Agenda and minutes

To receive any apologies for absence.

There were no apologies for absence.

To receive any declarations of interest.

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

To confirm and sign the minutes of the meeting held on 4 March 2021.

The minutes of the meetings held on 4 March 2021 were agreed as a correct record and would be signed by the Chairman at a later date.

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

The deadline for submission of the full text of a questions or statements is 8.30am on Wednesday 28 April 2021.

Details of the Council's procedure rules can be found at: Public Participation at Dorset Council meetings

There were no submissions from town or parish councils or from members of the public.

To receive any questions from members in accordance with procedure rule 13.

There were no questions received from Councillors.

To receive a report from the Executive Director for Place.

The Committee considered the Cultural Strategy for the Dorset Council area that had been developed in a collaborative way; one that gave stakeholders the opportunity to influence its development and shape the ambitions and priorities. The cultural strategy would sit within a new framework, one that would drive the vision and support the delivery.

The Portfolio Holder for Customer and Community Services advised members this would be an important document that would allow other organisations to utilise the agreements of the democratically elected body to chase further inward funding.  It was a working flexible document and highlighted that the Natural Environment was a hugely important part of the culture in Dorset.

Areas of discussion

The importance of publicising local events to encourage tourism. No mention of the Sturminster Newton Cheese Festival which attracted huge crowds.

With regards to the ‘Heritage’ paragraph confirmation which Sturminster was needed.

Concern the message of what the document was about had been lost.

Very ambitious document, concern how it would all be achieved within the timescale.

Specifics would evolve into an action plan over the 5 year duration.

A Health and Wellbeing Impact Assessment was needed before the final sign off.

The importance of drawing out the impacts across the Health Service.

Confusion how the strategy would be performance managed. The importance of getting all the partners on board to ensure all were delivering on the strategy was highlighted.

Welcome the involvement of young people and schools at an early stage.

Members were reminded that this Strategy was about Dorset Council helping other organisations collaborate and empowering other organisations to deliver the outcomes, 99% of which would be delivered by partners.

Decisions

1.    That the Dorset’s Cultural Strategy 2021-2026 be supported and recommended to Cabinet for adoption.

2.    That officers work with Arts Council England, the Arts Development Company and key stakeholders to develop a Cultural Compact type framework that will enable the work of the strategy to be fulfilled and effectively managed, and this be recommended to Cabinet for approval.

Reasons for Decisions

A cultural strategy helped to increase the opportunities of securing new investment into Dorset and maximise the leverage value of the council’s own investment in arts, heritage and culture. This cultural strategy will be the foundation on which Dorset Council will set its own funding criteria, ensuring that all grant recipients are contributing to the priorities and ambitions of the plan.

The strategy will also play a key role in the recovery of the sector. It will not only inform how Dorset Council will support the sector in the future, but it will set out a united direction for culture in our county for other stakeholders, funders, cross sector partners, Parish and Town Councils, organisations and individuals. A collaborative approach to cultural provision will directly benefit our communities, visitors, and the local economy.

A framework, in the shape of a Cultural Compact will nurture a cross sector partnership designed to support the local cultural sector and enhance its contribution to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 43.

To consider a report from the Executive Director for People, Adults.

The Committee considered a report which highlighted the range of approaches that prevention and preventative services could cover in order to create the right range of preventative services for the people of Dorset.  

Areas of discussion

Importance of joint working.

Working with partners and avoiding any duplication.

Financial input.

Practical arrangements for supporting carers.

Consider changing name from Prevention Strategy to avoid confusion with Prevent work.

Facilitating discussions with people before they become carers.

Child Carers highlighted.

Work of the Primary Care Networks highlighted and the work to engage with them.

Partnership approach

Home First Model highlighted

Consideration of a workshop in the near future, to focus on carers, inviting members and stakeholders and then to report back again with further details.

Concern around the hospital offer around hospital discharges, officers were looking to ensure there was a more joined up approach. A Workshop on this area for members would be welcomed.

Concern around people having difficulty getting through to the Council on the telephone. Officers undertook to review this.

Communication with health services highlighted as sometimes chaotic.

Decision

1. That the development of a preventative strategy supporting the development of the older people’s carers strategy be supported.

2. That a workshop on the strategy be arranged.

3. That a workshop on hospital discharges be arranged.

Reasons for Decisions

Whilst preventative work is already underway, the development of a Prevention Strategy will allow greater focus on the resource and capacity required to pull current strands together to: 

Introduce interventions that had a proven track record elsewhere;

Enable a cost benefit analysis of interventions in Dorset ;

Provide an evidence base for future opportunities;

Demonstrate improvement in wellbeing at individual and community level; and

Support the development of the older people’s carers strategy which was critical for the reduction of high cost social care services.

To receive a report from the Executive Director for People, Adults.

The Committee considered a report which set out the requirements on local authorities in respect of The Prevent Duty Guidance for England and Wales.

Areas of discussion

Extremism can be an issue anywhere, including here in Dorset.

Training – much was dictated by central government and was delivered via Home Office online training. Prevent training was mandatory for officers and had been part of the member induction training. Link to the virtual training would be sent to members.

Might be useful to run as a regular training event.

Inclusion of communities highlighted.

Reference to the links between hate crime and Prevent. Officers worked closely with Dorset Police on hate crime issues.

The Channel Panel membership was further explained.

The opportunity for greater visibility of the Prevent Duty when the report was presented to Full Council for adoption.

Decisions

1.     Members considered and commented on the Council’s work on Prevent, including the Channel system.  This was to support the Council in its duty to have due regard to the need to prevent people from being drawn into terrorism.  Channel Panels were multi-agency practitioner groups that came together when someone was identified as being at risk of being drawn into extremism.

2.    That members of the Audit and Governance Committee be asked to amend Article 11 of the Council’s Constitution to include the new statutory Channel Panel, its proposed membership and terms of reference.

3.    Members considered how to increase awareness of Prevent work amongst Dorset Councillors including by using the Prevent Elected Members Handbook published by the Home Office.

Reason for Decisions

To ensure Dorset Council met its statutory duties and expectations relating to Prevent.

To consider the Committee's Forward Plan and that of the Cabinet.

The Committee considered its Forward Plan and that of the Cabinet.

Following a discussion about the Integrated Care System Plan the Executive Director for People, Adults undertook to speak with the Chairman of the Dorset Health and Wellbeing Board outside of the meeting to find the best route to ensure engagement and understanding for elected members.

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 of business.

To move the exclusion of the press and public for the following item in view of the likely disclosure of exempt information within the meaning of paragraph 3 of schedule 12A 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 items.