BCP COUNCIL is now waiting for the government to give the all-clear more than a year after a best value notice was issued. 

The former Conservative government issued the local authority with the notice in August 2023 raising several concerns about the culture, governance and finance at BCP. 

Issues included the relationship between councillors and officers, the mid-term financial plan, transformation servings and FuturePlaces. 

A review happened in March 2023, months before the former Department for Levelling Up issued the notice letter and recommendations to BCP’s chief executive Graham Farrant. 

Bournemouth town hallBournemouth town hall (Image: Newsquest)

Council leader Millie Earl said BCP Council is waiting for an update from the new Labour government on whether the best value notice can end or need extended. 

She said: “The chief executive did an internal assurance review looking at accelerating the council's improvement journey and included a few points raised by the government.” 

This included a 42-point action plan that Cllr Earl said has now been delivered entirely.

“However, we’re in a bit of a limbo situation because we had the letter in August 2023," she added. 

“We are now past that deadline of a year and we have yet to hear from the government if they want to extend that notice or if they are happy with the progress and that we are now outside best value and we can move on.” 

Graham Farrant, chief executive of BCP CouncilGraham Farrant, chief executive of BCP Council (Image: Richard Crease)

Deputy leader and finance cabinet member Mike Cox said he has had a meeting with the auditor who “made it clear that this council has made substantial progress in terms of finance and governance”. 

He said: “He was very clear that we’ve gone a long, long way. He did make it clear, however, that we are out of ICU, but we’re not out of the hospital yet. 

“There is still some way to go but the fact the best value notice has not been renewed is a really good thing, as far as I’m concerned, we’re out of it.”  

Andy Martin, cabinet member for communications, said: “Before I became a member of this council, I did observe in a couple of capacities what was going on with the previous administration. 

“I was pretty shocked by some of the things that happened.”  

Andy Hadley, cabinet member for the environment, said BCP Council is now in a “much better place”. 

He said: “It is a piece of the difficult history of BCP in its early years and I think it’s great that we have gone through that with a lot of diligence.  

“Thanks to the officers for doing that to resolve the situation.”