Bournemouth retained its Borough Charter status through the establishment of a Charter Trustee in the Local Government (Structural Boundary Changes) (Supplementary Provision and Miscellaneous Amendments) Order 2019, which was laid before parliament on 16 January 2019 and subsequently made on 20 March 2019.

The Trustees ensure the continuation of the civic, historic and ceremonial traditions of the former Borough of Bournemouth and is responsible for choosing a Mayor and Deputy Mayor from the appointed Trustees annually.

The Trustees are the Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP) Council Councillors representing the wards falling wholly or partly within the historic boundary of the former Borough Council.

The Charter Trustees Regulations 2009 provides that any historic property of the Borough of Bournemouth and which relates to the Charter Trustee area shall transfer to the Charter Trustees on 1 April 2019. An inventory of all such historic property has been produced which the Charter Trustees shall be responsible for maintaining and securing.

Meetings of the Charter Trustees

The Annual General Meeting of the Charter Trustees shall be held within 21 days of the annual council meeting of BCP Council.

The meeting shall be held at such a time and place as the Charter Trustees may determine.

All meetings of the Charter Trustees shall be held in the Council Chamber unless otherwise agreed.

Including the AGM, no less than two meetings shall be held each year to conduct the general business of the Charter Trustees, a Budget Meeting and the Annual General Meeting of the Charter Trustees at which the Mayor and Deputy Mayor are sworn in. The dates of such meetings will be determined by the Mayor.

The Mayor may call extra meetings if they consider this necessary and, except in emergency, 7 days’ notice will be given.

Political neutrality

Trustee members must be a Councillor and, by definition, a politician with responsibilities to the electors of his or her electoral Ward and will, in most instances, possess a tie to a political group on BCP Council.

However, Charter Trustees are a non-political and non-statutory role with the primary objective being to maintain and promote the historic and ceremonial traditions for the area.