Agenda and minutes

To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 11^th May 2023.

The minutes of the meeting held on 11 May 2023 were confirmed and signed.

 

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 welcomed Cllr Richard Crabb the new councillor for Sherborne West, elected on 29 June 2023.

 

Members of the Youth Council were also welcomed.

 

Representatives of town and 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 this will be circulated to all members of Council in advance of the meeting as a supplement to the agenda and appended to the minutes as the formal record but will not be read out at the meeting.  The first 8 questions and the first 8 statements will be accepted on a first come first served basis in accordance with the deadline set out below.          

 

The full text of the question or statement must be received by 8.30am on Monday 10^th July 2023. All submissions must be emailed to susan.dallison@dorsetcouncil.gov.uk 

 

Please note that questions should be no more than 450 words, including the pre-amble to the question.       

 

 

Public questions, statements and the responses from the Leader of the Council and appropriate Portfolio Holder are set out in Appendix 1 attached 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

 

 

1.     To consider a petition submitted by Mr N Sim-Duff

 

The petition for consideration is appended to this agenda.

 

In accordance with the Council’s Petition Scheme the Lead Petitioner will have up to 3 minutes to present the petition.  If the petition is not referred to an overview or scrutiny committee or another committee for consideration, without debate, members of Full Council will debate the petition. Members may ask questions of the Lead Petitioner who will be granted a right of reply, not exceeding 3 minutes at the end of the debate before a final decision or vote is taken.                

 

      

 

 

Mr N Sims-Duff presented a petition requesting Dorset Council reduce the carpark charges in Weymouth to those of other towns with immediate effect.  A copy of his statement to Council is attached at appendix 2 to these minutes.

 

The Deputy Leader and Portfolio Holder for Finance, Commercial and Capital Strategy responded and gave two assurances, that the item would be debated in Cabinet as soon as was practically possible (5 September 2023) and that if the evidence clearly showed a detrimental affect due to the car parking policy he would recommend a change.

 

The Director Legal and Democratic advised that it was not in the constitutional arrangements for this to go to a Scrutiny Committee, Cabinet could take advice from an Overview Committee and if they wished to do so a Scrutiny Committee could call in the decision or call the Portfolio Holder to account.  Members felt it was important to look at residents’ health and wellbeing, as well as the impact on businesses and not just the financial implications.

 

Proposed by Cllr Gary Suttle, seconded by Cllr Spencer Flower

 

Decision: that the petition be referred to Cabinet for consideration without further debate.

 

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

 

The Leader of the Council advised councillors that his report would be published following the meeting and the report included the following updates:

 

• Reaping the benefits of LGR
• Successful funding grants
• Leader’s recent meeting with DLUHC
• A Devolution Deal for Dorset
• Dorset Council’s apprenticeship scheme
• The recent Ofsted visit to our Care Leavers Service
• MJ Awards - Corporate Director of the year
• Customer Services Awards

 

To receive questions submitted by councillors.  The deadline for receipt of questions is 8.30am on 10^th July 2023.

There were thirteen questions received from councillors.  A copy of the questions and the responses are attached as Appendix 3 to these minutes.

 

Supplementary question from Cllr R Hope (Question 3)

Cllr Hope requested an emailed response from the Portfolio Holder for Highways, Travel and Environment and asked why he believed it was fair for the residents of Weymouth to foot the bill just because they were in a tourist location.

 

To consider a recommendation from Cabinet.  

 

 

The report was presented by the Portfolio Holder for People – Children, Education, Skills & Early Help.

 

Proposed by Cllr Byron Quayle, seconded by Cllr Mark Roberts

 

Decision: that the Youth Justice Plan 2022/23 was approved.

To consider a report by the Democratic Services Team Leader.

The Leader introduced a report to approve a dispensation for Cllr J Dover due to ill health.

 

Proposed By Cllr Flower, seconded by Cllr Canning.

 

Decision: that a dispensation for Cllr J Dover from attending meetings of the Council until 2 May 2024, by reason of ill health be approved.

 

 

In accordance with procedural rule 8.1 a vote was taken, Council agreed to exceed the 3 hour meeting time limit.

To consider the following Notice of Motion proposed by Cllr T Ferrari seconded by Cllr L O’Leary and supported by Cllrs T Coombs, G Carr-Jones, B Goringe, J Haynes, C Brooks, N Lacey-Clarke, M Penfold, R Cook, P Harrison, J Worth, J Dunseith, B Ridout, M Parkes, M Barron, D Shortell, G Suttle and P Wharf.

 

Asylum Seekers Barge – Portland Port

 

That this council condemns the commercial Agreement between the Home Office and Portland Port for the mooring of the Bibby Stockholm barge to accommodate up to 500 asylum seekers at this location.

That the mooring of the barge in Portland Port is an entirely inappropriate location and should be removed at the earliest opportunity.

 

That Dorset Council, while not the decision makers, will work with agencies to mitigate the impact this will have on Dorset.

 

 

 

Asylum Seekers Barge – Portland Port

 

 

The Chief Executive laid out some background information prior to the council debate.  This is attached at appendix 4 to these minutes.

 

Notice of Motion

 

“That this council condemns the commercial Agreement between the Home Office and Portland Port for the mooring of the Bibby Stockholm barge to accommodate up to 500 asylum seekers at this location.

 

That the mooring of the barge in Portland Port is an entirely inappropriate location and should be removed at the earliest opportunity.

 

That Dorset Council, while not the decision makers, will work with agencies to mitigate the impact this will have on Dorset.”

 

Proposed by Cllr Tony Ferrari

Seconded by Cllr Louie O’Leary

 

Supported by:

Toni Coombes, Graham Carr-Jones, Barry Gorringe, Jill Haynes, Cherry Brooks, Nocturin Lacey-Clarke, Mary Penfold, Robin Cook, Paul Harrison, John Worth, Jean Dunseith, Belinda Ridout, Mike Parkes, Mike Barron,

David Shortell, Gary Suttle, Peter Wharf,

 

In accordance with Procedure Rule 14.3 (a) this Notice of Motion, upon being proposed and seconded, was debated by Full Council.

 

The following amendment was proposed by Cllr Paul Kimber, seconded by Cllr Brian Heatley.

 

Amendment

 

“This Dorset Council recognises the contribution that Refugees have made to our Dorset economy and Society, over the years whilst we accept the Bibby Stockholm Barge is inhumane and is entirely inappropriate.

Dorset Council welcomes all refugees to be treated, with dignity, and respect”.

 

The amendment was carried.

 

The following amendment was proposed by Cllr Kate Wheller, seconded by Cllr Jon Orrell.

 

Amendment

 

“DC’s opposition should be voiced at every opportunity and any legal means taken to reject the Barge.

That DC urges the Home Office to increase resources to speed up the asylum application process.”

 

The amendment was LOST

 

The following amendment to Cllr Ferrari’s NOM was proposed by Cllr Ryan Hope.

 

“Dorset welcome’s refuges however this council condemns the commercial Agreement between the Home Office and Portland Port for the mooring of the Bibby Stockholm barge to accommodate up to 500 asylum seekers at this location, Portland Port is an entirely inappropriate location. Furthermore, the use of the Bibby Stockholm barge is not appropriate for people fleeing war and legally seeking asylum in this country. They should be housed in decent accommodation with proper facilities and more crucially, their claims should be properly and consistently processed.

 

The Bibby Stockholm is required due to the government’s Governments mismanagement of the asylum system and this is what needs to be reviewed therefore

 

“Dorset Council calls on the government not to allow the Bibby Stockholm barge to be placed at Portland Port and for the government to carry out a urgent review asylum system to remove the requirements to use such accommodation”

 

Should the government not listen and The Bibby Stockholm barge still come Dorset Council, while not the decision makers, will work with agencies to mitigate the impact this will have on Dorset and explore avenues to have it to be removed at the earliest opportunity”

 

Following advice from the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 29.

To consider the following Notice of Motion proposed by Cllr K Clayton seconded by Cllr B Bawden and supported by Cllrs P Barrow, D Bolwell, A Brenton, S Cocking, B Ezzard, L Fry, B Heatley, R Hope, R Hughes, N Ireland, H Legg, J Orrell, M Roe, A Starr, C Sutton and K Wheller.

 

The heavy rain parts of Dorset experienced last month once again resulted in sewage being discharged into the sea – this time at West Bay, Lyme Regis, and seven locations across Weymouth and Portland. As a result, people were advised not to bathe on certain polluted beaches.

 

The main reason this occurs is our antiquated sewage system – a single system that has to deliver both foul water and surface water to the treatment plants, a system that is unable to cope with sudden large amounts of surface water.

 

Whilst the investment and determination to upgrade this system is largely outside the remit of this Council, there are three things it can do. This Council, therefore, resolves to:

 

1.    Lobby central government for changes in national planning guidance such that it has the power to require all new developments to construct a dual sewage system, one that separates foul water from surface water.

2.    Through both its new local development plan and a wider public campaign, discourage the use of impermeable material on any land other than that used as a public roadway.

3.    Hold talks with Wessex Water and South West Water to discuss an investment plan to reduce sewage discharges by the substantial amount needed.

 

Mike Garrity, Head of Planning, has prepared a short briefing note on this Notice of Motion, appended to this agenda for members’ information.   

 

 

“The heavy rain parts of Dorset experienced last month once again resulted in sewage being discharged into the sea – this time at West Bay, Lyme Regis, and seven locations across Weymouth and Portland. As a result people were advised not to bathe on certain polluted beaches.

 

The main reason this occurs is our antiquated sewage system – a single system that has to deliver both foul water and surface water to the treatment plants, a system that is unable to cope with sudden large amounts of surface water.

 

Whilst the investment and determination to upgrade this system is largely outside the remit of this Council, there are three things it can do. This Council, therefore, resolves to:

1.    Engage positively with central government in implementing Schedule 3 of the Flood and Water Act 2010 (and any subsequent changes in national planning guidance) to ensure sustainable drainage systems are designed, constructed and adopted to national standards for the lifetime of the development, securing the separation of foul water from surface water.

2.    Through both its new local development plan and any associated guidance, promotes the use of permeable surface treatments where this is achievable.

3.    engages with Wessex Water and South West Water to focus their investment plans on reducing sewage discharges by the substantial amount needed.”

 

Proposed by: Cllr Kelvin Clayton

Seconded by: Cllr Belinda Bawden

Supported by: Peter Barrow, Dave Bolwell, Alex Brenton, Susan Cocking, Beryl Ezzard, Les Fry, Brian Heatley, Ryan Hope, Rob Hughes, Nick Ireland, Howard Legg, Jon Orrell, Maria Roe, Andrew Starr, Clare Sutton, Kate Wheller

 

Decision:

Council, resolved to:

1.    Engage positively with central government in implementing Schedule 3 of the Flood and Water Act 2010 (and any subsequent changes in national planning guidance) to ensure sustainable drainage systems are designed, constructed and adopted to national standards for the lifetime of the development, securing the separation of foul water from surface water.

2.    Through both its new local development plan and any associated guidance, promote the use of permeable surface treatments where this is achievable.

3.    Engage with Wessex Water and South West Water to focus their investment plans on  reducing sewage discharges by the substantial amount needed.

 

 

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 x 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 scheduled exempt business.

There was no exempt business.