Latest news with #BCPCouncil
BBC News
3 days ago
- Politics
- BBC News
BCP council 'fence-sitting' over Israeli town twinning
A local authority was "fence-sitting" over a motion to de-twin a Dorset town from its Israeli counterpart, a councillor has party councillors Joe and Kate Salmon brought the motion after more than 2,500 residents signed a petition calling for the 30-year relationship between Bournemouth and Netanya to end over Israel's actions in Gaza. In a full Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council (BCP) meeting on 22 July, members instead voted for an amendment to the motion which said it would "take no view" of the twinning arrangement. Mr Salmon said the council "has a responsibility" to make a decision. He said the council meeting had been a "masterclass in fence-sitting by Liberal Democrat, Conservative and Labour councillors"."We will keep pressing until they stop ignoring residents on this difficult but important debate," he Martin, cabinet member for customer, communications and culture at BCP said: "The twinning arrangement between Bournemouth and Netanya has been in place for more than 30 years and continues to reflect a commitment to civic friendship and cultural exchange."The motion, which was first put forward last year, was delayed while the council sought legal advice on which constitution should make the sought to suspend all support for the twinning arrangement, remove road signs and cease civic support until circumstances could be reviewed following the war in Gaza. Bournemouth has been twinned with Netanya since 1995 but since the war in Gaza began, road signage of the twinning in Bournemouth has been taken down by unknown people on multiple occasions. The Israeli military launched a campaign in Gaza in response to the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on 7 October 2023, in which about 1,200 people were killed and 251 others were taken least 59,029 people have been killed in Gaza since then, according to the territory's health ministry. In response to Mr and Mrs Salmons' motion, the amendment that members voted in favour of stated: "It is not the role of the council to support nor condemn matters occurring in the region."Mr Martin said: "Following a full and respectful debate, BCP councillors have resolved to take no view on the appropriateness of the twinning arrangement and neither wish to promote twinning nor to criticise it."The amendment also said while the council would not remove existing signage it would not fund replacing signage that had been removed. Mr Salmon said it was an "open invitation for vandalism"."Both supporters and opponents of the twinning wanted the council to show decisive leadership," he said, adding: "BCP council failed to deliver."The council has a responsibility to make a decision - do we publicly align ourselves with a municipality in a state currently facing credible genocide allegations or do we withdraw our civic endorsements." You can follow BBC Dorset on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
BBC News
5 days ago
- Business
- BBC News
Poole Civic Centre to be sold for £5.25m to developers
A former civic centre will be sold for £5.25m to developers. Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP) Council has approved the sale of the vacant former Borough of Poole site, which the authority said was costing £228,000 a year to maintain. The Grade II listed building was constructed in 1932 but has been empty since 2022 after BCP Council's formation three years Council's deputy leader Mike Cox said the authority felt there were "no alternatives" but to sell the site, which will be taken over by Manchester-based MCR Property Group. It had been marketed for offers between February and May and the council said it would now be used for MP Neil Duncan-Jordan said he opposed the plan to sell the building in the said in October that it could be used for the community, such as for a business development hub or social or key worker a statement, Cox said of the sale: "This marks a really significant step forward - not just for the site itself but for Poole and our residents more widely."We're committed to being ambitious for our three towns and this sale will unlock the redevelopment of a site that has been laying empty for years." You can follow BBC Dorset on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
BBC News
6 days ago
- Business
- BBC News
BCP Council's first unified pay structure agreed
Staff at a unitary authority will be on the same pay structure for the first time in a council's history following a vote by of employees at Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP) Council have been on different rates of pay since it was formed in years of negotiations with unions, the changes were unanimously agreed at the full council meeting on new terms and conditions will be implemented from 1 December. Last month, GMB and Unison union members voted in favour of the latest proposals which will mean at least 92% of staff will have either an increase or no change in their facing a pay cut will have their salary protected at current levels for a further 18 Tuesday's meeting, councillors approved the additional £1.7m investment needed for the new pay leader Millie Earl said: "Achieving fairness and equality in our pay and grading structure for our staff has always been our primary aim."Getting to this position has taken a huge amount of hard work and effort from everyone involved and we are delighted that we can now offer fair and transparent pay for our workforce." You can follow BBC Dorset on Facebook, X, or Instagram.
BBC News
22-07-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Poole £29m flood defence scheme approved
A £29.4m scheme to protect a town centre from coastal flooding has been approved by a walls and ground-raising are planned along a 1.5km (one mile) stretch of Holes Bay at Poole, Christchurch and Poole (BCP) Council said the scheme would provide "robust protection until at least 2071, with future upgrades to follow".The money will come from central government and developers. Thousands of properties are at risk from tidal flooding due to climate change and sea level rise over the next 100 years, the council defences are designed to withstand a one in 200-year flooding Andy Hadley, in charge of climate response, said: "This scheme... will complete important flood defences for Poole Old Town. "Once constructed, it will unlock the regeneration potential of Poole's West Quays which has been a long-term ambition of the council."The project includes defences alongside Holes Bay Road, which opened in 1988 on reclaimed will start in August for five months to raise the adjoining coastal path from near Sterte Avenue West to Lifeboat will also be carried out to install sheet piling at the quay and between Whittles Way and Poole the scheme, flood damage could cost more than £161m over the next century, according to South West Flood & group, a partnership between BCP Council and East Devon District Council, said the project would complete Poole's flood defences, after work began in 2018. You can follow BBC Dorset on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
Daily Mirror
20-07-2025
- Automotive
- Daily Mirror
New EV chargers for anyone without a driveway as major trial hits parts of UK
For years, Brits who don't have a driveway have been forced to pay sky-high prices at public charging stations to keep their electric vehicles (EVs) running — but a new trial is about to change that In a huge victory for electric vehicle (EV) owners, Brits in certain parts of the UK will soon be able to charge their cars at home even if they don't have a driveway. Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP) Council has approved a cross-pavement charging trial, with the aim of helping EV owners who don't have access to off-street parking. The system involves installing cable channels, known as gullies, beneath the pavements of residential streets. These gullies allow people to run a charging cable across the pavement in a safe and unobtrusive way, making it possible to charge EVs using a home electricity supply. The system is intended for people who live in terraced housing or properties with no driveway — a situation that currently makes at-home vehicle charging difficult. Having been approved by BCP Council, the trial is set to begin sometime in the near future, with the possibility of being expanded to more areas if successful. While residents will be required to cover the cost of installing a gully and charging socket, some of that expense may be reduced through government support. The idea is part of the government's wider efforts to increase EV uptake and infrastructure, as well as expanding access to reliable, affordable EV charging. Local authorities in Devon and Suffolk are also piloting similar schemes, supported by guidance from the Department for Transport. Andy Hadley, BCP Council's portfolio holder for environment, said: "Charging gullies could make owning an electric vehicle a more attractive option for residents that do not have off-street parking. This is exactly the sort of innovative solution that residents have been asking us to provide and is an important part of our wider EV strategy. In addition to making car at-home charging more accessible, we are committed to rolling out more convenient public charging points." The idea reflects a growing push to ensure fairer access to EV technology, particularly in densely populated urban areas. The government identified charging infrastructure as one of the key barriers to EV adoption. Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said Labour is making it "easier and cheaper" to own an EV. She continued: "We know access to charging is a barrier for people thinking of making the switch, and we are tackling that head-on so that everyone — whether or not they have a driveway – can access the benefits of going electric." The news comes as a new £63 million round of government funding looks set to accelerate Britain's EV revolution, including a £25 million scheme for local authorities focused on improving access to at-home charging for households without off-street parking. This includes the introduction of cross-pavement charging technology, which enables families to tap into cheaper domestic electricity rates, potentially saving them up to £1,500 a year in comparison to running an ICE vehicle. BCP Council discussed the plans in more detail on Wednesday, July 16, voting unanimously in favour of the paper and recommendations they need to bring to council to implement the cross-pavement EV charging trial. The Bill was presented and proposed by Councillor Andy Hadley and seconded by Councillor Richard Burton. Mr Hadley explained that when they previously took the EV charging strategy to council in January 2024, they noted 'a real disparity between the position of somebody who's got a driveway and the ability to charge a car on their own drive, from their own domestic supply, at minimal cost, and people who don't have a driveway and have to use the public infrastructure — the cost per kW is significantly more'. He also laid out the situation regarding the charging infrastructure currently in place in the borough. They have 110 high-capacity public charging devices with 220 sockets, mainly in car parks, and are close to introducing a further 500 locations with 1,000 low-speed (7kW) sockets in residential areas for overnight charging. If the pilot scheme is deemed a success, similar pavement gully systems could appear across more streets in the conurbation, and eventually the nation, helping to support the UK's transition to cleaner, greener transport.
