Agenda and minutes

To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 3 September 2020.

The minutes of the meeting held on 3 September 2020 were confirmed and would be signed by the Chairman at a date in the future.

To receive any declarations of interest.

No declarations of disclosable pecuniary interests were made at the meeting.

To receive any announcements from the Chairman of Council.

The Chairman reported on the death of Hon Alderman Andy Hutchings, who had served on the former Weymouth & Portland Borough Council. She paid tribute to him and his service to Dorset.

A minutes silence was held as a mark of respect.

A period of 30 minutes is allocated to receive and respond to questions and statements on the business of the Council in the following order:

(a) Questions and statements from Town and Parish Councils;

(b) Questions and statements from those living or working in the Dorset Council area.

A person or organisation can ask either 2 questions, or 2 statements or 1 question and 1 statement at each meeting. 

**Important**

The full text of the question or statement must be received by 8.30am on Monday 12 October 2020.

Each question or statement is limited to 450 words.

Due to the Coronavirus pandemic public speaking has been suspended, however questions and statements will be published on the website and the Chairman of Council will decide whether a question or statement is to be read out aloud in whole, in part or not at all in the meeting.  The Chairman will invite the relevant member to respond to the questions and statements at the meeting.  

Details of the Council’s procedure rules can be found at:

Temporary Council Procedure Rules

Public questions, statements and the responses from the Leader of the Council and appropriate Portfolio Holders are set out in Appendix 1 attached to these minutes.

A period of 15 minutes is allocated to receive and respond to petitions in accordance with the council’s petitions scheme.

A period of 15 minutes is allocated to receive and respond to deputations in accordance with the council’s constitution.

The petitions scheme and procedures relating to deputations can be viewed at :

Temporary Full Council Procedure Rules  

There were no petitions or deputations.

To receive any announcements and reports from the Leader of Council and members of the Cabinet.

The Leader of the Council reported on a number of important matters which shaped council policy and direction of travel for the delivery of vital front-line services. He referred to the continuing budget pressures largely caused by the impact of COVID -19 and the need for further transformation following the creation of Dorset Council.

The Leader of the Council also updated members on a number of matters and reported:-

·         that Cabinet had approved the draft Action Plan covering the period leading up to the council being carbon neutral by 2040.

·         on the challenges and service pressures the council faced in preparation of the 2021-2022 budget.

·         that the team at Public Health continued to monitor the situation following the increase in COVID case number in the area and stressed

the importance to be vigilant and advised that the situation continued to monitored locally

·         on the work of the COVID Recovery and Reset and the Dorset Local Plan EAP’s.

Following the last meeting of council, the Portfolio Holder for Customer and Community Services advised that she would investigate issues around missed domestic waste collection in and around the Wareham area and report back to this meeting. She reported that following a recruitment process, appointments had be made and new staff would be starting shortly. In addition following problems with vehicles having mechanical breakdowns,  a number of replacement vehicles had now been ordered. She was now satisfied that appropriate steps had been taken to resolve the issues raised about the service in the Wareham area.

However so that members could better understand local issues and meet with depot supervisors, the Portfolio Holder was setting up a number of virtual meeting.  She urged members to attend these sessions.

To receive questions submitted by councillors.  The deadline for receipt of questions is 8.30am on Monday 12 October 2020.

Questions put by councillors to the Leader and relevant Portfolio Holders are attached to these minutes at Appendix 2, together with the responses.

Responding to a supplementary question from Cllr Ireland, the Portfolio Holder for Planning confirmed that the council must deliver a 5 year land supply to meet the needs of the community. However, it was important to provide the right type of land for housing within the right area. Work to meet this need continued.

To consider a recommendation from Cabinet.

The Portfolio Holder for Housing & Community Safety set out the recommendation from Cabinet. He reported that the Community Safety Partnership  was required to produce a three year Community Safety Plan that was revised annually. The Portfolio Holder confirmed that Dorset Council was under a legal duty to work with the responsible authorities to identify and tackle community safety issues in its area and recommended the Plan for adoption.

In response to questions, the Portfolio Holder agreed to look at including method to measure progress including targets and timescales within the body any future Plan document.

It was proposed by Cllr G Carr-Jones seconded by Cllr B Pipe

Decision

That the Community Plan for 2020-23 be adopted.

To consider a recommendation from Cabinet.

In proposing the Annual Youth Justice Plan for approval, the Portfolio Holder for Children, Education, Skills and Early Help advised that the plan had been considered and supported by both People & Health Scrutiny Committee and Cabinet.

The recommendation was seconded by Cllr J Somper

Decision

That the Youth Justice Plan for 2020-21be approved.

To consider a recommendation from Cabinet.

Prior to considering the report, a short film was played in which children and young people gave their views on what they’d like to see in Dorset to make it a great place to live. This was used to inform the new Children, Young People and Families Plan.

The Portfolio Holder for Corporate Development and Change, who Chaired the panel for Strategic Alliance for Children and Young People,  introduced the work of the panel and proposed the adoption of the Plan.

The Portfolio Holder for Children, Education, Skills and Early Help seconded the adoption of the Plan which had identified priorities through needs analysis, an initial workshop and a series of think tanks. He asked the council to support its adoption.

Members welcomed and spoke in support the plan before them and the focus on improving outcomes for all children and young people through the six priorities detailed within the plan. The Portfolio Holder confirmed that in respect of the needs of care leavers, the council wanted to ensure that it could continue support their transition into adulthood.

Decision

That the Children, Young People and Families Plan 2020-23 be adopted.

To consider a report by K Buchan, Head of Environment & Well Being.

The Portfolio Holder for Highways, Travel and Environment reported that he had intended to present a report on the Climate Change Notice of Motion. However, upon reflection, he considered the timings to be inappropriate and the item should be deferred.

Responding to the Motion at this time would result in a debate and potentially a decision being made around the climate strategy itself. This would not be appropriate at this time, as the public consultation had not yet started on the draft Strategy and Action Plan. Feedback from the consultation would draft would help finalise the plan. Therefore it was not appropriate to discuss the report at this time.

To consider any items of business which the Chairman has had prior notification and considers to be urgent pursuant to section 100B (4) b) of the Local Government Act 1972. The reason for the urgency shall be recorded in the minutes.

There were no urgent items to report.

To move the exclusion of the press and the public for the following item in view of the likely disclosure of exempt information within the meaning of paragraph 3 of schedule 12 A to the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended).

The public and the press will be asked to leave the meeting whilst the item of business is considered.

There were no exempt reports.