Venue: A link to the meeting can be found on the front page of the agenda.. View directions
Contact: Susan Dallison Email: Susan.dallison@dorsetcouncil.gov.uk
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Apologies To receive any apologies for
absence. Minutes: An apology for absence was received from Mike Dyer. |
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To confirm the minutes of the
meeting held on 10 December 2020. Additional documents:
Minutes: The minutes of the
meeting held on 10 December 2020 were confirmed and agreed as a correct record
and would be signed by the Chairman in the future. In response to a question about the supplementary question raised by Cllr Trite, the Democratic Services Manager undertook to ensure this would be included when the minutes were published. |
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Declarations of Interest To receive any declarations
of interest. Minutes: No declarations of
disclosable pecuniary interests were made at the meeting. In respect of
agenda item 9, Harbour Budget and Fees, Cllr Turner advised that his brother
held a licence for Lyme Regis harbour. In respect of agenda item 11, Weymouth Rowing Club Lease, Cllr Orrell advised that all of his family were members of the Rowing Club. |
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Chairman's Announcements To receive any announcements from the Chairman of Council. Minutes: The Chairman advised she had no announcements at this time. |
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Public Participation - Questions and Statements PDF 44 KB A period of 30 minutes is allocated to receive and respond to questions and statements, on the business of the Council in the following order: (a) Questions and statements from Town and Parish Councils; (b) Questions and statements from those living or working in the Dorset Council area; A person or organisation can ask either 2 questions, or 2 statements or 1 question and 1 statement at each meeting. **Important** The
full text of the question or statement must be received by 8.30am on Thursday
11 February 2021 and each question or statement is limited to 450 words. Due to the Coronavirus pandemic public speaking has been suspended, however questions and statements will be published on the website and the Chairman of Council will decide whether a question or statement is to be read out aloud in whole, in part or not at all in the meeting. The Chairman will invite the relevant member to respond to the questions and statements at the meeting. Details of the Council’s procedure rules can be found at: Public Participation at Full Council Additional documents:
Minutes: Public questions, statements and the responses from the Leader of the Council and appropriate Portfolio Holders are set out in Appendix 1 attached to these minutes. |
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Public participation - petitions and deputations A period of 15 minutes is allocated to receive and respond to petitions in accordance with the council’s petitions scheme. A period of 15 minutes is allocated to receive and respond to deputations in accordance with the council’s constitution. The petitions scheme and procedures relating to deputations can be viewed at :
Minutes: There were no petitions or deputations. |
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Announcements and Reports from the Leader of Council and Cabinet Members To receive any announcements and reports from the Leader of Council and members of the Cabinet.
Minutes: The Leader of the
Council advised members that his bulletin would be published following the
meeting and a few of the areas that would be included in this were as follows:- Climate change Challenges of a
further lockdown Vaccines being
rolled out very successfully Dorset Council News
was due out next month The emerging Dorset
Local Plan Explanations were
given around the budget Acquisition of St
Mary’s School, Shaftesbury Update on Covid-19
in Dorset Results from the
recent Residents survey The Leader’s continuing
role as an advocate for Dorset Keeping residents
well informed during the pandemic for the past year. |
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Questions from Councillors PDF 54 KB To receive questions submitted by councillors. The deadline for receipt of questions is 8.30am on Thursday 11 February 2021. Minutes: Questions put by
councillors to the Leader and relevant Portfolio Holders are attached to these
minutes at Appendix 2, together with the responses. Cllr Tooke asked a supplementary question relating to the recent PSPO consultation on dog fouling that ran for a longer period that the local Plan. He felt that the Local Plan was a far more significant piece of work and how did the council plan to address any reputational damage that might occur as a result of this. The Portfolio Holder for Planning advised that the community involvement consultation had been planned for 6 weeks and this was extended to 8 weeks. There was another consultation planned for later in the year. Dorset Council was very vulnerable without a Local Plan in place. It was not just about particular local areas but about various other issues. He made reference to a recent ministerial statement that stated the Council needed to have a Plan in place by the end of 2023. |
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Harbours Budget and Fees and Charges 2021-22 PDF 49 KB To consider a recommendation from the Harbours Committee. Additional documents:
Minutes: The Chairman of the
Harbours Committee set out the recommendations from the Harbours Committee for
members. Proposed: Mark
Roberts Seconded: Rob
Hughes Questions from
members focused on the Harbours Committee’s confidence in the proposed
increases and the good value that they represented. Decisions That the following related to budget
requirements for the Harbours’ Budgets for 2021/22 be approved, including: 1. The Weymouth Harbour Budget for 2021/22; 2. The fees and charges for 2021/22 for
Weymouth Harbour; 3. The Asset Management Plan Improvements
for 2021/22 for Weymouth Harbour subject to a mid-year review; 4. The budget request for Bridport Harbour
for 2021/22; 5. The budget request for Lyme Regis Harbour
for 2021/22; and 6. The fees and
charges for 2021/22 for Bridport and Lyme Regis Harbours. Reason for
Decisions The Harbours Committee has the
responsibility for the harbours’ finances including budget setting, budget monitoring
and the final outturn at the year end. |
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To approve the Budget Strategy. Appendix 2 will be published as soon as it is available. Additional documents:
Minutes: The Portfolio
Holder for Finance, Commercial and Capital Strategy set out the recommendations
from the Cabinet. An amendment had been
proposed from Cllr Ezzard which had been attached as a supplement to the
agenda. Cllr Brenton seconded the amendment and noted that all councillors
realised they needed to mitigate on climate change. To the residents of the
Dorset it seemed all the action was being undertaken by volunteer groups. She
felt Dorset Council needed to lead on this and this would show that the Council
had a commitment to climate change. There were a number
of comments and questions relating to the amendment including:- A small step to
giving the climate emergency a proper place The budget had not
addressed the need to meet the needs of this area £19m funding had
been awarded to the Council to help with climate change The work that Cllr
Bryan had undertaken in respect of climate change The effects of
climate change Assumptions in the
budget made and decisions on this made by Town Councils No wish to revisit
the budget on member allowances No wish to ask the
Dorset tax-payer to pay anymore Disappointment the
amendment submitted so late following all the budget consultations that had
taken place with members Climate change
costs were already in the budget Procedural issue
raised with the Monitoring Officer who responded that the amendment was
procedurally valid. . Those who voted against the amendment: Cllrs Rod Adkins, Anthony Alford, Jon Andrews, Shane Bartlett, Pauline Batstone, David Bolwell, Cherry Brooks, Piers Brown, Ray Bryan, Graham Carr-Jones, Simon Christopher, Susan Cocking, Robin Cook, Toni Coombs, Jean Dunseith, Tony Ferrari, Spencer Flower, Les Fry, Simon Gibson, Barry Goringe, Paul Harrison, Rob Hughes, Sherry Jespersen, Carole Jones, Andrew Kerby, Rebecca Knox, Nocturin Lacey-Clarke, Cathy Lugg, Laura Miller, Louie O’Leary, Emma Parker, Mike Parkes, Andrew Parry, Mary Penfold, Bill Pipe, Val Pothecary, Byron Quayle, Belinda Ridout, Mark Roberts, Julie Robinson, David Shortell, Jane Somper, Gary Suttle, William Trite, Daryl Turner, David Walsh, Peter Wharf, Kate Wheller and John Worth. Abstentions: Cllrs Michael Barron, Peter Barrow, Derek Beer, Richard Biggs, David Gray, Matt Hall, Howard Legg, Stella Jones, Molly Rennie, Roland Tarr, David Taylor and Sarah Williams Following a
recorded vote, 18 for, 49 against and 12 abstentions the amendment was
LOST. Group Leaders were
initially invited to speak on the budget strategy. Nick Ireland,
Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group read out a prepared statement. Comments from
members were also received including:- Thanks and congratulations to all staff and
volunteers for the past year especially in respect of the distribution of
business grants Consideration of a
tax emergency in the future. The Portfolio ... view the full minutes text for item 56.
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Weymouth Rowing Club Lease PDF 49 KB To consider a recommendation from the Harbours Committee. Additional documents:
Minutes: The Chairman of the
Harbours Committee set out the recommendation from the Harbours Committee. Proposed: Mark
Roberts Seconded: Rob
Hughes Decisions 1. That the lease for the Weymouth Rowing
Club be renewed for an interim period of 3 years from 25 March 2020. 2. That the Harbours Committee be given
delegated authority to determine further interim renewals of the lease if
necessary. 3. That the Harbours Committee be given
delegated authority to determine whether to grant a full lease for a period
of 25 years from 25 March 2020 once the Harbour
Revision Order has been approved. Reason for
Decisions The Gig Rowing Club continues to be an integral part of the harbour and have an active membership. The renewal is a short-term temporary arrangement until a longer term lease can be considered once the Harbour Revision Order has been approved |
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Appointment of Co-Opted Independent Member of the Harbours Committee PDF 56 KB To consider a recommendation from the Harbours Committee. Minutes: The Chairman of the
Harbours Committee set out the recommendation from the Harbours Committee. Proposed: Mark
Roberts Seconded: Rob
Hughes The Chairman
confirmed that 3 applications had been received and all 3 applicants were
interviewed. Decision That the nomination of the Harbours
Committee's Appointments Panel for a new Co-opted Independent Member, Mr
William Ellwood be approved. Reason for Decision To ensure that the membership of the Harbours Committee is in accordance with the Dorset Council Constitution and industry best practice. |
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Pay Policy Statement 2021/22 PDF 64 KB To approve the annual Pay Policy Statement. Additional documents: Minutes: The Portfolio Holder for Corporate
Development and Change advised members that, in accordance with the Localism
Act 2011, Council was responsible for approving the annual pay policy statement
for 2021/22. Cllr Ireland proposed the following
amendment to the Pay Policy Statement:- Appendix A, add after item 7.4 (page 142) 7.5 Dorset Council resolves to work to the lowest wages it pays being in accordance with the minimum Real Living Wage as defined by the Living Wage Foundation by 1st April 2022 and seek accreditation for such from the same. Cllr Howard Legg seconded the
amendment. The Monitoring
Officer confirmed this was a valid amendment in that it added words to the
proposal before members. In terms of
councillors being able to make evidence-based decisions, notice of this type of
amendment was not required. With reference
to the principles for good decision making, members had not received financial
advice or HR advice for this amendment and therefore was possibly not in
accordance with good decision making. Several comments
were made by members including:- Reference made to
the lowest paid workers Reference made to
retaining good staff and paying them enough Concern letting
residents down by making decisions ad hoc Importance of
following proper consultation and agreements The statement does
not change the pay strategy but would like to see it applied to terms and
conditions and go through proper channels Being a socially
responsible council No opportunity to
discuss properly or receive relevant advice The Leader advised
members that the Council relied on national pay bargaining which was a platform
to put this forward as a national point.
He was happy to acknowledge the point made and ensure it was brought
forward to the national conversation in relation to pay bargaining. . The Deputy Leader advised
members that this was a factual statement that met the requirements of the
Localism Act and was not a policy statement. On being put to the
vote the amendment was lost. Proposed: Peter
Wharf Seconded: Spencer
Flower Decisions 1. That the provisions of the Localism Act
and content of the Pay Policy Statement for the 2021/22 financial year be
noted; and 2. That the Pay
Policy Statement for 2021/22 be approved. Reason for
Decision The Full Council is responsible for approval of the annual pay policy statement. |
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Calendar of Meetings 2021-22 PDF 62 KB To approve the Calendar of Meetings 2021 – 2022. Additional documents: Minutes: The Leader of the Council presented the
draft calendar of meetings for the municipal year 2021 to 2022 for formal
adoption. Proposed: Spencer
Flower Seconded: Les Fry One member was
disappointed there was not a mix of daytime and evening meetings. Decisions 1. That the Calendar of meetings for the
period May 2021 to May 2022 be adopted. 2. That authority be delegated to the
Corporate Director – Legal and Democratic Services to make any necessary
changes, in consultation with the relevant Chairmen and Vice-Chairmen, to
ensure effective political management. Reason for Decisions To ensure effective political management,
comply with the Dorset Council Procedure Rules and to put into place
appropriate arrangements for Council committee meetings. |
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Urgent items 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. Minutes: There were no urgent items to report. |
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Exempt Business 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. Minutes: There was no exempt business. |