Agenda, decisions and minutes

To confirm the minutes of the last meeting held on 17 May 2022.

The minutes of the meeting held on 17 May 2022 were confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

To disclose any pecuniary, other registrable or non-registrable interest as set out in the adopted Code of Conduct. In making their disclosure councillors are asked to state the agenda item, the nature of the interest and any action they propose to take as part of their declaration.

If required, further advice should be sought from the Monitoring Officer in advance of the meeting.

There were no declarations of interest to report.

Representatives of town or parish councils and members of the public who live, work, or represent an organisation within the Dorset Council area are welcome to submit up to two questions or two statements for each meeting.  Alternatively, you could submit one question and one statement for each meeting.  

All submissions must be emailed in full to kate.critchel@dorsetcouncil.gov.uk by 8.30am on Thursday 16 June 2022.   

When submitting your question(s) and/or statement(s) please note that: 

• no more than three minutes will be allowed for any one question or statement to be asked/read  
• a question may include a short pre-amble to set the context and this will be included within the three-minute period 
• please note that sub divided questions count towards your total of two 
• when submitting a question please indicate who the question is for (e.g. the name of the committee or Portfolio Holder) 
• Include your name, address and contact details.  Only your name will be published but we may need your other details to contact you about your question or statement in advance of the meeting. 
• questions and statements received in line with the council’s rules for public participation will be published as a supplement to the agenda 
• all questions, statements and responses will be published in full within the minutes of the meeting.   

Dorset Council Constitution Procedure Rule 9 

There were no public questions received.

To receive questions submitted by councillors.  

Councillors can submit up to two valid questions at each meeting and sub divided questions count towards this total.   Questions and statements received will be published as a supplement to the agenda and all questions, statements and responses will be published in full within the minutes of the meeting. 

The submissions must be emailed in full to kate.critchel@dorsetcouncil.gov.uk  8.30am on Thursday 16 June 2022.

Dorset Council Constitution – Procedure Rule 13 

There were no councillor questions to report.

To consider the Cabinet Forward Plan.

The draft Cabinet Forward Plan for July was received and noted.

The Portfolio Holder for Highways, Travel and Environment to report.

The Portfolio Holder for Highways, Travel and Environment referred to the priorities set out in the Dorset Council Plan in relation to tackling the climate and ecological emergency.

He highlighted the work taking place to deliver this priority, including: -

·       Progress made in the areas of buildings, water, street lighting, and commuting.

·       Work to reduce the Council’s carbon emissions by 17% and the steps being taken towards becoming carbon neutral

·       The support and work undertaken to help Dorset become carbon neutral by 2050.

·       The impact of Covid and the lessons learnt.

·       Delivered several projects (via the 19 million grant funding available) including Low Carbon Dorset, Healthy Homes Dorset that had supported over 400 organisations and 130 homes, respectively.

·       Referred to projects set out in appendix D to the report.

·       Helping small scale operations to achieve sustainability.

The Portfolio Holder highlighted the importance of thinking about the ‘three-pillar’ approach where the climate and ecological emergencies, and the Council’s approach to adaptation, were not seen in isolation. He highlighted the scale and scope of the overall project in terms of the climate and ecological emergency, and he emphasized the importance for the council to work with its partners going forward; this should include the development of the local nature recovery strategy, refreshing the climate risk assessment, stronger focus on engagement with business and communities, the evolving national policy and guidance picture, and the role of county farms and planning in supporting biodiversity and improving the local environment.

In response to a question regarding performance indicators and measuring progress, the Portfolio Holder for Highways, Travel and Environment and the Corporate Director for Climate and Ecological confirmed that a RAG ratings and robust performance indicators and reporting was being put into place.

Cabinet members welcomed the detailed report and made the following comments: -

Suggested that all councillors share the report and its appendices with their local communities and parish councils; this records the commitment of the Council to Climate Change and the Ecology priority as set out in the Dorset Council Plan.

The report was received and noted.

To consider a report of the Portfolio Holder for Finance, Commercial and Capital Strategy.

(a)  That the draft outturn and the financial performance for the year ended 31 March 2022, be noted.

(b)  That the revised financial strategy statement set out in appendix 1 and reserves position set out in the main body of the report, be agreed.

(c)  That the position and actions around the arrears of council tax business rates and other incomes, be agreed.

(d)  That the progress made against the action plan that was developed following the finance peer challenge review, as summarised in the update letter at appendix 2 of the report, be noted.

Reason for the decision

To report the financial outturn and financial performance for the year ended 31 March 2022.

To review the risks the organisation now faces; to consider areas where it wishes to make strategic investments and/or to repurpose and prioritise its reserves to facilitate these aims.

The Portfolio Holder for Finance, Commercial and Capital Strategy presented the Council’s draft unaudited financial performance for the year ended 31 March 2022 and the financial position at that date.

In response to a question in respect of a value for money framework, the Executive Director for Corporate Development advised that the Audit and Governance Committee had been carrying out a piece of work in this area, including researching any benchmarking that was already available in local government.

In respect of the reserves, some spending had taken place relating to the “High Needs Block” and additional funding had also been received.  Overall, reserves were a financial safety net and an opportunity for the Council to invest to save, and this was considered appropriate in the current economic climate.

It was proposed by Cllr G Suttle and seconded by Cllr Wharf

Decision

(a)  That the draft outturn and the financial performance for the year ended 31 March 2022, be noted.

(b)  That the revised financial strategy statement set out in appendix 1 and reserves position set out in the main body of the report, be agreed.

(c)  That the position and actions around the arrears of council tax business rates and other incomes, be agreed.

(d)  That the progress made against the action plan that was developed following the finance peer challenge review, as summarised in the update letter at appendix 2 of the report, be noted.

Reason for the decision

To report the financial outturn and financial performance for the year ended 31 March 2022.

To review the risks the organisation now faces; to consider areas where it wishes to make strategic investments and/or to repurpose and prioritise its reserves to facilitate these aims.

To consider a report of the Portfolio Holder for Planning.

(a)  That the Council makes the Stinsford Neighbourhood Plan 2021-2038 part of the statutory development plan for the Stinsford Neighbourhood Area.

(b)  That the Council offers its congratulations to the Parish Council and members of the Neighbourhood Plan Group in producing a successful neighbourhood plan.

Reason for the decision

To formally make the Stinsford Neighbourhood Plan 2021 – 2038 part of the statutory development plan for the Stindford Neighbourhood Area.

To recognise the significant amount of work undertaken by the Parish Council and members of the Neighbourhood Plan Group in preparing the plan and to congratulate the Council and Group on their success.

The Portfolio Holder for Planning presented a report to formally make the Stinsford Neighbourhood Plan 2021 -2038 and proposed the recommendation as set out in the report. This was seconded by Cllr J Haynes.

Decision

(a)  That the Council makes the Stinsford Neighbourhood Plan 2021-2038 part of the statutory development plan for the Stinsford Neighbourhood Area.

(b)  That the Council offers its congratulations to the Parish Council and members of the Neighbourhood Plan Group in producing a successful neighbourhood plan.

Reason for the decision

To formally make the Stinsford Neighbourhood Plan 2021 – 2038 part of the statutory development plan for the Stindford Neighbourhood Area.

To recognise the significant amount of work undertaken by the Parish Council and members of the Neighbourhood Plan Group in preparing the plan and to congratulate the Council and Group on their success.

To consider a report of the Portfolio Holder for Economic Growth, Assets and Property.

(a)  That funding (£3.1m plus 20% contingencies) for the delivery of ten new light industrial units (Quadrant 2) at Dorset Innovation Park (DIP), be approved

(b)  That authority be delegated to the Executive Director for Place in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Economic Growth, Assets & Property, and the Section 151 Officer, to implement the Quadrant 2 proposals, as set out in the paper to Cabinet on 21 June 2022.

(c)  That the outline four-year capital investment plan for DIP estimated at £11.5m plus 20% contingencies, be noted. (Formal funding approval will be sought through the 2023/24 budget setting process)

Reason for the decision

To enable the construction of new light industrial units at DIP enabling DIP to capitalise upon the investment of the Defence BattleLab, creating both new jobs and a financial return to the Council.

The Portfolio Holder for Economic Growth, Assets & Property set out a report seeking approval for funds for the delivery of ten new light industrial units. It also included an outline for a future 4-year capital investment plan for the Dorset Innovation Park.

Cabinet members welcomed the report and discussed the future employment and apprenticeship opportunities of the site.

It was proposed by Cllr T Ferrari and seconded by Cllr J Haynes

Decision

(a)  That funding (£3.1m plus 20% contingencies) for the delivery of ten new light industrial units (Quadrant 2) at Dorset Innovation Park (DIP), be approved

(b)  That authority be delegated to the Executive Director for Place in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Economic Growth, Assets & Property, and the Section 151 Officer, to implement the Quadrant 2 proposals, as set out in the paper to Cabinet on 21 June 2022.

(c)  That the outline four-year capital investment plan for DIP estimated at £11.5m plus 20% contingencies, be noted. (Formal funding approval will be sought through the 2023/24 budget setting process)

Reason for the decision

To enable the construction of new light industrial units at DIP enabling DIP to capitalise upon the investment of the Defence BattleLab, creating both new jobs and a financial return to the Council.

Cabinet Portfolio Holder(s) and Leader Members to report.

The Portfolio Holder for Adult Social Care and Health reported in detail on the following areas:

Care Dorset

Hospital Discharge Programme

Birth to Settled Adulthood

The Better Care Fund

Fair Cost of Care and

Public Health

He further reported on anticipated future activities, including Commissioning Strategies, Social Care Reform and Development of the Integrated care Strategy.

The Portfolio Holder for Culture, Communities & Customer Services focused her report on the area of culture, and she highlighted the following:

Opening of the Weymouth Pop-Up Museum

Weymouth Sculpture Trail had opened and she had also

Attended b-side assemblage “Whose land is it anyway? on Portland.

All the Portfolio Holder updates that were available are attached as an appendix to these minutes.

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 considered at the meeting.

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 3 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 was no exempt business.

Exempt appendix 5 associated with item 10 above “Dorset Innovation Park”.

The exempt appendix associated with the report “Dorset Innovation Park” had been made available to members, however Cabinet did not move into exempt business to discuss the information at the meeting.