Agenda and minutes

To receive any apologies for absence.

An apology for absence was received from Cllr Belinda Ridout.

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.

Cllr Orrell declared that he was hosting two Ukrainian families. He withdrew from the debate for this item on Refugee Resettlement and Homes for Ukraine.

To confirm and sign the minutes of the meeting held on 3 July 2023.

Proposed by Cllr Taylor, seconded by Cllr Kimber.

Decision

That the minutes of the meeting held on 3 July 2023 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 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 george.dare@dorsetcouncil.gov.uk by 8.30am on Wednesday, 6 September 2023.

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 george.dare@dorsetcouncil.gov.uk by 8.30am on Wednesday, 6 September 2023.

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

The Corporate Director for Commissioning and Partnerships introduced the report and outlined the resettlement and Homes for Ukraine schemes. The funding and financial pressures were outlined. The way in which the council received unaccompanied asylum-seeking children through a national transfer scheme was explained.

Committee members discussed the report and asked questions of the officers. The following points were raised:

·         There has been a warm welcome for people who have resettled in Dorset.

·         When unaccompanied asylum-seeking children turn 18, they become care leavers.

·         Many unaccompanied asylum-seeking children were placed outside of the local area. They received support from personal advisors.

·         The main reasons for Ukrainian families being rematched with hosts included transport issues in rural areas and changes in the host’s personal circumstances.

·         It was illegal for unaccompanied asylum-seeking children to be placed in hotels or for local authorities to not place the required number of children.

·         The council received funding for the placement costs of each child, however there was no funding to support the children, creating a budget pressure of approximately £750,000.

·         It was important that the council remained legal by placing the required number of children.

·         Officers should be thanked for the support that they are giving to the refugee resettlement and Homes for Ukraine schemes.

Proposed by Cllr Taylor, seconded by Cllr Pipe.

Decision

1.    That members of the committee are content with the progress made on refugee resettlement and homes for Ukraine and acknowledge the good work done by our council officers in supporting people who have had to leave their country for whatever reason.

Proposed by Cllr Kimber, seconded by Cllr Taylor.

Decision

2.    To recommend to the relevant Portfolio Holders that the funding for the resettlement scheme and day-to-day resettlement costs within Housing and Children’s Services and appropriately funded during the budget setting process.

To receive a report on behalf of the Registered Providers working group.

The Chair of the Committee introduced the report and the work of the Task & Finish Group. The Corporate Director for Housing outlined the themes of the discussions between the working group and the registered providers.

Committee members discussed the report of the task & finish group and asked questions of the officers. The following points were raised:

·         There were 52 housing associations in Dorset. The smaller housing associations have less resources than some of the larger associations in Dorset.

·         There were concerns about engagement and communication between registered providers and councillors.

·         Some registered providers had dedicated email addresses for councillors, and these would be shared with members following the meeting.

·         Some registered providers create annual reports to communicate with residents and councillors.

·         The possibility of a dedicated Planning Officer for planning applications by registered providers.

·         There needed to be more engagement with local communities so there was support for new homes.

·         Registered providers should be encouraged to build new homes that were already compliant with upcoming legislation.

Members asked to receive an update report on the actions set out in the report in 6 months.

Proposed by Cllr Taylor, seconded by Cllr Orrell.

Decision

1.    That the Committee notes the findings of the review and has considered the ongoing work related to the Housing Strategy and the associated roles carried out by registered providers of social housing.

2.    That the Committee gives support to continued discussions with the Portfolio Holder for Planning regarding planning applications for registered providers.

To consider the committee’s Work Programme and the Cabinet Forward Plan.

Members considered the committee’s work programme and Cabinet’s forward plan.

The Chairman updated the committee on the work programme and topics for future scrutiny webinars.

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 exempt items scheduled for this meeting.

There was no exempt business.