillor P Cooper, seconded by Councillor P Canavan, proposed a motion to address the escalating need for affordable and social housing across the BCP area. The motion highlighted the growing number of vacant and underused sites, including Sydenham's timber site, the derelict Old James Brothers scrapyard, and the stalled former Power Station development land. An altered motion, proposed by Councillor P Cooper and seconded by Councillor E Connolly, included additional details to be assessed for each council-owned site, such as the amount of capital currently authorised, the amount of capital expended to date, the loans taken out, and the loan interest paid to date.

Managing Seasonal Parking Pressures

Councillor P Canavan, seconded by Councillor E Connolly, proposed a motion to address concerns raised by residents and stakeholders regarding the recent BCP Council parking consultation. The motion recognised the recurring seasonal pressures on local parking infrastructure and the importance of tourism to the area. An altered motion included developing a year-round parking strategy that assesses provision, fairness, use, need, and seasonality, including all available measures, with due awareness for the financial implications. The altered motion also included working with the government on the trial for higher parking fines, encouraging all councillors to complete the current government consultation on fairer funding, and writing to all of the BCP area MPs, asking that they support the early day motion on releasing the report into pavement parking.

Standing Up for Children with Additional Needs

Councillor K Salmon, seconded by Councillor S Bull, proposed a motion to address the SEND² funding crisis and its impact on vulnerable children. The motion noted that BCP Council is already having to borrow c.£60m to plug the gap between Government grant and high needs spending in 2025/26. The motion also highlighted the detrimental effect of the UK government's two-child benefit cap on children's development and life chances, and the devastating impact of cuts made to the Adoption and Special Guardianship Support Fund (ASGSF). The motion proposed convening a public roundtable with MPs, parents and carers of children with SEND, adoptive parents and special guardians, and children and young people with SEND and/or who are care experienced.