Around 150 people gathered together to debate the nine priorities of Bournemouth Borough Council.  To view the results of the day:

• Click here to view the file in pdf
• Click here to view the file in powerpoint
  (Please note the files are large and may take a few moments to download)

The date: August 6th, 10am-1pm
The place: Bournemouth University, Wallisdown
The issues: the top 9 service improvements for your town
 

Bournemouth residents can get a feel of what it’s like to be an ‘ask the audience’ participant at this year’s Great Bournemouth Debate at Bournemouth University on August 6th, with The Daily Echo editor, Neal Butterworth acting as host!

Using 'Who wants to be a Millionaire?' style voting pads, residents will be asked for their views on our nine priorities for improving things in Bournemouth, which ranked in our order of importance, are:

1. Customer Focus
2. Recycling
3. Safer communities
4. Affordable housing
5. Sustainable transport
6. Cultural renewal
7. Children’s services
8. Cleaner streets
9. Boscombe regeneration

Residents will be introduced to the priorities in the theme of a quiz, testing their existing knowledge and gaining some further insight on each one before being asked whether they feel if anything is missing and or, whether they think they are in the right order. The audience will be also be able to rank the nine priorities in the order that they personally would put them, with the results of all voters being merged and being shown in comparison to that of the councils. They will also be given the opportunity to vote for what their top five priorities would be.

Before the audience do make their 'final' say on their ultimate five priorities from the list, Cabinet Members will be pitching to the audience for two minutes only, in order to gain their votes for their particular priority, but if they overrun, Neal will be giving them their marching orders!  Members of the audience who may feel particularly strongly about a certain priority will also have the chance to speak in support of it if they wish.

Councillor Leader Richard Smith said "We’ll get just 2 minutes each to make our case for each service improvement - then it’s over to the audience!  They'll get to tell us what they think of our priorities, as well as the things we might have missed off our list, that they think need the greatest attention.  Then, when we review our service improvement priorities later this year, we can better line them up with the service improvement priorities of residents."

The views of our younger residents are also being gathered via a special text message competition where one lucky person will win an iPod shuffle! All views gathered from this will be fed into the debate on the day to represent the views of our younger residents.

To become part of the audience, learn more about what the council does and to have your say on improving Bournemouth, residents need to contact 01202 451163 to book their place, or email great.debate@bournemouth.gov.uk

Residents who cannot make the event can still have their say via our on-line form.

A supervised crèche and refreshments will be available on the day.  Any residents wishing to attend the event will be given the opportunity to let us know if they need any of the below via a special form that will be sent with all tickets.

• Hearing Loop
• Wheelchair access/Restricted mobility access
• Visual Impairment (require seating at the front of the auditorium)
• or any other.

Calling all Bournemouth Young Residents - do you want to win an iPod shuffle?  If so, click here.

Have your say…

Are these the things you think we need to improve the most?  Are they in the right order?  Do you think we’ve missed something off?  If so what? 

Why not come along to the Great Bournemouth Debate to have YOUR say.  Email great.debate@bournemouth.gov.uk  with your name and the details of up to three friends you will be bringing along, or phone us on 451163.  Places are limited, so get in touch early to secure your place!

Can’t make it on the day?
You can TEXT or email your top priority to us as well as any suggestions for things we’ve missed off our list!