BOROUGH OF POOLE
STATE OF THE AREA DEBATE: COUNCIL 7 MARCH 2011
The Meeting commenced at 6:30pm and concluded at 9:05pm
Present:
Councillor, the Reverend Meachin (Deputy Mayor) (in the Chair)
Councillors Adams, Ms Atkinson, Brooke, Brown, Burden, Mrs Butt, Chandler,
Clements, Gillard, Mrs Haines, Howell, Mason, Mrs Moore, Parker, Rampton, Mrs
Rampton, Sorton, Mrs Stribley, Trent, Mrs Walton, White, Wilkins, Wilson and
Woodcock
Also in attendance
Mr Richard Dimbleby, Chair of Poole Partnership
Mr Tony Brown, Chief Executive, Beale Plc
Dr Adrian Dawson, Director of Public Health, NHS Bournemouth and Poole and
Vice-Chair, Poole Partnership
Mr Martin Hancock, Chief Executive, Bournemouth Churches Housing Association
(BCHA)
Nathan Thompson, Member of the Youth Parliament
Kresse Wesling, Environmental Entrepreneur, Kress and Wesling, Alder Hills, Poole
Representatives from the Voluntary Sector
Other Partners and Stakeholders
Borough of Poole Officers
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APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Allen, Bulteel, Collier,
Gregory, Mrs Long and Miss Wilson
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WELCOME
The Deputy Mayor welcomed everyone to the State of the Area Debate
Council. He stated he was delighted to see representatives of the Business
Community, Voluntary Sector, Education, Health and Social Care, residents,
community groups, young people and Borough of Poole staff at the Meeting.
The Deputy Mayor referred to the need to work together to achieve the vision
for 21st Century Poole, mentioning Poole’s long history and reputation for
innovation and dynamism. He hoped the outcome of the Meeting would be
useful and would contribute to “working together to make the vision of Poole a
reality”.
The Leader of the Council, Councillor Ms Atkinson, stated how pleased she
was in welcoming attendees to the State of the Area Debate Council.
Reference was made to the “Big Society” and “Localism” and, in particular, the
shift of roles from central government to the local community, with the need to
implement sustainable solutions.
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CHAIRMAN’S INTRODUCTION
The Chairman of the Debate, Mr Richard Dimbleby, Chair of Poole
Partnership, stated that he was pleased to announce the launch of “Poole’s
Sustainable Community Strategy 2010-2026” that was developed as a result
of the State of the Area Debate Council in 2010. He stated that the aim of the
evening was to explore how people can work together to achieve the vision
and obtain views on the priorities set. Mr Dimbleby informed the Meeting that
the events of the evening were being filmed and recorded with a photographer
in attendance and that anyone in attendance who did not want to be filmed or
photographed should contact him during the networking session.
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MARKET STALLS
Mr R Dimbleby invited attendees to visit the ‘market stalls’ situated in the
Committee Suite on the first floor.
The following Organisations had “market stalls”:

Poole LINk

Big Green Fortnight 2011

Dorset Energy Advice Centre

Hamworthy Library Cafe

BCHA / Sequal Solutions

Safer Neighbourhoods / Dorset Police

Bourne Valley Action Group

Bridging Communities / Living Histories

Poole Agenda 21

Broadstone Access Group

Poole Forum

Twin Sails Bridge Display

Community Foundation

Poole Council for Voluntary Service
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QUESTION TIME
A “Question Time” style debate was chaired by Mr Dimbleby. The Panel
consisted of the following:
Mr Tony Brown, Chief Executive, Beale Plc
Dr Adrian Dawson, Director of Public Health, NHS Bournemouth and Poole
and Vice-Chairman of Poole Partnership
Mr Martin Hancock, Chief Executive, Bournemouth Churches Housing
Association (BCHA)
Nathan Thompson, Member of Youth Parliament
Kresse Wesling, Environmental Entrepreneur, Kresse and Wesling
During the debate the following questions were asked:

Was economic growth a pre-requisite for prosperity, health and wellbeing in
Poole?

How could we ensure that young people in Poole would afford homes in the
future?
With a supplementary question on innovative ways of building ecofriendly/carbon neutral homes?

What role should Residents Associations play in the quality of life in local
neighbourhoods, and how can strong communities help other areas in setting
up Residents Associations?

Should people be encouraged to look after pavements/public space outside
their properties and how can residents’ civic duty be promoted?

Where are we on the reorganisation of the National Health Service? Are GP’s
taking over? How can we tackle social exclusion?

How can we encourage people to give money or time to good causes?
The Chairman stated that as the event was being filmed, a detailed record of the
question and answer session would appear on the Poole Partnership Website.
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CONCLUSION
John McBride, Chief Executive, Borough of Poole, summarised the outcome of
the debate, including:

Real change was required, it was not just about the “Banking Crisis”. Many
people believed that there needed to be a shift from Central to Local
Government.
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
We were at a “crossroad” and balancing the various needs of Poole residents
was difficult.

We need to make the right choices for the young people of Poole.

We need to work hard at being “innovative”.

There was a need to have a personal and collective responsibility.

We need to include local businesses in the Vision for Poole.

We need to look after the most vulnerable residents in the Community.

This was the time to plan how Poole would look in the future.

We need to give residents of Poole the choices they want.

These were very challenging times, and the Borough of Poole was
determined to make the right choices and introduce changes that worked.
Mr Dimbleby joined the Chief Executive in thanking everyone who attended the
debate and the Organisations who had set up “market stalls”.
MAYOR
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