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Well, it’s nearly the end of 2022 – there goes another year! We have both done our best to keep you up to date with what has been happening both at BCP and locally, by writing articles for this Resident Association Newsletter throughout the year. Our thanks go to the committee and those who produce it.
Since our last update in November, the application to Government for a £20m financial bail-out for the Council has been approved, but it comes with strings attached. The Government is to carry out an “assurance review” of the Council. This will be a review of BCP’s governance and financial arrangements. We are unsure of the timescale, however, it will be made public once completed.
Following on from the Beach Hut Sale fiasco which we reported on in the September newsletter. Because the Government said that the Council can’t now sell off their beach huts, they have decided to do a BCP wide review of beach hut fees. A report comes to Cabinet on 14th December and is available on the BCP website within the agenda pack - https://democracy.bcpcouncil.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?MId=5017&x=1
As Ward Cllrs. we have had several residents contact us to say how unfair the increase is to those with Christchurch huts. In order to “harmonise” fees across BCP (we all remember that word when previously applied to Council tax!), it is proposed that rents in Christchurch are increased by 26% next year while some in Poole face only a 10% rise. The BCP comment is that “A baseline increase has been applied of 5 to 10 per cent per annum however, in many cases percentage increases are higher due to harmonisation or value assessment.”
What is proposed is very unfair for Christchurch, and we will be supporting our residents at the Cabinet meeting to try to change the recommendation and make this process a lot more equitable.
We are both always available to assist you with Ward and BCP matters if we can, and our contact details are below.
We wish you a very Happy Christmas and New Year.
To contact us on Ward or BCP issues:
Cllr. Margaret Phipps – margaret.phipps@bcpcouncil.gov.uk - Tel: 01202 478266
Cllr. Vanessa Ricketts – vanessa.ricketts@bcpcouncil.gov.uk – Tel: 07760 391467
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