BCP Council spent £5.3m setting up and closing down business

The in-house regeneration company was set up in 2021 by BCP Council to deliver more homes and jobs on sites owned by the authority. 

It closed earlier this year after just three years following a report that found it was “not a financially sustainable option” to keep it going. 

As reported, FuturePlaces directors and employees were also given £110,476 in bonuses during its short lifetime. 

And more than £80,000 was also paid to rent out offices in Exeter Park Road, Bournemouth while free office space was available at the town hall.  

Bourne Park, where offices for FuturePlaces had been. (Image: Daily Echo)

Council leader Millie Earl added an extra £546k was forked out “for work precured from the company along with some minor legal and financial administration costs”. 

Responding to questions from Branksome resident John Sprackling, Cllr Earl justified the company’s existence by saying work undertaken by FuturePlaces continues to be relevant today. 

She said: “The benefits are that significant technical surveys were undertaken on several sites and that the multidisciplinary approach continues to be valid and relevant information to inform the delivery strategies for the sites. 

“In terms of lessons learned, the work FuturePlaces undertook was preparatory in relation to the sites, they were not focussed on not delivery.

Millie Earl, BCP Council's leader (Image: BCP Council)

“Much of the learning has been incorporated by transferring the people into the investment and development directorate where we continue to benefit from their experience and expertise.” 

FuturePlaces was set up in 2021 by BCP Council as a way of delivering more homes and jobs on sites owned by the council.  

In June 2022, the former Conservative administration agreed a revised business plan and funding mechanism for the company, including an increase in the working capital loan facility from £400k to £8m.  

But a best value notice issued by the government about a year ago said that there were “some concerns” about the transparency of FuturePlaces, stating members were “too involved” in the day-to-day running. 

FuturePlaces was eventually wound down earlier this year, with ex-employees now based in the town hall and working for the council.