Agenda and decisions

To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 28 July 2026.

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 [email protected]  by 8.30am on Thursday 3 September 2026.

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 [email protected]  8.30am on Thursday 3 September 2026.

Dorset Council Constitution – Procedure Rule 13 

To consider the Cabinet Forward Plan.

To consider a report of the Cabinet Member for Resources and Finance.

Decision

(a)    That the Senior Leadership Team’s forecast as of July 2026 including progress in addressing demand for services and on the transformational and efficiency savings incorporated into the budget, be noted.

(b)    That the addition of the Wimborne Community Sports Hub capital budget (£2.289m) to the Capital Programme (Business case as set out in the report of 8 September 2026 at Appendix C), be approved.

(c)    That the addition of the Lyme Regis Environmental Improvement Scheme Phase 5 (The Cobb) capital budget (£8.365m) to the Capital Programme, be approved.

(d)    That the decision to extend the Mosaic contract which required a retrospective update to a September 2023 Cabinet record of decision (as at Appendix B), be noted.

(e)    That the number and extent of contract exemptions (as at Appendix B), be noted.

Reason for the decision

To enable Cabinet to consider the Council's current and projected financial position, approve the necessary amendments to the Capital Programme, and ensure that financial resources, reserves and future investment priorities were aligned with the Council Plan, supported sustainable service delivery, and informed the development of the Medium-Term Financial Plan and future budget strategy.

To consider a report of the Cabinet Member for Resources and Finance.

Decision

(a)           Cabinet considered the contents of the report (of 8 September 2026) in respect of proposed additional more than £500k procurement activity for 2026-27 that was listed in Appendix 1 of the report and the Modern Slavery Transparency Statement and approve and agree:

(i)             That the commencement of each of the procurement procedures (or variation) as listed (subject to an approved and available budget, business case) in the report. 

(ii)            That authority be delegated to the relevant Cabinet member, after consultation with the relevant Director to make the following decisions:

To agree final procurement documentation developed and refined with the broad scope of the procurement briefing notes (available on request)

To agree contract award subject to an approved and available budget (through a recommendation to award report provided the tender outcome are within + 5% of the budget agreed with Finance)

To note that approval of procurement activity within Appendix 1 of the report included authority to establish, join or utilise framework agreements, dynamic markets, and similar procurement arrangements where identified in the supporting procurement briefing note, together with the subsequent award of call-off contracts and associated agreements in accordance with the Council's rules.

(b)           That the Modern Slavery Transparency Statement 2025-2026, as set out in Appendix 2 of the report, be approved for publication.

Decision

To approve the proposed procurement pipeline and associated delegations for contracts exceeding £500k, ensuring appropriate governance, oversight and flexibility in the procurement process, while also reaffirming the Council’s commitment to ethical procurement practices through the publication of the Modern Slavery Transparency Statement.

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.

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 11, 12 and 13 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 item in private

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

To consider a report of the Cabinet Member for Public Health, Prevention & Communities.

That the recommendations set out in the exempt report of 8 September 2026 be approved.

Reason for the decision

To modify two Public Health Contracts over £500k: Sexual Health and 0-19 Public Health Nursing Services.

To consider a report of the Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Economic Growth & Strategic Assets.

That the recommendations set out in the exempt report of 8 September 2026 be approved.

Reason for the decision

To approve the disposal of the Council’s freehold interest in the commercial property and to agree the arrangements necessary to complete the sale in accordance with the Council’s asset management and financial objectives.

To consider a report of the Cabinet Member for Planning and Emergency Planning.

That the recommendations set out in the exempt report of 8 September 2026 be approved.

Reason for the decision

Dorset Council had a legal duty, as the competent authority under the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2017 (as amended), to ensure that new development did not adversely affect the integrity of protected habitats within Poole Harbour.