Agenda and minutes

To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 12 May 2022.

The minutes of the meeting held on 12 May 2022 were confirmed and signed by the Chairman.

To disclose any pecuniary, other registrable or non-registrable interests as set out in the adopted Code of Conduct.  In making their decision 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.

No declarations of disclosable pecuniary interests were made at the meeting.

To receive any announcements from the Chairman of Council.

The Chairman reported the death of former Weymouth & Portland Councillor, Margaret Leicester. She invited Cllr P Kimber to pay tribute.

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.  No more than 3 minutes shall be allowed for any one question or statement to be asked/read.

The full text of the question or statement must be received by 8.30am on Monday 11 July 2022.

Details of the Council’s procedure rules can be found at:

Council Procedure Rules

Public questions and the responses from the Leader or the Council or appropriate portfolio holder are set out in Appendix 1 to these minutes.

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:

Council Procedure Rules

There were no petitions or deputations.

To receive any announcements and reports from the Leader of Council and members of the Cabinet.

The Leader of Council advised councillors that his bulletin would be published following the meeting and areas that would be included were as follows:

·       The cost-of-living crisis and energy rebates

·       Support for Ukraine refugees

·       Dorset Council sofa session

·       Dorset Education Conference

·       Dorset Council’s Key Priorities

Councillors asked questions regarding, the local plan, support provided and associated with all refugees, including those from Ukraine and the support being provided in respect of the cost-of-living crisis.

In respect of the “Household Support Fund” and Food Projects, and any additional plans to address the cost-of-living crisis, the Leader of Council agreed to report back to members on the position of any possible supplementary government funding.

To receive questions submitted by councillors.  The deadline for receipt of questions is 8.30am on Monday 11 July 2022.

A copy of the councillor questions and the response is attached at Appendix 2 to these minutes.

As a supplementary to Cllr B Bawden’s question relating to the termination of bus services, the Portfolio Holder for Highways Travel and Environment confirmed that the council continued to work with its neighbouring authorities to make sure that cross-border issues were addressed collectively.

As a supplementary question from Cllr Ireland in respect of allegations and complaints from parents with children at Coombe House, the Portfolio Holder for Children, Education, Skills, and Early Help advised that if there was evidence of such behaviour, it should be reported to the appropriate Executive Director for People (Children).  He continued that as Corporate Parents all allegations must be taken seriously and investigated accordingly.

To receive a recommendation from Cabinet.

The Portfolio Holder for Children, Education, Skills, and Early Help set out the Cabinet recommendation to approve the Youth Justice Plan.  In proposing the recommendation, he also advised that the plan was considered and supported by People & Health Overview Committee on 3 May 2022.

Decision

That the Youth Justice Plan 2022/23 be approved.

To consider a report by J Andrews, Service Manager Democratic and Electoral Services.

The Leader of Council presented the report in respect of the Community Governance Review following the public consultation exercise and the cross-party working group.

Cllr L Fry seconded the recommendation.

In supporting the reports proposals, several councillors welcomed the removal of certain parishes from the final recommendation.

Decision

(a)           That the proposals set out in Appendix 1 of the report, be adopted by the Council as Final Recommendations for the purposes of the Community Governance Review.

(b)           That, save as set out in the Final Recommendations, the existing parishes in the Dorset Council area, and the names, boundaries, council size, groupings, and other parish governance arrangements in respect of those parishes, remain unchanged.

(c)           That the Final Recommendations form a Reorganisation Order to take effect on 1 April 2024.

To consider a report from the Independent Remuneration Panel.

The Leader of the Council introduced the report and proposed its recommendation.  This was seconded by Cllr N Ireland.

Cllr N Ireland put forward the following amendment.

That part 5 (7.) of the Scheme of Allowances in the constitution be amended to read: -

“A dependent carers’ allowance paid to members of up to £11* per hour, i.e. actual expenditure incurred up to a maximum of £11 per hour, or in exception and by prior arrangement with the Service Manager for Democratic & Electoral Services invoiced expenditure above £11 per hour, will be paid for care of dependants, whether children, elderly people or people with disabilities, while a member is on Dorset Council business where travelling allowances are payable.”

The Leader of the Council confirm that he was supportive of the amendment and seconded the motion.

Upon being put to the vote the amendment was CARRIED.

Cllr B Quayle left the meeting at this juncture.

Decision (Substantive)

That the attached report and recommendations of the Independent Remuneration Panel, in respect of the review of allowances for co-opted and independent members, as set out in paragraph 8.2 of the Dorset Council Scheme of Members’ Allowances, and other matters reviewed, be adopted by Full Council and that the Panel be thanked for their work in arriving at the recommendations.

(a)           To increase the allowance for the Co-opted Members of the Police and Crime Panel (PCP) to £2,000 per annum in recognition of the significant role that they perform and the huge impact they have on the success or otherwise of the PCP.

(b)           To increase the retainer for the Independent Person appointed to contribute to the arrangements of promoting and maintaining high standards of conduct to £1,000 per annum and that any significant additional duties are agreed and remunerated at an hourly rate to be determined in the discretion of the Monitoring Officer.

(c)           To increase the allowance for the Co-opted Members of the Harbours Committee to £1,000 per annum to recognise the role performed outside of the formal meetings of the Committee.

(d)           To increase the allowance paid to Co-opted Members of the Overview Committee to £500 per annum on the basis that this might increase the likelihood of recruiting members to these positions.

(e)           To include an allowance within the Travel Allowances section of the Scheme to reimburse the cost of charging an electric vehicle and that this should be set at the same rate as for petrol and diesel vehicles.

(f)             That a consultation be undertaken of Dorset Councillors regarding the possible introduction of a policy for Parental/Adoption/Sick leave and that the response be considered as part of the Panel’s next fundamental review of the Scheme.

(g)           That part 5 (7.) of the constitution’s Scheme of Allowances be amended to read: -

“A dependent carers’ allowance paid to members of up to £11* per hour, i.e. actual expenditure incurred up to a maximum of £11 per hour, or in exception and by prior arrangement with the Service Manager for  ...  view the full minutes text for item 25.

To receive a recommendation from the Audit & Governance Committee.

The Leader of the Council introduced a recommendation from Audit and Governance Committee of 22 June 2022. The recommendation was seconded by Cllr M Hall.

Several councillors spoke against the proposed scheme as they failed to see how the proposal was of benefit to Dorset’s residents. There were no projected costs for the scheme or its administration and there were also concerns expressed on how an “outstanding contribution” would be measured.

Upon being put to the vote the motion was LOST.

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.

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.

There is no exempt business.

There was no exempt business to report.