To consider a report by the Programme Director.
Minutes:
The Committee
considered a report in relation to the principles for transfer of assets to
Town and Parish Councils and other community groups to ensure consistency of
approach. The General Manager - Public Health and Housing, Purbeck District Council,
introduced the cross-authority report and summarised the need to provide
principles and a framework for councils to use when considering the future
transfer of assets, which had followed a period of interest by Town and Parish
Councils to secure assets prior to the start of the new Dorset Council from 1
April 2019. It was also explained that
the approach towards the formation of Weymouth Town Council and the impact on
Portland Town Council would need to have different arrangements.
Clarifications were
also provided that recommendation 1 in the General Manager’s report referred to
paragraph 3.4 of the report and not 3.2 as stated. An amendment to principle (ii) of paragraph
3.4 was also suggested by the General Manager as:
‘Any resolution prior to 26 May 2018 by
sovereign councils to dispose of an asset but not yet legally completed may
continue unless it contradicts these principles.’
At this point a
question was asked at the meeting by Cllr Cheryl Reynolds, in relation to asset
transfers by West Dorset District Council. The question and answer are attached
to these minutes as an annexure.
Three areas of
consideration were raised during the debate on the principles (paragraph 3.4)
which related to:
(i) Transfer of
Assets to Dorset Council Comments
were received about reference to all assets being transferred to Dorset
Council. In particular that the
arrangements needed to establish Weymouth Town Council needed to be defined
clearly, together with the impact upon Portland Town Council as a result of the
new arrangements. As such Cllr Jeff Cant
proposed that the principle be re-worded to read ‘All assets required for the delivery of Council services and those
capable of generating income are transferred to the new unitary Dorset Council,
but the unique circumstances of Weymouth
Town Council and Portland Town Council will be considered separately.’.
The amendment was
seconded by Cllr Daryl Turner. On being
put to the vote the amendment was agreed unanimously.
(ii) Existing
Programme for the Disposal of Assets
Comments were received in relation to the suggested amendment summarised
in the minute above. Concern was expressed by Cllr Antony Alford that the
principle needed to be tightened to explicitly reflect the assets of Town and
Parish Councils only, and he therefore proposed that the wording be amended to
read ‘Any resolution prior to 26 May 2018
by sovereign councils to dispose of an asset to town and parish councils but not yet legally completed may
continue unless it contradicts these principles.’.
The amendment was
discussed and points were raised that indicated that the wording should remain
unchanged as the principle needed to be open enough for asset transfers to
community groups. The wording suggested
by the General Manager was therefore proposed by Cllr Jill Haynes and seconded
by Cllr Sherry Jespersen. On being put to the vote the wording was agreed by
majority.
(Note: Cllr Anthony Alford
indicated that he wished for his vote against the wording to be recorded.)
(ix) Assessment
by the Section 151 Officer of Financial Impact of Assets An amendment was proposed by Cllr Jeff Cant
to recognise the potential for a significant financial impact of a resource, to
change the sentence to read ‘Any asset
transfer that could have a financial impact upon the new Dorset Council will be
initially assessed by the Section 151 Officer and, if it has a significant
financial impact, or potential
significant impact, seek approval by the Shadow Executive’. The amendment was seconded by Cllr Daryl
Turner. On being put to the vote the
amendment was agreed unanimously.
Other issues raised
within the debate related to:
·
Dorset
County Council current position It was felt that more information was needed
in relation the Service Level Agreements (SLAs) in place between the County Council
and Town and Parish Councils. Assurance was provided that where SLAs were in
place they would continue into the new Council after 1 April 2019 in the same
way as formal contract arrangements, unless any changes were made in the
meantime as part of the budget setting process.
·
Budget
Process A number of comments were made which related
to the identification of future funding for Town and Parish Councils which
would be key considerations for budget setting.
Assets were part of the conversation, but reference was also made to the
SLAs, discretionary grants, and income generating assets.
·
Communications
There was a clear need expressed for
appropriate communications to be developed for Town and Parish Councils to
provide reassurance about the future and to reflect on what they should expect
where there may be some possible changes regarding transfer of assets, SLAs,
budget setting process and discretionary grants.
Decision
1. That the current
position for each of the Dorset councils be noted.
2. That the
principles outlined in paragraph 3.4 for the General Managers’ report, as
amended in the minute above and attached for completeness as an annexure to
these minutes, be agreed.
Reason for
Decisions
The aim of the
principles will ensure that decisions taken before 1 April 2019 do not
adversely impact on the budget of the future Dorset Council.
Supporting documents: