Meeting documents

An apology for absence was received from Cllr Peter Wharf.

There were no declarations by members of disclosable pecuniary interests under the Code of Conduct.

To confirm and sign the minutes of the meeting held on 6 March 2019.

The minutes of the meeting held on 6 March 2019 were confirmed and signed.

Public Speaking

There were no public questions received at the meeting in accordance with Standing Order 21(1).

There were no public statements received at the meeting in accordance with Standing Order 21(2).

Petitions

There were no petitions received at the meeting in accordance with the County Council’s Petition Scheme.

To receive the draft Dorset Council Forward Plan.

The Cabinet considered the draft Dorset Council Forward Plan, which identified key decisions to be taken by the Cabinet on or after its first meeting on 4 June 2019.  The following changes were noted:

·      The Lead Member names had been removed from the document as they would be populated following the Elections on 2 May 2019.

·      It was noted that consultation information for the items in the plan would be added in due course.

·      An item in relation to the Joint Archives would be considered by Dorset Council following a recommendation made by the Shadow Executive Committee on 25 March 2019.

·      A review of public transport would need to be considered by Dorset Council in due course.

·      The item relating to the safeguarding partnership arrangements on 4 June 2019 may move to a later meeting.

Noted

To consider a report from the Economic Growth Overview and Scrutiny Committee meeting held on 20 March 2019.  The minutes and recommendation of the meeting will be circulated prior to the meeting.

The Cabinet considered a report by the Cabinet Member for Natural and Built Environment on proposals to spend £1.4m of corporate funding on essential maintenance activities linked to drainage (including the £200,000 revenue element and £100,000 of capital) and the currently programmed patching and resurfacing work to be funded by £1.1m capital funding. 

The report was considered by the Economic Growth Overview and Scrutiny Committee at its meeting held on 20 March 2019 and made the following recommendation:

‘That having considered the recommendations made by the Policy Development Panel (PDP) in 2018, the Cabinet be requested to recommend that Dorset Council be asked to actively, and formally, consider reinstating essential highway maintenance activities in the future, requiring additional annual revenue funding equating to £3,733.960.’

The Cabinet welcomed the recommendation from the Committee and commended it for consideration by the Dorset Council.

Recommended

That Dorset Council be asked to actively, and formally, consider reinstating essential highway maintenance activities in the future, requiring additional annual revenue funding equating to £3,733.960.

Reasons for Recommendation

The recommendations made by the PDP were considered essential to address the backlog of issues associated with essential highway maintenance.

To receive the minutes of the following meetings:

The Cabinet received the following minutes from Panels and Boards:

Cllr Hilary Cox, as the Vice-Chairman of the Joint Archives Advisory Board, highlighted the need to extend archive storage provision and that there was a very important conversation needed with Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council after 1 April 2019.  It was noted that there was a need for a strategic solution, but that it should not be solely at the cost of Dorset Council.  Reference was also made to the need to explore income generating options as other organisations also required archiving services.

The Shadow Executive Committee considered the recommendation at its meeting on 25 March 2019, which made a recommendation to Dorset Council to take the matter forward in the early days of the new Council. 

Noted

The minutes of the meeting were unfortunately not published in time for the meeting.  However, members discussed the current work of the Health and Wellbeing Board and suggested that the membership of the Board be considered as part of a review of bodies by Dorset Council in due course.

The arrangements in place for locality groups were praised and it was recognised that effort should be made to continue to strengthen the effective working already in place.

Noted

To answer any questions received in writing by the Chief Executive by not later than 10.00am on 22 March 2019.

A question was asked by Cllr Nick Ireland to the Cabinet Member for Safeguarding in relation to Looked After Children arrangements.  The question and answer are attached to these minutes as an annexure. 

The Executive Director, People (Children) provided some further context around the arrangements in place and welcomed a conversation with Cllr Ireland and confirmed that she was happy to meet with the family concerned.  Cllr Steve Butler echoed the importance of contacting the Director to resolve concerns as early as possible. Cllr Andrew Parry also highlighted the importance of needing to constantly review lines of communication.

To consider passing the following resolution:

To agree that in accordance with Section 100 A (4) of the Local Government Act 1972 to exclude the public from the meeting in relation to the business specified below it is likely that if members of the public were present, there would be disclosure to them of exempt information as defined in the paragraphs detailed below of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Act and the public interest in withholding the information outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information to the public.

Resolved

That in accordance with Section 100 A (4) of the Local Government Act 1972 to exclude the public from the meeting in relation to the business specified below as it was likely that if members of the public were present, there would be disclosure to them of exempt information as defined in paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Act and the public interest in withholding the information outweighed the public interest in disclosing the information to the public.

To consider an exempt report by the Cabinet Member for Communities and Resources. NOT FOR PUBLICATION

The Cabinet considered a report by the Cabinet Member for Communities and Resources on a proposed sale of a plot at Dorset Innovation Park. 

Resolved

That the sale of a plot at Dorset Innovation Park to Norco through the grant of a 999 year lease be approved.

Reasons for Decisions

To facilitate the first significant land sale on Dorset Innovation Park since the acquisition of the site by Dorset County Council bringing significant third-party investment to the park through the potential creation of a new high-tech engineering facility for a company satisfying the Park’s wider occupation policy and the Council’s economic development aims.