Agenda, decisions and draft minutes

To confirm the minutes of the meetings held on 2 December 2024 and 15 January 2025.

The minutes of the meetings held on 2 December 2024 and 15 January 2025 were confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

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.

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 lindsey.watson@dorsetcouncil.gov.uk by 8.30am on 9 April 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 were no questions or statements from members of the public or local organisations.

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 lindsey.watson@dorsetcouncil.gov.uk  by 8.30am on 9 April 2025.

Dorset Council Constitution – Procedure Rule 13

There were no questions from councillors.

To consider the Forward Plan.

The Forward Plan was noted.

To consider a report of the Corporate Director, Commissioning and Improvement.

The shareholder committee considered a report of the Corporate Director, Commissioning and Improvement, which presented the developments on the part of the Council, relevant to Care Dorset, and summarised significant developments since the last meeting of the shareholder committee. Particular reference was made to progress with consultation on the impact of the new model of day opportunities on current service commissioning and thanks were expressed to the staff in the day centres that had been visited. A report would be considered by Cabinet later in the year.

Councillors considered the areas covered in the report and discussion was focused on the following areas:

·       An update was provided on the development of a new bedded reablement service at Sidney Gale House. It was noted that a procurement phase was underway for the demolition and clearance of the current site alongside work on configuration and design of the service with specialists in dementia care. The planning process would start during the summer

·       In response to a question about the awareness of activities in day centres, the Corporate Director noted the flexibility of ways within which people and groups engaged with day centres, which included commissioned services and one-off community activities including people coming in to the centres for lunch. There was a need to understand the different uses in order to plan and commission services based on awareness of outcomes.

The report was NOTED.

To consider a report of the Managing Director, Care Dorset.

The Chair of the Board of Directors and Managing Director of Care Dorset introduced the report, which provided an update on matters relating to Care Dorset since the previous meeting. This included work relating to governance arrangements to increase levels of assurance, key staff appointments and engagement with service users.

Councillors considered the issues arising from the report and during discussion, the following points were raised:

·       With regard to St Martins, there were around 30 flats to be filled in line with the council’s nominations process. The fill rate was in line with the expectation of the commissioning service

·       Occupancy across reablement beds had been impacted by challenges with local general practice provision for one setting. This had been resolved in part through discussions with Dorset Council colleagues, in order to manage the needs of individuals leaving hospital and the pressure on the general practice. It was thought that there was a capacity issue in the specific case

·       The budget had been impacted by higher than expected agency costs. Although there were still challenges with agency use, a plan had been put in place to assist with managing the costs. A role for the new chief commercial officer was to continue to grow the organisation, to assist with managing costs

·       The Cabinet member for Adult Social Care commended the report for the progress made, particularly with regard to the governance improvements. In addition, he noted the Care Quality Commission (CQC) routine inspection for Castleman House, which had rated the service as “Good” across all five domains and demonstrated ongoing progress.

The report was NOTED.

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 consider passing the following recommendation:  

Recommendation  

That in accordance with Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 to exclude the public from the meeting for the business specified in item(s) No 11 because it is likely that if members of the public were present there would be disclosure to them of exempt information as defined in paragraph(s) 3 of Part 1 of schedule 12A to the Act and the public interest in withholding the information outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information to the public.  

The public and the press will be asked to leave the meeting whilst the item of business is considered. (Any live streaming will end at this juncture).

Reason for taking the item in private

Paragraph 3 - Information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information).

It was proposed by S Robinson seconded by R Biggs

Decision

That the press and the public be excluded for the following item in view of the likely disclosure of exempt information within the meaning of paragraph 3 of Schedule 12 A to the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended).

Reason for taking the item in private

Paragraph 3 – Information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information).

The livestream was concluded at this juncture.

To consider an exempt report of the Managing Director, Care Dorset.

That the Annual Business Plan for the period 2025-26 be approved.

Reason for the decision:

Establishing a clear strategic direction for Care Dorset is essential to achieving the organisation's aspirations. A longer-term strategic vision not only conveys a positive message to the organisation – encompassing the people we support, their families and colleagues – but also aids in effective decision-making and financial planning.

The shareholder committee considered a report of the Managing Director, Care Dorset, which presented the Annual Business Plan for Care Dorset for 2025/26.

Councillors reviewed the business plan and responses were provided to questions and comments raised.

It was proposed by N Ireland seconded by S Robinson

Decision

That the Annual Business Plan for the period 2025-26 be approved.

Reason for the decision:

Establishing a clear strategic direction for Care Dorset is essential to achieving the organisation's aspirations. A longer-term strategic vision not only conveys a positive message to the organisation – encompassing the people we support, their families and colleagues – but also aids in effective decision-making and financial planning.