Meeting documents

In opening the meeting, the Chairman asked members to stand quietly for a moment to consider the decisions that they would be making at the meeting.

Members are required to comply with the requirements of the Localism Act 2011 and the Council’s Code of Conduct regarding disclosable pecuniary and other interests.

Check if there is an item of business on this agenda in which the member other relevant person has a disclosable pecuniary or other disclosable 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 within 28 days

Disclose the interest at the meeting (in accordance with the Council’s Code of Conduct) and in the absence of dispensation to speak and/or vote, withdraw from any consideration of the item where appropriate.  If the interest is non-pecuniary you may be able to stay in the room, take part and vote.

For further advice please contact Rob Firth, Monitoring Officer, in advance of the meeting.

N Bundy declared an interest in respect of agenda item 14, Dorchester Article 4 Direction as Chairman of Age UK which had properties that would be affected.  The Chairman confirmed that he was content for Councillor Bundy to remain in the room during discussion and voting on the item.

To confirm the minutes of the last meeting, (previously circulated).

The minutes of the meeting held on 10 January 2019, as previously circulated to all members, were agreed and signed as a correct record.

Members of the public who have given appropriate notice may ask questions or make a statement in accordance with the constitution rules.  This session is restricted to a maximum of 30 minutes.

There were no public questions or statements.

Members of the public who have given appropriate notice may present a petition to the Council in accordance with the council’s petition protocol.

There were no petitions.

In accordance with the Council Procedure Rules to receive questions (if any) from any member.

There were no questions from members.

To receive any announcements from the Chairman of Council or Head of Paid Service.

On this, the final meeting of West Dorset Full Council, the Chairman personally thanked all councillors for the contribution that they had made to the Council and the people of West Dorset.  He handed out a Certificate of Service to each councillor and noted that a copy of the photograph of all current councillors would be provided to each councillor.

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 specified in the minutes.

There were no urgent items.

To receive a verbal update from the Leader or Portfolio Holder on district council matters and to respond to any questions from members of the Council relating to those items.

The Leader noted that West Dorset District Council would cease to exist after 31 March 2019 with the new Dorset Council coming into force on 1 April 2019.  At this time the Leader wished to express thanks to the following; Councillor R Gould who had played an important role at the beginning of the Dorset Council proposal and to recognise the role and achievements that he had made; All members of Council for their service to the Council and in particular Councillor S Jones who had served on the Council since its beginning in 1974; Members of staff for their service to the Council in the provision of services.  It was recognised as a time of real change for staff which would continue in the future.

The Shadow Dorset Council had approved the  2019/20 budget for Dorset Council at a meeting last week and the budget had recognised where additional funding was required, for example, adult social care and children/young persons services.  The Leader thanked Councillors Barrowcliff and Christopher for their involvement in the Budget Working Group.

This report is intended to give a summary of the work of each portfolio for West Dorset District Council.  The minutes of all of the meetings setting out the detail of decisions made and information received will have been previously circulated to all members.

Members received and noted the Portfolio Holder reports and made the following comments, observations and questions:

·                P Barrowcliff reported that all 3 councils in Dorset Councils Partnership had been shortlisted in the Local Land Charges Awards for Excellence 2019 as the Most Improved NLIS Service

·                Reference was made to the loss of a disabled parking space in the Square in Beaminster and P Barrowcliff indicated that he would look into this

·                I Gardner reported that the results of the new Housing Delivery Test had now been received which showed that the council was above target and therefore was not required to prepare an action plan

·                M Penfold noted that booklets setting out the work of SCOPAC (Standing Conference on problems associated with the coastline) were available in the Members’ Room

·                As a Trustee of the Bridport Museum, M Roberts thanked the council for the grant awarded to the museum

·                A Thacker reported that the final meeting of the Community Safety Partnership was to be held in March.  A new structure and representation would be discussed at this meeting

·                A comment was made with regard to how the district council and the new Dorset Council had a responsibility to mitigate against climate change, including agreeing policies to reduce their carbon footprint

·                Reference was made to Universal Credit and it was noted that staff had worked hard in this area.  A related point was also made with regard to longer term funding for voluntary bodies who worked with the council on issues in this area

·                A point was noted with regard to work undertaken by the council in the area of domestic abuse prevention and it was hoped that the Dorset Council would be supportive of this work in the future.  It was noted that the forthcoming meeting of the Community Safety Partnership would be considering the continuation of the domestic abuse prevention forum.  It was hoped that this work would be continued

·                With regard to the position with rough sleepers, it was reported that the severe weather protocol had been enacted twice during the last quarter.  It was noted that Weymouth and Portland Borough Council had facilitated a successful scheme where Weymouth churches had opened their facilities for rough sleepers.  It was hoped that innovation such as this could be continued in the future.

To receive a report of the Strategic Director.

Members received and considered a report of the Strategic Director which provided an update since the meeting of the December 2018 Strategy Committee in respect of progress with valuations and with the preparation of legal transfer documentation.  It was noted that the district council would continue with the transfer of assets to Bridport Town Council by the end of March 2019.

In response to a question, the Strategic Director noted that the Council’s Legal Team were working to retrieve all relevant documentation and that there was regular contact with the relevant town clerks to ensure that they had all the documents that they required.  In addition, the Leader stated that heritage assets should be recorded in an inventory and that this should be completed if it had not already been done.

The report was noted.

To make the Holwell Neighbourhood Plan part of the development plan for use in planning decisions in the Holwell Neighbourhood Area.

Members considered the making of the Holwell Neighbourhood Plan part of the development plan for use in planning decisions in the Holwell Neighbourhood Area.  In presenting the report, I Gardner congratulated all those that had been involved with the plan.

It was proposed by I Gardner seconded by R Potter.

Decision

a)        That the district council make the Holwell Neighbourhood Plan (as set out in Appendix A of the report) part of the statutory development plan for the Holwell Neighbourhood Area;

b)        That the district council offers its congratulations to Holwell Parish Council in producing their neighbourhood plan.

To consider a report of the Corporate Manager - Planning (Community and Policy Development).

The Council considered a report in order to enable the statutory review of the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) Management Plan to be completed.  In presenting the report, I Gardner noted that since the publication of the agenda, the plan had been subject to some minor changes.

A point was noted with regard to the relationship between the management of the AONB and agriculture and the potential impact on the AONB with the fall in farmers incomes.  In response, I Gardner noted that there was recognition that the AONB was changing but that there was a need to protect the totality of the area.

A typographical error was noted on page 116 which would need to be checked.

It was proposed by I Gardner seconded by A Thacker

Decision

That the Dorset Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Management Plan 2019-2024, included as Appendix 1 of the report, be adopted.

To consider a report of the Specialist Services Manager.

Council received a report which sought authorisation for the making and subsequent confirming of an Immediate Article 4 Direction, for properties within the Dorchester Conservation Area, as recommended by the West Dorset Planning Committee.

It was proposed by I Gardner seconded by S Jones

Decision

a)      That under the Town and Country (General Permitted Development) (England) Order 2015 as amended, authorisation is delegated to the Specialist Services Manager to make and subsequently confirm an Immediate Article 4 Direction, in respect of those residential and non-residential properties identified in Appendix C.  The Direction will seek to remove the following permitted development rights immediately upon the making of the order:

Part 2 Minor operations (Class A) gates, fences, walls etc

A. Permitted development

The erection, construction, maintenance, improvement or alteration of a gate, fence, wall or other means of enclosure.

And

Part 11 Heritage and Demolition (Class C) demolition of gates, fences walls etc.

C. Permitted development

Any building operation consisting of the demolition of the whole or any part of any gate, fence, wall or other means of enclosure.

Class C contains some limitations to this right such as:

C.1. Development not permitted

Development is not permitted by Class C if the demolition is "relevant demolition" for the purposes of section 196D of the Act (demolition of an unlisted etc. building in a conservation area). Please note that the demolition of a wall less than 1 m adjacent to a highway and less the 2 m elsewhere, in a conservation area, is not relevant demolition but it is development and therefore would be permitted by the above.

b)      That following the making of an Immediate Article 4, copies of the Direction are sent by post to all owners/occupiers, further statutory consultation is carried out and the Secretary of State notified, as required under the General Permitted Development Order

c)      That authority is delegated to the Specialist Services Manager to following consultation, consider and address any consultation responses and, once the officer is satisfied the objections have been addressed, to proceed to confirm the Immediate Article 4 Direction within six months of it coming into force

d)      That if confirmed each property is notified by post and all further publicity as required under the Order is carried out.

The Chairman closed the final meeting of West Dorset Full Council and thanked all members for their contribution.