Agenda and minutes

To confirm the minutes of the meetings held on 25 February and 9 March 2021.

The minutes of the meetings held on 25 February and 9 March 2021 were agreed as a correct record and would be signed by the Chairman at a later date.

To receive any declarations of interest.

There were no declarations of interest.

To receive any updates from the Chairman of the Place and Resources Overview Committee.

The Chairman reported that he had reviewed a number of Highways related policies of which the majority, contained minor amendments.  These policies had been agreed by the Portfolio Holder for Highways, Travel and Environment and added to the Policy Library.  Two policies had been brought to the committee at this meeting for review by councillors.

To receive questions or statements on the business of the committee from town and parish councils and members of the public.

Public speaking has been suspended for virtual committee meetings during the Covid-19 crisis and public participation will be dealt with through written submissions only.

Members of the public who live, work or represent an organisation within the Dorset Council area, may submit up to two questions or a statement of up to a maximum of 450 words.  All submissions must be sent electronically to lindsey.watson@dorsetcouncil.gov.uk by the deadline set out below.  When submitting a question please indicate who the question is for and include your name, address and contact details.  Questions and statements received in line with the council’s rules for public participation will be published as a supplement to the agenda.

Questions will be read out by an officer of the council and a response given by the appropriate Portfolio Holder or officer at the meeting.  All questions, statements and responses will be published in full within the minutes of the meeting.  The deadline for submission of the full text of a question or statement is 8.30am on Monday 19 April 2021.

There were no questions or statements from members of the public or local organisations.

To receive questions submitted by councillors in accordance with procedure rule 13. The deadline for receipt of questions is 8.30am on Monday 19 April 2021.

There were no questions submitted by councillors.

To consider a report of the Community Highways Manager.

The committee received a report of the Community Highways Manager which set out two policies for review by the committee – A-Board Advertising Signs Policy and Highway Improvements Policy and Procedure.

The Chairman noted that the policies had been subject to review by the Highways and Transport Task and Finish Group and would be subject to formal agreement by the Portfolio Holder for Highways, Travel and Environment.  These policies and others to be agreed had been made available to committee members in advance of the meeting.

During discussion the following points were raised:

·                The need for further review in future

·                Documents to be accessible to the public

·                The need for the council to be innovative and pioneer approaches to traffic management and safer communities

·                Further guidance was awaited from the Department for Transport in respect of 20 mph zones.  This issue would be brought back to the committee at the appropriate time

·                A future discussion in respect of the Local Transport Plan would be held with the committee.

Decision

That the Place and Resources Overview Committee support the following action, in line with the decision of the highways & transport task and finish group:

Adoption of the revised policies:

A-Board Advertising Signs Policy

Highway Improvements Policy and Procedure

To review the Place and Resources Overview Committee Forward Plan.

To review the Cabinet Forward Plan.

Councillors reviewed the committee’s forward plan and noted items for the next meeting on 1 June 2021.

A request was made for the committee to look at areas that did not have access to electric charging points.  The Chairman noted that this could be considered and may be linked to current work on the council’s Climate Change and Ecological Emergency Strategy.

The committee also needed to consider the actions of the Reset and Recovery Executive Advisory Panel and build items into the forward plan as relevant.  Further information on this would follow.

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 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 x 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 is no exempt business.

There was no exempt business.