Councillor Millie Earl, Leader of BCP Council - Newtown and Heatherlands Ward

1. In your view, what specific gaps or challenges in Poole’s current governance is this proposal intended to address — and how would a Town Council fill those gaps better than BCP can?

At the time, I campaigned against forcing Poole to merge with Bournemouth & Christchurch because I felt it would create a democratic deficit and take decision making out of the hands of local people. The Conservatives paid dearly at the ballot box for merging the councils, and as a result, we, the Three Towns Alliance administration, have an opportunity to right that wrong and establish a Town Council to protect and promote the identity of our town and put decision making in the hands of local people. As Liberal Democrats we promised to deliver Town and Parish Councils as we believe in grassroots democracy. This means BCP Council can get on with delivering the statutory services it needs to deliver such as maintaining the roads and collecting the bins, and Adult Social Care and Children’s Services, which are massively under pressure due to relentless central government funding cuts whilst the towns, and importantly, the residents who live in them can shape the future of their neighbourhoods and deliver many of the services we lost in the merger such as local events, community initiatives and place-making activities.

2. Given that the creation of BCP was originally intended to reduce duplication and save costs, why is now the right time to propose adding a new tier of local government?

I don’t believe it was a cost saving exercise but that the Conservatives tried to sell it as such to consolidate their power across the three towns. Either way, everyone knows that councils have suffered from cuts from central government and in our area, this is about £100m a year less than we were getting 10 years ago. Councils are expected to deliver more for less which means valued services have been lost. I see a Town Council for Poole as an opportunity to revive those services and amenities that councils used to be able to deliver like Christmas lights, much needed youth services and making the most of our assets such as our greenspaces and community centres.

3. Many residents are passionate about Poole’s identity and heritage. How would BCP support a new Town Council in preserving civic traditions while also enabling it to take on practical community-focused services?

I’m incredibly proud to be a Poole resident and I was, in fact, born and have lived most of my life in the ward I represent on BCP Council. Merging the councils took away so much from our town and really challenged the identity of Poole residents. We have Charter Trustees in Poole to look after the 777 year old mayoralty that exist on a precept (annual tax) of £2.14 a year for a Band D property which raises £132,324 annually but can’t be spent because of rules around expenditure. If established, a Town Council would be able to use this money to promote and protect the civic traditions and community initiatives that are important in keeping our community thriving.

4. BCP Council is under pressure to fund statutory services like social care and children’s support. Is it fair to say that creating a Town Council is the only realistic route to restore and invest in community-level services in Poole?

When we took over BCP Council it was teetering on the edge of bankruptcy which, had we not made £44m of savings in one go, would have meant the government would have sent in the commissioners who would have cut all non-statutory spend including public toilets, libraries, play parks, community projects, events and much more. This has happened to other local authorities and has been devastating for their communities. I didn’t stand for election to cut services; I stood for election because I’m passionate about my community and town and want to get the best for residents. In making those cuts we prioritised protecting

services for the most vulnerable in our communities including looked after children and adults in need of care. Those were the right decisions to make, however we have lost a lot that residents value and a Town Council offers us an opportunity to get it back. Bournemouth and Poole remain the only places in Dorset that don’t have Town and Parish Councils and are missing out as a result. It will be up to local people to elect Town Councillors and some may stand on an extremely low council tax ticket and others on one a little higher. I believe in democracy and trust Poole residents to have their say at the ballot box.

5. What kinds of services or local initiatives would you expect a Poole Town Council to take on in its first few years, and what level of autonomy would it realistically have in doing so?

Town Councils are entirely autonomous and separate to principal authorities like BCP Council. I can’t speculate as it will be down to the democratic process and the residents of Poole to stand as Town Councillors or to elect those they trust. I’ve organised many events and projects in my own community including a Jubilee Picnic at Branksome Rec a few years ago and an annual event on Ashley Road, as well as setting up a Community Action Group, Community Fridges and volunteering with Community Speed Watch, a gardening group and more. I would like to see a town council support those kind of events and initiatives that benefit our community and make our town a vibrant and caring place to live. You only have to look at the amazing things other town and parish councils across Dorset are delivering to see their value.

6. Given the shared responsibilities between BCP and the proposed Town Council (e.g. planning, events, parks), how would you ensure the two organisations work together without creating duplication or confusion?

At BCP Council we already work with five town and parish councils we have covering all of Christchurch and part of Bournemouth who we work with to deliver for those area. Being Leader of BCP Council, I can see how Poole residents are not benefitting from that relationship or having an organisation to be a strong voice for the town. Town Councils are bodies with specific power such as being statutory consultees on planning matters and also receive money such as Community Infrastructure Levy neighbourhood portion which means decisions on that will be made by Poole residents rather than by BCP Council. As much as I’m Leader of BCP Council, it’s not right for Christchurch Councillors to make decisions on issues that solely affect Poole. A Town Council would address that democratic issue and leave BCP Council to focus on the strategic issues that affect all people and places across the three towns as well as delivering statutory services that the most vulnerable in our community rely on.

7. Would BCP be prepared to transfer funding, responsibilities or assets — such as parks or heritage buildings — to a Town Council if requested? And under what terms would these decisions be made?

Absolutely, the Community Infrastructure Levy neighbourhood portion would come to the Town Council which is literally millions of pounds of funding. I would also be keen to see assets transferred through Community Asset Transfer, which is something I have been championing, so that those who actually depend on those community centres, green spaces and facilities can make decisions about their future. BCP Council will support Town Councils in doing this and will transfer assets either freehold or on a 99 year lease to enable town councils to access grant funding raise money through those assets and provide the care and attention they need.

8. Residents are concerned that BCP might retain funding while offloading services to the Town Council — how do you respond to fears that local taxpayers could end up footing the bill twice?

BCP Council is a vast unitary authority and is not suitable to deliver those very place-based services that residents want to see, especially with the pressures in care services with inflation, rising costs and more need than ever. The merger, along with significant cuts to local authorities, has left a gap which needs to be

filled. We have some amazing volunteer and community groups in Poole but they deserve more support and a Town Council would be really well placed to provide that. There is no duplication of services with the Town Councils that already exist in Christchurch, in fact, they are delivering extra services that we don’t have in our area because we don’t have a Town Council.

9. The Poole Civic Centre is both a symbolic and functional asset for the town. If a new Town Council is created, would BCP be open to transferring ownership or retaining part of the site — particularly the civic rooms — for community use or as a home for the new council? Given the Civic Centre is currently for sale, would BCP consider pausing or reviewing the sale until after the outcome of the Community Governance Review is known, to avoid the risk of permanently losing a key part of Poole’s civic identity?

The Civic Centre is currently up for sale and I hope that whoever purchases it will deliver much needed housing or use it to contribute to the local economy. It currently costs council taxpayers £19,000 a month in insurance, maintenance and security even though it is empty. A paper is coming to Council soon on the options for the sale of the building and I’m sure councillors will factor in the use of the Civic Centre for its amenity space into their decision. The building is listed and any changes to the civic areas will need planning consent. My view is that a Town Council shouldn’t need a permanent building to operate from 24 hours a day, 7 days a week as they generally don’t employ many full time staff or meet regularly enough. Instead, the Guildhall or one of our many community centres would provide much better value for money as a meeting place for a Town Council, however, that would be up to those elected if a Town Council was established.

10. What safeguards would be in place to ensure a new Poole Town Council remains independent in its priorities and not simply a smaller extension of whichever party runs BCP Council at the time?

Town Councillors are directly elected by Poole residents and will have to be Poole residents to stand for election. I’m confident that Poole residents know their town best and will elect those who will champion our town and deliver for the people of Poole. I can assure you that Christchurch’s Town and Parish Councils are very separate to BCP Council although we do work together to get things done. If a Town Council is established, I would encourage those who are passionate about our town to consider standing for election as a diverse range of voices improves democratic decision making.

11. Finally, if this Town Council is established, how will BCP support it to succeed — not just at launch, but as a long-term asset to Poole’s democracy and identity?

Whilst I lead BCP Council, along with my colleagues across the Three Towns Alliance, we will continue to ensure that each town and community retains its identity where the Conservatives didn’t when forcing our councils together, and that decision making takes place at a grassroots level as much as possible. Town Councils deliver incredible things in their communities and I want Poole to have the same opportunities. If established, Poole Town Council will secure our town’s heritage and identity for many years to come and will be entirely in the control of the residents of Poole. It is regrettable that some of my council colleagues have chosen to undermine the process of a community governance review by circulating factually incorrect, misleading and scaremongering figures which has understandably raised concerns amongst residents. I would encourage residents to focus on the facts and respond to the consultation supporting the opportunity to establish a Town Council for Poole to protect our identity, promote our heritage and revive the community activities and amenities that have been lost over the last 15 years, to make our town the thriving place it once was.

Neil Duncan-Jordan MP Member of Parliament for Poole

1. Do you support the proposal for Poole to establish its own Town Council — and if so, why?

   Many residents tell me openly that they wish Poole had never joined with Bournemouth and Christchurch to make BCP Council. They have a sense that Poole has been overlooked and in some respects, abandoned. One of the most obvious examples is the way in which the civic centre in Poole has been allowed to remain empty for so long, when we could be putting that building to good use in the community.

2. What do you see as the potential benefits of a Town Council for Poole residents in terms of local democracy, services or civic pride?

   Having a Town Council will enable more decisions to be taken at a local level, and to enable more services to be delegated from BCP to Poole. This should hopefully give local representatives greater control and local people a greater say on things like allotments, green spaces, community facilities and events. Reintroducing a sense of Pride in Poole is really important as well – and something that regularly comes up on the doorstep. The recent VE Day celebrations were a really good example of where Poole’s historic role in WWII was seen as less important than a beacon lighting ceremony in the car park outside Bournemouth Town Hall. That would not have happened if a Town Council had been in place.

3. What concerns, if any, do you have about how this would be implemented — especially around costs, duplication of services, or accountability?

   I absolutely understand the concern that residents have about having to pay more for local services. Our system of local government finance has been broken for years – and the last thing people want to see is a higher bill and services getting worse. But if the Town Council were to take on certain functions previously carried out by BCP, then we should be arguing for some kind of council tax reduction. A Town Council wouldn’t duplicate services – it would take over responsibility for running them, but we have to ensure that residents are getting value for money and not just paying for a new layer of bureaucracy that only serves itself rather than the people of Poole.

4. Many local services like events, community support and public realm improvements have seen cuts due to BCP’s statutory funding pressures. Do you believe a Town Council could help restore those services?

   It has been proven elsewhere in the country that Town Council’s have put their local communities at the heart of all the decisions they make. This means that funding is targeted where local people think it is most needed. Of course, local councils have been under huge financial pressures due to 14 years of austerity – but the important thing is that decisions that affect our town are taken by local people who understand the area.

5. Christchurch has had its own Town Council since the BCP merger. Do you think it’s right that Poole — as one of Dorset’s historic towns — should have the same opportunity?

   Absolutely! Christchurch can point to the benefits of retaining a civic identity which Poole has lost. Remember that up to the early 1970s, Bournemouth wasn’t even in Dorset. Poole on the other hand is very much a part of Dorset’s history and this should be properly acknowledged.

6. Finally, what would you say to Poole residents who feel uncertain or sceptical about the proposals — what should they consider before responding to the consultation?

   I understand that the main reason why people will be against a Town Council will be the additional cost. That’s why any proposal should set out exactly how much people will be asked to pay and what they can expect for their money. I also wouldn’t be against a public referendum on the issue – providing that residents have had a chance to attend public meetings and discussions where the issue can be properly debated. I rather this than people get into arguments on social media which are full of half truths and scaremongering. Let’s have the debate in public and let the people decide.

Councillor Mark Howell - Poole Town Ward, current Mayor of Poole

1. As Mayor of Poole, what do you see as the biggest opportunities a new Town Council could unlock for the town that aren't possible under the current Charter Trustee setup?

The biggest wins would be the creation of a Poole-focused body that would be able to promote Poole and the activities and organisations within it, and the ability to make a physical impact on Poole in terms of investment in local amenities. The merger transferred these responsibilities to BCP Council, but it is not performing them because it lacks the resources to deliver non-statutory services.

2. Can you name specific services or community initiatives that a Poole Town Council could take on in its first few years — ones that would make a visible difference to residents’ daily lives?

Town councils have a wide remit of services and actions that they could progress, but it will be up to the councillors elected to it to decide on them and they will of course be chosen by residents of Poole. Speaking as Mayor, I would not want to push a political agenda here

3. How would the proposals ensure that the identity, heritage and civic pride of Poole are better preserved under a Town Council than they are currently through the Charter Trustees?

The Charter Trustees have very limited authority and can only spend money on protecting the regalia and promoting the Mayoralty. If a town council is created, the Mayoralty would be transferred to it and the council would have the ability to promote and invest in heritage and identity. For example, it could rescue a heritage building.

4. You’ve previously spoken about the limitations of the current setup — what’s a concrete example of something you've wanted to do for Poole that the current structure has stopped you from achieving?

The Charter Trustees cannot put on events like the Remembrance Parade or community activities. They are dependent on other organisations to fund and organise them. BCP Council still funds the Remembrance Parade, but it has stopped funding events on Poole Quay. These are now run by members of the community, but a town council could expand them and make them sustainable.

5. Would a Poole Town Council give residents more say on issues like planning, high streets, events and parks — and how would that work in practice alongside BCP Council’s powers?

Planning, transport and rubbish collection will remain BCP Council services, but the town council would be a statutory consultee and therefore be able to exert some influence. It could also supplement services like street cleaning, urban design and bus services. Parks are likely to stay with BCP Council, although town councils may choose to supplement their amenities, whereas events are likely to be taken on by the town council as BCP Council has already stepped back due to funding challenges.

6. If the Town Council is approved, how do you plan to engage Poole residents in shaping its priorities, rather than letting it become a ‘tick-box’ authority?

It is important that residents elect people to the town council who are independent-minded and not just creatures of the politicians on BCP Council. The smaller wards of town councils and the more transparent nature of town councils means that it will be easier for residents to get to know candidates and monitor the performance of councillors. However, if residents do not make the effort to do so and simply vote according to party, the likelihood of a subservient council will be increased.

7. Some residents are concerned that a Town Council will simply be an extra cost — how would you reassure them that the money raised will be spent wisely and locally?

There will be unavoidable additional costs in terms of holding elections, clerking and accommodation. However, these will be low. Whether the increase in Council Tax associated with the town council precept will be higher or lower will depend on whether residents elect councillors who want to provide the public with additional services or councillors who want to minimise spending. The only statutory service that town councils must provide is allotments, so councillors will not be compelled by government to raise or spend money.

Some people are opposing the town council proposal because they want BCP Council to provide the services they want using the monies they already pay in Council Tax. However, this is not possible. BCP Council is obliged to prioritise services like adult social care and children’s services which together take up 70% of the Council’s budget and it can only raise Council Tax by 5%, so it will not be able to fund community and placemaking services for the foreseeable future. The real choice is between a continuation of the degradation of such services or the creation of a town council that can invest in them.

8. Some residents worry that this proposal is a way for BCP Council to offload the costs of maintaining community assets like Poole Park or Upton Country Park onto a new Town Council. If that happens, would Poole Town Council receive any transfer of funding or budget from BCP to cover these costs — or would local taxpayers be footing the bill twice?

Assets/liabilities can only be transferred to town councils with their agreement. Any transfer would therefore be subject to negotiation. There is a danger that where BCP Council and the town council are controlled by the same political party, services might be forced upon town councils. This is why it is important for residents to elect independent-minded people whose primary allegiance is to the town.

9. What lessons can Poole learn from Christchurch Town Council’s experience — and how would you avoid the common pitfalls of new councils starting from scratch?

Christchurch Town Council appears to have the support of residents. It has taken a gradualist approach to defining its remit which would seem sensible.

10. The Poole Civic Centre is an iconic building with deep ties to the town’s identity. If a Town Council is established, could it take over ownership or use of the Civic Centre — or does BCP still intend to sell it? Would you support keeping it as a public asset under the new council?

Speaking as Mayor, the Civic Centre contains valuable civic and mayoral facilities that have not been re-provided. This has undermined the Mayoralty and the town’s identity. Most of the Civic Centre site could be sold but the part of the building with the civic rooms should be transferred to the town council and serve as its civic base and a community centre. BCP is trying to sell the whole site and the current administration has been resisting the civic proposal.

11. Finally, if BCP Council votes in favour — what’s your personal vision for what Poole Town Council could become by 2030?

I believe the town council could be a light-footed and energetic promoter of Poole and enhancer of its communities in contrast to the lumbering inefficiency of BCP Council. It could provide/fund the amenities and services that are needed to generate pride in the town, strengthen Poole’s economy and deliver tangible improvements in the quality of life of its residents.

Councillor Judes Butt - Creekmoor Ward

1. Do you support or oppose the proposal to create a Poole Town Council — and why?

I do not support the proposal as it stands, but not because I oppose the principle of local representation. I have no alternative but to withhold support, because this proposal is being pushed forward without the essential information residents need to make a safe and informed decision.

There is no financial breakdown, no service-level delivery plan, and no consistent explanation for why this imposed " review" is even necessary. The rationale changes depending on the audience: sometimes it’s about “heritage,” sometimes “empowerment and localism,” but increasingly, we’re now told it’s because the BCP council can no longer afford non-statutory services.

That leaves only one conclusion: the real purpose is to shift costs onto residents through a backdoor council tax — paid to a second tier of local government, without any clear benefit in return.

This isn’t responsible governance it’s ambiguity weaponised. Until full transparency and a clear, costed justification are provided, I cannot support it and neither should any resident be expected to.

2. What do you see as the main benefits, if any, of establishing a Town Council for Poole?

While there’s always a theoretical argument and areas of good practice where small distinct communities who have a relevant Parish/Community Council could offer closer community representation and faster response to local issues, that theory doesn’t stand up when you look at the practical reality here.

For example Poole Town Council would be the largest Town Council in the entire UK  and yet like all 6 new Councils proposed, there is no business case, no operational plan, no structural framework, and no explanation of how it would actually function at that scale. 

The consultation document uses examples from much smaller Parish/Town Councils, which is deeply misleading. No effort has been made to show how a council of this size can deliver better value or services — only vague promises with no financial or strategic grounding.

Until those serious gaps are addressed, the so-called “benefits” are nothing more than wishful thinking or worse, a distraction from the costs and risks. This principle applies to all 6 proposed Councils

3. What concerns, if any, do you have about how a new Town Council would be funded and what impact it might have on residents' council tax bills?

The financial model is one of the most serious red flags. Residents face a second Council Tax bill, with no upper limit and no guarantee of value. No budget breakdown has been offered. No explanation of long-term cost projections. No honesty about what will be duplicated or scrapped.

At a time when households are already stretched to the limit, this additional precept could hit the most vulnerable the hardest. It’s essentially a blank cheque being demanded from all residents, while those driving the proposal refuse to provide evidenced calculus.

4. How do you think a Town Council could (or could not) improve services such as community events, public spaces, and local decision-making in Poole?

In principle, a Town Council could help improve local services but at a cost and that is a huge concern for residents. There is also serious doubt as to whether services would improve especially with the Poole and Bmth Town Council models currently being proposed.

Both Poole and Bournemouth are being lined up to have the two largest Town Councils in the UK , yet the consultation documents make no mention of this what so ever, Poole Town Council will have an area of 25 square miles, an unprecedented size, equivalent to the previous Poole Borough Council.  In the BCP consultation document reference is only given to much smaller councils as examples. There’s been no explanation of the governance structure, no staffing plan, no financial modelling, and no clarity on how services would actually improve at such a scale.

It raises major red flags. Without a clear and honest operational roadmap, these new councils risk becoming top-heavy, expensive, and slow-moving bureaucracies that end up delivering less, not more. The theoretical benefit of local empowerment is being seriously undermined by the practical realities that have been conveniently ignored.

5. Do you believe residents are being given enough information to make an informed response to the consultation and is the process fair and transparent in your view?

No, the process has failed the most basic standards of fairness and transparency. Residents have been given incomplete, biased, and misleading information, dressed up as neutral consultation. There is no full financial breakdown, no alternative options explored, no acknowledgment of risk.

The consultation reads like a marketing brochure, not a democratic exercise. When people are being asked to commit to new costs and new structures, they deserve facts  not spin. The lack of information isn’t an oversight. It looks like a clear political tactic.

6. If a Poole Town Council is created, what should its priorities be in the first few years?

Assuming this goes ahead and there’s still deep disquiet from residents about whether it should, the first priority must be to prove its worth and rebuild public trust. That includes transparency, open budgets, which can be challenged and scrutinised and an immediate proof of purpose.

We were told this would be a non-political, volunteer-run body. Yet councillors have already declared they’ll stand on party political tickets, undermining that promise. Given the sheer size of two of the proposed new Councils and the workload involved, will those councillors apply for allowances or salaries? Legally, they and all 6 new Councils can, this a major concern for the Council Tax paying residents as no one can fetter the discretion of these new Councils, despite Cllr Peter Sidaway publicly stating he can cap Broadstone Town Councils precept at £60 per annum! A considerable extra amount to pay for so many people, every resident would be paying for these services twice with no refunds from BCP Council!

These are not minor points. They go to the heart of whether this is about community or control. The council must show it's capable of delivering visible, practical improvements without becoming yet another expensive, politicised structure that burdens residents and erodes trust. 

The facts speak for themselves. This proposal would impose the two largest Town Councils in the UK without precedent, planning, or proper public backing. Residents are being asked to pay a an unknown second Council Tax charge for all 6 new Councils with no business case, no service-level detail, no financial guarantees, and no transparency on governance or costs. 

The process has been continually clouded in vague justifications and selective information, with leading administration Cllrs delivering contradictory explanations depending on their audience.

To raise these concerns is not “conflating” information, it is exposing a process that lacks integrity and fails every test of democratic accountability.

If these Councils proceeds as proposed, they all carry the  risk of becoming  unaccountable, politicised, and costly structures that permanently burden residents financially, failing to deliver, and further damage public trust for years to come. It is, by every measure, a hugely potentially damaging uncosted imposition  and one the public deserves a full and honest narrative of the facts, not to be expected to blindly rubber stamp  half-truths and hopeful soundbites.

Councillor Pete Miles - Oakdale Ward

1. Do you support or oppose the proposal to create a Poole Town Council — and why?

It is important to note that whilst these are my own opinions, what matters most are the opinions of the residents I represent. It is their views, not my own, that I represent to Council.

Broadly in favour though have significant reservations. It will give some control back to Poole which is a positive element for me, though I have concerns re number of required cllrs  (42!) and costs to residents. Poole Town Council should have been created when BCP merger occurred (as it was in Christchurch), if it was we would likely not be looking at these possible increased costs and upheaval now and perhaps our area would not have suffered as much as I believe it has over the past few years. I am very sad to see that the political group responsible for proceeding with BCP despite the views of residents, is now actively campaigning against this town council. Poole’s unique identity is very important.

2. What do you see as the main benefits, if any, of establishing a Town Council for Poole?

Money and decision making for Poole aside from BCP. Poole has a long and rich history that must be protected, the mayoralty is protected to some degree with the creation of Poole Charter Trustees however we are very limited in powers and as it is a voluntary aspect of the current Cllr role, several Cllrs do not attend meetings or actively engage with PCT. A town council could achieve a lot in the community for the good of Poole, with secure funds that are not able to be diverted to other areas or services.

3. What concerns, if any, do you have about how a new Town Council would be funded and what impact it might have on residents' council tax bills?

I am significantly concerned about increases to residents Council tax,  both from BCP and any possible Town Council. The level of precept for the Town Council cannot be speculated, it will depend on what services the TC takes on and will only prove valuable if those running the TC agree on the right services and spend money wisely not wastefully. The positive is that whatever the precept is, will not be able to be diverted to BCP to cover the deficit in other budgets.

4. How do you think a Town Council could (or could not) improve services such as community events, public spaces, and local decision-making in Poole?

A Town Council has the potential to vastly improve community events and services (and this is one of the main merits of the proposal); for example remembrance and commemoration events, charity and community grants and initiatives. Local people making local decisions for Poole.

5. Do you believe residents are being given enough information to make an informed response to the consultation — and is the process fair and transparent in your view?

No. However, I am told that there are predetermined parameters from central Government based on which the consultation can be carried out, and the information that can be supplied. I believe it is as transparent as it is permitted to be.

6. If a Poole Town Council is created, what should its priorities be in the first few years?

To give serious consideration to what services and community initiatives will make the most difference to the lives of people in Poole, and to focus on building strong local communities.

Councillor Oliver Walters - Penn Hill Ward

As the chair of the Community Governance Review Task and Finish Group, I'm unable to publicly support or oppose the creation of the individual town/parish councils in BCP.

However, what I will say is that BCP Council sent a leaflet advertising the community governance review to every household in the conurbation. That would make it the single most publicised consultation in the history of the council.

It's also worth noting that there's a lot of misinformation being spread online about the creation of the town councils and the logic behind doing so. Worst case scenarios for the precepts have been sent to many households in specific political party generated leaflets without any context. For example one leaflet brings up Weymouth, where the precept is £200 a year. However, that misses the context that Weymouth Town Council was created to take on all the services provided by Weymouth Borough Council during local government reorganisation. A new Poole Town Council would have no services it would have to take on and could decide, based on a very modest precept, to do a few extra things that BCP does not have the money to do, such as youth clubs or additional community events.

Residents are welcome to let us know whether or not they want these additional services via town/parish councils. I'm just hoping that they are developing these opinions based on their own research and not from scaremongering leaflets and social media posts produced by the same people who argued that the creation of BCP would be a good thing for Poole and its residents.

There are over 10,000 town and parish councils in England and only 17 charter trusts, which is what Poole has now and it does not work. What is being proposed is the norm for most people.

Councillor Sue Aitkenhead - Poole Town Ward

1. Do you support or oppose the proposal to create a Poole Town Council — and why?

Personally, I support the proposal to create a Poole Town Council, though I am very keen to listen to the results of the consultation before deciding what recommendations to support in my role as a member of the working group. When standing for election I promised that I would protect the historic identity of Poole and ensure that we don’t become a suburb of Bournemouth. This is why I volunteered to be on the working group and have worked hard to ensure the residents of Poole have the option to choose a Town Council.

2. What do you see as the main benefits, if any, of establishing a Town Council for Poole?

• Poole’s historic identity will be protected as a separate town, not as part of Bournemouth

• Residents in Poole will have more say on planning applications

• Town councils can access grant funding that is not available to BCP

• More support for local event and closer links with local organisations and businesses

• The chance for Poole residents to take more democratic control over some local services

3. What concerns, if any, do you have about how a new Town Council would be funded and what impact it might have on residents' council tax bills?

My concern is the misinformation that I see around the costs. The new Town Council will replace the Charter Trustees, that already have their own precept. The rise in council tax should be small and the benefits will be good value for money. When the new town councillors are elected, residents can choose whether to elect councillors who want to keep the tax low or those who want to provide services. This is democracy in action.

4. How do you think a Town Council could (or could not) improve services such as community events, public spaces, and local decision-making in Poole?

Yes. The Town Council can do all of these things, if the councillors who are elected support them.

5. Do you believe residents are being given enough information to make an informed response to the consultation — and is the process fair and transparent in your view?

There is a lot of information in the proposal that has gone out for consultation. All the details are there concerning wards, numbers of councillors and boundaries and anyone can comment on any of these. I hope that the consultation responses will comment on these details rather than just being caught up with the Yes/No argument. It is important that we get the details right.

I believe the process has been transparent and I am very determined to ensure that the consultation responses are studied in detail before decisions are made. Ideally, I would have preferred the first stage of the process to collect ideas and the consultation window to have been a bit longer, but unfortunately the timetable is statutory and BCP cannot make it longer.

6. If a Poole Town Council is created, what should its priorities be in the first few years?

• To raise the profile of our Town, protecting our historic identity and increasing the vitality of our town centre.

• To find out what the residents of Poole want their town council to do

• To make connections with local organisations and businesses

• To explore what grant funding can be obtained to improve local services and apply for it.

• To support local events and protect our green spaces.

• To create more neighbourhood plans to give us more influence with planning

Councillor John Challinor - Canford Cliffs Ward

1. Do you support or oppose the proposal to create a Poole Town Council — and why?

I’m opposed to the proposal as it will cost residents more, at a time when household budgets are under severe pressure. Adding extra layers of bureaucracy and admin is hardly providing cost-effective services. Additionally, should there be a Town Council for Poole, then it should cover the whole town, without a standalone parish in Broadstone - otherwise residents will be paying even more in admin costs.

2. What do you see as the main benefits, if any, of establishing a Town Council for Poole?

It may be able to deliver some services that BCP are failing to provide.

3. What concerns, if any, do you have about how a new Town Council would be funded and what impact it might have on residents' council tax bills?
   
   Bills will go up with no limit on how much they can be increased. 

4. How do you think a Town Council could (or could not) improve services such as community events, public spaces, and local decision-making in Poole?

It may help though it’s unlikely to work to the benefit of the whole town.

5. Do you believe residents are being given enough information to make an informed response to the consultation — and is the process fair and transparent in your view?

No. The current administration are deliberately trying to downplay the potential cost to residents and are using Town & Parish Councils as a back door way to increase people’s Council Tax bills without actually saying so - or being honest with the prospective sums involved.

6. If a Poole Town Council is created, what should its priorities be in the first few years?
   
   It needs to understand what people want - and are willing to pay for, with clear costs explained to residents from a ‘menu’ of options. And not use consultations as a tick-box exercise to then do what they always intended to do.