Agenda and draft minutes

To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 13 April 2026.

The minutes of the meeting held on 13 April 2026 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 [email protected]

by 8.30am on 9 July 2026.

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 [email protected] by 8.30am on 9 July 2026.

Dorset Council Constitution – Procedure Rule 13

There were no questions from councillors.

To consider the Forward Plan.

The Forward Plan was noted.

To note the shareholder committee terms of reference.

The terms of reference for the shareholder committee were noted.

To consider a report of the Head of Growth and Regeneration.

The shareholder committee considered a report of the Head of Growth and Regeneration, which presented an update on the current position regarding the council’s support for Dorset Innovation Park Ltd and the operation of the Dorset Innovation Park.

In presenting the report, the Head of Growth and Regeneration provided an overview of the position with the 2025/26 year-end business rates, the outcome of the commissioned study into a hotel development at the park, conversations taking place with partner authorities regarding Wessex devolution proposals, the implications of the recent government published UK Defence Investment Plan and the planning application related to the Winfrith Nuclear site and Nuclear Restoration Services.

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

·       It was noted that Dorset Council had commissioned a masterplan to guide the future development of the Winfrith Nuclear site, with the aim that the masterplan would be a material consideration in future planning decisions. It was planned for this to be considered by Cabinet later in the year

·       A planning application submitted on behalf of the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority, presented some conflict with what was to be included in the masterplan, and representations from the council’s economic development team had been made to the planning authority, which would need to be considered alongside other representations

·       The importance of the emerging proposals, which prioritised clean energy-led employment, including opportunities in nuclear, hydrogen, advanced engineering and research and development, were highlighted

·       Consideration of the proposals for a potential hotel development at the park were ongoing with further discussion to be held with Cabinet members in the Autumn, before a report was brought for decision by Cabinet

·       In response to a question, it was confirmed that a detailed finance report would be brought to the next meeting of the shareholder committee. This would provide further information to assist with shareholder decision-making.

The report was noted.

To consider a report of the Managing Director, Dorset Innovation Park Ltd.

Please note that Appendix 1 – Reserved Matters, is an exempt document (paragraph 3).

The shareholder committee considered a report of the Managing Director, Dorset Innovation Park, which provided an update on the current situation at the Dorset Innovation Park Ltd and on matters since the last meeting in April 2026.

The Managing Director, Dorset Innovation Park, provided an overview of the areas covered by the report, which included work undertaken to establish the company, including putting policies in place, staffing and legal requirements. It was confirmed that the intention was for the company to take over Dorset Innovation Park asset management on 20 July 2026.

The Chair of the Board, Dorset Innovation Park noted the close working that continued with Dorset Council and thanked those officers involved in this area. In addition, the Chair reflected on recent meetings held with tenants on site and future support requirements.

Those present considered the issues arising from the report and during discussion the following points were raised:

·       In response to a question regarding the pace of council decision-making, it was noted that close working with officers to date, had ensured there were currently no issues. The need to drive development at a commercial pace was recognised and the Local Development Order and company framework for decision-making being developed would assist with this, whilst retaining the independence required by the company

·       There had been improvement seen in the pace of decisions being made by the council, particularly as required by some recent areas of work

·       Reference was made to the local skills improvement plan and there was a need for further work to understand how any collaborations would work moving forward. Areas of skills gaps had been noted and there was a need for a specific defence investment plan. Further discussion would take place during exempt business

·       It was agreed that a report on company governance would be brought to the next meeting of the shareholder committee, to ensure transparency

·       In addition, a quarterly finance report would be presented to the next meeting and there was a request for an informal briefing for shareholder committee members ahead of the meeting

·       Work was ongoing by the company, working closely with the council’s legal team, to review aged-debt issues

·       Security arrangements were being reviewed, with funding requested and a security committee to be reinstated. Key companies on site were engaged in the process. Security arrangements would satisfy Ministry of Defence and NATO requirements

·       A proposal for a new gate house for the site was being developed and a report would be presented at the appropriate time.

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 12 and 13 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 Bartlett seconded by R Biggs

Decision

That the press and the public be excluded for the following items 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).

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 ended at this point.

Exempt appendix associated with agenda item 9 – Managing Director’s report.

The shareholder committee considered issues arising in the reserved matters section of the report of the Managing Director, Dorset Innovation Park, with responses provided to questions and comments. Updates as appropriate, would be provided at future meetings.

To consider an exempt report of the Head of Growth and Regeneration.

The shareholder committee received a presentation from the Head of Growth and Regeneration and the Managing Director, Dorset Innovation Park, regarding training and education matters associated with the Dorset Innovation Park.

In response to a question, consideration would be given to the level of information that could be made available publicly for future reporting purposes.