Agenda and minutes

To receive any apologies for absence.

An apology for absence was received from Councillor Alex Furhmann.

To disclose any pecuniary, other registrable or non-registrable interest as set out in the adopted Code of Conduct. In making their disclosure 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.

There were no declarations of interest.

To confirm and sign the minutes of the meeting held on 16 March 2026.

The minutes of the meeting held on 16 March 2026 were confirmed and signed.

Representatives of town or 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 Microsoft Teams to read out your question and to receive the response.   If you submit a statement for the committee this will be circulated to all members of the committee in advance of the meeting as a supplement to the agenda and appended to the minutes for the formal record but will not be read out at the meeting. The first 8 questions and the first 8 statements received from members of the public or organisations for each meeting will be accepted on a first come first served basis in accordance with the deadline set out below.  For further information read Public Participation - Dorset Council

All submissions must be emailed in full to [email protected] by 8.30am on Friday, 24 April 2026.

When submitting your question or statement please note that: 

·         You can submit 1 question or 1 statement.

·         a question may include a short pre-amble to set the context.

·         It must be a single question and any sub-divided questions will not be permitted.

·         Each question will consist of no more than 450 words, and you will be given up to 3 minutes to present your question.

·         when submitting a question please indicate who the question is for (e.g., the name of the committee or Portfolio Holder) 

·         Include your name, address, and contact details.  Only your name will be published but we may need your other details to contact you about your question or statement in advance of the meeting. 

·         questions and statements received in line with the council’s rules for public participation will be published as a supplement to the agenda. 

·         all questions, statements and responses will be published in full within the minutes of the meeting.   

There was no public participation.

To receive questions submitted by councillors.  

Councillors can submit up to two valid questions at each meeting and sub divided questions count towards this total.   Questions and statements received will be published as a supplement to the agenda and all questions, statements and responses will be published in full within the minutes of the meeting. 

The submissions must be emailed in full to [email protected] by 8.30am on Friday, 24 April 2026. 

Dorset Council Constitution – Procedure Rule 13

There were no questions from councillors.

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 consider a report by the Deputy Director of Public Health and Prevention.

The Deputy Director of Public Health and Prevention introduced the report on the future direction of public health contracts. It had been one year since the disaggregation of Public Health Dorset and the creation of two separate public health teams. Due to the long-term establishment of contracts, there would need to be a gradual and managed transition for them. The item sought views on how the disaggregation of public health is continued with the contracts.

Members of the committee discussed the report and raised the following points:

·         Joint working between the two public health teams would be collaborative on shared programmes, such as the integrated sexual health service.

·         How the governance for the contracts would work when the two public health teams are working together. There was a Joint Sharing Agreement in place for the financial arrangements.

·         Clarification on the AI text messaging service, which was used for programmes by Livewell Dorset.

·         The ringfenced budget through the Public Health Grant. The council was under budget for public health, however more had been held in reserves due to the risk of disaggregation.

·         Shared contracts could be used when there were better economies of scale. There were also contracts where separation could free up resources.

·         Where procurement of a contract was being led by BCP Council, there must be involvement from Dorset Council to ensure it can meet the needs of the Dorset Council area.

·         The Joint Sharing Agreement had been developed by the legal services of both councils, and it ensures that payment for services continue. The delivery models of public health may be different due to the different needs of each council area.

Proposed by Cllr Bown, seconded by Cllr Orrell.

Decision:

To recommend to Cabinet that it:

1.    Endorse the work completed to establish the Public Health teams within Dorset and BCP councils and the continued good performance in line with statutory responsibilities for Public Health as set out in the 2012 Health and Social Care Act.

2.    Agree the proposed principles for the planned joint commissioning of Public Health services where is makes sense to continue to do so to maintain service quality, performance, efficiency and value for money for the residents of Dorset.

3.    Agree the proposed future direction for the delivery of public health functions and services through the two Public Health teams in Dorset and BCP council.

4.    Delegate responsibilities for decisions associated with future procurement approaches to the Cabinet Member for Health and Housing in consultation with the Director of Public Health and Prevention, in line with appropriate scheme of delegation and procurement regulations.

To consider the Committee's Work Programme and the Executive Forward Plans.

The Committee noted its work programme.

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 are no exempt items scheduled for this meeting.

There was no exempt business.