Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole

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Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole
Unitary authority area
Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council.svg
Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole UK locator map.svg
Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole shown within Dorset
Coordinates: 50°43′23″N1°52′55″W / 50.723°N 1.882°W / 50.723; -1.882
Sovereign state United Kingdom
Constituent country England
Region South West England
Ceremonial county Dorset
Historic county Dorset
(Poole)
Hampshire
(Bournemouth and Christchurch)
Admin HQBournemouth Town Hall Complex [1]
Government
 • Type Unitary authority
 • Governing body Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council
 • Chair Lesley Dedman
 • Leader Millie Earl (Lib Dems)
Area
[2]
 • Total
63 sq mi (162 km2)
 • Rank159th (of 296)
Population
 (2022)
 • Total
401,898
 • Rank17th (of 296)
 • Density6,400/sq mi (2,480/km2)
Ethnicity (2021)
[3]
 •  Ethnic groups
List
Religion (2021)
[3]
 •  Religion
List
Time zone UTC+0 (Greenwich Mean Time)
Postcodes
BH
Area codes 01202
01425
ISO 3166-2 BCP
GSS code E06000058
Website bcpcouncil.gov.uk OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg

Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP) is a unitary authority area in the ceremonial county of Dorset, England. The district was created on 1 April 2019 by the merger of the areas that were previously administered by the unitary authorities of Bournemouth and Poole, and the non-metropolitan district of Christchurch. [4] The authority covers much of the area of the South Dorset conurbation.

Contents

Background

Districts of Dorset prior to the creation of BCP Dorset UK district map 2010 (blank).svg
Districts of Dorset prior to the creation of BCP

Bournemouth and Christchurch were historically part of the county of Hampshire, while Poole was historically a part of Dorset and was a county corporate. By the mid-20th century, the towns had begun to coalesce as a conurbation, and in the 1974 Local Government Act the three areas were brought together under the ceremonial county of Dorset, while still forming separate districts. In 1997, Poole and Bournemouth became unitary authorities, while Christchurch remained a lower tier district with county-level services provided by Dorset County Council.

The new authority was formed as a result of local government reorganisation in the ceremonial county of Dorset. Under the plans, dubbed "Future Dorset", all councils within the county were abolished and replaced with two new unitary authorities. One was formed from the existing unitary authorities of Bournemouth and Poole, which merged with the non-metropolitan district of Christchurch to create the unitary authority to be known as Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole. The other was created from the merger of the existing non-metropolitan districts of Weymouth and Portland, West Dorset, North Dorset, Purbeck and East Dorset to form a new Dorset authority. [5]

The plans were supported by every affected body except Christchurch Borough Council, which formally opposed the reorganisation [6] and unsuccessfully challenged the proposals in the High Court. [7] Several Conservative councillors in Christchurch were suspended from the party for their opposition to the plan, with several of them subsequently standing as independents in the 2019 election. [8]

Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council

Statutory instruments for the creation of the new authority were made on behalf of the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government on 25 May 2018, and a shadow authority was formed the following day. [9] [10] The shadow authority was composed of the existing borough councillors from Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole, as well as the county councillors representing Christchurch. The shadow authority had 125 members, and first met on 6 June 2018. [11] However, a review by the Local Government Boundary Commission's reduced the number of wards for the new authority to 33 multi-member wards, with 76 councillors in total. [12]

The first elections took place in 2019 alongside other local elections, and led to the Conservatives holding the most seats but lacking a majority, meaning that the council was under no overall control. Subsequent to the election, the Liberal Democrats, the second largest party in the council, led the creation of the Unity Alliance Administration, made up of the Liberal Democrats (15), Independents (11), Poole People (7), Labour (3), Green Party (2) and Alliance for Local Living (1). The Unity Alliance therefore had 39 members, the number required for a majority. The remaining councillors, belonging to the Conservative Party (36) and UKIP (1), remained in opposition. However, two Unity Alliance councillors died in 2020, [13] [14] and two Poole People councillors left both their party and the administration, [15] [16] leaving the administration in minority; a vote of no confidence in council leader Vikki Slade was subsequently passed, removing her as leader. A new leader was elected on 1 October 2020. [17]

Geography

The authority lies in the South East of the ceremonial county of Dorset around 150 km from London. Dorset as a whole is part of the South West region of England, which is used for statistical purposes. The three former boroughs are all historically seaside towns with tourism playing an important part in the local economy. Bournemouth and Poole lie north of Poole Harbour, whilst Christchurch contains Christchurch Harbour, with the Isle of Wight and Solent to the East and English Channel to the South and West.

Climate

Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole has an Oceanic Temperate Climate. The presence of the Gulf Stream ensures that the British Isles maintain an all-year-round ambient temperature, and, because of its position on the south coast of England, the area has slightly warmer winters and cooler summers than settlements further inland.

Climate data for Bournemouth Hurn 33 feet (10 metres) asl, 1981–2010, [Note 1] Extremes 1960–
MonthJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecYear
Record high °C (°F)14.7
(58.5)		17.8
(64.0)		21.0
(69.8)		25.0
(77.0)		27.6
(81.7)		33.8
(92.8)		33.9
(93.0)		34.1
(93.4)		27.9
(82.2)		25.2
(77.4)		19.8
(67.6)		16.0
(60.8)		34.1
(93.4)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F)8.4
(47.1)		8.5
(47.3)		11.0
(51.8)		13.5
(56.3)		17.0
(62.6)		19.8
(67.6)		22.1
(71.8)		22.0
(71.6)		19.3
(66.7)		15.3
(59.5)		11.5
(52.7)		8.7
(47.7)		14.8
(58.6)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F)1.5
(34.7)		1.2
(34.2)		2.7
(36.9)		3.8
(38.8)		7.2
(45.0)		9.8
(49.6)		11.9
(53.4)		11.6
(52.9)		9.4
(48.9)		7.1
(44.8)		3.7
(38.7)		1.6
(34.9)		6.0
(42.7)
Record low °C (°F)−13.4
(7.9)		−10.9
(12.4)		−10.2
(13.6)		−5.7
(21.7)		−3.6
(25.5)		0.4
(32.7)		2.6
(36.7)		2.1
(35.8)		−1.4
(29.5)		−6.4
(20.5)		−9.6
(14.7)		−10.5
(13.1)		−13.4
(7.9)
Average rainfall mm (inches)86.9
(3.42)		62.5
(2.46)		64.7
(2.55)		53.9
(2.12)		49.5
(1.95)		51.6
(2.03)		47.8
(1.88)		51.8
(2.04)		65.3
(2.57)		100.7
(3.96)		100.5
(3.96)		100.0
(3.94)		835.2
(32.88)
Average rainy days12.89.610.89.18.87.77.97.39.012.612.512.3120.4
Mean monthly sunshine hours 66.584.5121.4185.1218.5229.5232.0214.6159.1115.280.160.31,766.8
Source: Met Office [18]
Climate data for Christchurch, Dorset, England
MonthJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecYear
Mean daily maximum °C (°F)8
(46)		8
(46)		11
(52)		13
(55)		17
(63)		19
(66)		22
(72)		22
(72)		19
(66)		15
(59)		11
(52)		9
(48)		14.5
(58.1)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F)2
(36)		2
(36)		3
(37)		4
(39)		7
(45)		10
(50)		12
(54)		12
(54)		10
(50)		7
(45)		4
(39)		3
(37)		6.3
(43.3)
Average precipitation mm (inches)62.9
(2.48)		50.3
(1.98)		40.7
(1.60)		45.5
(1.79)		29.2
(1.15)		35.6
(1.40)		31.8
(1.25)		35.5
(1.40)		51.5
(2.03)		75.3
(2.96)		69.0
(2.72)		67.2
(2.65)		594.5
(23.41)
Source: MSN[ citation needed ]
Climate data for Poole, Dorset, England
MonthJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecYear
Mean daily maximum °C (°F)8
(46)		8
(46)		11
(52)		13
(55)		17
(63)		19
(66)		22
(72)		22
(72)		19
(66)		15
(59)		11
(52)		9
(48)		14.5
(58.1)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F)2
(36)		2
(36)		3
(37)		4
(39)		7
(45)		10
(50)		12
(54)		12
(54)		10
(50)		7
(45)		4
(39)		3
(37)		6.3
(43.3)
Average precipitation mm (inches)62.9
(2.48)		50.3
(1.98)		40.7
(1.60)		45.5
(1.79)		29.2
(1.15)		35.6
(1.40)		31.8
(1.25)		35.5
(1.40)		51.5
(2.03)		73.5
(2.89)		69.0
(2.72)		67.2
(2.65)		592.6
(23.33)
Source: MSN[ citation needed ]
  1. ↑ In accordance with World Meteorological Organization (WMO) recommendations, the Met Office maintains long-term averages of the UK climate, based on standard 30-year periods. The latest 30-year period is for 1981–2010.

Demographics

Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole .mw-parser-output .legend{page-break-inside:avoid;break-inside:avoid-column}.mw-parser-output .legend-color{display:inline-block;min-width:1.25em;height:1.25em;line-height:1.25;margin:1px 0;text-align:center;border:1px solid black;background-color:transparent;color:black}.mw-parser-output .legend-text{} Green belt County borders District borders South West Hampshire & South East Dorset Green Belt.svg
Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole
  Green belt
  County borders
  District borders

The major settlements within Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole are Bournemouth, Poole, Christchurch and Merley / Oakley. Within the ceremonial county of Dorset, Bournemouth and Poole are the largest two settlements, whilst Christchurch is the fourth, after Weymouth.

Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole roughly overlaps with the South-East Dorset Conurbation, although the latter also spreads to the former East Dorset Borough and parts of the New Forest district of Hampshire. As such, the area lies within the South West Hampshire/South East Dorset Green Belt, created between 1958 and 1980, which regulates environmental and planning policy to manage development expansion.

Landmarks

Media

In terms of television, the area is served by BBC South and ITV Meridian broadcasting from the Rowridge transmitter. [19]

Radio stations for the area are:

BBC Local Radio

Independent Local Radio

Community Radio

The area is served by the local newspaper, Bournemouth Daily Echo .

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dorset</span> County of England

Dorset is a ceremonial county in South West England. It is bordered by Somerset to the north-west, Wiltshire to the north and the north-east, Hampshire to the east, the Isle of Wight across the Solent to the south-east, the English Channel to the south, and Devon to the west. The largest settlement is Bournemouth, and the county town is Dorchester.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Branksome, Dorset</span> Human settlement in England

Branksome is a suburb of Poole, in the Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole district, in the ceremonial county of Dorset, England. The area consists of residential properties and also a number of commercial and industrial areas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">South East Dorset conurbation</span> Population centre in Southern England

The South East Dorset conurbation is a multi-centred conurbation on the south coast of Dorset in England.

Bournemouth Borough Council was the local authority for Bournemouth in Dorset, England between 1974 and 2019. Prior to 1974 Bournemouth had been a county borough within Hampshire. Under the Local Government Act 1972 Bournemouth became a non-metropolitan district within Dorset on 1 April 1974, with the same boundaries as the former county borough. On 1 April 1997 it became a unitary authority, taking over the functions previously provided for the area by Dorset County Council. In 2019 the council was abolished, merging with Christchurch and Poole to form Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Unitary authorities of England</span> Local government in some parts of England

The unitary authorities of England are a type of local authority responsible for all local government services in an area. They combine the functions of a non-metropolitan county council and a non-metropolitan district council, which elsewhere in England provide two tiers of local government.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dorset County Council</span> Former local authority in England

Dorset County Council was the county council of Dorset in England. It was created in 1889 and abolished in 2019. Throughout its existence, the council was based in Dorchester.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council</span> Unitary local authority for the district of Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole

Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council, which styles itself BCP Council, is the local authority for Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole, a local government district in the ceremonial county of Dorset, England. The council is a unitary authority, being a district council which also performs the functions of a county council. It is independent from Dorset Council, the unitary authority which administers the rest of the county. The district was created on 1 April 2019 by the merger of the areas that were previously administered by the unitary authorities of Bournemouth and Poole, and the non-metropolitan district of Christchurch.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dorset Council (UK)</span> Local authority in England

Dorset Council is the local authority for the non-metropolitan county of Dorset in England. It is a unitary authority, being a district council which also performs the functions of a county council. The non-metropolitan county is smaller than the ceremonial county of Dorset, which also includes Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole. The council was created in 2019 when local government across Dorset was reorganised.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Poole People Party</span> Local political party in England

The Party for Poole People is a movement and local political party in Poole, Dorset, England. Defining itself as neither left or right wing, the party has stood in elections for the former Poole Borough Council and the Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council which replaced it. On the council it is part of the Poole Independents Group, which includes all three Poole People Councillors, one Alliance for Local Living (ALL) Councillor and one independent Councillor. It was previously part of the "Unity Alliance" administration on Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council from 2019 until a vote of no confidence in 2020, after which the party has been in opposition. It was founded in 2010 by Mark Howell, and has contested three local elections, as well as the Poole constituency in the 2015 UK general election.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dorset (district)</span> Unitary authority area in England

Dorset is a unitary authority area, existing since 1 April 2019, in the ceremonial county of Dorset, England. It covers all of the ceremonial county except for Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole. The council of the district is Dorset Council, which is in effect Dorset County Council re-constituted so as to be vested with the powers and duties of five district councils which were abolished, and shedding its partial responsibility for and powers in Christchurch.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2019 Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council election</span> 2019 local election in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole

The 2019 Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council election took place on 2 May 2019 to elect the inaugural members of Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council in England, formed from the former unitary authorities of Bournemouth and Poole, and borough of Christchurch. At the same time an election for the new Christchurch Town Council was held.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alliance for Local Living</span> British political party

The Alliance for Local Living (ALL) was a minor localist party and political group based in Dorset, with separate branches in the two authorities, ALL for Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole and ALL for Dorset. The BCP office was based in Poole, whilst the Dorset office was based in Weymouth. The party was deregistered in November 2023, at which point it had four councillors on Dorset Council, who continued to sit together as an informal grouping. The group became Independents for Dorset in 2024.

The Christchurch Independents (CI) are a political party and group in the Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP) Council, formed by journalist Andy Martin and (former) Conservative and Independent Councillors after the reorganisation of local government in Dorset, with new candidates joining to stand in Christchurch wards for the inaugural 2019 Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council Election. Originally not forming a registered political party, CI was initially the joint-third largest alongside the Poole People and ALL group. In 2020, Christchurch Independents councillor Colin Bungey died, leading to a by-election being held the next year in the Commons Ward, for which the Christchurch Independents were registered as a political party.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bournemouth Town Hall</span> Municipal building in Bournemouth, Dorset, England

Bournemouth Town Hall, also known as the Civic Centre and formerly the Mont Dore Hotel, is a municipal facility in Bourne Avenue, Bournemouth, England. The town hall, which is the meeting place of Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council, is a Grade II listed building. The town hall stands opposite Bournemouth Gardens and the Bournemouth War Memorial and is adjacent to St. Andrew's Church, Richmond Hill.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Town Hall, Christchurch</span> Municipal building in Christchurch, Dorset, England

The Town Hall, Christchurch is a municipal building in Christchurch, Dorset, England. The building, which incorporates a room known as the mayor's parlour on the first floor, and is a Grade II listed building. It is currently the base of Christchurch Town Council.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Walkford</span> Electoral division in Christchurch, England

Walkford is a suburb of Christchurch, in the electoral ward of Highcliffe and Walkford, in the unitary authority of Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole, in the ceremonial county of Dorset, England. The suburb historically was in Hampshire.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hamworthy (ward)</span>

Hamworthy is a ward in Poole, Dorset. Since 2019, the ward has elected 3 councillors to Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Muscliff and Strouden Park</span>

Muscliff and Strouden Park is a ward in Bournemouth, Dorset. Since 2019, the ward has elected 3 councillors to Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Redhill and Northbourne</span>

Redhill and Northbourne is a ward in Bournemouth, Dorset. Since 2019, the ward has elected 2 councillors to Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Winton East</span> Election ward in Bournemouth, Dorset, England

Winton East is a ward in Bournemouth, Dorset. Since 2019, the ward has elected 2 councillors to Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council.

References

  1. ↑ "BCP Council Cabinet Minutes of the Meeting held on 12 February 2020 at 9.30 am" (PDF).
  2. ↑ "Introducing your new council" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 April 2019. Retrieved 19 April 2019.
  3. 1 2 UK Census (2021). "2021 Census Area Profile – Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Local Authority (E06000058)". Nomis. Office for National Statistics . Retrieved 5 January 2024.
  4. ↑ Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (25 May 2018). "The Bournemouth, Dorset and Poole (Structural Changes) Order 2018". legislation.gov.uk. Archived from the original on 25 May 2018. Retrieved 28 May 2018.
  5. ↑ "Future Dorset - Two new authorities for Dorset". futuredorset.co.uk. Archived from the original on 31 May 2018. Retrieved 30 May 2018.
  6. ↑ "Council submits alternative to merger". BBC News. 2018. Archived from the original on 9 November 2018. Retrieved 8 November 2018.
  7. ↑ "Council's merger appeal bid refused". BBC News. 10 August 2018. Archived from the original on 9 November 2018. Retrieved 8 November 2018.
  8. ↑ "Tories suspended over merger row". BBC News. 12 March 2019. Retrieved 19 April 2020.
  9. ↑ "Parliament passes councils merger plan". BBC News. 25 May 2018.
  10. ↑ "Historic day, as Parliamentary process to create new councils concludes - Future Dorset". futuredorset.co.uk.
  11. ↑ bcpjointcommittee (6 June 2018). "BCP Shadow Authority Hold Inaugural Meeting 06/06/2018". BCP Shadow Authority. Retrieved 19 April 2020.
  12. ↑ "LGBCE | Ward boundaries finalised for new Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council | LGBCE Site". www.lgbce.org.uk. Archived from the original on 30 April 2019. Retrieved 19 April 2020.
  13. ↑ ""We have a lost a wonderful, decent, honourable man and a great servant to Christchurch"". Bournemouth Echo. Retrieved 21 September 2020.
  14. ↑ "Passing of Cllr Pete Parrish". www.bcpcouncil.gov.uk. Archived from the original on 8 October 2020. Retrieved 21 September 2020.
  15. ↑ "Two councillors leave Poole People Party to shake off the 'binds of the political whip'". Bournemouth Echo. Retrieved 21 September 2020.
  16. ↑ ""A catalogue of catastrophic policy decisions": Why this councillor left the coalition running BCP Council". Bournemouth Echo. Retrieved 21 September 2020.
  17. ↑ "In depth: The vote of no confidence that led to end of BCP Council leader's tenure". Bournemouth Echo. Retrieved 21 September 2020.
  18. ↑ "Hurn Climatic Averages 1981–2010". Met Office. Archived from the original on 2 October 2013. Retrieved 23 December 2012.
  19. ↑ "Full Freeview on the Rowridge (Isle Of Wight, England) transmitter". UK Free TV. 1 May 2004. Retrieved 22 April 2024.
  20. ↑ "Hope FM" . Retrieved 22 April 2024.
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