Agenda and minutes

To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 24 April 2025

The minutes of the meeting 24 April 2025 were updated with additional attendances and agreed as a correct record.

To disclose any pecuniary, other registrable or non-registrable interests 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.

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 MS 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.  Further information read Public Participation - Dorset Council

All submissions must be emailed in full to [email protected]  by 8.30am on 23 June 2025

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 23 June 2025 

Dorset Council Constitution – Procedure Rule 13

There were no questions from Councillors.

To receive the report from the Head of Assets & Property

The Cabinet Member for Property, Assets and Economic Growth introduced the item, explaining the background and current situation regarding empty properties. The Head of Assets and Property then summarised the main points and findings from the report.

After the presentation, the committee discussed how different types of assets are defined and categorised, including which assets fall into which groups. It was clarified how these empty properties affect the Council’s “Grow Our Economy” priority.

The Place and Resources Scrutiny Committee asked for a more detailed report to be brought to a future meeting. This report should include all properties owned by Dorset Council, including empty homes and land.

The committee also requested an update on the previous decision to adopt the Corporate Landlord Model, including progress made so far

Tor receive the report from the Service Manager for Digital Place

Service Manager for Digital Place introduced the item by highlighting the importance of reliable broadband and mobile connectivity across Dorset. He explained that while national policy focuses on overall connectivity figures, the Council is also concerned with the real-life local impact on communities. Although some progress has been made, current commercial and government subsidy investment levels remain below what is needed to meet local demand.

Following the presentation, councillors discussed a range of issues, including:

•       The delivery and progress of the BDUK/Wessex Internet contract, and limitations inline with subsidy rules.

•       Concerns about reliance on commercial build and the slow pace of deployment in less commercially viable areas.

•       Discrepancies between Ofcom data and residents’ experiences of mobile coverage, now supported by Streetwave data.

•       The need for better coordination between infrastructure providers and planning authorities.

•       Opportunities to use council-owned assets (e.g. streetlights, farms, church spires) to support small cell deployments.

•       Concerns around lower level of government investment in Dorset compared to other regions.

•       The importance of using local case studies and councillor engagement to influence national bodies and improve outcomes.

Recommendations

The Place and Resources Scrutiny Committee requested that the team focus on a case study already identified, to explore how barriers to connectivity were overcome. This should help create a framework that can be used to support improvements in other areas.

The committee requested that the Streetwave data report be split by MP constituency to better understand and address localised connectivity issues. More locally focussed reports can be created on request.

The committee requested progress updates to reflect connectivity improvements on a recurring basis.

To review the Place and Resources Scrutiny Committee Work Programme.

The Committee reviewed the forward plan and upcoming items.

To review the Executive arrangement forward plans.

Forward Plans are provided to members of the Place and Resources Scrutiny Committee to review and identify any potential post decision scrutiny to be undertaken, by scheduling items into the work programme to review after a period of implementation.

The Place and Resources Scrutiny Committee reviewed the forward plans.

To consider any items of business which the Chair 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 are no exempt items scheduled for this meeting.

There was no exempt business.