Agenda and minutes

To elect the Chairman of Council for 2022/23.

Proposed by Cllr Batstone, seconded by Cllr Coombs that Cllr Val Pothecary be elected Chairman of Council for 2022/23.

Proposed by Cllr Ireland, seconded by Cllr Roe that Cllr Beryl Ezzard be elected Chairman of Council for 2022/23.

Decision: that Cllr Val Pothecary be elected as Chairman of Council for 2022/23.

The Chairman thanked: Cllr Parkes for his support as Vice-chairman during the previous year, the Democratic Services Team Leader, the Democratic Services Team, her Personal Assistant and her partner.  She made and signed the declaration of acceptance of office.

The Chairman gave an update on the refurbishment of the war memorial at County Hall and the forthcoming Queen’s Jubilee celebrations.

To elect the Vice-chairman of Council for 2022/23.

Proposed by Cllr Pothecary, seconded by Cllr Shortell that Cllr Barry Goringe be elected Vice-chairman of Council for 2022/23.

Proposed by Cllr Sutton, seconded by Cllr Ireland that Cllr Les Fry be elected Vice-chairman of Council for 2022/23.

Decision: that Cllr Barry Goringe be elected as Vice-chairman of Council for 2022/23.

Cllr Goringe made and signed the declaration of acceptance of office.

To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 14^th April 2022.

The minutes of the meeting held on 14 April 2022 were confirmed and signed as a correct record.

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 announced the sad death of John Russell, former Councillor for West Dorset District Council. 

and

Cllr Bill Pipe had received an invitation to the Queen’s Garden Party at Buckingham Palace which would take place the following week.

To elect the Leader of Council for 2022/23.

Proposed by Cllr Wharf, seconded by Cllr Parry that Cllr Spencer Flower be elected Leader of Council for 2022/23.

Decision: that Cllr Flower Spencer be elected as Leader of Council for 2022/23.

To note the Deputy Leader, Cabinet membership/Portfolio Holders and Lead Members as appointed by the Leader of Council.   

The Leader reported that there were no changes to the appointments of Deputy Leader, Members of Cabinet and Lead Members.

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

The Leader of Council presented his bulletin and highlighted the headlines as follows:

Mission Statement – A two-year plan setting out our priorities for 2022 to 2024.

The vision for 2022 – 2024 was to focus on the following ten priorities:

Dorset Local Plan

Housing for local people.

Adult social care

Children’s services

Assets and Property

Working with the integrated care system

Climate and ecological strategy

Community safety

County deal

Digital innovation

Council members commented on the need to be bold with regeneration for the benefit of constituents and the need for more affordable housing.

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 9 May 2022.

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

Council Procedure Rules

Public questions, statements and the responses from the Leader of the Council or the 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 questions submitted by councillors.  The deadline for receipt of questions is 8.30am on Monday 9 May 2022.

There were three questions received from councillors.  A copy of the questions and the responses were attached as Appendix 2 to these minutes.

To receive a report by the Team Leader for Democratic Services.

The Corporate Director, Legal & Democratic introduced the report which confirmed the allocation of committee seats, delegated authority to group leaders to make changes to appointments and nominations for Chair and Vice Chair’s.

Proposed by Cllr Flower, seconded by Cllr Fry.

Decision:

(a) That the allocation of committee seats and the appointments to committees, joint panels and boards, as nominated by the Political Group Leaders, be approved for 2022/23 as set out in Appendices 1, 2 & 3 of the report.

(b) That delegated authority be given to Political Group Leaders to make in-year changes to committee, panel and board appointments.

(c) That the nominations for committee Chairmen and Vice-chairmen for 2022/23 be approved as set out in Appendix 4 of the report.

To consider the following Notice of Motion proposed by Cllr Noc Lacey-Clarke and seconded by Cllr Les Fry.  Supported by Cllrs John Worth, Val Pothecary, Tony Ferrari, Kate Wheller, Cherry Brooks, Mike Parkes, Spencer Flower, Rob Hughes, Susan Cocking, Toni Coombs, Graham Carr-Jones, Sherry Jespersen, Ray Bryan, Simon Christopher, Barry Goringe, Carole Jones, Andrew Kerby, Andrew Parry, Jane Somper, David Shortell and Paul Harrison.   

We must always support our democracy by ensuring the rights to peaceful protest are respected. However, the behaviour of two climate protesters at Full Council on the 14 April 2022 ruined the potential for an active debate by elected members, prevented any further amendments to the motion being put forward and encroached on the safety of members and officers of this council. The security of those in public office has very largely been self-policed through common decency and respect for the rule of law. Recent events across the country and in this Council chamber have caused concern and anxiety for the safety of those in public life who, abide by the principles of democracy and are elected to represent the interests of the people of Dorset.

Security measures will now need to be stepped up to protect elected members and officers of this council from a repeat of any unauthorised public access to the council chamber, which will sadly be at a cost to the local taxpayer.

MOTION:

That members of Dorset Council condemn the behaviour of those who disrupted the Full Council meeting on Thursday 14 April.

The following Notice of Motion was proposed by Cllr Noc Lacey-Clarke and seconded by Cllr Les Fry.  Supported by Cllrs John Worth, Val Pothecary, Tony Ferrari, Kate Wheller, Cherry Brooks, Mike Parkes, Spencer Flower, Rob Hughes, Susan Cocking, Toni Coombs, Graham Carr-Jones, Sherry Jespersen, Ray Bryan, Simon Christopher, Barry Goringe, Carole Jones, Andrew Kerby, Andrew Parry, Jane Somper, David Shortell and Paul Harrison.   

Notice of Motion

“We must always support our democracy by ensuring the rights to peaceful protest are respected. However, the behaviour of two climate protesters at Full Council on the 14 April 2022 ruined the potential for an active debate by elected members, prevented any further amendments to the motion being put forward and encroached on the safety of members and officers of this council. The security of those in public office has very largely been self-policed through common decency and respect for the rule of law. Recent events across the country and in this Council chamber have caused concern and anxiety for the safety of those in public life who, abide by the principles of democracy and are elected to represent the interests of the people of Dorset.

Security measures will now need to be stepped up to protect elected members and officers of this council from a repeat of any unauthorised public access to the council chamber, which will sadly be at a cost to the local taxpayer.

The Motion:

That members of Dorset Council condemn the behaviour of those who disrupted the Full Council meeting on Thursday 14 April.”

Cllr Robin Legg proposed, Cllr Nick Ireland seconded the following amendment:

“That members of Dorset Council whilst regretting the behaviour of those who disrupted the full council meeting on Thursday 14th April are critical of the leadership of the authority who allowed such disruption to take place and used this interference with the democratic process as an opportunity to curtail debate.”

There was a short comfort break while the legitimacy of the amendment was confirmed with the Corporate Director, Legal & Democratic.

On returning to the Chamber the Chairman confirmed that the amendment was legitimate.

Members debated the amendment

On being put to the vote the amendment was LOST.

The debate continued and a number of views were expressed by members both in support and against the motion.

Proposed by Cllr Harrison.  In accordance with procedure rule 19.6 a recorded vote was taken.

Those who voted in favour of the Motion: Cllrs: Rod Atkins, Anthony Alford, Michael Barron, Shane Bartlett, Pauline Batstone, Cherry Brooks, Piers Brown, Ray Bryan, Simon Christopher, Susan Cocking, Robin Cook, Toni Coombs, Jean Dunseith, Tony Ferrari, Spencer Flower, Les Fry, Simon Gibson, Barry Gorringe, Paul Harrison, Jill Haynes, Robert Hughes, Carole Jones, Sherry Jespersen, Andrew Kerby, Rebecca Knox, Nocturin Lacey-Clarke, Cathy Lugg, Laura Miller, Louis O’Leary, Emma Parker, Mike Parkes, Andrew Parry, Mary Penfold, Bill Pipe, Valerie Pothecary, Byron Quayle, Belinda Ridout, Mark Roberts, Julie Robinson, David Shortell, Jane Somper, Gary Suttle, William Trite, David Walsh, Peter Wharf, Kate Wheller and  ...  view the full minutes text for item 13.

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.