Decisions

To approve the extension of an Option agreement for land at Beverley Road Weymouth.

To approve the assignment of lease for The Warwick Hotel, 9 The Esplanade and agree the rent review effective 5 10 2019.

Decision: To set and agree the household waste container charges for 2021-22

It was decided to apply ‘option 2’ where a price increase will be applied to only those items projected to operate at a loss.

This decision is delegated to the Executive Director for Place under Dorset Councils Scheme of Delegation.

Following the award of  grant aid of £19 million from (BEIS), this project needs to be delivered at pace and procurement procedures need to be agreed.

Decision

(a)       Cabinet agreed to begin procurement exercises that were required in relation to the £18.7m Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme (PSDS) grant; that comprises of individual procurement activity over the key decision threshold of £500k.

(b)       That following procurement, the further step of making any contract award be delegated to the Executive Director for Place in consultation with the relevant portfolio holders.

Reason for the decision

Cabinet was required to approve all key decisions with financial consequences of £500k or more.

To seek approval for the letting of the Sherborne Hotel.

To consider a Capital Programme for 2021/22.

Decision

(a)       That the capital programme proposed by the Capital Strategy and Asset Management Group (CSAM) for the period 2021/22 to 2025/26 and beyond be noted and those projects scheduled to commence in 2021/22 be progressed;

(b)       That the impact on future capital budgets of the two approved projects, where there would be contractual commitments beyond 2021/22 be noted:

(c)        That any further release of funds be paused at this stage, given the commitment to the St Mary’s school site.

(d)       That a further review be carried out as part of the 2020/21 capital closedown process.

Reason for decision

The budget process and timetable for 2021/22 was very tight and although a programme total was agreed, individual projects were not sufficiently developed and more time was needed to bring these investments forward.

The existing ASB-Related Public Spaces Protection Orders (PSPO) for West Dorset (Dorchester, Bridport, West Bay and Lyme Regis) are due to expire on 23rd April 2021 and the Weymouth & Portland PSPO is due to expire on 20th August 2021.  A 12-month extension to the Orders is being sought to enable appropriate consultation and development of new Order(s) to effectively address ASB. The extension proposal has the support of Dorset Police and the relevant Town Councils.

Decision

That the extension of the West Dorset and Weymouth & Portland  Anti-Social Behaviour (ASB) related Public Spaces Protection Orders (PSPO’s) to 22 April 2022 and 19 August 2022 respectively, be approved.

Reason for the decision

(i)         To comply with legislative requirements

(ii)        To ensure openness and transparency in the Council’s decision making and to ensure that those persons affected by ASB continue to be afforded the protection provided by the Orders.

To consider future management arrangements

Dorset Council stepped in to complete the works to create allotments at Pinemoor which were required, as a result of a Section 106, Town & Country Planning Act 1990, to be provided by a developer of a adjoining property development after they fell into financial difficulty. Work to the allotments is now almost completed and terms have been agreed with Weymouth Town Council for the transfer of the asset. "

(i)         That the appropriation of the land known as Pinemoor Allotments and Open Green Space from being held by Dorset Council under the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 to being held under the Local Government Act 1972, be approved and

(ii)        That the disposal/transfer of the land at a disposal price of one pound (which is less than best consideration) to Weymouth Town Council on terms to be agreed by the Executive Director of Place, be approved.

Reason for the decision

To promote and assist in the delivery of the proposed allotments in accordance with the provisions of the Section 106 Agreement dated 22^nd May 2006, varied by a Deed dated 8^th March 2012.   Where there is a Town Council for an area, the responsibility for allotments lies with them. 

To address legislative and other alternatives available to control or prohibit barbeques and other fire related activities relating to the Dorset Council area.

Decision

(a)       That a two-step approach be adopted to the control of disposable barbeques and other fire related activities firstly focussing on increasing public awareness about the risks and the wider impacts through campaigns, policies and schemes, then if necessary, introducing legislation which will result in penalties for those in contravention.
 

(b)       To achieve this the following options were approved:

(1)          Not to pursue designating areas or Dorset Council areas with a PSPO relating to BBQ’s and fire related activities this year but evaluate 2022 (Option 1)

(2)          Not to pursue having a specific byelaw at this current time (Option 2)

(3)          The Sky Lantern and Balloon Policy and the new BBQ and campfire/Wildfire Policy be adopted by Dorset Council (Option 3)

(4)          Moors Valley to investigate the gas/electric communal style BBQ option with Forestry England later (Option 4)

(5)          Officers be asked to investigate partnership funding options to support having a new Firewise voluntary warden scheme delivered through the Dorset Firewise project (Option 5)

(6)          The campaign and communication work be supported and developed and taken forward for 2021 season in line with any recommendations from the report to Cabinet of 6 April 2021. (Option 6)

(7)          Dorset Council initiate a coordinated approach to the banning of disposable BBQs in agreed high risk area's locations. This work should link with Option 3, 5 and 6 (Option 7).

Reason for Recommendation: 

This two-step approach considered the cost, the length of time it takes to introduce new legislation and difficulties in enforcement as well as the effectiveness of various control methods. The recommended approach aims to balance the various options presented to Cabinet.

To review and agree the strategy for the Dorchester Office estate.

Decision

(a)       That the principle of consolidating the Council’s office requirements on the County Hall/Colliton Park site as a ‘public service civic hub’ subject to the Council ensuring it takes due regard to the requirements of the Equality Act 2010, be agreed;

(b)       That the principle of utilizing any surplus space within the County Hall/Colliton Park site for use by third sector and other public sector bodies be agreed and to review the possibility to repurpose and refurbish any such assets currently leased to and in use by them for residential purpose or for disposal;

(c)        Agree to retain the Library facility in South Walks House with a                    Customer Access Point;

(d)       That Cabinet reaffirms the principle that we are a member led authority and that local Members should always be consulted on issues affecting their Wards;

(e)       That planning permission be sought to repurpose South Walks House and South Annexe for residential use through a process of refurbishing or redeveloping the existing buildings whilst retaining the Library facility in South Walks House and a Customer Access point;

(f)        Agree to the Council, whilst planning consent is being sought for the repurposing of South Walks House and South Annexe for residential use, to continue to explore and investigate alternative uses so as to ensure that the Council achieves best commercial (including hotel use), social and economic value prior to bringing forward the final recommendation to Cabinet for approval as to future use. 

Reason for the decision   

The effective use of the asset base will help enable the Council to meet its social and financial challenges through asset disposals, generation of capital receipts, savings in costs through the reduction, rationalisation and improved efficiency of the estate and more importantly the generation of value through income generation and the repurposing, redirecting and reuse of land and buildings for housing, schools and other essential service needs.

Following public consultation, this report will present the results of the consultation and the post consultation updated final version of the Climate and Ecological Emergency Strategy for approval.

Deferred from Cabinet meeting of 6 April 2021.

Decision

That the report be deferred until the next meeting of Cabinet on 18 May 2021.

Reason for the decision

To consider the comments and issues raised by  the Place and Resources Scrutiny Committee of 25 March 2021 and the (withdrawn) question received from Cllr B Heatley.

To adopt the Dorset Council’s Digital Vision and action plan.

Decision

That, subject to any final changes, the Dorset Council’s Digital Vision and action plan be adopted. 

Reasons for the decision

The Place and Resources committee met in December 2020 and February 2021 to finalise the digital vision and recommend areas of focus. The later have been pulled together and are reflected in the accompanying delivery plan. Subject to any typographical or minor changes, these documents have been recommended by that committee to Cabinet for adoption.

There were two items of exempt business consider by the committee under  paragraph 3 of schedule 12 A to the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended).

Reason for the Decision

Dorset Council can access funding for digital infrastructure improvements from the Rural Gigabit Connectivity (RGC) project. However, the opportunity was set against a short time scale to develop and submit a Full Business Case (FBC) to BDUK by 12 March 2021. BDUK reviewed and subsequently approved the FBC on 24 March 2021 with the condition that the procurement notice is issued before the 31 March 2021.

The delegation decision and commencement of procurement cannot wait until the next available meeting of Cabinet and therefore the decision to go to procurement is taken in accordance in the scheme of delegation.

This is an excellent opportunity for Dorset to obtaining funding to provide gigabit capable infrastructure to help address poor connectivity due to the rural nature of Dorset. 

Alternative options considered and rejected

Not to continue the procurement within the required timeline.
This was rejected as it would result in the funding offer being withdrawn.

Conflict of interest declared by any member consulted

There were no conflict of interests

Any dispensation granted in respect of any declared conflict of interest

None

To procure 114 sites (45 Dorset Council and 69 school sites) associated with the Gigabit Hub Connectivity in Rural Dorset (GHCiRD) project. This project received approval to proceed to the procurement stage from the Building Digital UK (BDUK), which is part of the Department for Digital, Culture Media & Sport (DCMS). The tender will be published on 31 March 2021 using Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS).

The infrastructure budget implications being £2,716,164 to be met by the BDUK grant. The ongoing revenue costs will be met by Dorset Council for the 45 Council sites and is expected to be cost neutral as IT Services will look to take advantage of the infrastructure to adopt an new approach which will be more cost effective than the current connectivity charges. Each school will meet the revenue costs for their site.