Millie Earl | |
|---|---|
| Leader of Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council | |
| Assumed office 14 July 2024 | |
| Preceded by | Vikki Slade |
| Councillor for Newtown and Heatherlands | |
| Assumed office 2 May 2019 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1990 or 1991 (aged 33 or 34) Poole,Dorset,England |
| Political party | Liberal Democrats |
Millie Clementine Earl (born 1990 or 1991) is a British Liberal Democrat politician who has served as the leader of Bournemouth,Christchurch and Poole Council since 2024.
Earl is a veteran campaigner working with charities like Dorset Wildlife Trust and the Bournemouth Foodbank. [2] In the 2015 Poole Borough Council election,she was a Liberal Democrat candidate in Creekmoor ward but was not elected. [3]
In the 2019 Bournemouth,Christchurch and Poole Council election,she was elected in Newtown and Heatherlands. [4] In the 2023 Bournemouth,Christchurch and Poole Council election,she was re-elected in her ward topping the poll with 1,966 votes. [5] In the election the Liberal Democrats became the largest party and took control of the council holding the most seats. [6] The Liberal Democrats formed a coalition with Christchurch Independents,Poole People Party and the Bournemouth Independent Group. [7] Earl was appointed Deputy Council Leader with the portfolio of "Connected Communities". [8] In 2023,Earl was awarded the Belinda Eyre-Brook Award at the Liberal Democrat Conference in Bournemouth. [9]
In the 2024 United Kingdom general election,council leader Vikki Slade was elected Member of Parliament (MP) for Mid Dorset and North Poole,so Earl took over as interim council leader. [10] When the council reconvened she was elected. [11] As council leader she has been responsible in negotiations surrounding the future of the Bournemouth Air Festival. [12] In September 2024,the "Best Value Notice" the Government put on BCP Council was lifted with Earl saying the council was in a "much healthier place". [13]
As council leader she launched a consultation on new parish and town councils. [14] In April 2025,she cut the ribbon at the new soft play facility at Kings Park Leisure and Learning Centre in Boscombe. [15] In June 2025,Earl called for the cancellation of a planned concert in Bournemouth by the American musician Marilyn Manson for his One Assassination Under God Tour. [16] This was due to the allegations made by actress Evan Rachel Wood. [17] On 24 June 2025,BCP Council was won Senior Leadership Team of the Year at the Municipal Journal (MJ) Local Government Achievement Awards. [18] Earl said "this award is real recognition for the remarkable work BCP Council does despite facing significant and unique challenges". [19]
In July 2025,she warned that BCP Council was under "imminent financial threat" over increased demand for SEND services. [20] The council has taken on debt to pay for those demands. [21] Earl wrote a letter to Deputy Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Angela Rayner asking for further SEND support. [22]
Earl supported the use of "hybrid and online participation" for council meetings. [23] During the COVID-19 pandemic Earl helped organise a community festival in Parkstone. [24] Earl presented a petition on measures to prevent anti-social behaviour in her ward. [25] The petition entitled "Make Ashley Road Safe" was drawn up following a number of incidents in the area. [26]
Earl opposed Conservative proposals to enforce Public Spaces Protection Orders (PSPO) which included fining homeless people in the local authority,calling the policy "very cruel". [27] Earl opposes the English Devolution Bill which proposes a devolution deal and metro mayor for the region. [28] Following a council vote,it was decided that the unitary authority would join the Heart of Wessex Combined Authority instead of Hampshire and Solent,in which Earl described as the "best option". [29] [30]