Issue - meetings

To consider a report of the Leader of the Council.

That the Leader of the Council and the Portfolio Holder for Levelling up together with the Chief Executive and Executive Director for Place continue to take forward work to seek to secure a Devolution Deal for Dorset as set out in the report.

Reason for the decision

There was an opportunity for Dorset Council to progress a Devolution Deal for Dorset which could have significant social, economic and environmental benefits.  Such a Deal could give the council not only additional powers in relation to these matters but also additional funding and other resources. 

Seeking a Devolution Deal would require Dorset Council to be proactive not only in making the case with Government but also in seeking a suitable partner or partners with neighbouring authorities.  Suitable governance arrangements would need to be put in place to provide oversight of the deal. 

The Portfolio Holder for Economic Growth and Levelling Up presented a report on the opportunity for Dorset Council to progress a Devolution Deal for Dorset which could have significant social, economic, and environmental benefits. He advised that the report before Cabinet sought a mandate for the Leader of the Council and himself to begin negotiations with the government and neighbouring councils.

To secure a devolution deal Dorset Council would need to partner with at least one appropriate neighbouring council to achieve the government’s population threshold of 500,000.  It was also important that the Council had a strong governance structure in place which accorded with the government’s devolution framework.  He further acknowledged that the mayoral model would not necessarily find support within the Dorset Council community. 

Non-Executive members asked questions and spoke in support of the proposal making the following comments.

·       Education, environment, and transportation should be areas of focus.

·       Acknowledged that every devolution deal was bespoke.

·       The arrangement would need to reflect local circumstances.

·       Any deal would require strong governance models.

·       Members were reassured that the Mayoral model would probably not be pursued.

·       Concerns were expressed around the risks of a Pan-Dorset arrangement.

Cabinet members supported the report’s recommendation as it was considered that a devolution deal for Dorset would provide an opportunity to boost the financial and economic investment for the area.

It was proposed by Cllr S Gibson seconded by Cllr S Flower

Decision

That the Leader of the Council and Portfolio Holder for Levelling up together with the Chief Executive and Executive Director for Place continue to take forward work to seek to secure a Devolution Deal for Dorset as set out in the report.

Reason for the decision

There was an opportunity for Dorset Council to progress a Devolution Deal for Dorset which could have significant social, economic, and environmental benefits.  Such a Deal could give the council not only additional powers in relation to these matters but also additional funding and other resources. 

Seeking a Devolution Deal would require Dorset Council to be proactive not only in making the case with Government but also in seeking a suitable partner or partners with neighbouring authorities.  Suitable governance arrangements would need to be put in place to provide oversight of the deal.