Agenda and minutes

To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 21 September 2020.

The minutes of the meeting of the Place and Resources Overview Committee held on 21 September 2020 were agreed as a correct record and would be signed by the Chairman at a later date.

To receive any declarations of interest.

There were no declarations of interest.

To receive any updates from the Chairman of the Place and Resources Overview Committee.

The Chairman noted that reports relating to performance management would now be considered by the scrutiny committees.  When the performance management platform was available, the overview committee agendas would contain a link to this for information.

In addition, the Chairman noted that there were 93 policies in the area of Place and that these were currently being reviewed by Cabinet members, lead members and officers.  This would feed into the forward plan for this committee.

To receive questions or statements on the business of the committee from town and parish councils and members of the public.

Public speaking has been suspended for virtual committee meetings during the Covid-19 crisis and public participation will be dealt with through written submissions only.

Members of the public who live, work or represent an organisation within the Dorset Council area, may submit up to two questions or a statement of up to a maximum of 450 words.  All submissions must be sent electronically to lindsey.watson@dorsetcouncil.gov.uk by the deadline set out below.  When submitting a question please indicate who the question is for and include your name, address and contact details.  Questions and statements received in line with the council’s rules for public participation will be published as a supplement to the agenda.

Questions will be read out by an officer of the council and a response given by the appropriate Portfolio Holder or officer at the meeting.  All questions, statements and responses will be published in full within the minutes of the meeting.  The deadline for submission of the full text of a question or statement is 8.30am on Wednesday 14 October 2020.

There were no questions or statements from members of the public or local organisations.

To review the draft Statement of Licensing Policy and provide any comments to the Licensing Committee for their meeting on 22 October 2020.

The committee received and considered a report of the Service Manager, Licensing and Community Safety, which set out the requirement of the Council, as Licensing Authority under the Licensing Act 2003, to publish a Statement of Licensing Policy at least every five years. The purpose of the policy statement was to define how the Council would exercise its responsibilities under the Act, and had been prepared by officers, considered at an informal meeting of the Licensing Committee and had been published, in draft format, for a period of public consultation of 12 weeks, between 6 July and 27 September 2020.  The Service Manager, Licensing and Community Safety noted that a few amendments had been made to the draft policy following the public consultation period.

The reviewed Statement of Licensing Policy would be considered by the Licensing Committee and then on to Full Council for adoption.

The Place and Resources Overview Committee had the opportunity at this meeting to review the draft Statement of Licensing Policy and provide any comments to the Licensing Committee.

Councillors considered the issues arising from the report and during discussion the following points were raised:

·         The Chairman asked that the use of 12/24 hour timings in the draft policy be standardised

·         Councillors supported the contents of the draft policy and felt that it covered all issues in depth.  Councillors expressed their thanks to officers involved in drafting the report and to the Chairman, Vice-chairman and members of the Licensing Committee for their role

·         A point was raised that there had not been many responses to the public consultation but it was felt that this reflected the strength of the draft policy

·         A discussion was held in respect of whether a late night levy should be available to the council and whether this was something that the committee could recommend to the Licensing Committee for further consideration

·         Some views in support of having a late night levy were expressed and it was noted that the council could have the ability to have a late night levy which could only be used if necessary.  This could be progressed as a separate issue to the draft policy

·         The Service Manager, Licensing and Community Safety reported that this issue was to be raised at Licensing Committee on 22 October with a view to bringing a report back to the Licensing Committee at an appropriate time in order to fully consider all related issues.  It was noted that a late night levy if agreed, would apply to the whole council area and all premises, although there was the ability to exclude certain types of premises

·         A point was noted that applying a late night levy could be seen as unfair on the late night sector, alongside other cost factors that they had to consider

·         All these comments could be taken on board by the members of the Licensing Committee

·         Further to the discussion, it was agreed that this committee would not make a recommendation in respect of the late night levy  ...  view the full minutes text for item 13.

To review the draft Statement of Gambling Licensing Policy and provide any comments to the Licensing Committee for their meeting on 22 October 2020.

The committee received and considered a report of the Service Manager, Licensing and Community Safety, which set out the requirement of the Council, as Licensing Authority under the Licensing Act 2003, to publish a Statement of Gambling Licensing Policy at least every three years. The purpose of the policy statement was to define how the Council would exercise its responsibilities under the Act, and had been prepared by officers, considered at an informal meeting of the Licensing Committee and had been published, in draft format, for a period of public consultation of 12 weeks, between 6 July and 27 September 2020.

The reviewed Statement of Gambling Licensing Policy would be considered by the Licensing Committee and then on to Full Council for adoption.

The Place & Resources Overview Committee had the opportunity at this meeting to review the draft Statement of Gambling Licensing Policy and provide any comments to the Licensing Committee.

Councillors welcomed the Statement of Gambling Licensing Policy and a point was made that the policy enabled the council to review a license and take action where appropriate.  Reference was made to the work undertaken by the Chairman and Vice-chairman of the Licensing Committee in this area and thanks was expressed for the work of the Licensing Committee and officers involved.

Comments would be passed to the Licensing Committee when they considered the draft policy at their meeting on 22 October 2020.

To review the draft forward plan for the Place and Resources Overview Committee.

To review the Cabinet Forward Plan.

Councillors considered the draft forward plan for the Place and Resources Overview Committee.  The Chairman noted that information on policies within the Place directorate had been circulated and councillors and officers had been asked to comment on these and note priorities for review.  The use of working groups for some of this work could be considered.  In addition, the Reset and Recovery Executive Advisory Panel had recently produced a report and this work was to be handed over to the overview committees.

Councillors considered potential items for inclusion on the committee’s forward plan and the following points were referred to during discussion:

·         Local Plan – a request was made for consultation with this committee to be included on the published timetable for work on the new Local Plan.  The Chairman noted that discussions on this area were ongoing and included consideration of the impact of the Government White Paper on Planning.  This would be reviewed with the Portfolio Holder for Planning and an update provided

·         A review of the council’s 20mph policy would be included on the committees forward plan

·         Issues around work on economic development, grid capacity, car parking charges and asset management were all raised.  In response, the Chairman noted that grid capacity may be looked at by the Place and Resources Scrutiny Committee and that a review of assets was currently ongoing

·         Reference was made to the Executive Advisory Panel looking at economic development, what stage this work had reached and a request made for their recommendations to be shared with this committee.  The current position with this work would be clarified

·         A general point was made with regard to the list of Executive Advisory Panels and where this work may be handed over to the overview or scrutiny committees.

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.

The Chairman raised one item under urgent items in respect of recent changes in respect of car parking and a press release that had been issued by the council setting out the changes.  The Chairman noted that he wished to raise this issue with committee members under this agenda item for the reason of reputational damage to the council of the press release on car parking.

The Chairman referred to a press release issued the previous week in respect of the raising of car park charges and that it was understood that there had been no consultation with councillors, parish and town councils or the council’s overview or scrutiny committees.  He felt that the full impact of this had not been considered alongside other highways issues, impact on lower paid people in the tourism industry and on the future devolution of services.  He sought the views of members of the committee.

Councillor C Brooks, the Lead Member for Highways, supporting the Portfolio Holder for Highways, Travel and Environment, provided an overview of work being undertaken in this area and noted that this was the first step at looking at harmonisation of issues such as charges. A review of the wider policy and charges across Dorset was to be undertaken and this would include consultation with councillors and committees at the appropriate time.

Councillors considered the issues arising and reference was made to the need to consider the wider implications of raising charges including the movement of cars between car parks, encouraging the use of park and ride and the impact of evening charges on the evening economy.  Links to economic development were also noted.  A request was made that all of these issues should be taken into account when a review of parking was undertaken.

In response, Councillor Brooks noted that work was being undertaken in respect of items such as residents permits and displacement to on-street parking.  There was an awareness of the potential impact on the economy.  A lot of work was being undertaken by the Portfolio Holder and officers in this area.

A comment was made that there needed to be appropriate consultation and for wider impacts to be taken into consideration.

The Chairman noted that the scrutiny committee could look at how the recent decisions had been made.  The comments of this committee in respect of this issue would be made available to members of Cabinet.

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.