Agenda and minutes

To receive any declarations of interest.

Cllr Ryan Holloway declared an interest in item 8 The Dorset Council Plan, as he had a business located on the Dorset Innovation Park.  Cllr Holloway did not speak or vote on the item.

To receive any announcements from the Chairman of Council.

The Chairman advised that this was an informal meeting and the minutes of the July meeting would be on the agenda of the next Full Council meeting in December.

She reported the sad death of former County Councillor, John Peake MBE and invited Cllr Jill Haines to pay tribute to him.

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 Monday 11 October 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

Public questions, statements and the responses from the Leader of the Council and appropriate Portfolio Holder were 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 :

Temporary 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 the Council presented his Bulletin and highlighted the following two points:

Firstly, the budget pressures faced by the Council largely due to the number of older people living in the county which created a higher level of demand for adult social care services than many other areas in the country.  He had continued to lobby ministers via the Dorset MPs on a range of issues, in particular the funding crises faced by Local Government in our health and social care system.

Secondly, Dorset’s ambitions for children and young people and the £37.5m investment the Council had made in children’s facilities.

Ofsted had just completed a three week inspection and he thanked those in children’s services for all their hard work and input.

He also commented on the closure of the Blandford Group Medical Practice.

To receive questions submitted by councillors.  The deadline for receipt of questions is 8.30am on Monday 11^th October 2021.

Questions put by councillors to the Leader and relevant Portfolio Holders are attached to these minutes at Appendix 2, together with the responses.

To consider a report of the Portfolio Holder for Corporate Development and Change.

Cllr Ryan Holloway had declared an interest in this item, he did not take part in the discussion or vote.

The Portfolio Holder for Corporate Development and Change and Deputy Leader presented the report which had been through Cabinet in June and reviewed by the two overview Committees in detail. 

He thanked the Overview Committees for their input which included one of the key recommendations that climate and ecological change became a priority.  A number of additional changes had also been made following recommendations from the Overview Committees.

Members debated the report and made comments on the following points:-

Representation for suitable affordable housing to enable young people to stay in the county.

Suggestions for an Executive Director appointment to support the climate and ecological strategy.

Dorset’s ageing population, the high adult social care budget together with the high housing costs for younger people presented unsustainable demographics.

The need to create a better and healthier lifestyle for our older people – prevention at scale.

Economic growth - focus on better skilled jobs and apprenticeships

Proposed by Cllr Peter Wharf

Seconded by Cllr Spencer Flower

Upon being put to the vote the “minded to” motion was carried.

The Executive Director for Corporate Development and Chief Finance Officer confirmed that he had listened to the debate and having taken into account that members were minded to support the recommendations in the report, confirmed his decision.

Decision:

(a)  That the updated Dorset Council plan, as set out in appendix I of the report to Cabinet 5 October 2021, be adopted.

(b)  That authority be delegated to the Portfolio Holder for Corporate Development and Change, in consultation with the Leader of the Council and the Chief Executive for the final design of the plan.

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

The report was presented by the Leader of the Council who proposed the following recommendation:

Recommendation

That Full Council and all committees will return to ‘in person’ meetings from when the appropriate webcasting equipment has been installed and tested to the satisfaction of Group Leaders (anticipated to be by Mid November 2021). In the meantime Informal arrangements will continue as previously agreed by Full Council at the 4 May Annual Council and extended by the Chief Executive’.

Debate focussed on planned working arrangements, hybrid meetings and hybrid working.  It was hoped to be webcasting hybrid meetings from mid-November, but patience was required to allow for training, setting up and testing

Some members felt that the committee rooms were not fit for purpose, were antiquated and did not fit with the image of a modern digital council.

References were made to safety, travel costs, carbon emissions, inclusivity and the need for a hybrid model.

Clarification was sought on explanations for the public on how the council planned to keep them safe and what mitigation measures would be in place.

In response to member concerns regarding suitable ventilation systems the Leader would ask the Portfolio Holder for Economic Growth, Assets and Property to send members a briefing note re: aspects of covid safety.

Proposed by Cllr Spencer Flower

Seconded by Cllr Les Fry

Upon being put to the vote the “minded to” motion was carried.

The Executive Director for Corporate Development and Chief Finance Officer confirmed that he had listened to the debate and having taken into account that members were minded to support the recommendations in the report, confirmed his decision.

Decision:

That Full Council and all committees would return to ‘in person’ meetings from when the appropriate webcasting equipment had been installed and tested to the satisfaction of Group Leaders (anticipated to be by Mid November 2021). In the meantime Informal arrangements would continue as previously agreed by Full Council at the 4 May Annual Council and extended by the Chief Executive’.

Reason for Decision:

To enable members to consider how best to ensure that democratic decision making is able to continue effectively and safely

To consider a report by S Dallison, Team Leader Democratic Services.

The report was presented and proposed by Cllr Spencer Flower.

Seconded by Cllr Clare Sutton.

Upon being put to the vote the “minded to” motion was carried.

The Executive Director for Corporate Development and Chief Finance Officer confirmed that he had listened to the debate and having taken into account that members were minded to support the recommendations in the report, confirmed his decision.

Decision:
That all members of council receive a dispensation in relation to Section 85 of the Local Government Act for the period up to and including 14 April 2022 for the reason that not all members may be able to attend an in person committee, Cabinet or Full Council meeting due to Coronavirus.

Reason for Decision:

To prevent members from being disqualified as a councillor whose health or personal circumstances may prevent them from attending in person committee meetings due to the health risks associated with Coronavirus.

To consider a report by J Mair, Corporate Director, Legal & Democratic Services

The report was presented by the Leader of the Council. 

Due to a Parish Council finding itself inquorate, he explained that Dorset Council had a duty to deal with the matters of the day in the Parishes.

In response to a suggestion, that authority should be given to the Group Leaders after consultation with the Chief Executive, the Corporate Director for Legal and Democratic and Monitoring Officer explained that there was a legal and technical reason why it had to be done as recommended in the report.

The Corporate Director for Legal and Democratic and Monitoring Officer explained that these were temporary Parish Councillors who would be put in place by Dorset Council to enable Parish Councils to co-opt councillors for themselves.

Proposed by Cllr Spencer Flower

Seconded by Cllr Les Fry

Upon being put to the vote the “minded to” motion was carried.

The Corporate Director for Legal and Democratic and Monitoring Officer confirmed he had listened to the debate and having taken into account that members were minded to support the recommendations in the report confirmed his decision.

Decision:

That delegated authority is given to the Chief Executive, after consultation with Group Leaders and the local member, to enable the appointment of temporary parish councillors where a parish council would otherwise be inquorate.

Reason for Decision:

To avoid a situation where a parish council that has become inquorate is unable to function and can carry out necessary business.

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 exempt business.

There was no exempt business