Meeting documents

The Council considered a report by the Chief Executive to facilitate further discussion on proposals to change the current local government structures in Dorset.

The Chief Executive presented the report highlighting that East Dorset District Council had now agreed to be engaged in the process to discuss options for the future of local government in Dorset; the challenging timetable for this to happen; the consultation and engagement which would be required; and the recommendation to formalise the Shaping Dorset’s Future Board.  Any changes to local government would focus on community outcomes and improved services, with a clear commitment to work more closely with Town and Parish Councils and communities.

The Leader considered the additional meeting of the Council on 10 March 2016 to have been a valuable debate with agreement reached as to the way forward.  He agreed that the timetable was challenging and drew attention to the next step - engagement and consultation.  He then referred to the need to formalise the Shaping Dorset’s Future Board in order for it to drive the process forward.  He also referred to the need to work closely with Town and Parish Councils to progress double devolution and to the encouraging signs of involvement from district and borough councils.  He thanked members of the Shaping Dorset’s Future Board for their work in developing work streams which resulted in progress to date and informed members that the Cabinet had agreed additional resources to support this work.

Councillor Knox, as Chairman of the Shaping Dorset’s Future Group, drew attention to the pace at which the Board was working, thanked members for their input and highlighted their role in providing the link between between the Council and communities. 

Members discussed the report and generally supported the recommendations.  The following points emerged:-

·      Better services should be provided in future based on the needs of communities.

·      Christchurch MPs had been given assurances from Ministers that no authority in Dorset would be forced into change they did not want, yet the report referred to unanimity as not being necessary.

·      Any change should be in the interests of Dorset’s residents.

·      The differences between urban and rural Dorset were highlighted and a question posed as to where Christchurch might fit in.

·      The need for empowerment of Town and Parish Councils and the concern that this might be subsumed by other criteria.

·      The report did not give any description of double devolution.

·      Who was best placed to implement decisions being taken at a lower level?

·      What options were there for Local Area Boards?

·      Durham Council had successfully implemented Local Area Boards.

·      The Council needed to talk to other Councils who had been through a similar change to benefit from their experiences and lessons learned.

·      It was essential for councillors to know and understand the changes.

·      The Shaping Dorset’s Future Board had worked and developed well as they were working towards a common goal and in the best interests for Dorset.

·      The important role for local members in helping with the consultation with Town and Parish Councils and communities was emphasised.

·      The information provided on the Dorset2020vision Facebook page was highlighted.

·      The possibility of visiting other councils to see how they are progressing was raised.

It was confirmed that local authority functions listed in the report would be transferred to any Unitary Authority, and that the Shaping Dorset’s Future Board’s work streams would be looking at the detail.  A series of member seminars/workshops were to be held in the forthcoming months, with involvement from Cornwall and Wiltshire Councils who had undergone a change to Unitary status.  The Leaders and Chief Executives Group would be considering devolvement of powers.

There was some debate about the timing of the County Council elections in 2017.  Some members thought the date should be pushed back to allow them to take a full part in any engagement, for continuity and to reduce the possibility of additional election costs being incurred.  As to when any decision to change the date would be made, the Chief Executive explained that advice was being sought  from the Department for Communities and Local Government but it was difficult to see at what point such a decision could be made.  She would keep members informed.

Resolved

1. That Councillors contribute to the development of a public consultation, business case and devolution proposals through council meetings and member workshops.

2. That the governance and decision-making arrangements, as shown at Appendix 2 to the report, specifically the creation of the Shaping Dorset's Future Board, with the sub-groups as shown, be agreed.

3. That the Terms of Reference for the Shaping Dorset’s Future Board, attached at Appendix 3 to the report, be agreed.

4. That Steve Butler, Mike Byatt, Hilary Cox, Deborah Croney, Janet Dover, Peter Finney, David Harris, Colin Jamieson, David Jones, Rebecca Knox, William Trite, Daryl Turner, David Walsh, Peter Wharf and Kate Wheller be appointed to serve on the Shaping Dorset's Future Board.

5. That the Chief Executive, after consultation with the Leader and the Shaping Dorset's Future Board, be authorised to:

a. develop local government reform options, including the development of a business case and ‘double devolution’ proposal with the Town and Parish Councils.

b. agree the content and structure of the consultation required to inform Local Government Reform decisions.

6. That the high-level timeline at Appendix 4 to the report be noted.

7. That full Council meetings on 15 December 2016 and 26 January 2017 be reserved for decision-making in advance of any proposal being submitted to the Department for Communities and Local Government.

8. That the proposals for resourcing, shown at section 8 of the report, be agreed.