Agenda, decisions and minutes

The Chairman welcomed all present and advised that virtual meetings were continuing.

Where a decision was required, the appropriate Portfolio Holder would make that decision after taking into account the views expressed by the wider Cabinet membership.

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.

Public Participation  

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

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 kate.critchel@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 Thursday 13 January 2022.

There was 1 question from the public and this was read out by Matt Prosser, Chief Executive and responded to by the appropriate Portfolio Holder.

A copy of the full question and the detailed response is set out in Appendix 1 to these minutes.

To receive questions submitted by councillors. The deadline for receipt of questions is 8.30am on Thursday 13 January 2022

There were no questions received from Councillors.

To consider the Draft Cabinet Forward Plan.

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

To consider a report of the Portfolio Holder for Corporate Development and Transformation.

Noted

Cabinet noted the progress made against the council plan for the period October-December 2021.

Reason to note and receive the report

To ensure progress towards the Council Plan is monitored.  

The Portfolio Holder for Corporate Development and Transformation presented the Council Plan performance report for the period October – December 2021 (quarter 3). Cabinet members were also advised that since the plan was last received in June 2021, the council’s performance had been made publicly available and could be found at:

People and Health Scrutiny Dashboard

Place and Resources Scrutiny Dashboard

Noted

Cabinet noted the progress made against the council plan for the period October-December 2021.

Reason to note and receive the report

To ensure progress towards the Council Plan is monitored.  

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

Noted

(a)           That the senior leadership team’s forecast of outturn at the end of Quarter 3, including progress of the transformation and tactical savings incorporated into the budget be noted.

(b)           That the position on the capital programme at the stage and the likelihood of significant slippage into 2022/23, as referenced throughout the budget setting work, be noted.

(c)           That the downgrading of the risk assessment for the financial performance for the final quarter of the current year be agreed.

Reason to note and receive the report

The Council had responsibilities to deliver within its corporate plan and it must do this within the resources made available through the revenue and capital budgets for 2021/22. The report summarised the Council’s forecast financial performance for 2021/22 at the Quarter 3 point of the year.

The Portfolio Holder for Finance, Commercial & Capital Strategy presented the quarter 3 financial management report. The document provided information about the Council’s forecast performance against its revenue budget in 2021/22 and the impact this could have upon reserves, including the general fund.

Noted

(a)           That the senior leadership team’s forecast of outturn at the end of Quarter 3, including progress of the transformation and tactical savings incorporated into the budget be noted.

(b)           That the position on the capital programme at the stage and the likelihood of significant slippage into 2022/23, as referenced throughout the budget setting work, be noted.

(c)           That the downgrading of the risk assessment for the financial performance for the final quarter of the current year be agreed.

Reason to note and receive the report

The Council had responsibilities to deliver within its corporate plan and it must do this within the resources made available through the revenue and capital budgets for 2021/22. The report summarised the Council’s forecast financial performance for 2021/22 at the Quarter 3 point of the year.

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

The Portfolio Holder for Finance, Commercial & Capital Strategy set out the Budget Strategy and medium-term financial plan report. The Council had a duty to set a balanced revenue budget and to approve the level of council tax.

The Portfolio Holder set out the headlines of the budget including the proposal to set an increase in general council tax of 1.998% and 0.996% in social care precept, providing a band D council tax figure for Dorset Council of £1,832.67; an overall increase of 2.994%. Additional funds of 10.4 million had been awarded to the council from central government. However, he stated that some of this funding had been ring-fenced and any balance not used or ring-fenced should be used as a contingency fund given the current climate and the ongoing pandemic.

The budget proposals had been built around the priorities identified in the Dorset Council Plan and were considered by the Dorset Council Scrutiny Committees on 10 December 2021 and 7 January 2022. The Chairman also stated that all councillors had the opportunity to attend recent budget café meetings so that they could be part of shaping the budget for the forthcoming year.

The following comments and questions were made by non-executive councillors:

·       3% was the maximum that council tax could be increased without a referendum. We have one of the highest council tax rates in the country and this was likely to continue to be so.

·       Concern expressed about future fuel cost increases to residents

·       Capital Programme – there is a need to continue to keep the Council’s capital programme under review in terms of its affordability and alignment with the Council’s priorities.

In response, the Chairman advised that following the scrutiny meeting he had agreed that a fundamental review of the capital programme would be carried out and this would come back to scrutiny at some point.

There were no additional questions from Cabinet.  The Portfolio Holder for Finance, Commercial & Capital Strategy read out his 10 recommendations to full council in respect of the budget strategy.

Cabinet confirmed that their “minded to” view was to support the recommendation.

Recommendation to Full Council from the Portfolio Holder for Finance, Commercial and Capital Strategy.

(a)           That the revenue budget summarised in appendix 1, be agreed

(b)           That the increase in general council tax of 1.998% and 0.996% in the social care precept, providing a band D council tax figure for Dorset Council of £1,832.67, an overall increase of 2.994%, be agreed.

(c)           That no change to the current scheme of Local Council Tax Support as set out in the report, be agreed.

(d)           That the capital strategy set out in Appendix 3 and the capital programme set out in Appendix 4, be agreed.

(e)           That the treasury management strategy as set out in Appendix 5, be agreed

(f)             That the assumptions used to develop the budget strategy and medium-term financial plan (MTFP) as set out throughout the report and summarised in Appendix 6, be agreed

(g)           That the recommended balances on  ...  view the full minutes text for item 45.

To consider a report of the Portfolio Holder for Children, Education, Skills and Early Help.

Decision of the Portfolio Holder for Children, Education, Skills and Early Help

(a)           That the procurement process, as set out in the report, be agreed.

(b)           That the further step of making any contract award be delegated to the Portfolio Holder for Children, Education, Skills and Early Help in consultation with the Executive Director of People – Children.

Reason for the decision

Cabinet is required to approve all key decisions with financial consequences of £500k or more. The current contractual arrangements would come to an end in August 2022 and local authorities were required to arrange alternative education for children pupils who, because of exclusion, illness or other reasons, would not otherwise receive a suitable education (Alternative Provision Guidance, 2013).

          Decision - Alternative Education Provision tender for Implementation from September 2022 - Dorset Council

The Portfolio Holder for Children, Education, Skills and Early Help presented a report seeking support to approve the tender of an educational alternative provision delivery model.

Cabinet were advised that the current contractual arrangements would come to an end in August 2022 and local authorities were required to arrange alternative education for children who, because of exclusion, illness, or other reasons, would not otherwise receive a suitable education.

Cabinet members indicated that they were “minded” to support the recommendation.

Decision of the Portfolio Holder for Children, Education, Skills and Early Help

(a)           That the procurement process, as set out in the report, be agreed.

(b)           That the further step of making any contract award be delegated to the Portfolio Holder for Children, Education, Skills and Early Help in consultation with the Executive Director of People – Children.

Reason for the decision

Cabinet is required to approve all key decisions with financial consequences of £500k or more. The current contractual arrangements would come to an end in August 2022 and local authorities were required to arrange alternative education for children who, because of exclusion, illness or other reasons, would not otherwise receive a suitable education

To consider a report of the Portfolio(s) Holder for Children, Education, Skills and Early Help and Adult Social Care and Health.

Decision of Portfolio Holder for Children, Education, Skills and Early Help

(a)           To agree, the procurement process for a holistic programme for vulnerable women who have experienced, or are at risk of, repeat removals of children from their care, “Pause Practice” in Dorset.

(b)           That the further step of making any contract award be delegated to the Portfolio Holder for Children, Education, Skills and Early Help in consultation with the Executive Director of People – Children.

Reason for the decision

Cabinet is required to approve all key decisions with financial consequences of £500,000 or more.

Decision - 'ROC' - Reducing Repeat Removals of Children in Care Project Procurement Approval - Dorset Council

The Portfolio Holder for Children, Education, Skills and Early Help set out a report to begin the procurement process for a holistic programme for vulnerable women, who had  experienced, or were at risk of, repeat removals of children from their care. The programme aimed to give women the opportunity to ‘pause’ and take control of their lives by breaking a destructive cycle that caused both them and their children deep trauma.

Cllr M Rennie, the Domestic Violence Champion spoke passionately in support of the initiative and the Cabinet Lead for health explained the work of the “task and finish” group, in order to get the report to this point. She asked members to support the recommendation.

Cabinet members indicated that they were “minded” to support recommendation.

Decision of Portfolio Holder for Children, Education, Skills and Early Help

(a)           To agree, the procurement process for a holistic programme for vulnerable women who have experienced, or are at risk of, repeat removals of children from their care, “Pause Practice” in Dorset.

(b)           That the further step of making any contract award be delegated to the Portfolio Holder for Children, Education, Skills and Early Help in consultation with the Executive Director of People – Children.

Reason for the decision

Cabinet is required to approve all key decisions with financial consequences of £500,000 or more.

Cabinet Portfolio Holders to report.

There were no referrals to report.

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

The Portfolio Holder for Housing and Community Safety updated members on the following:

·       This was an important year for housing service, as having a decent, safe, and affordable home underpins what Dorset residents need to thrive.

·       The emerging Housing Strategy would plot out what Dorset Council expects to achieve linking with other council strategies, such as the Local Plan.  Including those driving the council’s work with children and adult services.

·       The strategy will enable the council to priorities its work, time, and resources. Plus working with others to delivering appropriate housing in Dorset.

·       To be an enabling authority

·       To become a registered provider

·       Reported on the Rough Sleeper project.  Including a settled housing programme.

·       To continue to work with Local Housing Associations to deliver social housing in the area.

To receive an update from the Portfolio Holder for Highways, Travel and Environment.

The Portfolio Holder for Highways, Travel and Environment updated cabinet on the following:

·       Decarbonisation of council owned buildings continued

·       Low Cardon Dorset was working hard to support applicants who wished to reduce their carbon footprint

·       Supportive of a recent application to produce green hydrogen.

·       AONB working with the farming community to give advice and financial support. Including woodland management and support on re-wilding projects.

·       Highways were continuing to look ways for continuing to reduce their carbon footprint.

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 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 scheduled for this meeting.

There were no exempt items scheduled for the meeting.