A Southbourne campaign says councillors can use statutory powers to seek further scrutiny of BCP Council’s 20 year lease for the promenade site after a meeting request was refused. Campaigners want BCP councillors to revisit a lease lasting 20 years for the Southbourne Promenade site. The Save SOBO Beach campaign says more than 10,800 people have signed a petition about the decision, which BCP Council approved on 13 October. The council also agreed to independent scrutiny and offered the existing operator an extra 11 months. Campaigners say the review is not required to finish before a bind
Campaigners want BCP councillors to revisit a lease lasting 20 years for the Southbourne Promenade site.
The Save SOBO Beach campaign says more than 10,800 people have signed a petition about the decision, which BCP Council approved on 13 October. The council also agreed to independent scrutiny and offered the existing operator an extra 11 months.
Campaigners say the review is not required to finish before a binding long term agreement is signed. They say questions about the tender design, financial assessment, evaluation criteria, due diligence and community consultation have not been answered in full.
A campaign founder said the council had agreed to scrutiny but had not committed to waiting for its findings. He said residents should be able to expect "transparency and accountability".
After the chair refused a request from five councillors for an Extraordinary Full Council meeting, the campaign says the Local Government Act 1972 provides another route. It wants councillors across political groups to consider supporting a further resolution.
The campaign has asked for the procurement standstill to be extended until 30 November. It says the current standstill is understood to expire on Wednesday, although the extension has not appeared on the gov.uk tender portal.
See more at savesobo.com.
