Councillors have approved plans to move services from Bournemouth’s Civic Centre Annex, while concerns were raised about scrutiny before disposal is considered. Services will move out of the Civic Centre Annex after councillors approved relocation plans. The arrangements will move the coroner’s jury court to the council chamber and adjoining west wing, while elections, customer and housing services, parking enforcement and events staff will relocate into the main town hall building. At full council on October 13, Councillor Jeff Hanna said the decision was “not deciding on disposing of the
Services will move out of the Civic Centre Annex after councillors approved relocation plans.
The arrangements will move the coroner’s jury court to the council chamber and adjoining west wing, while elections, customer and housing services, parking enforcement and events staff will relocate into the main town hall building.
At full council on October 13, Councillor Jeff Hanna said the decision was “not deciding on disposing of the annex” but about finding alternative locations for services which use the building.
Some councillors raised concerns because the audit and governance committee had not yet examined the affordability of the borrowing. Councillor Eleanor Connolly said she did not want the committee to be “used inappropriately”.
Councillor John Beesley said the committee’s role was “being put in jeopardy”, while Councillor Patrick Canavan said the process had “completely undermined” its integrity because the vote had already taken place.
Councillor David D’Orton Gibson said the annex was covered by an options agreement with the Bournemouth Development Company, and said nobody had asked whether the company would release it from that agreement.
The council approved recommendations on improvements, funding and creating a project budget by 25 votes to nine, with four abstentions, and backed a separate 2028 review of coroner’s service arrangements by 29 votes to two, with three abstentions.
