Agenda, decisions and minutes

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 18 March 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 18 March 2026.

Dorset Council Constitution – Procedure Rule 13

There were no questions from councillors.

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

That the Shareholder Committee for the Dorset Innovation Park Ltd:

1.    Formally ratify the choice of Cecilia Bufton as the Dorset Innovation Park Ltd Chair for an initial period of 12 months

2.    Approve the re-appointment of Mark Ovens as a Non-Executive Director of Dorset Innovation Park Ltd.

Reason for the decision

Dorset Innovation Park Ltd (the Company) has been established as an “arms length” company of Dorset Council to take on the management and operation of the Dorset Innovation Park (DIP). An external Board of Directors has been appointed to oversee the management of the Company. In February 2026 the Chair of the Company resigned their position and the Shareholder approved the commencement of an appointment process for a new Chair. That process has secured Cecilia Bufton as the new Chair of the Company and this appointment has been confirmed by the Leader of the Council. The Shareholder Committee is now asked to formally ratify this decision.

In addition, the Company Managing Director has requested that the Shareholder consider the reappointment of Mark Ovens to the Company Board as a Non-Executive Director.

The shareholder committee received and considered a report of the Head of Growth and Regeneration which provided an update on the Dorset Innovation Park Ltd Board composition and included a recommendation for the formal ratification of the Company Chair and appointment of a Non-Executive Director.

It was proposed by S Clifford seconded by N Ireland

Decision

That the Shareholder Committee for the Dorset Innovation Park Ltd:

1.    Formally ratify the choice of Cecilia Bufton as the Dorset Innovation Park Ltd Chair for an initial period of 12 months

2.    Approve the re-appointment of Mark Ovens as a Non-Executive Director of Dorset Innovation Park Ltd.

Reason for the decision

Dorset Innovation Park Ltd (the Company) has been established as an “arms length” company of Dorset Council to take on the management and operation of the Dorset Innovation Park (DIP). An external Board of Directors has been appointed to oversee the management of the Company. In February 2026 the Chair of the Company resigned their position and the Shareholder approved the commencement of an appointment process for a new Chair. That process has secured Cecilia Bufton as the new Chair of the Company and this appointment has been confirmed by the Leader of the Council. The Shareholder Committee is now asked to formally ratify this decision.

In addition, the Company Managing Director has requested that the Shareholder consider the reappointment of Mark Ovens to the Company Board as a Non-Executive Director.

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.