Decisions

Date: 6 April 2020

Decision:

Enforcement of dogs on Dorset beaches will not be enforced during the lockdown providing dogs are on leads.

The delegation for this decision is detailed within the Scheme of Delegation in the Council’s Constitution

Key Decision:

Yes

Reason(s) for Decisions:

Decision was taken following confirmation that the Public Space Prevention Order cannot be revoked without consultation and full council approval. Therefore, it was agreed not to enforce the order at this time.

Decision Maker (Name and Title):

John Sellgren, Executive Director for Place and the Senior Leadership Team

Alternative options considered and rejected:

Alternative option to enforce was deemed inappropriate given the current lockdown and the need for people to exercise their dogs near their home.

Any conflict of interest declared by any member consulted:

None

Any dispensation granted in respect of any declared conflict of interest:

None

Date: 28 March 2020

Decision:

Car park charges in all off street car parks suspended

The delegation for this decision is detailed within the Scheme of Delegation in the Council’s Constitution

Key Decision:

Yes

Reason(s) for Decisions:

With the country in a lockdown situation and limited use of car parks by the public, charges have been suspended to support key workers to provide services to the community.

Decision Maker (Name and Title):

Senior Leadership Team

Alternative options considered and rejected:

None

Any conflict of interest declared by any member consulted:

None

Any dispensation granted in respect of any declared conflict of interest:

Date: 27 March 2020

Decision:

Decision taken to begin registering deaths over the phone following the suspension of face-to-face registrations

The delegation for this decision is detailed within the Scheme of Delegation in the Council’s Constitution

Key Decision:

Yes

Reason(s) for Decisions:

This move to a digital registration option provides a non-contact solution to the registration of deaths and may be vital if Dorset experiences a high number of deaths as a result f the virus.

Decision Maker (Name and Title):

John Sellgren, Executive Director for Place and the Senior Leadership Team

Alternative options considered and rejected:

The suspension of death registration was considered not an option in addition to the completion in a fac-to-face environment.

Any conflict of interest declared by any member consulted:

None

Any dispensation granted in respect of any declared conflict of interest:

None

Date: 27 March 2020

Decision:

If as a result of the Covid-19 epidemic the council is not able to fulfil a service which is provided on a charged basis it will seek to make recompense to the customer.  At the discretion of the council this may be through provision of the same service at a different time, provision of an alternative service of similar benefit or value, refund of fees or charges, or similar arrangement.

The delegation for this decision is detailed within the Scheme of Delegation in the Council’s Constitution

Key Decision:

Yes

Reason(s) for Decisions:

To ensure fair recompense as a result of a paid service being suspended

Decision Maker (Name and Title):

Aidan Dunn, Executive Director for Corporate Development and the Senior Leadership Team

Alternative options considered and rejected:

No action was considered not an option

Any conflict of interest declared by any member consulted:

None

Any dispensation granted in respect of any declared conflict of interest:

None

Date: 27 March 2020

Decision:

Maintain decision that public toilets are closed.

The delegation for this decision is detailed within the Scheme of Delegation in the Council’s Constitution

Key Decision:

Yes

Reason(s) for Decisions:

Toilets being open would increase the risk of the virus being transferred and the risk of them being stripped of consumables due to current shortages in the supermarkets.

Decision Maker (Name and Title):

John Sellgren, Executive Director for Place and the Senior Leadership Team

Alternative options considered and rejected:

Opening toilets would require each to be cleaned on a frequent basis during the day which is currently not resourced.

Any conflict of interest declared by any member consulted:

None

Any dispensation granted in respect of any declared conflict of interest:

None

Date: 30 March 2020

Decision:

Best Western Hotel in Weymouth and Best Western in Sherborne agreed for use as temporary care facilities for 3 months

The delegation for this decision is detailed within the Scheme of Delegation in the Council’s Constitution

Key Decision:

Yes

Reason(s) for Decisions:

The temporary arrangements enable hospital discharge of people who no longer have a medical need to be in hospital but need additional support to return home or to a longer term setting.

Decision Maker (Name and Title):

Property Cell and Vivienne Broadhurst, Executive Director for Adults

Alternative options considered and rejected:

Alternative option would have resulted in increased capacity in hospitals and limiting the response to the virus across the system.

Any conflict of interest declared by any member consulted:

None

Any dispensation granted in respect of any declared conflict of interest:

None

Date: 8 April 2020

Decision:

Agreed that a single scrutiny panel for the COVID-19 response would be the most appropriate option at this time

The delegation for this decision is detailed within the Scheme of Delegation in the Council’s Constitution

Key Decision:

Yes

Reason(s) for Decisions:

This enables officers to balance their time between the active emergency response to COVID-19 and their responsibility to provide assurance.

Decision Maker (Name and Title):

Jonathan Mair, Corporate Director for Legal and Democratic and the Senior Leadership Team

Alternative options considered and rejected:

Alternative options included holding more than one scrutiny panel

Any conflict of interest declared by any member consulted:

None

Any dispensation granted in respect of any declared conflict of interest:

None