Meeting documents

To consider the following motions submitted by members of the Council. In accordance with Standing Order 17, motions which if adopted would constitute the exercise of an executive function, shall be presented to the Council by the proposer and be referred automatically to the appropriate Committee without debate by the Council.  The motion will be placed on the next appropriate agenda.  The appropriate Committee will then consider how the motion will be dealt with.

Unless determined otherwise by the Chairman the maximum time to be allowed to present each motion shall be 10 minutes.

Paul Kimber (County Councillor for Portland Tophill): Economic Opportunities for Devon and East Dorset

The motion is seconded by Kate Wheller (County Councillor for Portland Harbour)

"This Dorset County Council  ensures  that the proposed National Park is seriously considered as part of discussions on local government re-organisation."

Economic Opportunities for Dorset and East Devon

For the past couple of years, in response to an initiative from Natural England, a team from Dorset and East Devon has been developing proposals for the designation of a National Park, first put forward in a Government report of 1945. Natural England has given the proposal a positive first assessment.

Britain’s National Parks are world-famous for their outstanding scenery and environments. Much less well-known is their success in promoting thriving and resilient rural economies and communities.

An independent report on the "Economic Opportunities, Benefits and Wider Impacts of a Dorset and East Devon National Park" is now available: www.dorsetandedevonnp.co.uk/news

The key messages we take from the report are as follows. A Dorset & East Devon National Park would:

• Offer opportunities, benefits and advantages to the economy and businesses in the National Park and throughout Dorset and East Devon.
• Promote thriving local communities, including affordable housing, key services, employment and skills.
• Bring additional and more certain resources to the area, including central government funding which might amount to £10m annually, plus other sources of income. The Government has assured National Parks of future funding and support.
• Conserve and enhance the area’s environment, which is our greatest economic asset.

Local government re-organisation provides an opportunity for Dorset councils to include a National Park as part of a Devolution proposal to government in 2017. A companion study examines how the National Park Authority would work efficiently with a Unitary Authority on service delivery and financial outcomes. We see these studies as significant contributions to Dorset councils’ and others’ consideration of this question.

We look forward to discussing with all interested partners the significant opportunities which a National Park would offer.

Dorset & East Devon National Park Team

A National Park Delivers Greater Influence for Rural Communities

A new discussion paper www.dorsetandedevonnp.co.uk/news examines how the Dorset & E Devon National Park Authority (NPA) would deliver greater influence for rural communities, as well as working efficiently with partner Local Authorities to improve services and financial outcomes. Benefitting all communities, a National Park would bring:

• Additional and more certain funding benefitting all councils, communities and the economy. In addition to an assured central government grant of maybe £10 million per year, NPAs secure further funding and help others eg farmers to do so.
• A stronger partnership way of working. A NPA is a partnership and operates through partnerships. A small % of NPA funding goes on running costs. The vast majority is spent through partnerships with communities, farmers, landowners, businesses, the not-for-profit sector.
• Enhanced local representation, influence and voice for rural communities. Elected council representatives make up three quarters of the NPA, and Parish and Town Councils are a third of these. A NPA would strengthen grass roots democratic influence and representation.
• Enhanced Planning influence and capability. A NPA would ensure local control of Planning, with no Government-imposed housing targets. It makes the Local and Management Plan for the NP in consultation with communities and others. NPAs approve a higher % of planning applications than other Local Authorities because they work hard for good, sustainable development in the right places, to support communities, local affordable housing, employment, and services.
• Increased coherence and expertise. A NPA would bring joined up thinking, policy and delivery across the environment and economy, and expertise eg in land management, conservation, heritage, recreation, community liaison, and Planning.

Our National Parks not only conserve and enhance our environment and heritage, they also promote thriving and resilient rural economies and communities.

This important aspect is covered in an independent study: "Economic Opportunities, Benefits and Wider Impacts of a Dorset and East Devon National Park": www.dorsetandedevonnp.co.uk/news

Local government re-organisation provides an opportunity for Dorset councils to include a National Park as part of a Devolution proposal to government in 2017.

These studies are significant contributions to this debate on our future.

Dorset & East Devon National Park Team

www.dorsetandedevonnp.co.uk

Paul Kimber (County Councillor for Tophill): Independent Co-operative Businesses

The motion is seconded by Kate Wheller (County Councillor for Portland Harbour)

"The Council notes:

• That there are nearly 7,000 independent co-operative businesses across the UK, each owned and democratically run by their customers, employees, suppliers or members of their local community.
• Today, the co-operative movement is a significant part of the UK’s economy, growing by 21% to £33billion, and outperforming the economy as a whole during the recent recession.
• The number of people who own and control the UK’s co-operatives has grown by to 17.5m - nearly a quarter of the UK's population. From credit unions to community farms – the rise in co-operative ownership is a significant development for the UK’s business sector, meaning that the number of co-op members continues to outstrip the number of shareholders in the UK.

This Council believes:

·         That the co-operative model provides a sustainable way of providing local government services that empower residents, service users and employees, giving them a fair share and an equal say.

·         Local Councils up and down the country have already put these values into practice in a number of ways, for example developing the co-operative sector, resident and employee owned companies and co-operative schools.

·         That the Council has the opportunity to "chose co-operative" when considering the future of local services, giving residents and communities more of a say in their area.

Therefore, we call on the Council to:

·         Work to incorporate co-operative values and principles when planning services and in its engagement with local residents.

·         Publicise existing co-operative good practice within the council

·         Hold and  meet event for local co-operatives to engage with the Council."

Andy Canning (County Councillor for Linden Lea): Racism and Xenophobia

The motion is seconded by Janet Dover (County Councillor for Colehill and Stapehill)

"In the post Brexit vote context, the Council wishes to affirm we are proud to live in a diverse and tolerant society.  Racism, xenophobia and hate crimes have no place in our country.  Dorset County Council condemns racism, xenophobia and hate crimes unequivocally.  We will not allow hate to become acceptable.

We reaffirm our commitment to ensure that local bodies and programmes have the support and resources they need to tackle racism and xenophobia.

We reassure all people living in Dorset, regardless of their nationality, that they are valued members of our community."

Economic Opportunities for Dorset and East Devon

The Council considered a motion submitted by Councillor Paul Kimber asking ’that the Council ensures that the proposed National Park be seriously considered as part of discussions on local government re-organisation’. 

The motion was seconded by Cllr Kate Wheller.

Councillor Kimber presented his motion and explained that the economic advantages regarding the national park should be explored and was happy to be involved in any investigations.

Resolved

That the motion be referred to the Economic Growth Overview and Scrutiny Committee to determine how best to proceed.

Independent Co-operative Businesses

The Council considered a motion submitted by Councillor Paul Kimber asking that the Council:

·      works to incorporate co-operative values and principles when planning services and in its engagement with local residents;

·      publicises existing co-operative good practice within the council; and

·      holds an event for local co-operatives to engage with the Council.

The motion was seconded by Councillor Kate Wheller.

Councillor Kimber presented his motion and encouraged the adoption of the co-operative ethos for Dorset, especially in relation to rural communities.

Resolved

That the motion be referred to the Economic Growth Overview and Scrutiny Committee to determine how best to proceed.

Racism and Xenophobia

The Council considered a motion submitted by Councillor Andy Canning asking that:

·      the Council affirm that the Council are proud to live in a diverse and tolerant society.  Racism, xenophobia and hate crimes had no place in the country;

·      the Council affirm that Dorset County Council condemned racism, xenophobia and hate crimes unequivocally.  The Council would not allow hate to become acceptable;

·      the Council affirms its commitment to ensure that local bodies and programmes had the support and resources they needed to tackle racism and xenophobia; and

·      the Council reassure all people living in Dorset, regardless of their nationality, that they are valued members of the community.

The motion was seconded by Councillor Janet Dover.

Councillor Canning presented his motion and explained that he was horrified with a 42% rise in incidents after the EU referendum, and he wanted a clear statement to be made by the Council that hate crime would not be tolerated in Dorset. 

It was noted that the issue had been raised at the Cabinet and a press release was being prepared in relation to the issue.  In addition, the motion would be referred to the People and Communities Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

Resolved

That the motion be referred to the People and Communities Overview and Scrutiny Committee.