WEST DISTRICT COUNCIL

COUNCIL MEETING – 10 JANUARY 2019

PORTFOLIO HOLDER REPORT FOR THE PERIOD UP TO AND INCLUDING JANUARY

1. Corporate: Councillor P Barrowcliff - Portfolio Holder’s Report

Strategy Committee decisions within this Portfolio Quarter 2 Business Review Request for short-term loan from Tolpuddle Old Chapel Trust Homes Dorset Next Steps Application for Council Tax discount

2. Environmental Protection & Assets: Councillor J Russell - Portfolio Holder’s Report

Strategy Committee Decisions within this Portfolio Variation of Parking Charges West Bay

3. Planning: Councillor I Gardner - Portfolio Holder’s Report

Strategy Committee Decisions within this Portfolio Holwell Neighbourhood Plan – Independent Examiner’s Report Statement of Common Ground on Strategic Planning Matters between Dorset local planning authorities

5 Year Land Supply

At the time of writing we were still waiting for the Government to publish their first official Housing Delivery Test results which are needed to confirm our five year land supply position from the April 2018 base date. Our latest estimate was that we had 4.88 years’ supply and we may still be just below the five year requirement. As soon as we have HMG's HDT results we will re-calculate the 5 Year Land Supply figure and publish a report. Our position will be tested at the Westleaze appeal in the New Year.

Local Plan Consultation

Results of the consultation will be reported to Members shortly year but we are not intending to take the Local Plan to the next stage of the process (submission) prior to the establishment of the Unitary Council. It will be for them to decide how Local Plans are to be taken forward.

ICT

Work continues towards a single ICT system for DCP although work is now being channelled into arriving at a single system alongside LGR which means we do not need to replicate all work being done 3 times over for the 3 current separate authorities which would only be used for a matter of a few weeks. Excellent progress has also been made on the data cleansing work in preparation. It remains the intention to twin track some applications prior to the go live date to ensure the system is working efficiently prior to the new system becoming used as the sole system.

LGR

Development Managers across the new Dorset Council area are seeking to align current Councils’ working practices prior to LGR; these issues are gradually taking shape through Place Board. A new single Local List for validation of planning applications is to be considered shortly. The principles of a standard scheme for providing pre-application advice has been agreed although not all elements may be operational on Day 1 due to resource implications."

4. Housing: Councillor T Yarker - Portfolio Holder’s Report

Strategy Committee Decisions within this Portfolio No decisions

Homes Dorset Ltd is in the process of negotiating its first project, which it is hoped to finalise in the first months of the year.

The Prince of Wales officially opened Melrose Court, in Poundbury, with all 63 units fully occupied.

There continues to be a delay in processing Housing Register Applicants due to staff shortages, however these are expected to reduce in the New Year once recruitment has occurred.

5. Enabling: Councillor M Penfold - Portfolio Holder’s Report

Strategy Committee Decisions within this Portfolio Request for short-term loan from Tolpuddle Old Chapel Trust Request for grant from Beaminster Museum Harbour Operations Annual Report

At the Strategy Committee Meeting of 1.11.18 approval was given for a request for a loan from the Tolpuddle Old Chapel Trust of £50.000 to assist with the cash flow during restoration work. This would be granted at a base rate plus 1% to be repaid not later than 31.August 2021 (The chapel is a grade two listed building and is an important element in the story of the ) The loan would be to assist with the Trust’s project to renovate the Old Chapel in Tolpuddle and would be made on condition that the Trust secures all necessary grant funding to enable the project to be completed. Authority was granted to the Strategic Director to agree the terms of the agreement with the Trust.

A request had been received from Beaminster Museum Trust for a grant of £15 000 for a project to build on a two storey extension to the Museum. This would provide an increased floor area to enable the trust to expand its exhibition space for the heritage and history displays and exhibitions. The Strategy Committee meeting of December 13th approved this. The report also stated that the total cost of the project was £155 000 and that the trust were also applying for a grant of £50 000 from the Heritage Lottery Fund plus lesser amounts from trusts and funds including the LEADER programme.

Members were also presented with the Annual Harbour Reports which included reports on the activities at Bridport and Lyme Regis harbours during the main 2018 season. This also included the reports of the Council’s Health, Safety and Welfare officer in his role as designated person for the harbours. Partly due to the exceptional summer weather and the popularity of services there was an increased use of the harbours in nearly all categories. At Lyme Regis visiting craft (overnight) to the harbour had increased by 50%. An extra pontoon length was installed for the season which proved very popular. The pontoons at Bridport remained occupied to capacity for most of the season and there are plans to install an additional pontoon in 2019. Positive harbour user group meetings had been held in both harbours. There is a significant amount of goodwill and cooperation between the many harbour users and the District Council in both harbours. An increase of 5% for harbour fees was approved to help over some of the increased costs faced by the Council. Following consultation with the harbour masters and to further clarify existing rules three minor amendments to the Harbour Rules and Regulations was also approved.

The very full report of the designated person for the harbours included detailed harbour use, staff training, risk assessments, emergency planning and harbour assurance. It was also noted that at Bridport harbour, staffing had been increased to three full time and two seasonal staff. Both harbours greatly benefitted from the help of volunteers.

Work is progressing on transition grant and service level agreements for 2019/20 to the community and voluntary sector agreements under Dorset Council. There will be a discussion in the New Year as part of the double devolution Agenda about the future of car boot sales in Dorchester and West Bay whose proceeds are distributed to local groups and organisations. 6. Equalities: Councillor S Jones - Portfolio Holder’s Report

Strategy Committee Decisions within this Portfolio No decisions

For information

On 10th December it was the 70th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. This declaration provides the foundation for respect and fulfilment of the rights of all people at all times.

In November the UK Human Rights act celebrated 20 years. This act enables everyone to stand up for fairness and equality and has helped countless people challenge injustice.

7. Community Safety & Access: Councillor A Thacker - Portfolio Holder’s Report Strategy Committee Decisions within this Portfolio Private Water Supplies – new regulations and recharging Transfer of assets and services

8. Sustainability – Councillor M Hall – Portfolio Holder’s Report

Strategy Committee Decisions within this Portfolio No decisions

9. Vulnerable residents: Councillor S Hosford – Portfolio Holder’s Report Strategy Committee Decisions within this Portfolio No decisions

Portfolio for Vulnerable Residents In November the South Western Dorset Domestic Violence and Abuse Forum held a Safeguarding Event entitled “Hear Their Voices” hosted at South Walks House. Over 180 professionals from statutory and voluntary sectors attended this very successful event to hear renowned Guest Speaker Norma Howes who helped them to gain an understanding of how the trauma of Domestic Abuse affects children and young people and how that may shape their future lives. The Domestic Abuse Intervention Training programme is delivering two courses in Weymouth and Dorchester starting w/c 7th January. The Freedom Programme is a free 10 week course which runs for two hours once a week - it is the only course that is suitable for women who have left an abusive relationship or are still in an abusive relationship. The Recovery Toolkit course is suitable for men or women who are not currently in an abusive relationship but have previously experienced domestic abuse. During the last four years DAIT delivered courses in the and Weymouth areas to both male and female victims/survivors with over 500 clients attending the courses. Please contact [email protected] for more details. Public concern for Rough Sleepers tends to increase during the winter weather. Julian House continues to deliver the outreach and engagement service to Rough Sleepers across the District. Please spread the word that concerns for individual Rough Sleepers can be reported via the ‘Street Link’ portal on Dorset for You or by contacting the 24 hour helpline on 0300 500 0914. Universal Credit continues to impact on some of our most vulnerable families and Food Banks and CABs are still under pressure with increasing numbers of referrals. Members may find the following links helpful – http://whoistheretohelp.org/ A directory of charitable organisations across West Dorset which offer vital services but are not all well known. https://www.wyvernsandl.co.uk/ A community based Credit Union which provides its members with a safe and ethical place to save as well as providing affordable loans.