SOBO reprieve raises questions for BCP

The decision to allow SOBO to remain operating till September 2027 has raised questions about the council's previous position on extending the lease, with opposition councillors demanding an explanation for what they see as a significant change in approach.

In an email dated 8 October, council leader Councillor Millie Earl told residents that national legislation prevented the authority from extending the existing lease or allowing the current operator to continue on a rollover basis.

Yet at Tuesday's meeting, Councillor Earl proposed the 11 month arrangement herself, prompting Councillors Toby Slade and Duane Farr to question what had changed and why residents had previously been told an extension was not legally possible.

Councillor Slade said residents "deserve to know what changed" and criticised the late presentation of the proposals, saying councillors were faced with a significant long term decision without adequate time to consider the final wording.

Councillor Farr also questioned how the 2 positions could be reconciled, suggesting the administration appeared to be making decisions as it went along rather than following a clear plan for the site.

BCP Council's portfolio holder for destination, leisure and commercial operations, Councillor Richard Herrett, defended the decision, explaining that a temporary extension could not have been offered before a "full and fair tender process" had been completed.

He said councillors had listened to residents and community groups, and that the preferred bidder had agreed to work with the council and existing operator to ensure a "smooth transition" between businesses.

The extension was approved by 35 votes to 16, with 9 abstentions, and included a commitment to refer the tender process to the Public Procurement Review Service for independent assurance that statutory requirements had been met.

A separate amendment from Councillor Joe Salmon, calling for the council's own audit and governance committee to investigate the procurement process and report its findings to full council, was rejected by 26 votes to 24, with 9 abstentions.

Councillors subsequently approved the final proposal, combining the 20 year lease for the preferred bidder with the temporary extension for SOBO Beach, by 32 votes to 17, with 11 abstentions.

The identity of the successful bidder has not yet been formally disclosed, with the reports stating that statutory procurement rules prevent an announcement for 8 days.

Despite the temporary reprieve, Bournemouth East MP Tom Hayes has warned that the decision does not address the concerns raised by thousands of local residents who campaigned to keep SOBO Beach operating.

He described the extension as "a delay to the same outcome" and criticised the council's handling of the process, arguing that the community should have been listened to much earlier.

The decision has also attracted criticism from across the council's opposition groups, with Labour, Conservative, Reform UK and Green representatives all questioning whether the agreement provides a satisfactory long term solution.

Labour group leader Councillor Patrick Canavan criticised the lack of earlier consultation and warned that the possibility of legal challenges had not disappeared, leaving further uncertainty surrounding the future of the site.

Conservative opposition leader Councillor John Beesley welcomed the extension but warned that residents should not confuse another summer of trading with a secure future, calling for greater transparency over the procurement process.

Reform UK group leader Councillor Duane Farr argued that the council had only postponed the problem, while Green councillor Sara Armstrong raised concerns about insufficient public engagement and the lack of scrutiny surrounding the late amendment.

Councillor Armstrong described the temporary arrangement as a "sticking plaster", saying she could not be confident that residents' concerns had been properly considered or that the council's Seafront Strategy had been adequately applied.

For those running SOBO Beach, the decision means the venue can continue operating while its longer term future remains unresolved, although the team has welcomed the support received during the campaign.

Operations manager Rich Slater thanked the community and paid tribute to campaigners Dan Astin-Gregory and Ben Clark, who helped organise the campaign and encouraged residents to make their views known.

He said the team would need time to review everything discussed during the council meeting before issuing a fuller statement in the coming days.

In a separate public message, SOBO also thanked everyone who had signed the petition, shared information, attended meetings or contacted the team, ending with the words: "SOBO is still SOBO."

For now, the decision ensures SOBO Beach can remain in Southbourne until the end of September 2027, but the approval of a different operator for the next 20 years means the wider debate over the site's future is far from resolved.