Agenda and decisions

To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 8 September 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 1 October 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 1 October 2026.

Dorset Council Constitution – Procedure Rule 13 

To consider the Cabinet Forward Plan for November 2026.

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

To consider a report of the Cabinet Member for Children, Families and Education.

That the Dorset Safeguarding Children Partnership (DSCP) annual report be received and its future priorities be endorsed.

Reason for the decision

To receive assurance regarding the effectiveness of local multi-agency safeguarding arrangements, note the progress made by the Dorset Safeguarding Children Partnership during 2025-2026, and endorse the Partnership's priorities for 2026-2027 in support of improved outcomes for children and families in Dorset.

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

That Cabinet adopts as its own decision action taken under the Council's urgency powers to enable the project to proceed to the delivery stage.

Reason for the decision

To regularise a decision made under delegated powers to progress the delivery of this important community infrastructure project.

To consider a report of the Cabinet Member for Housing.

That the following policies be approved for implementation by the Housing Solutions Service:

1. Sourcing of Temporary Accommodation Policy

2. Void Policy (management of unoccupied properties that are not generating income)

3. Emergency and Temporary Accommodation Placement Policy.

Reason for the decision

To provide safe, suitable and affordable accommodation for homeless applicants while ensuring value for money and compliance with statutory requirements.

To consider a report of the Cabinet Member for Places Services.

Appendix A of the report is an exempt document (paragraph 3) and is set out at item 15 below.

(a)       That the transfer of Coastal Transition Accelerator Programme funding (as set out in exempt Appendix A) to Charmouth Parish Council for the acquisition of Hensleigh House (or a suitable alternative), be approved;

(b)       That Cabinet approves Dorset Council acting as facilitator and enabling authority for the acquisition in support of the Future Coast Dorset programme;

(c)        That authority be delegated to the Executive Director for Economy & Environment, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Place Services, Monitoring Officer and Section 151 Officer, to finalise and enter into all necessary funding agreements, legal agreements and associated documentation and take all incidental decisions relating to the matter;

(d)       That the Executive Director for Economy & Environment be delegated to sign the requisite PMG1 and Sealing Form; and officers be authorised to proceed with the transfer, subject to satisfactory valuation, survey, planning, legal and funding compliance outcomes.

Reason for the decision

To deliver a key coastal adaptation project, strengthen the long-term resilience of Charmouth, protect an important community asset, and maximise the benefits of external funding while supporting Dorset Council’s priorities and ensuring timely use of programme funding.

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 the following item(s) below 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 Resources and Finance.

That the recommendations set out in the exempt report to Cabinet of 6 October 2026, be approved.

Reason for the decision

Existing contracts had reached the end of their original term and required replacement through a compliant procurement exercise.

Exempt appendix associated with item 12 above.