Agenda and minutes

To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 24 June 2025.

The minutes of the meeting held on 24 June 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 [email protected]

by 8.30am on 11 July 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 [email protected] by 8.30am on 11 July 2025.

Dorset Council Constitution – Procedure Rule 13

There were no questions from councillors.

To consider a report of the Innovation Lead.

Councillors received a report of the Innovation Lead, which presented the terms of reference for the Shareholder Committee for Dorset Innovation Park Ltd. A schedule of reserved matters would be drafted by officers in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Property & Assets and Economic Growth and would be available for the next meeting of the shareholder committee. This would also allow time for the company directors to be in post.

The shareholder committee considered the issues covered in the report and terms of reference, and points were noted in the following areas:

·       The timing for the production of the Shareholder Agreement was raised and it was noted that the agreement needed to be confirmed by the company once the substantive directors were in place and undertaking their roles

·       There would be a transition period as the company was built up with responsibilities passed over, over a number of months and linked to the appointment of a Managing Director and Non-Executive Directors

·       Dorset Council officer resource was in place to establish the company and work continued to progress the aims of the Innovation Park

·       Once in place, the company would produce key documents including a vision, business plan and budget. Key documents would be approved by the council as the shareholder and the strategic direction considered by the shareholder committee.

The shareholder committee received the terms of reference and supported the continued cooperation between the council and the Dorset Innovation Park Ltd.

To consider a report of the Innovation Lead.

Councillors considered a report of the Innovation Lead, which presented the Dorset Innovation Park Ltd Articles of Association for the shareholder committee. The Head of Growth and Economic Regeneration highlighted the key points within the articles and noted that a more detailed set of articles would be developed and approved by the Cabinet Member for Property & Assets and Economic Growth.

The shareholder committee considered the Articles of Association and points were discussed in the following areas:

·       In response to a question, it was noted that meetings of the shareholder committee would be held on a quarterly basis with frequent dialogue taking place between council officers and the company, once the company was established. This would form part of the council’s wider approach to economic development

·       The timescales for setting up the company were considered, and it was noted that an interim vision or business plan document could potentially be considered around Spring 2026. In the meantime, the company objects provided a direction of travel

·       The potential for differing objectives between the council and company was flagged and the Executive Director - Place noted that the company would be encouraged to bring early drafts of documents forward to the shareholder committee, to allow for a collaborative approach

·       It was confirmed that David Happy had been appointed as Chair of the Dorset Innovation Park Ltd Company Board and that in addition, an offer had been made for the position of Managing Director of the Dorset Innovation Park Ltd. The Chair and Managing Director would join future meetings of the shareholder committee.

The shareholder committee received the Articles of Association.

To consider the Forward Plan.

Councillors received the Forward Plan for the shareholder committee and noted that it would be populated with items to be considered at future meetings, for consideration at the next meeting.

The shareholder committee considered potential items for the committee and particular reference was made to the position with appointment of non-executive directors, the current capital vision and detail of funding arrangements in this area.

A point was raised regarding the venue for meetings and there would be consideration as to whether meetings could be held at Battlelab.

To confirm the dates of future meetings of the shareholder committee:

3 November 2025, 11.00am

4 February 2026, 10.00am

13 April 2026, 2.00pm

Dates for future meetings of the shareholder committees were agreed as follows:

3 November 2025, 11.00am

4 February 2026, 10.00am

13 April 2026, 2.00pm

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.