Agenda and decisions

To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 19 November 2024.

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.

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 either 1 question or 1 statement for each meeting.  You are welcome to attend the meeting in person or via MS Teams to read out your question and to receive the response.   If you submit a statement for the committee this will be circulated to all members of the committee in advance of the meeting as a supplement to the agenda and appended to the minutes for the formal record but will not be read out at the meeting. The first 8 questions and the first 8 statements received from members of the public or organisations for each meeting will be accepted on a first come first served basis in accordance with the deadline set out below.  Further information read Public Participation - Dorset Council

All submissions must be emailed in full to susan.dallison@dorsetcouncil.gov.uk by 8.30am on Thursday 12 December 2024.

When submitting your question or statement please note that:

•         You can submit 1 question or 1 statement.

•         a question may include a short pre-amble to set the context.

•         It must be a single question and any sub-divided questions will not be permitted.

•         Each question will consist of no more than 450 words, and you will be given up to 3 minutes to present your question.

•         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.

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 susan.dallison@dorsetcouncil.gov.uk  by 8.30am on Thursday 12 December 2024. 

Dorset Council Constitution – Procedure Rule 13

To consider the Cabinet Forward Plan.

To consider a report of the Service Manager – Flood and Coastal Erosion.

That:

1. The Dorset Coastal Transition Accelerator Programme Project Outline Business Case (found in Appendix A), be endorsed.
   
   
2. The draw-down of the £3m grant funding, ongoing throughout the project, be authorised.
   
   
3. The procurement of the necessary materials, professional & other services and construction contractor(s) for the project be approved and authority be delegated to the Executive Director for Place Services in consultation with the Executive Director Corporate Development and the Cabinet Member for Place Services to award necessary contracts on appropriate terms and subject to a budget being identified and allocated, and that the total value of the contracts within the project should not exceed £3m.

Reasons for the decision:

The £3m outline business case requires cabinet approval. The recommendations give officers the necessary authority to draw-down the external grant funding and progress the project to the delivery stage.

To consider a report of the Dorset National Landscape Manager.

That the Dorset National Landscape interim management plan be adopted.

Reason for the decision:

a) to fulfil Dorset Council’s legal obligations under the Countryside & Rights of Way Act 2000.

b) to enable the existing management plan policy framework to remain current until a new plan is adopted.

To consider a report of the Community Planning Manager.

a)    That the Council ‘makes’ the Alderholt Neighbourhood Plan 2022 - 2034 (as set out in Appendix A of the report) part of the statutory development plan for the Alderholt Neighbourhood Area.

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

Reasons for the decision:

To formally ‘make’ the Alderholt Neighbourhood Plan 2022 - 2034 part of the statutory development plan for the Alderholt Neighbourhood Area. In addition, 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 the Group on their success.

To consider a report of the Community Planning Manager.

That the minor (non-material) modifications, set out in Appendix A to the report, are made to the Blandford + Neighbourhood Plan.

Reasons for the decision:

To correct errors that have been identified in the ‘made’ (adopted) Blandford + Neighbourhood Plan.

To consider a report of the Strategic Health and Adult Social Care Integration Lead and Urgent and Emergency Care Transformation Programme Director.

That:

1.    The system-wide work, that is being undertaken to transform urgent and emergency care services and to provide better outcomes for the residents of Dorset, be commended.

2.    The important role for Dorset Council as ‘Lead Partner’ and managing the contract with Newton, and the substantial financial benefits to the Council that will be achieved as a result of the transformation, be noted.

3.    Authority by delegated to the portfolio holder for adults in consultation with the Executive Director for Corporate Development and the Executive Director People – Adults to enter into the UEC Partnership Agreement on behalf of the Council.

Reason for the decision:

To support the improvement of urgent and emergency health and care outcomes for Dorset residents.

To consider a report of the Corporate Director for Education and Learning.

That the Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) Strategy 2024-27 be approved.

Reason for the decision:

To ensure the council has a robust strategy to provide good outcomes for children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities. This is within a challenging national context.

To consider a report of the Quality Assurance Service Manager.

That the Quality Assurance Reviewing Officer (QARO) Independent Reviewing Officer's (IRO) Annual Report 2023-2024 be received and noted.

Reason for the decision:

To ensure that the QARO service continues to develop and evolve to offer the best possible support and challenge to the Local Authority in meeting the needs of our children in care, and to ensure voices of children and young people in care are heard and acted upon.

To consider a report of the Local Authority Designated Officer.

That the Designated Officer Annual Report be received and noted.

Reason for the decision:

To provide understanding of the management of allegations process and the impact of Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) service.

To consider a report of the Housing Enabling and Delivery Team Leader and the Senior Housing Funding and Delivery Officer.

There is one exempt appendix (Appendix 1) associated with this report.

That the award of contract for refurbishment of Hardy House to A Hammond and Sons Ltd (As set out in Appendix 1 of the report), be approved.

Reason for the decision:

Dorset Council has a statutory duty under the Housing Act 1996 as amended by the Homelessness Reduction Act 2018 to provide a number of principle duties to those threatened with or who are homeless, including providing emergency and temporary accommodation. By increasing the number of properties owned and managed by the Council there will be a reduction of the Council’s use of Bed and Breakfast (B&B) accommodation. This will lead to a direct revenue saving to the Council and an opportunity to generate income – whilst also providing a better service to our residents who find themselves homeless. Hardy House will be refurbished to provide accommodation for those threatened with homelessness or who are homeless.

To consider any items of business which the Chair 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.

To consider passing the following recommendation:  

Recommendation  

That in accordance with Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 to exclude the public from the meeting for the business specified in item(s) No 18 and 19 because it is likely that if members of the public were present there would be disclosure to them of exempt information as defined in paragraph(s) 3 of Part 1 of schedule 12A to the Act and the public interest in withholding the information outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information to the public.  

The public and the press will be asked to leave the meeting whilst the item of business is considered. (Any live streaming will end at this juncture).  

Reason for taking the items in private

Paragraph 3 - Information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information).

Exempt Appendix 1 associated with the report Refurbishment of Hardy House, Portland.

To consider an exempt report of the Head of Growth and Economic Regeneration.

That the recommendations as set out in the exempt report be approved.

Reason for the decision:

To support the delivery of the Levelling Up Fund (LUF) proposals.