Agenda and minutes

To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Pauline Batstone and Pete Barrow.

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.

For transparency, Cllr Ezzard declared that she was a trustee of Wareham Youth Centre because it was mentioned in the Family Hubs report.

To confirm and sign the minutes of the meeting held on 24 March 2022.

Proposed by Cllr Alford and seconded by Cllr Dunseith.

Decision: That the minutes of the meeting held on 24 March 2022 be 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 up to two questions or two statements for each meeting.  Alternatively, you could submit one question and one statement for each meeting.  

All submissions must be emailed in full to george.dare@dorsetcouncil.gov.uk by 8.30am on Wednesday, 27 April 2022.   

When submitting your question(s) and/or statement(s) please note that: 

·       no more than three minutes will be allowed for any one question or statement to be asked/read  

·       a question may include a short pre-amble to set the context and this will be included within the three minute period 

·       please note that sub divided questions count towards your total of two 

·       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.   

Dorset Council Constitution Procedure Rule 9.

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 george.dare@dorsetcouncil.gov.uk by 8.30am on Wednesday, 27 April 2022.

Dorset Council Constitution – Procedure Rule 13.

There were no questions from councillors.

To receive a report by the Manager for the Dorset Combined Youth Justice Service.

The Manager for the Dorset Combined Youth Justice Service introduced the item. It was a statutory requirement for local authorities to publish an annual Youth Justice Plan. The service had seen several successes over the past year, which included a reduction of children entering the youth justice system, and no child in the Dorset Council area receiving a custodial sentence. The report set out the service’s priorities for the next year.

During discussion, the following points were raised:

·         Compared to the previous Youth Justice Plan, there was not much change in content, but there was more detail in some sections.

·         Some children in the BCP Council area received a custodial sentence.

·         80% of children in the youth justice system have speech and language problems.

·         The service received funding for speech and language therapists.

·         The therapists also provided training for other services, such as the police and magistrates, so they were aware of communication issues.

·         The service had sufficient numbers of staff, with good staff retention.

·         The commitment of volunteers was appreciated by the young people.

·         Ward councillors have the duty to assist residents where possible.

·         The service had links to the community safety partnership and would consider adding a representative to the Youth Justice Board.

Proposed by Cllr S Jones, seconded by Cllr Holloway.

Decision: That the People and Health Overview Committee endorse the Youth Justice Plan and that it recommends to Cabinet that Cabinet recommends the plan’s approval to Full Council.

To receive a report by the Corporate Director for Commissioning, Quality, and Partnerships.

The Corporate Director for Commissioning, Quality, and Partnerships introduced the report on Family Hubs. There would not be hubs in every town due to Dorset being a rural community. The timeline was to set up hubs in East Dorset by September, then roll out the hubs across the county over the next 3 years. Dorset was not one of the 75 local authorities that received funding for family hubs.

During discussion, the following points were raised:

·         There would be 8-10 hubs although the locations have not been confirmed.

·         There was no reason given why Dorset did not receive funding, however it could have been around prioritisation.

·         Some services would be online or by phone.

·         The government wanted family hubs to start within 2 years rather than being completed within 2 years.

·         The Portfolio Holder for Children, Education, Skills and Early Help was not aware if neighbouring authorities received funding but would ask his counterparts.

·         Local Alliance Groups bring local people and professionals in each locality together.

·         The ‘digital front door’ was about having good information available to people through digital access, including webchat, phone, and text messaging.

·         Cllr Knox felt that this was prevention at scale and would like to see more finances put in so family hubs can be implemented before the deadline.

·         The hubs need to be in the right places and spaces. Libraries would work well on some occasions but not others.

To receive a report by the Corporate Director for Commissioning, Quality, and Partnerships.

The Corporate Director for Commissioning, Quality, and Partnerships introduced the report. The Homes for Ukraine Scheme has had an overwhelming response from the community. The council was responsible for accommodation checks, DBS checks for host families, administering the £350 thank you payment, and providing additional support as families arrive. Ukrainian families have arrived in Dorset and 210 families have been matched, with 500 families expected over the coming weeks. The council was awaiting guidance from government about rematching families if the original matches were not right.

The Chairman thanked the community for their response.

The committee discussed the report, and the following points were noted:

·         Dorset Direct was able to respond to any queries about the scheme.

·         There are 58 children who have either arrived or were coming to Dorset. The School Admissions team were organising school places.

·          The Dorset Together group were working on a children’s offer.

·         Some children could have access to free school meals.

·         The council receives the same amount of funding per child, no matter what their needs were.

·         The adult learning team were working on Ukrainian and Russian language resources.

·         Ukrainians can access learning through online means or local community groups offering transport support if there was no transport available.

·         The Home Office would be asked for a formal response on biometric passports.

·         Cllr Knox would contact the chair of the Dorset Clinical Commissioning Group about NHS dental care.

·         Families congratulated Dorset Council for the work they were doing on the scheme.

To consider the Committee's Forward Plan and that of the Cabinet.

The Committee considered its forward plan and that of the Cabinet.

The committee asked for an update on Family Hubs at the meeting on 27 October 2022.

Cllr Alford asked how the upcoming adult social care charges will impact decisions that Cabinet make. The Executive Director of People – Adults offered to update the committee at the next meeting.

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 public for the following item in view of the likely disclosure of exempt information within the meaning of paragraph 3 of schedule 12A 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 was no exempt business.