Meeting documents

To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence were received from Cherry Brooks, Andy Canning, Peter Hall, and Margaret Phipps. 

The Cabinet Member for Natural and Built Environment also conveyed his apologies.

The Chairman expressed disappointment and concern about members lack of attendance especially when so much hard work had been undertaken to produce the information being presented.

To appoint a Vice-Chairman for the remainder of 2018/19.

Resolved

That Jon Andrews be appointed Vice-Chairman for the remainder of 2018/19.

Members are required to comply with the requirements of the Localism Act 2011 regarding disclosable pecuniary interests.

·        Check if there is an item of business on this agenda in which the member or other relevant person has a disclosable pecuniary interest.

·        Check that the interest has been notified to the Monitoring Officer (in writing) and entered in the Register (if not this must be done on the form available from the clerk within 28 days).

·        Disclose the interest at the meeting (in accordance with the County Council’s Code of Conduct) and in the absence of a dispensation to speak and/or vote, withdraw from any consideration of the item.

The Register of Interests is available on Dorsetforyou.com and the list of disclosable pecuniary interests is set out on the reverse of the form.

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

To note the Terms of Reference for the Committee:-

Delivering good outcomes for the residents and communities we serve through a constructive, proactive and objective approach to the consideration, scrutiny and review of policies, strategies, financial and performance issues.

OVERVIEW

- To review and develop policy at the Committee's own initiative or at the request of the Cabinet or the Public Health Joint Board and make recommendations to the Cabinet, Joint Committee or the Full Council.

- To oversee major consultations and make recommendations to the Cabinet, Joint Committee or the Full Council.

- To give advice on any matters as requested by the Cabinet or the Joint Committee.

SCRUTINY

- To hold the Executive to account through a process that seeks and considers necessary explanations, information and evidence to ensure good outcomes for our residents and communities.

- Through proactive scrutiny inquiry work, to contribute to improving the lives of our residents and communities, through an active contribution to the Council’s improvement agenda.

- To scrutinise key areas of strategic and operational activity and, where necessary, make recommendations to the Full Council, Cabinet or Joint Committee in respect of;

i) Matters which affect the Council's area or its residents.

ii) Performance of services in accordance with the targets in the Corporate Plan or other approved service plans.

iii) To provide a clear focus on finding efficiency savings in accordance with requirements in the Council’s financial strategy.

iv) To monitor expenditure against available budgets and, where necessary, make recommendations to the Cabinet or the Joint Committee.

v) To consider proposed budget plans, service plans and any other major planning or strategic statements and to make recommendations to the Cabinet or the Joint Committee.

Specific responsibilities for the Committees are;

‘To exercise a proactive and effective overview and scrutiny of functions to ensure the effective delivery of those specific outcomes as contained in the Corporate Plan…;’

Outcome:- To ensure that Dorset’s Economy is PROSPEROUS

A thriving local economy provides us all with more opportunities …

- New businesses thrive and existing businesses become more productive;

- More people secure the employment opportunities of their choice;

- Dorset’s residents are well educated, with the skills that Dorset’s employers need;

- Good quality, affordable homes are available for Dorset’s people;

- People and goods are able to move about the County safely and efficiently.

Members noted the Terms of Reference for the Committee.

Noted

To confirm and sign the minutes of the meeting held on 26 March 2018.

The minutes of the meeting held on 26 March 2018 were confirmed and signed.

To receive any questions or statements by members of the public.

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).

To receive presentations on the following areas:-

• Natural Capital and our Green Economy
• DCC Country Parks and Nature Reserves
• Social value of our Countryside – Parks for People
• The County Farm Estate and its added value
• Enhancing our Natural Environment through the Dorset Biodiversity Planning  Protocol

Members received the following presentations (attached as an Annexure to these minutes):-

·         Natural Capital and our Green Economy from the Coast and Countryside Service Manager:-

o   Natural Environment designations covered a large portion of Dorset;

o   4 ecosystem services explained to members along with the services that sat under them to support them;

o   Pollinators action plan highlighted;

o   Management of countryside sites, County Farms and the provision of environmental advice was key to this area;

o   Mental health and wellbeing benefits and assets highlighted;

o   Economic value – supported in Dorset between 17,000 and 61,000 jobs in the economy which was vital to the economy of Dorset.

·         DCC Country Parks and Nature Reserves from the Greenspace Team Leader who talked about the green space that Dorset County Council (DCC) managed as well as:-

o   4 Gypsy and Traveller sites with 50 pitches, the rent from this helped to pay for unauthorised camps and evictions as and when needed;

o   Over 40 countryside sites and Nature Reserves across Dorset were managed by DCC which resulted in £730k income per annum and covered their costs;

o   3 visitor centres and 2 country parks which attracted 820,000 visitors per year;

o   Improving and making green spaces accessible for everyone – the stepping into nature programme was highlighted which was improving health outcomes for people;

o   Dorset has 73 miles of the South West Coast Path;

o   Nearly 3,000 miles of Rights of Way in Dorset, tourism and health benefits highlighted here. Over £700k of external funding was received last year to help with the upkeep of the Rights of Ways;

o   The number of volunteers used was highlighted and members thanked them for their support;

o   The Chairman highlighted the issue of fires at the present time and the importance of ensuring fire breaks were in place. Whilst staff were doing an excellent job he felt members of the public were not aware of the amount of work taken to do this safety work;

o   Members felt there could be more joint working with the Town and Parish Councils to achieve a shared cost.

o   Following a question about the ease of opening up of old railway lines, the Greenspace Team Leader advised that once it was known who owned the land and once agreement had been reached with all the relevant landowners it was relatively simple to approach external funders e.g SUSTRANS.

o   Members felt there was a lot of things that the council did of which residents weren’t aware.  Officers confirmed this was in the process of being addressed with the new lead officer in Communications.

·         Social value of our Countryside – Parks for People from the Countryside Ranger and Project Leader for the Durlston Pleasure Grounds Project:-

o   Durlston was Dorset’s first country park with 340 acres of coast and countryside and attracted 250,00 visitors per year;

o   Durlston had 150+ volunteers and 3.5 permanent members of staff.  There was a 114% cost recovery rate at the Park;

o  ...  view the full minutes text for item 25.

To receive a report by the Cabinet Member for Natural and Built Environment, which was considered by the Cabinet at their meeting on 18 July 2018.

Members received a report by the Cabinet Member for Natural and Built

Environment which had been considered and approved by the Cabinet at their meeting on 18 July 2018.

The report had sought the Cabinet’s approval to amend the current Adopted Highways Policy so that it clearly set out revised delivery options for such works. The proposed policy amendment would provide additional delivery options to current practice and would provide Dorset County Council with the choice to design and/or construct highway improvements under specific conditions.

Resolved

That members supported the Cabinet’s decision to approve the amended Adopted Highways Policy.

(a)  To consider a report by the Director for Economic Growth and the Economy

(b)  To consider the Annual Report on the outcomes from the Economic Growth

Overview and Scrutiny Committee Work Programme.

The Committee considered a report by the Corporate Director for the Environment and Economy which included the most up to date available data on the population indicators within the ‘prosperous’ outcome and also included information on performance measures and risk management information.

The Intelligence, Insight and Performance Manager highlighted the percentage of residents educated to level 4 (or equivalent) and above to members.  The Chairman expressed concern that this would affect economic growth in the future and had asked the Chairman of the People and Communities Overview and Scrutiny Committee for more details, as this fell within their remit. In respect of the education being provided and the specific areas this drop in performance was affecting, a solution needed to be found as this affected all members not just those on the scrutiny committees.  The falling figures were a concern as big businesses would not relocate to the area if there was a recognised skills shortage.

Following a question about apprenticeships, the Corporate Director advised that there may be a smaller number of providers offering apprenticeships and that more research would be needed the factors behind the decline in the number of apprenticeships.

Members also considered the Annual Report for the Economic Growth Overview and

Scrutiny Committee 2017-18. The report summarised and communicated the key

elements of the work of the Committee, it’s purpose, the work it had been directly

involved in along with the outcomes that had been achieved to strengthen the

Council’s operating framework as a direct result of its involvement.

The Chairman was pleased to see so many positives within the report but did have a couple of areas he wished to return to and add to the work programme for the Committee :- Broadband and Mobile telecommunications.

Resolved

That the following items  be added to the Committee’s work programme:- Broadband and Mobile telecommunications.

To consider the Committee's work programme.

The Committee considered its work programme and gave consideration to the inclusion of a number of items which had been discussed earlier in the meeting.

The Chairman also felt that the Committee needed to look at the road programme for Dorset and advised members that the final report from the Policy Development Panel for Highways Maintenance Management was nearly complete and would be presented to the Cabinet in September 2018.

Resolved

That the Committee’s Work Programme be updated accordingly.

To answer any questions received in writing by the Chief Executive by not later than 10.00am on Monday 23 July 2018.

No questions were asked by members under Standing Order 20(2).