Agenda and minutes

The Chairman provided the following statement:

At the Annual Meeting of Council on 4 May 2021 it was agreed that all council meetings that are not executive in nature, will continue to be held virtually from 7 May 2021 until such time as social distancing requirements are removed (currently scheduled to be lifted on 21 June 2021).  Where a decision is required, committee members will express a ‘minded to’ decision in respect of recommendations set out in officer reports, with decisions being taken under officer delegated authority in the light of ‘minded to’ decisions expressed by members in the virtual meetings.

The report on today’s agenda asks the committee to ‘be minded’ to make a recommendation to Cabinet on 18 May 2021.

To disclose any pecuniary, other registerable or personal 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 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 Thursday 6 May 2021.

A question had been submitted from a member of the public.  A copy of the question read out at the meeting and the response provided, is set out at Appendix 1.

To receive questions submitted by councillors. The deadline for receipt of questions is 8.30am on Thursday 6 May 2021.

There were no questions received from councillors.

To consider a report of the Sustainability Team Manager.

The committee considered a report of the Sustainability Team Manager, which set out the findings of the recent consultation exercise and proposed changes to the Dorset Council Climate and Ecological Emergency Strategy and Action plan for approval by Cabinet and Full Council.

The Sustainability Team Manager gave a presentation which provided an overview of the outcomes from the consultation and the Portfolio Holder for Highways, Travel and Environment made particular reference to the targets within the action plan and thanked officers for their work in this area.

The Chairman provided the opportunity for non-committee members to ask questions and discussion was held in the following areas:

·            The targets set in the action plan and whether the Council should be more aspirational

·            Use of alternative energy such as hydrogen and discussions being held with energy providers

·            How the Salix funding would be used – further information on projects could be provided as details were confirmed

·            This was a dynamic area of work over a 30 year period – further investigation would continue as technologies developed.

The committee considered the issues arising from the report and points were raised in the following areas:

·            Changes had been made to the response document based on previous discussions

·            Monitoring of relevant areas would be undertaken through the council’s performance system and there could be a role for scrutiny in monitoring progress

·            The role for the Council in working with and influencing partners such as registered social landlords, and working with communities to provide assistance and guidance where appropriate

·            How work fitted in with the Local Plan process

·            Links to work being undertaken by the committee on grid capacity

·            Budget implications of advancing targets and the potential impact on Council Tax levels.  Financial information had been included in the consultation document

·            How work in this area would be supported financially and funding options to be considered

·            Targets may be able to be advanced if future technology allowed.

In order to provide further information to Cabinet and Full Council on the issues in this area, it was proposed by B Heatley that the following wording be added to the recommendation contained in the officer report;

‘but noting that

1. A one page document be produced giving the reasons for and against a target of zero emissions by earlier dates as compared to the dates in the plan; and
2. There is recognition that within this living document further work will be required on adaptation, other greenhouse gases and ecology, and in response to future technological change.’

The proposal did not receive a seconder.

The Chairman suggested that some of this information could be considered through future reports to the committee.

A comment was made that the strategy was a living document and would need to be regularly reviewed, including target dates.

It was proposed by M Roberts seconded by R Adkins

The Chairman reminded the committee that they would be making a ‘minded to’ recommendation in accordance with the decision of the Annual Meeting of Council on 4 May  ...  view the full minutes text for item 14.

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 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.

Agenda item 3 - Public Participation

Question received from Helen Sumbler

"At the last Scrutiny Committee I asked a question about the lack of a current Implementation Plan for LTP3, which was responded to by Portfolio Holder Cllr Ray Bryan.  While the answer was informative and interesting, it did not answer why it is acceptable to the Scrutiny Committee that no current Implementation Plan exists for LTP3.

Although it is not recorded on the Minutes, one of the committee members commented that questions directed at the Scrutiny Committee were not answered by the committee.  I believe it was mentioned that the committee would be able to review the questions and answers later.

I am endeavouring to understand how the full impact of the decision not to to produce, and make available to the public, the next scheduled Implementation Plan for LTP3 was considered, and what mitigating actions have and are being taken to inform the public about the implementation of LTP3 in the absence this Implementation Plan, until such time as a new Local Transport Plan is published.

Could I ask if the Scrutiny Committee has reviewed my question and the answer given and once again ask for an explanation of why it is acceptable that no current Implementation Plan exists for LTP3?"

Response from the Chairman of the Place and Resources Scrutiny Committee

Thank you for submitting a question to the Place and Resources Scrutiny Committee.

Dorset Council operates the Leader and Cabinet model in which the Cabinet makes decisions and can be held to account for its decisions by the Place and Resources Scrutiny Committee and by our colleagues on the People and Health Scrutiny Committee.

As the Cabinet and not the Scrutiny Committee makes decisions about the Local Transport Plan I am not able to answer for the Cabinet the part of your question about the lack of an implementation plan for LTP3.

As this is an additional meeting, our Scrutiny Committee forward plan is not on the agenda for today’s meeting.  However the committee can consider whether scrutiny of your concerns about the Local Transport Plan and specifically about the lack of an implementation plan for LTP3 should be added to our work programme, when the forward plan is considered at the next formal meeting of the committee.