Dorset Council’s Plan 2020 - 2024 DRAFT Introduction

This is the Dorset Council plan which sets out our ambitions for the next four years. It incorporates the political vision of your new councillors. Our ambition is to put Dorset Council at the heart of the community.

The creation of the new council on 1 April 2019 Local Government has enabled us to make significant savings which Reorganisation have been reinvested into council services: Dorset was served by nine councils until 1 April 2019 • the reduction in the number of councillors from 204 when a local government reorganisation reduced these to 82 has produced £400,000 per year in savings to two: • the reduction in the number of senior manager roles, • Dorset Council and staffing costs in areas of duplication like finance, (formerly Dorset County Council, East Dorset District HR, and IT will achieve savings of £5.2m in 2019/20 Council, North Dorset District Council, Purbeck District and £10m per year in a full council year Council, West Dorset District Council, Weymouth & Portland Borough Council) • the reduction of costs for insurance, audit fees and other activities where the council now only pays for • Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council one organisation rather than six. (formerly Bournemouth Borough Council, Christchurch Borough Council, Borough of Poole Council) Despite this, the council faces significant financial challenges mainly due to growing demand for: Why did we come together to form a new unitary council? • support for children with special educational needs and disabilities • To protect frontline services by reducing costs and duplication. The money saved is being reinvested • the rising number of children taken into care to keep into services including housing, road maintenance, them safe from immediate risk of harm schools, social care and waste collection. • social care support for vulnerable and frail older • To give Dorset a stronger voice nationally which people and people with disabilities. will help attract business investment, government Following Dorset Council’s declaration of a climate funding and support local economic growth. emergency in May 2019, an Executive Advisory Panel • To better meet the needs of communities across has been established to discuss and form policies as to Dorset by bringing all services together in one how the council will set carbon reduction targets. council, working jointly for local people. Bringing services together with a shared common purpose creates a scale and effectiveness that the previous DRAFTsix councils couldn’t achieve alone. its climateemergencyplan. withorganisationsacross Dorsettopartnership develop The panelwilllookto buildonthisandwillworkin working –development ofaDorset, Partnership • consistent across thewholecouncil. programmes helpingus to makechangesthatare Our transformation planisdeliveredthrough six our beclear onthe desiredoutcomes to support • focus • allocateourresources to makethemostdifference • plan any change carefullybut • A programme of transformation willallow usto: differently andmakebetteruseoftechnology. with youto shapethatdesign,provide ourservices your needsasourresidents.Wewilldothisbyworking designingacouncilthatmeets how wedeliverservices, We aimto meetourfinancialchallengesbytransforming Transformation Indirectaction • • Our ambitionisto focusonthefollowing: and anEnergyEfficiency strategy. Bournemouth andPoole RenewableEnergystrategy through our widerservices council priorities. meet theneedsofresidents emissions Direct action – reducingcouncilgreenhousegas onthechanges wewant to makeandhowthey DRAFT –influencingand showingleadership in atimelymanner Efficient organisation–modernising thewaywework • ofchoice–workingtogether Employer to maximise • and Property • Travel –improving andtransport integrated • Customer –understanding customer service • reform– Onecouncil service • The sixprogrammes oftransformation are: deal withthecontinuingchallenges. many otherlocalauthoritiesintermsofourabilityto means thatDorsetCouncilisinastronger positionthan The reorganisationoflocalgovernment inDorsetalso delivering efficiency. from government, sowehave agoodtrack recordof their budgetsinresponseto reducingfinancialsupport predecessor organisationssaved over £120mfrom increasingly challenginginrecentyears,DorsetCouncil’s As theoperating environment forcouncilshasbecome Our financialjourney acrosswe deliverservices thecouncil. so weareleaner, moremodernanddigitalintheway our peopleto adaptto, andengagein,change our workforce potential,shapeourcultureandhelp estate place, bymakingbestphysicalandfinancialuseofour communities travel optionsforresidentsofallagesandin accessible experience andmakingservices and usingco-designwithourresidentspartners Dorset - intheright estates –delivering services A great place to live, work &visit rethinking ourservices to live,workandvisit. needs withinourbudget;to makeDorsetagreatplace whichmeetyour Our focusisondeliveringservices and disabilities(SEND). social careandchildren’s specialeducationalneeds adult fortwoofourdemand-led services, particularly aware oftheneedforbetterfundingnationally, will beanadvocate forDorsetbymakinggovernment to reducecostsand generateopportunities income.We our anticipatedtransformation savings alongsideother budget demands,pressuresandrisks.Italsosetsout A ten-yearmedium-termfinancialplandetailsour the resources available. ensure theorganisationmakesverybestuseofall We aredeveloping anew, medium-termfinancialplan to demand andcostpressureswecontinueto experience. enough. Wewillcontinueto develop, to copewiththe But localgovernment reorganisationalonewon’t be Leader of the Council Cllr SpencerFlower,

Dorset Council’s Plan 2020 - 2024 Understanding Dorset

Population Natural and historic Economy and infrastructure Dorset (Council area) has a population of 376,480 environment Employment in Dorset is high but, like the UK, our residents, 29% of whom are aged 65 and older economy has a productivity gap. Manufacturing, health, Dorset’s natural environment is a great asset. (compared to 18% in England and Wales). retail, education and hospitality are all big employers 95 miles of coast in Dorset and Devon are classified as in Dorset. 20,000 businesses are based in Dorset: 86% Dorset is an attractive place for people to settle in their a UNESCO Natural World Heritage Site – the only one of them are micro firms and less than 1% are large retirement – it has a large population of older people in England. Over half of Dorset is covered by the Area of firms. Dorset’s economy is worth around £7.1 billon and relatively low birth rates. With no university outside Outstanding National Beauty designation; 7% of Dorset and provides 143,000 jobs. Dorset has above national the conurbation (Bournemouth), younger people often is protected as a Site of Special Scientific Interest; and average representation of advanced engineering and of move away from the area. The population continues Dorset has one of the largest areas of protected lowland manufacturing as a whole, but there is also a continuing to grow slowly with people moving into the county and heath in Europe. seasonal, low skill, low wage economy; and tourism and longer life expectancy. The greatest part of population agriculture are significant industries. The area is rich in growth is amongst over 65s. Dorset’s working age These designations together mark Dorset as a valuable minerals, including stone, sand/gravel and oil. population is expected to see a marginal decline over special place but also present challenges in terms of the next 25 years. Currently there are close to 8,000 available land for delivering housing and employment Earnings are below average and house prices are high people in Dorset living with dementia and the number is development. with affordability issues for many young people and increasing. keyworkers. In 2017, lower end house prices were more Dorset also has a rich historic environment, with one than ten times higher than lower end earnings in Dorset. The Dorset rural idyll can conceal hidden deprivation; in twenty of all the protected ancient monuments in there are pockets of deprivation, mostly in urban areas England, a well preserved pre-historic landscape and Dorset has no motorway but over 4,000 km of roads. (mainly Weymouth & Portland). But there is also some around 10,000 listed buildings. 95.4% of premises in the Dorset Council area have rural deprivation due to isolation and barriers to housing, access to superfast broadband. 3.3% of premises in the transport and essential services. Crime is consistently Dorset Council area have access to full-fibre broadband. low in Dorset. The population is predominately White British, with only 4.4% black and minorityDRAFT ethnic people. Our Priorities DRAFT Strong, Healthy residents and partners partners and residents the best start and live the best start Communities to build and maintain strong communities We will work with We willwork where peopleget fulfilling lives Staying Safe & Well We will work with all our with Wewill all our work residents to have agood quality of life

We willfacilitatetheavailability of more affordable, suitable anddecent affordable, housing A greatplace to live,work Suitable Housing Dorset -

& visit

number of jobs in Dorset, creating great number ofjobsinDorset, growth, increasing productivity and the We willdeliversustainable economic Economic Growth places to and visit live,work

Environment development whilst enhancing Dorset’s deliver sustainable protecting and Wewill help to environment Unique

Dorset Council’s Plan 2020 - 2024 Our Priorities

Economic Growth

We will deliver sustainable economic growth, increasing productivity and the number of jobs in Dorset, creating great places to live, work and visit.

What will we do? Who will we work with? • Enhance Dorset as a place to do business and attract • Dorset Local Enterprise Partnership inward investment • Dorset Local Nature Partnership • Support the creation and growth of new businesses, and • Schools, colleges, and universities in turn support job creation • Local business community • Improve transport and digital connectivity across the area • Government departments • Enhance aspirations and skills to improve social mobility • Investors and developers How will we do it? • Business support networks • Develop a new economic growth strategy in collaboration • Town and parish councils with the business community and other partners, enabling a strong, sustainable and successful economy, across Dorset and its communities. • Adopt a new Dorset Council Local Plan by 2024 • Explore the roll out of full fibre technology and 5G to enable people to travel less and access opportunities • Work to improve rail services, public transport and reliability of journey times • Enable growth of good quality jobs at Dorset Innovation Park as our designated Enterprise Zone • Support growth in key sectors, including advanced engineering/manufacturing, agritech, maritime commercial opportunities, aquaculture and tourism • Work with schools, colleges, universities and business to raise career aspirations and improve skills • Stimulate local business opportunities through council procurement DRAFT• Work with partners to develop the Dorset place brand

Dorset refersto thenew Dorset Council Areathat came into indicated. Poster effect1st April2019, unless otherwise produced: Sept2019 Data underlying theinfographics isprovided bythe Research Team. For more informationcontact [email protected]. Area(DLEP). *Dorset LocalEnterprise Partnership Economic Growth

The rate ofcreation of new businesses is below the national averageyears and has changed little in the last four Number of employeesperbusiness Dorset Dorset (per 10,000workingagepeople) Workforce aged 50+ 36% 72 DRAFTNew Businesses

England Dorset England

28% 7.3 7.3 England 97 9.5

Value produced for every hourworked Dorset 95% Dorset Superfast broadbandSuperfast coverage This givesa productivity £1.7 billion Dorset gap of Average weeklyearnings £26.70 £523 £523 £

GB £571 UK £33.70 £ UK

96%

people will retire Leaving 150,000 173,000 jobsto befilled

*By 2029...

new jobscreated Of thesejobs... Of thesejobs... Require BTEC/ Require GCSE level orabove A-Level or 23,000 above 60% 80%

Dorset Council’s Plan 2020 - 2024 Our Priorities

We will help to deliver sustainable development whilst protecting and enhancing Unique Environment Dorset’s environment.

What will we do? How will we do it? Who will we work with? • Provide an environment that attracts business • Develop and implement a strategy to engage with • Areas of outstanding natural beauty partnerships investment, tourism and a skilled workforce communities on how to protect our environment and • Dorset Local Nature Partnership respond to proposals that impact on the environment • Improve access to our coast and greenspaces • Jurassic Coast Trust • Develop a climate change strategy working with our • Deliver services in a way that protects and enhances partners, particularly town and parish councils and • Dorset Wildlife Trust our natural, historic and cultural environments government • Natural England • Support behavioural change to reduce waste • Deliver a highways verge management and street • Marine Management Organisation • Provide leadership and contribute to tackling climate cleansing strategy change • Environment Agency • Deliver our pollinators and biodiversity action plan • Support local communities to respond to climate • Historic England • Maximise local resource by applying for additional change funding and grants • Highways England • Capitalise on Dorset’s unique environmental assets to • Responsibly manage the spaces, buildings and land • Government departments support our priorities we own • Police • Instil community pride in our environment to help • Support local farmers, woodland owners, foresters keep it clean and safe and land managers to make environmental • Fire and Rescue Service • Support the development of appropriately located improvements through the countryside stewardship • Town and parish councils renewable energy scheme • Voluntary and community sector • Actively monitor and assist in managing areas of DRAFTpoor air quality • Significant landowners Dorset refersto thenew Dorset Council areathat cameinto indicated. effect1st April2019, unless otherwise Data underlying theinfographics isprovided bythe Research Team. For more informationcontact [email protected]. Area(DLEP). **DorsetCounty Council. *Dorset LocalEnterprise Partnership Unique Environment (natural assets,agriculture,forestry,fishing,energy, tourism)

2019 2011 Publicly available chargingpoints in Dorset Nine outoften Dorset Environmental Economy 1 and supports upto 61,000jobs and supports that theenvironment wasan 15% ofthelocaleconomy decision to liveinDorset important factor intheir important **Living in Dorset DRAFT ...is valued atupto Dorsetresidentssaid

30 *Renewable energy production inDorset “effectively zero emission” by2040 Native species livinginDorset

All newcarsandvans shouldbe Car and van emissions Government targets: Birds Dragonflies 53%

2011 Butterflies 1% Mammals 93% 74%

Reptiles 2016 5.5%

90%

100% Current andpredicted ULEVsregisteredinDorset Areas ofOutstandingNatural Beauty(AONB) Ultra Low EmissionVehicles (ULEVs) covering 54%oftheDorsetCouncilarea **Amount of wastesentto landfill Dorset hasEngland’s onlynatural

World HeritageSiteandtwo 2008 Natural Status 70% reduction 1,100 2019

2018 23,000 2029

Dorset Council’s Plan 2020 - 2024 Our Priorities

Suitable Housing

We will facilitate the availability of more affordable, suitable and decent housing.

What will we do? Who will we work with? • Develop appropriate, affordable and sustainable • Registered housing providers housing, maximising the use of council-owned assets • Voluntary and community sector • Bring long-term empty properties back into use • Private landlords • Support people to access appropriate • House builders accommodation • Dorset Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust • Work to raise standards of privately rented homes • Homes England • Promote energy efficiency for healthy homes • Police • Implement a new single Dorset Council housing register and review choice-based lettings • Armed forces • Adopt a new Dorset Council Local Plan by 2024 • Town and parish councils

How will we do it? • Deliver the Building Better Lives programme • Provide homes by 2024 in line with land supply target • Develop a business plan for our housing company Homes Dorset • Increase the number of new homes of all tenures e.g. shared ownership, starter homes, key worker housing • Reduce homelessness • Work to ensure that no less than 35% of all new housing is affordable housing • Increase the number of households receiving DRAFTassistance from Healthy Homes Dorset

Dorset refersto thenew Dorset Council areathat cameinto indicated. effect1st April2019, unless otherwise Data underlying theinfographics isprovided bythe Research Team. For more informationcontact [email protected]. Suitable Housing social rentedhousingisfor properties over thenext6years 7,000 properties More thanhalf We willseeanincreasearound 1 bed 57% 176,000 Properties inDorset Properties 2017 Bedroom demand

2 bed DRAFT25%

of thedemandfor

3 bed 14% one-bedroom homes Dorset hadapproximately 35-40rough sleepersin November 2018,adecreaseon theprevious year

4 bed Dorset 4%

150%

Between 2010-2017

increase Rough sleepers

England This makesit 169%

65+ yearolds more than earnings average Housing supplyneedsto reflectthis Population change2019 - 2029 x10 Average prices are... property

increase market to jointheproperty 20% very hardforfirsttimebuyers Dorset increase Working agepopulation 3% more than There are earnings average decrease x8 265 homelesshouseholdsinDorset Homeless households England

is in Greatest demandforsocialrentedhousing Detached houses £398,000 average West Dorset,Weymouth price type of property inDorset type ofproperty Property Property Types Area demand House arethemostcommon

£162,000 average price and Portland

Flat

Dorset Council’s Plan 2020 - 2024 Our Priorities

We will work with residents and partners to build and maintain strong Strong, Healthy Communities communities where people get the best start and live fulfilling lives.

What will we do? How will we do it? Who will we work with? • Work to improve the economic, social and • Work collaboratively with town and parish councils • Residents environmental wellbeing of the area and communities to improve local areas • Police • Support communities to be cohesive, inclusive, safe • Provide a directory of community activities to • Parish and town councils and active connect people and tackle social isolation • NHS services • Enable people to feel a sense of belonging and to • Help people to claim and receive benefits they are participate actively in their community entitled to • Fire and Rescue Service • Aim to increase people’s healthy life expectancy and • Improve mental health support for children, young • Community groups and voluntary organisations reduce differences between areas people and adults • Department of Work and Pensions • Work to give residents the same opportunities to • Improve and maintain air, food and water quality • Other councils including Bournemouth, Christchurch live well no matter where they live or what their • Work to reduce rates of smoking, gambling, alcohol and Poole Council circumstances are and drug addiction • Provide additional support to communities with the • Protect people from harm from rogue traders greatest challenges • Provide safe and useable cycle ways and footpaths, • Keep Dorset connected with better transport and better bus services and community transport digital links between communities schemes • Provide and maintain access to rights of way, country parks and countryside • Recognise when the voluntary sector is better placed DRAFTto provide a service and support them in their work Dorset refersto thenew Dorset Council areathat cameinto indicated. effect1st April2019, unless otherwise Data underlying theinfographics isprovided bythe Research Team. For more informationcontact [email protected]. Strong, Healthy Communities long-term healthconditionsand disabilities 85+ year olds in Dorset 65+ year olds with DRAFTDorset Over thenext

10 years Over thenext 31% ten years increase 20%

increase 12% (workingage) households Workless households 12,900 households

England Dorset 10 outof11deprivedareasarein Dorset Dorsethasfewdeprivedareasinnationalterms, but…deprivation areas isconcentrated incertain years old

80 81 76 77 78 79 82 83 84 85

Dorset’s residentsenjoy long lifeexpectancy Life expectancy Deprived areas

England 66% Weymouth &Portland Regular physical activity (adults)

years old 84 85 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83

England Dorset

group orperson (eg a particular (eg aparticular 17% Personal targeted for abuse) Environmental 7,900 2019 (eg graffiti) Anti-social behaviour inDorset 65+ year olds with Dementia 10%

Dorset 71% Dorset

10,200 2029 73% Nuisance neighbours) (eg noisy

Dorset Council’s Plan 2020 - 2024 Our Priorities Staying Safe & Well

We will work with all our residents to have a good quality of life.

What will we do? Who will we work with? • Help families stay together and, when they can’t, provide • NHS services the best possible care • GP practices • Give children a great and inclusive education that enables • Schools, colleges and universities them to be the best they can be • Police, probation and youth offending • Support adults to live independently in their own homes and, when this isn’t possible, provide high quality care • Voluntary and community organisations • Put individuals and families at the heart of everything we • Residents and communities do • Fire and Rescue Service • Reflect the voices of communities in our work • Regulators • Build and support capacity in voluntary and community • Housing associations organisations • Service providers • Work to prevent children and vulnerable adults from being exploited • Prisons • Local Enterprise Partnership How will we do it? • Town and parish councils • Provide good quality social care services • Police • Provide more specialist education within Dorset for children with complex communication and learning needs • Armed forces • Provide information, advice and support at the earliest opportunity • Use technology and explore innovative ways to improve quality of life and independence • Improve how social care, education and health services work together through the ‘Our Dorset’ partnership • Design services with people, not for them • Raise public awareness of exploitation of children and DRAFTvulnerable adults Data underlying theinfographics isprovided bythe Research Team. For more informationcontact [email protected]. Area(DLEP). *Dorset LocalEnterprise Partnership Staying Safe&Well adult safeguardingandmoreinformedreporting This reflectsanincreasedcultural awareness of Adult safeguarding concerns full-time socialcare People whoworkin People workingin Dorset the supplychain Children incare care inDorset

DRAFT children in 415

2016/17 2,263

Social care services 3,000 8,250

2017/18 2,656 This isworth

to the localeconomy

£330 million This increasewillputpressureontheseservices

are 65+yearsold More than Dorset Older people services Child protection rate 1in4people

44 per10,000children 45 per10,000children England Dorset

Technical/professional

social carejobs Over thenext health and 25 years 20,000 47% *Social carejobs over thenext10 years

increase

71% Dorset development atearlyyearsfoundation People aged65+livinginacarehome stage, justundertheEnglandaverage ofchildren achieved a Level of development 3,100 2019 Caring/personal Care homes service jobs service 4,600

3,700 2029 good level of

Dorset Council’s Plan 2020 - 2024 DRAFT Our values, behaviours and principles for our journey ahead

As we have come together to create a brand-new organisation, we have defined our principles and values for our journey ahead. This is the focus of our transformation plan which will support us to achieve our priorities by 2024.

Our Values Our Principles

We are an advocate for Dorset on a local, national and global stage Employer Customer of Choice Focused We work together with our communities and our partners to make things happen

We put people first and design services around their needs now and in future

We are open, accessible and accountable

We use time and money wisely

We value people and build on their strengths

Our Behaviours Sustainable Effective DRAFTOrganisation & Modern dorsetcouncil.gov.uk dorsetcounciluk DRAFT @dorsetcounciluk @dorsetcounciluk