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 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
 • ChairDavid Flagg
 • LeaderDrew Mellor
Area
[2]
 • Total62.3 sq mi (161.3 km2)
 • Rank176th (of 309)
Population
 (2021)
 • Total400,196
 • Rank14th (of 309)
 • Density6,390/sq mi (2,469/km2)
Time zone UTC+0 (Greenwich Mean Time)
Postcodes
BH
Area code(s) 01202
01425
ISO 3166-2 BCP
ONS code E06000058
Website www.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. It 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. [3] 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 are historically part of the county of Hampshire, whilst Poole is 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, whilst still forming separate districts. In 1997 Poole and Bournemouth became unitary authorities, whilst Christchurch remained within 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. [4]

The plans were supported by every affected body except Christchurch Borough Council, which formally opposed the reorganisation [5] and unsuccessfully challenged the proposals in the High Court. [6] 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. [7]

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. [8] [9] 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. [10] 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. [11]

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, [12] [13] and two Poole People councillors left both their party and the administration, [14] [15] 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. [16]

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)
Average high °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)
Average low °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 [17]
Climate data for Christchurch, Dorset, England
MonthJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecYear
Average high °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)
Average low °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
Average high °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)
Average low °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.

See also

Related Research Articles

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">South West Hampshire/South East Dorset Green Belt</span>

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Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council is a unitary local authority for the district of Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole in England that came into being on 1 April 2019. It was created from the areas that were previously administered by the unitary authorities of Bournemouth and Poole and the non-metropolitan district of Christchurch.

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

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

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

The Alliance of Local Living (ALL) is 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 is based in Poole, whilst the Dorset office is based in Weymouth. The party has five councillors in total, one on BCP Council and the remaining four on Dorset Council.

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.

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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.

Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council is a unitary authority in Dorset, England. It was formed in April 2019, with the inaugural elections held in May of that year. The council is made up of 76 councillors from 33 wards, elected for a four-year term, with the next elections due take place in 2023.

<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">Poole Town (ward)</span> UK electoral ward

Poole Town is an electoral ward in Poole, Dorset. Since 2019, the ward has elected 2 councillors to Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Redhill and Northbourne (ward)</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 (ward)</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. ↑ 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.
  4. ↑ "Future Dorset - Two new authorities for Dorset". futuredorset.co.uk. Archived from the original on 31 May 2018. Retrieved 30 May 2018.
  5. ↑ "Council submits alternative to merger". BBC News. 2018. Archived from the original on 9 November 2018. Retrieved 8 November 2018.
  6. ↑ "Council's merger appeal bid refused". BBC News. 10 August 2018. Archived from the original on 9 November 2018. Retrieved 8 November 2018.
  7. ↑ "Tories suspended over merger row". BBC News. 12 March 2019. Retrieved 19 April 2020.
  8. ↑ "Parliament passes councils merger plan". BBC News. 25 May 2018.
  9. ↑ "Historic day, as Parliamentary process to create new councils concludes - Future Dorset". futuredorset.co.uk.
  10. ↑ bcpjointcommittee (6 June 2018). "BCP Shadow Authority Hold Inaugural Meeting 06/06/2018". BCP Shadow Authority. Retrieved 19 April 2020.
  11. ↑ "LGBCE | Ward boundaries finalised for new Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council | LGBCE Site". www.lgbce.org.uk. Retrieved 19 April 2020.
  12. ↑ ""We have a lost a wonderful, decent, honourable man and a great servant to Christchurch"". Bournemouth Echo. Retrieved 21 September 2020.
  13. ↑ "Passing of Cllr Pete Parrish". www.bcpcouncil.gov.uk. Archived from the original on 8 October 2020. Retrieved 21 September 2020.
  14. ↑ "Two councillors leave Poole People Party to shake off the 'binds of the political whip'". Bournemouth Echo. Retrieved 21 September 2020.
  15. ↑ ""A catalogue of catastrophic policy decisions": Why this councillor left the coalition running BCP Council". Bournemouth Echo. Retrieved 21 September 2020.
  16. ↑ "In depth: The vote of no confidence that led to end of BCP Council leader's tenure". Bournemouth Echo. Retrieved 21 September 2020.
  17. ↑ "Hurn Climatic Averages 1981–2010". Met Office. Archived from the original on 2 October 2013. Retrieved 23 December 2012.
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