To receive a verbal update from the Interim Monitoring Officer.
Minutes:
The Committee received a verbal update from the Interim Monitoring
Officer and Chief Executive of Purbeck District Council in relation to the
progress and development of the consequential orders required to complete the
transition to Dorset Council.
The Interim Monitoring Officer summarised that there were consequential
orders in addition to the Structural Change Order that were being drafted which
related to finance, staffing and miscellaneous matters. The latest draft miscellaneous order would be
received on 20 June 2018 from the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local
Government (MHCLG) and responses were required within 5 days, and the second
draft would then be provided 2 days later with a response expected within 2
days. It was noted that there had not
been consultation with the Governance Task and Finish Group about how this
would be considered by members, but Cllr Anthony Alford as the lead member for
the Group indicated that arrangements would be put in place to consider as a
matter of urgency. It was noted that
some comments would need to be dealt with by email unless an additional meeting
was scheduled.
Information had been circulated to the Shadow Executive Committee
outside of the meeting in relation to an issue about local development plans
and the proposed arrangements to consider the issue. It was requested that the Interim Monitoring
Officer would contact Cllr David Walsh, as the Chairman of the Strategic
Planning Forum, after the meeting to have a conversation about the proposed
arrangements. It was acknowledged that
the sensitivity of local plans for the different areas of Dorset, which were
all at different stages, could not be overestimated and had to be managed very
carefully.
The Chief Executive
of Purbeck District Council summarised a further requirement in relation to the
harmonisation of Council Tax for Dorset Council, following a request made by
MHCLG for the Leader of the Shadow Council to write to the Local Government
Minister setting out a clear preference for harmonisation. It was previously agreed by the Dorset Area
Joint Committee on 8 March 2018 to harmonise on day one of the new council with
the use of alternative notional amounts.
The Secretary of State, when making a decision, would use three criteria
to determine the future arrangements based on a clear local preference; to
ensure taxpayers would not face substantial council tax rises; and to minimise
the period to achieve harmonisation. Background information had been shared
with the Shadow Executive Committee outside of the meeting. The letter would
also be shared with Dorset MPs as the Minister would consult them to ensure
they were content with the approach. An update would be reported back to the
Committee in due course.
Members discussed the effect of harmonisation, noting that there would
be an impact on a lot of people across Dorset.
Clarification was provided that the potential increase was similar to
Council Tax increases in 2018/19. However, Council Tax itself would not be set
through this process as it would be considered by the Shadow Executive
Committee in January 2019, and would be determined by the Shadow Dorset Council
at its meeting on 20 February 2019.
Decisions
1. That arrangements be taken forward by the Interim
Monitoring Officer regarding consultation with the Governance Task and Finish
Group on the consequential orders.
2. That the Leader of the Shadow Council write to the Local Government Minister regarding Council Tax Harmonisation.