Venue: A link to the meeting can be found on the front page of the agenda.. View directions
Contact: Lindsey Watson 01305 252209 / Email: lindsey.watson@dorsetcouncil.gov.uk
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To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 19 October 2020. Minutes: The minutes of the meeting held on 19 October 2020 were agreed as a correct record and would be signed by the Chairman at a later date. |
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Declarations of interest To receive any declarations of interest. Minutes: There were no declarations of interest. |
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Chairman's Update To receive any updates from the Chairman of the Place and Resources Overview Committee. Minutes: There were no updates from the Chairman of the committee. |
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Public Participation PDF 190 KB 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 Monday 14 December 2020. Minutes: Two statements were received from the public and local organisations and had been made available to the committee and on the council’s website in advance of the meeting. A copy of the statements are set out in Appendix 1 to these minutes. |
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Developing Dorset's Digital Vision PDF 61 KB To consider a report of the Corporate Director Digital and Change. Additional documents: Minutes: The committee
received a report of the Corporate Director Digital and Change with regard to
the draft digital vision for Dorset Council.
The report set out the
many areas of activity and the committee was asked to support the development of
the Digital Vision and through reviewing the areas of focus from the Digital
and ICT Executive Advisory Panel (EAP), assist with the development of an
action plan to support its delivery. It
was noted that a further report would be brought to the committee in February
2021 once the work had been completed, to subsequently recommend the adoption
of the digital vision and action plan by Cabinet in April 2021. An overview of the work
was provided by the Corporate Director and Portfolio Holder for Corporate
Development and Change. Councillors
discussed the issues arising from the report and particular reference was made
to the need for further review of the council’s website, arrangements for
monitoring once the vision had been agreed, links with external partners and
connectivity issues including work required with hard to reach areas. The committee welcomed the report and the
work that had been undertaken. It was proposed by
L Fry seconded by C Jones Decision That the Place and Resources Overview Committee: 1.
Has reviewed the work of the Digital and ICT EAP
and the draft digital vision. 2.
Supports the development of Dorset’s Digital
Vision, with comments as made at the meeting. 3.
Highlights potential key priorities from the
digital vision as follows so that these can be developed into a delivery plan
for the next 2 years, 2021 – 2023: 4.
Will review the final versions of the digital
vision and action plan at the February 2021 meeting of the committee and
subject to any final changes then, will consider recommending the adoption of
the Digital Vision and action plan to Cabinet in April 2021. |
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20 mph Speed Limit Approach PDF 170 KB To consider a report of the Road Safety Team Leader. Minutes: The committee
considered a report which set out the council’s approach to 20 mph speed limit
in urban areas and village streets. The
Chairman confirmed that the purpose of the report was to consider the process
followed by the council and not the circumstances with regard to individual
issues and locations. The committee
discussed the report and support was noted for the council continuing to follow
Department for Transport guidance but for there to be a review of how the
guidance was interpreted by the council.
Other points raised included consideration of the role of the Highways
Board, the role of town and parish councils and the need to consider good
environments. It was proposed by
S Jespersen seconded by R Tarr Decision 1.
To continue to follow
Department for Transport guidance and criteria for setting speed limits. 2.
To continue to develop the
initial Draft Guidance at Appendix C of the report, on the principles and
criteria for 20mph limits and to enable officers and members to assess and
prioritise requests objectively through the Highways Board; returning the
final version to this committee at a later date. |
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Utilising Powers under the Traffic Management Act PDF 70 KB To consider a report of the Head of Highways. Minutes: The committee
received a report of the Head of Highways which set out Dorset Council’s approach for delivering the
relevant requirements of the Traffic Management Act 2004. It was proposed by
R Tarr seconded by L Fry Decision That the Place and Resources
Overview Committee support Dorset Council’s approach for delivering the
relevant requirements of the Traffic Management Act 2004. |
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Winter Maintenance Policy PDF 77 KB To consider a report of the Community Highways Manager. Additional documents:
Minutes: The committee
received a report of the Community Highways Manager which sought the committee’s
support for a decision taken by the Portfolio Holder for Highways, Travel and
Environment on 12 August 2020, in respect of the adoption of the revised Winter maintenance policy and operational
plan. Councillors discussed
the issues arising from the report and particular reference was made to the
change from area based to route based forecasting and the benefits that this
brought. It was proposed by
R Tarr seconded by L Fry. Decision That the Place and Resources Overview Committee support the following action, in line with the decision of the Portfolio holder on the 12th August 2020: adoption of the revised Winter maintenance policy and operational plan. |
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Place and Resources Overview Committee Forward Plan PDF 62 KB To review the Place and Resources Overview Committee Forward Plan. To review the Cabinet Forward Plan. Additional documents: Minutes: Councillors
reviewed the draft forward plan for the committee. The Chairman noted that he would be meeting
with the Executive Director of Place in order to consider potential areas for
review by the committee and he welcomed suggestions from councillors. |
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Urgent items 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. Minutes: There were no urgent items. |
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Exempt Business 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. Minutes: There was no exempt business. |
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Chairman's Closing Remarks The Chairman thanked members of the committee and officers for their support during the year. |
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Appendix 1 - Public Participation 1. Statement received on behalf of the members of
Purbeck Transport Action Group, which represents town and parish councils in
Purbeck Dear Councillors, This statement is submitted on behalf of the members of Purbeck Transport
Action Group, which represents town and parish councils in Purbeck. There are several villages in Purbeck campaigning for 20mph. Some have had their submissions turned down,
on the basis that they do not meet DfT criteria.
Since DfT issue Guidance, not Instructions, it is up
to Councils to decide on the overall merits of each case. Take the matter of collisions: currently,
only accidents recorded by the police are considered. This is likely to lead to a false conclusion
that a village is safe. Account should
surely be taken of minor unreported accidents.
Measures should be introduced before accidents occur not wait until
after they happen. It is a generally held view that, when it comes to 20 mph, a negative
culture exists in Highways. It is as
though Highways are not listening to the real concerns of those who live in our
villages, whose lives are blighted by speeding traffic. The impact on the quality of life and local
support should be important factors in weighing the strength of a 20-mph case.
The criteria matrix before you, takes no account of this important factor. Appendix C of the
paper states that 20 mph will not be considered on A or B class roads. This is NOT national policy. There is a gathering momentum throughout the country to halt or mitigate
an ever-increasing volume and speed of traffic. Public Health England, in their 2016 Paper, Working Together to promote
Active Travel says, ‘There is growing evidence on the benefits of 20 mph’. They single out transport planners as key to
delivering various benefits, including lowering speeds in villages. The Chancellor, Rishi Sunak, in his Autumn statement made a point of
singling out ‘less traffic’ as a way of ensuring that communities lead healthy
and happy lives. He has made £60 billion
available so that transport planners can, among other things, lower speeds in
villages. To quote the Chancellor, “People and their Views Matter” 20 is already a national issue.
Now is Dorset’s chance to get ahead of the game. Supporting the introduction
of 20 can make a huge difference to the lives of people, particularly in
villages, where safety and quality of life are adversely affected. 20 mph limits are relatively low cost and can be self-enforcing, through
Community Speed Watch, which is supported by the police. Credit should be given to those villages that
have a speed watch team. Where funding is an issue, villages could be given the
opportunity of self-funding. By introducing
a positive and well-balanced 20 mph policy, you can make a huge difference to
residents of Purbeck. 2. Statement received from Brenda Mustoe
on behalf of Winfrith and East Knighton Parish Council On behalf of
Winfrith and East Knighton Parish Council we would like to thank Dorset Council
for producing discussion papers related to the introduction of 20 mph limits. We are concerned
that when it comes to Priority Weighting there are significant factors that do
not seem to fit any of the criteria. Examples of these
are: Density of housing and access to facilities such as village halls, schools, shops, recreation grounds and churches, The number of listed buildings abutting the road which are affected by vibrations, Age profile of the community, Whether there is a pavement, Quality of life and environmental factors - should fit the climate change agenda. |