Public Document Pack
MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE Members of the Management Committee are invited to attend this meeting at Weymouth and Portland Borough Council Offices, Commercial Road, Weymouth, Dorset, DT4 8NG to consider the items listed on the following page.
Stuart Caundle Head of Paid Service
Date: Tuesday, 11 December 2018 Time: 9.30 am Venue: Council Chamber Members of Committee: J Cant (Chair), R Kosior (Vice-Chair), M Byatt, C Huckle, R Nickinson, R Nowak, J Orrell, A Reed, G Taylor and K Wheller
USEFUL INFORMATION For more information about this agenda please telephone Kate Critchel 01305 252234 email [email protected]. This agenda and reports are also available on the Council’s website at www.dorsetforyou.com/committees/ Weymouth and Portland Borough Council.
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Page No.
1 APOLOGIES
To receive apologies for absence.
2 MINUTES
To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 19 November 2018.
3 CODE OF CONDUCT
Members are required to comply with the requirements of the Localism Act 2011 and the Council’s Code of Conduct regarding disclosable pecuniary and other interests.
Check if there is an item of business on this agenda in which the member or other relevant person has a disclosable pecuniary or the disclosable interest.
Check that the interest has been notified to the Monitoring Officer (in writing) and entred in the Register (if not this must be done within 28 days).
Disclose the interest at the meeting (in accordance with the Council’s Code of Conduct) and in the absence of dispensation to speck and/or vote, withdraw from any consideration of the item where appropriate. If the interest is non-pecuniary you may be able to stay in the room, take part and vote.
4 PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
30 minutes will be set aside to allow members of the public to ask questions relating to the work of the Council. 3 minutes will be allowed per speaker. The order of speakers is at the discretion of the Chair and is normally taken in the order of agenda items, questions must relate to a report which is on the agenda for consideration. Notice is not required if you wish to speak at the meeting but if you require an answer to a question it is asdvisable to submit this in advance by contacting a member of the Democratic Services team or alternatively, by emailing [email protected].
5 QUESTIONS BY COUNCILLORS To receive questions from Councillors in accordance with procedure rule 12.
6 DORSET STATEMENT OF COMMON GROUND ON STRATEGIC 5 - 38 PLANNING MATTER
To consider a report of the Corporate Manager, Planning (Community & Policy Development)
7 MELCOMBE REGIS: SELECTIVE LICENSING OF PRIVATE 39 - 124 RENTED SECTOR PROPERTY
To consider a report of the Housing Improvement Manager.
8 DETAILED BRIEF FOR PUBLIC ART PROJECT IN WEYMOUTH 125 - 146
To consider a report of the Leisure Commissioning Manager
9 ST ALBANS STREET TRAFFIC REGULATION ORDER (TRO) 147 - 148
To consider a report of the Head of Economy, Leisure and Tourism.
10 SUPPORT TO PEOPLE VULNERABLE THROUGH SUBSTANCE 149 - 164 ABUSE
To consider a report on a scrutiny request submitted to Scrutiny & Performance Committee.
11 OUTSIDE BODY APPOINTMENT: WEYMOUTH PAVILION CIC 165 - 168 BOARD MEETING
To consider a report of the Councillor Development and Support Officer.
12 MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE ACTION PLAN 169 - 184
To consider the Management Committee Action Plan
13 URGENT BUSINESS
To consider any items of business which the Chair has had prior notification and considers to be urgent pursuant to section 100B (4) )b) of the Local Government Act 1972. The reason for the urgency shall be specified in the minutes. 14 4 MONTH FORWARD PLAN 185 - 190
To consider the 4 monthly Forward Plan.
15 EXEMPT BUSINESS
To move the exclusion of the press and the public for the following item in view of the likely disclosure of exempt information within the meaning of paragraph 3 of schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended)
16 NORTH QUAY UPDATE 191 - 212
To consider a report of the Head of Assets & Infrastructure. Agenda Item 6
Management Committee 11 December 2018 Dorset Statement of Common Ground on Strategic Planning Matters
For Decision
Briefholder
Cllr Ray Nowak – Environment and Sustainability
Senior Leadership Team Contact: S Hill, Strategic Director
Report Author:
H Jordan, Corporate Manager, Planning (Community & Policy Development)
Statutory Authority
Localism Act 2011
Purpose of Report
1 To approve the Statement of Common Ground as part of the supporting documentation for local plans across Dorset
Recommendations
2 That the draft Statement of Common Ground, attached as Appendix 1, be approved
Reason for Decision
3 To ensure that the requirement for a Statement of Common Ground to be prepared in association with the development of local plans is met.
Background and Reason Decision Needed
4 The Localism Act 2011 includes the Duty to Cooperate between local planning authorities and other organisations in preparing local plans. The new National Planning Policy Framework 2018 and its associated Planning Practice Guidance introduced a new requirement for a Statement of Common Ground to be prepared. Page 5 5 A Statement of Common Ground is a written record of progress made on planning for strategic matters across local authority boundaries. It is intended to record where effective cooperation is or is not taking place, demonstrate that plans are deliverable, and provide evidence that the duty to cooperate has been fulfilled.
6 Statements should be jointly produced by those authorities which have agreed to collaborate with each other to address strategic matters across local authority boundaries.
7 In Dorset there is a Strategic Planning Forum comprising member representatives of all the local planning authorities, together with representatives of the Local Enterprise Partnership and Local Nature Partnership. This group meets regularly to discuss strategic planning matters on which the authorities need to work jointly.
8 The Forum agreed a ‘Summary of Cross-Boundary Planning Issues in Dorset’ paper in 2015 and this was taken through all of the individual councils at the time for approval. The Forum agreed at its meeting in June this year that a single Statement of Common Ground would be prepared across the Dorset area, based on this earlier paper. The draft Statement of Common Ground was prepared by officers of the Dorset councils working together, and was discussed by the Strategic Planning Forum at its meeting in September 2018, where members agreed that the document would be brought to the individual councils for approval.
9 The Statement of Common Ground needs to be in place at the time of each local plan examination, and the first agreed Statement therefore needs to be in place in time for the submission of the Purbeck local plan review in February/March 2019. The draft Statement has already been published with the other supporting documents during the publication of the draft Purbeck local plan in October 2018.
10 The draft Statement will need to be reviewed regularly. In particular, it will be reviewed when any significant changes to local housing requirements are made, as this will affect the extent to which cooperation will be necessary to meet housing needs across the area. It will also need to be reviewed soon after its first publication in order to reflect the new council areas.
Implications
Corporate Plan
The Statement is required as part of the process of local plan preparation, which relates to the corporate plan priorities of helping to stimulate economic growth, increasing the number of new homes built, and safeguarding the natural and built environment.
Financial
There are no financial implications arising from the approval of the Statement. Page 6 Equalities
There are not considered to be any equalities implications from the approval of the Statement. Equality impact assessments will be undertaken on the local plans.
Environmental
Cooperation between the local planning authorities will include work on environmental matters such as the protection of the internationally important heathlands in Dorset. Environmental designations will be taken into account in considering the appropriate distribution of development.
Economic Development
Cooperation between the local planning authorities will include work on the identification of the appropriate locations for new housing and employment development to support economic growth.
Risk Management (including Health & Safety)
There is the risk of the Statement not being considered adequate on local plan examinations. In particular, there is a risk that councils may not be able to reach agreement, particularly if the housing needs of one area cannot be met there and need to be met in other council areas. Future versions of the Statement would need to record this position, and it would increase the risk of local plans not being found sound on examination.
Human Resources
The Statement has been prepared by officers of all the Dorset councils working together. It will continue to be reviewed by the officer group (the Strategic Planning Policy Managers’ Forum) and brought to committees for approval.
Consultation and Engagement
The Statement has been through the Strategic Planning Forum for consideration prior to being brought to committees. There is no requirement for public consultation, though the involvement of a wider number of adjoining councils is likely to be required in future and this liaison will take place.
Appendices
Appendix 1 – Draft Statement of Common Ground
Background Papers
National Planning Policy Framework 2018
National Planning Practice Guidance 2018 (online)
Footnote Page 7 Issues relating to financial, environmental, economic and equalities implications have been considered and any information relevant to the decision is included within the report.
Report Author: Hilary Jordan Telephone: 01305 252303 Email: [email protected] Date: 30 October 2018
Page 8 Statement of Common Ground between local planning authorities in Dorset (DRAFT 3 October 2018)
Contents
Executive Summary ...... 2 Introduction...... 3 Plan-making authorities and governance arrangements……………………..3
Geographical areas covered……………………………………………………….4
Key strategic matters covered…………………………………………………….4
Current and emerging local plans in Dorset...... 5 Providing the homes and jobs needed in Dorset...... 7 Provision of retail, leisure and other commercial development...... 17 Provision of infrastructure ...... 18 Provision of health, security, community and cultural infrastructure ...... 22 Addressing climate change and conservation and enhancement of the natural and historic environment...... 25 Summary and priorities for joint working……………………………………..28
Page 9 Statement of Common Ground between local planning authorities in Dorset- DRAFT September 2018
Executive Summary
The revised National Planning Policy Framework published in July 2018 introduces the requirement for a Statement of Common Ground to be prepared jointly by local planning authorities.1 This is intended as an enhancement of the duty to cooperate that is already a legal requirement of the plan making process.
The Dorset Strategic Planning Forum was established to consider strategic planning issues that affect cross boundary matters, and to guide strategic planning at the ‘larger than local’ scale through effective policy development across boundaries, in order to help ensure that each of the Dorset local planning authorities could meet the duty to cooperate. The local planning authorities are currently at various stages in reviewing their local plans, and the Statement of Common Ground will be required evidence at each local plan examination.
This Statement of Common Ground has been prepared jointly by the local authorities within Dorset, all of which are represented on the Strategic Planning Forum, and will be extended to include the surrounding authorities. It describes the geographical area covered by the statement; the plan-making authorities responsible; and the proposed governance arrangements for joint working. The main body of the Statement provides a summary of the key strategic planning matters in Dorset on which cooperation is intended. This has taken account of the guidance in national planning policy on strategic issues where cooperation might be appropriate. These include the need for homes and jobs; provision of shops and leisure facilities; ensuring that supporting infrastructure is in place; promoting healthy communities; and protecting and enhancing the natural environment.
The revised National Planning Policy Framework introduces a new standard methodology for the assessment of housing requirements at district level. It states that strategic plans should be based upon a local housing need assessment conducted using this standard methodology, unless there are exceptional circumstances that justify an alternative approach. It also states that in establishing this figure, any needs that cannot be met within neighbouring areas should also be taken into account.2
The standard methodology is due to be reviewed again and so the housing figures to be planned for are not fully confirmed. It is likely however that there will be an increase in the requirements for the area, compared with the combined current adopted local plan targets. As a result, there is a key requirement for the local planning authorities to work together to set out a strategic approach to the provision of additional homes in Dorset. This will need to be informed by an appraisal of all reasonable options for the distribution of growth. Joint working is already taking place on the provision of accommodation for gypsies and travellers.
In addition to the provision of new homes, the local planning authorities will need to work together to address any cross-boundary issues relating to employment land. A range of related matters also need to be considered as an integral part of planning for new homes and jobs. These include highlighting the importance of providing services and facilities to support growth, supporting healthy communities through effective planning, and the need to continue with effective joint working to protect Dorset’s outstanding natural environment, including internationally protected sites.
1 Paragraph 27, National Planning Policy Framework 2018 2 Paragraph 60, National Planning Policy Framework 2018
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Introduction
1. The requirement for the preparation of a Statement of Common Ground to demonstrate effective and ongoing joint working on strategic matters that cross administrative boundaries was introduced in the revised National Planning Policy Framework published in July 2018.3 This is intended as an enhancement of the ‘duty to cooperate’ introduced in the Localism Act 2011 as a legal requirement of the plan making process4. The duty requires councils and public bodies to ‘engage constructively, actively and on an ongoing basis’ to develop strategic policies on cross boundary matters.
2. The Statement of Common Ground is intended as a written record of progress made on planning for strategic matters across local authority boundaries. It is intended to record where effective cooperation is or is not taking place, demonstrate that plans are deliverable, and provide evidence that the duty to cooperate has been fulfilled.
Plan making authorities and governance arrangements
3. This Statement has been jointly prepared by the nine local authorities within Dorset, including the Bournemouth and Poole unitary authorities: Bournemouth Borough Council; Christchurch Borough Council; Dorset County Council; East Dorset District Council; North Dorset District Council; Borough of Poole; Purbeck District Council; West Dorset District Council and Weymouth & Portland Borough Council. After 1 April 2019, these local authorities will be replaced by two new unitary authorities: Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council; and Dorset Council. The Statement has also been prepared in discussion with the adjoining local authorities of New Forest District Council; Wiltshire Council; South Somerset District Council; and East Devon District Council.
4. There is a strong history of effective joint working between the planning authorities in Dorset, and continued cooperation will be essential to support sustainable economic growth in the area. Cooperation on planning matters can also contribute to wider partnership working, helping to deliver mutually beneficial objectives for a range of stakeholders
5. The Dorset Strategic Planning Forum was established in 2015 to ensure that cooperation on strategic issues continues on an open and constructive basis across Dorset even where individual authorities may have different points of view. This approach will ensure that constructive cooperation on strategic matters is achieved in accordance with the statutory requirements.
6. Terms of Reference for the Strategic Planning Forum state that the main purpose of the Forum is to fulfil obligations under the legal duty to cooperate. The Terms of Reference go on to state that the Forum will guide strategic planning at the ‘larger than local’ scale through effective policy development across boundaries, and will work with the Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) and the Local Nature Partnership
3 Paragraph 27, National Planning Policy Framework 2018 4 The duty to cooperate is set out in Section 110 of the Localism Act 2011, available at: http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2011/20/section/110/enacted
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(LNP) in the development of strategy to inform and align spatial and investment priorities.
7. The Statement of Common Ground will be maintained and kept up to date through joint working between the plan-making authorities in the area. This will be overseen by the Strategic Planning Forum and the drafts of any revisions to the Statement will be considered by that joint body before being taken to the individual local authorities for approval.
Geographical Area covered by this Statement
8. This statement covers the whole of the Dorset Local Enterprise Partnership area: the whole area of Dorset, Bournemouth and Poole. The area is shown on the plan below, which also indicates the current and future local authority boundaries and the housing market areas. It is important to note that the housing market areas do not coincide with the new unitary council boundaries and may be reviewed in future. This geography may be extended in future to include the adjoining authorities of New Forest, Wiltshire, South Somerset and East Devon.
Key Strategic Matters Addressed by this Statement
9. The revised National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) sets out that the strategic policies required for the area of each local planning authority should set out an overall strategy for the pattern, scale and quality of development, and make sufficient provision for:
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housing (including affordable housing), employment, retail, leisure and other commercial development;
infrastructure for transport, telecommunications, security, waste management, water supply, wastewater, flood risk and coastal change management, and the provision of minerals and energy (including heat);
community facilities (such as health, education and cultural infrastructure); and
conservation and enhancement of the natural, built and historic environment, including landscape and green infrastructure, and planning measures to address climate change mitigation and adaptation.5
10. These strategic policy areas are those for which joint working across local authority boundaries are most likely to be necessary. This Statement considers each of these broad themes in turn, and identifies broad cross boundary issues and opportunities affecting Dorset planning authorities in relation to each theme. The Statement concludes with a summary of the intended scope for joint working, highlighting the importance of cross-boundary working in supporting economic growth and directing development to the most sustainable locations. Joint working on strategic planning matters will have an important role in helping to deliver the LEP’s Strategic Economic Plan, and any future revisions of this. It will also be influenced by sub-regional issues, such as plans for growth in Portsmouth and Southampton, and the proposed establishment of sub-national transport bodies to formulate and potentially deliver transport strategies for wider areas. Sub-regional issues are not considered in detail in this paper, but will form part of the wider context for strategic joint working in Dorset.
Current and emerging local plans in Dorset
11. The Dorset local planning authorities are currently at various stages in reviewing their local plans, as summarised in table 1. Work on the local plan reviews will both inform, and be informed by, joint working and cooperation across the whole Dorset area.
Local Plan Plan period Current status Progress with review Eastern Dorset Housing Market Area Bournemouth Local Plan 2006 - 2026 Adopted October 2012 Issues consultation took Core Strategy 2012 place winter 2017; Issues and Preferred Options consultation due to take place late 2018. Review to run to 2033 Christchurch and East 2013 - 2028 Adopted April 2014 Separate local plan Dorset Core Strategy reviews now taking place for Christchurch and East Dorset. Options consultation on both plans July- September 2018, and pre-submission
5 Paragraph 20, National Planning Policy Framework 2018
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consultation March 2019. Reviews to run to 2033. North Dorset Local Plan – 2011 - 2026 Adopted January 2016 Issues & Options 2011 to 2026 Part 1 consultation took place winter 2017-18; Preferred Options consultation likely early 2019. Review to run to 2033 but may be extended to 2036. Poole Core Strategy 2006 - 2026 Adopted February 2009 Plan is due to be Site Specific Allocations (Core Strategy) adopted in November and Development Site Specific Allocations and 2018. Runs to 2033. Management DPD & Development Management Poole Infrastructure Plan DPD & Poole Infrastructure DPD Plan DPD adopted 2012 Purbeck Local Plan Part 1 2006 - 2027 Adopted November 2012 Options consultations completed. Pre- submission publication autumn 2018, submit by March 2019 and adopt by end of 2019. Runs to 2034. Western Dorset Housing Market Area West Dorset, Weymouth 2011 - 2031 Adopted October 2015 Issues and Options and Portland Local Plan consultation early 2017; Preferred Options consultation place August-October 2018 and pre-submission consultation 2019. Review to run to 2036. Pan-Dorset Bournemouth, Dorset and 2014 - 2028 Adopted May 2014 No review currently Poole Minerals Strategy scheduled in Local Development Scheme. Bournemouth, Dorset and Likely to be In preparation Plan submitted March Poole Mineral Sites Plan 2018 - 2033 2018. Examination 2018 (hearings September – October 2018) Bournemouth, Dorset and Up to 2016: Adopted June 2006 Plan submitted in March Poole Waste Plan policies 2018. Examination saved in 2018 2009 Joint Gypsy and Traveller Site Allocations In preparation: timetable currently under review. Development Plan Document Table 1: Status of current and emerging local plans in Dorset (September 2018)
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Providing the homes and jobs needed in Dorset
Housing need within Dorset
12. Significant changes have been made in the revised NPPF to the method for assessing housing need.
13. The previous NPPF required local planning authorities to meet ‘the full, objectively assessed needs for market and affordable housing in the housing market area’, as far as was consistent with other policies set out in the NPPF6. It went on to state that ‘joint working should enable local planning authorities to work together to meet development requirements which cannot wholly be met within their own areas’7. Two housing market areas (HMAs) were identified in Dorset, as shown on map 1. The Eastern Dorset HMA includes Bournemouth, Christchurch, East Dorset, North Dorset, Poole and Purbeck, whilst the Western Dorset HMA includes West Dorset and Weymouth and Portland.
Map 1: Dorset housing market areas
14. The objectively assessed housing needs for the Dorset authorities, assessed under the previous national policy requirements, were identified in the Eastern Dorset
6 Paragraph 47 of the National Planning Policy Framework 2012 7 Paragraph 179 of the National Planning Policy Framework 2012
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Strategic Housing Market Assessment (SHMA) (December 2015, and since reviewed), and the Weymouth and Portland and West Dorset Strategic Housing Market Report (July 2014, with the conclusions reviewed in 2017 during the early stages of preparing the revised local plan).
15. The revised NPPF however introduces a new standard methodology for ‘local housing need assessments’ for each local planning authority area. This standard method should now be used unless there are exceptional circumstances that justify an alternative approach which also reflects current and future demographic trends and market signals. In establishing this figure, any needs that cannot be met within neighbouring areas should also be taken into account.8
16. Table 2 sets out the current adopted local plan housing targets, the local housing needs assessment figures published with the consultation on the new methodology (in September 2017). The Government has already indicated that, following the release of the latest household forecasts (September 2018), the methodology is likely to be reviewed as a result of the reduction in these latest figures for many local authorities across the UK. Accordingly, the local housing needs assessment figures will be calculated and the table below revised once the Government’s intentions are known and any changes made to the methodology confirmed.
Local planning Current local plan Local Housing Needs Assessment authority housing target based on published figures from new methodology (September 2017) Bournemouth 730 homes per 1,022 homes per annum annum (2006 to 2026) Christchurch 352 homes per annum East Dorset Joint target for 566 442 homes per annum Christchurch and homes per annum in (or 792 homes per annum joint target) East Dorset Christchurch and (joint) East Dorset (2013 to 2028) North Dorset 285 homes per 366 homes per annum annum (2011 to 2031) Poole 500 homes per 782 homes per annum annum (2006 to 2026) or 710 per annum, 2013 to 2033, from about-to- be-adopted local plan) Purbeck 120 homes per 168 homes per annum annum (2006 to 2027) Total for 2,201 homes per 3,130 homes per annum Eastern Dorset annum (plan
8 Paragraph 60, National Planning Policy Framework 2018
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HMA periods not aligned) West Dorset 775 homes per 780 homes per annum in West Dorset and Weymouth and annum in West Weymouth and Portland (joint OAN) (2011 Portland Dorset and to 2031) Weymouth and Portland (2011 to 2031) Total for 775 homes per 780 homes per annum Western Dorset annum (2011 to HMA 2031) Total for Dorset 2,976 homes per 3,910 homes per annum annum (plan periods not aligned) Table 2: Comparison of current adopted local plan housing targets and published figures resulting from the new standard methodology (2017)
17. This demonstrates that the housing needs for the whole Dorset area have risen significantly from those in the adopted local plans, in particular in the Eastern Dorset HMA, where the new methodology demonstrates a need to provide between 323 and 1,723 additional homes per year in the Eastern Dorset HMA, over and above the current local plan housing targets. The most significant increase, in the 2017 figures, is in the figure for Bournemouth, where the demographic forecasts are particularly affected by the rate of international migration. The household forecasts published in September 2018 show a reduction from the 2017 figures, but the Government has indicated that the methodology will be adjusted9 in order to ensure that the figures are sufficient to meet the national target. The figures arising will be the basis for joint working between the local authorities on the distribution of housing within the area.
18. Recent housing delivery rates across Dorset as a whole have fallen significantly short of the local plan figures. Table 3 shows the housing completions for each local planning authority in 2016/17 and 2017/18. This highlights the need for a step change in housing delivery rates if the housing needs resulting from the new standard methodology are to be met.
Local planning authority Housing completions (net) 2016/17 2017/18
Bournemouth 581 635 Christchurch & East Dorset 430 407 North Dorset 142 152 Poole 570 307 Purbeck 89 124 Total for Eastern Dorset HMA 1,812 1,625
West Dorset and Weymouth & 772 613 Portland
9 Covering notes at https://www.gov.uk/guidance/housing-and-economic-development-needs-assessments
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Total for Western Dorset HMA 772 613
Total housing completions for 2,584 2,238 Dorset Total requirement under new standard methodology 2017 3,910
Table 3: Recent housing completions in Dorset
19. The local housing needs assessments resulting from the new standard methodology do not take account of constraints, such as Green Belt, Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, and internationally protected heathlands, which may restrict the ability of the Eastern Dorset authorities in particular to plan for their housing requirements within their areas. Previous Government guidance was clear that assessing need through the SHMA was just the first stage in developing the appropriate housing requirements in a local plan, and that SHMA figures should not be seen as a proxy for the final requirement in the plan.10
20. The introduction of the new standard methodology places greater emphasis on the importance of cooperation and meeting needs within adjoining local authority areas where they cannot be met in the area in which they arise. The revised presumption in favour of sustainable development in the 2018 NPPF states that strategic plans should, as a minimum, provide for objectively assessed needs for housing and other development as well as any needs that cannot be met within neighbouring areas (as established through statements of common ground).11
Proposed approach to meeting housing needs
21. There is a key requirement for the Dorset local planning authorities to work together to set out a strategic approach to the provision of additional homes in Dorset, seeking to meet the assessed local housing needs, and this is the greatest priority for joint working. The increased housing targets resulting from the new standard methodology, together with the sensitive and nationally and internationally recognised environmental assets in the area, make this particularly challenging.
22. The starting point for this work is the aim that each local planning authority will seek to meet its housing requirements within its own boundaries. At present, the extent to which each authority can meet its own needs is not fully understood, as the work on assessing potential development options in each area is at different stages, and in particular, the housing requirements are not yet confirmed. The latest household forecasts, published in September 2018, were lower than previously forecast, resulting in lower housing need across most local authorities under the new methodology, compared with those published in 2017. The Government has stated in the updated NPPG on ‘housing and economic development needs assessments’ that the new methodology is likely to be reviewed very shortly, in order to avoid the requirements falling short of the national 300,000 target by the mid-2020s. This Statement will
10 This was clarified in a letter from Brandon Lewis to the Chief Executive at the Planning Inspectorate about strategic housing market assessments (19 December 2014) which can be accessed online at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/strategic-housing-market-assessments 11 Paragraph 11(b), National Planning Policy Framework 2018
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therefore need to be updated as soon as possible after any change in the methodology is finalised. That update will set out an indicative assessment of each area’s likely ability to meet its own needs. In the meantime, the table below sets out the interim position at September 2018. This indicates that there is a strong possibility that Bournemouth and Christchurch will be unable to meet their needs as a result of their limited geographical areas and significant environmental constraints. There is also a risk of unmet need arising from the adjoining New Forest District (see paragraphs 29-32 below). These risks will increase if the housing requirements are raised.
23. Should it prove to be the case that some authorities in the area are unable to meet their identified needs, the local planning authorities are committed to working together to assess the potential for some or all of this need to be met within other authorities’ areas. This work will need to be informed by an appraisal of all reasonable options for the distribution of growth across Dorset, taking account of issues such as land availability, infrastructure capacity, and development constraints.
Local plan review Current/last stage Proposed figure in local Likelihood of OAN being met in plan review local plan review
Bournemouth Reg 18 Issues and Not yet determined Risk of not being met Preferred Options to go to Cabinet for approval
Christchurch Reg 18 Options 5,270 (2013-2033): 263 Not being fully met (up to 2033) consultation July- per annum September 2018
East Dorset Reg 18 Options 8,854 (442.7 per annum) Being met up to 2033 consultation July- September 2018
North Dorset Reg 18 Issues and Not yet determined (but Not yet known Options consultation aiming to meet in full)
Poole Post-examination 14,200 (2013-2033): 710 SHMA figures being met (to 2033) per annum but new methodology figures to be considered in next review
Purbeck Preparing for pre- 2,688 (168 per annum) Intending to meet requirements submission up to 2034
West Dorset and Reg 18 Preferred Supply 19,116 (2016- Likely to be fully met or exceeded Weymouth & Options consultation 2036): 955.8 per annum, (to 2036) Portland against target of 15,880 or 794 per annum
Table 4: Latest housing numbers in local plans
Strategic Green Belt Review
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24. The South East Dorset Green Belt extends over some 168 square kilometres of open land in and around Upton, Wimborne, Ferndown, Poole, Bournemouth and Christchurch and stretching south-west as far as Wareham. As highlighted above, land allocated as Green Belt can be a constraint which may prevent local planning authorities from meeting their full objectively assessed housing needs. National policy refers to ‘policies in this Framework that protect areas or assets of particular importance’ and defines these as including ‘land designated as Green Belt’. Where such policies provide a clear reason for refusing development, this is justified under the presumption in favour of sustainable development even if development plan policies are out of date.12
25. National policy states that once established, Green Belt boundaries should only be altered where exceptional circumstances are fully evidenced and justified, through the preparation or updating of plans. Strategic policies should establish the need for any changes to Green Belt boundaries, having regard to their intended permanence in the long term, so they can endure beyond the plan period.13
26. Before concluding that exceptional circumstances exist to justify changes to Green Belt boundaries, the strategic policy-making authority should be able to demonstrate that it has examined fully all other reasonable options for meeting its identified need for development, including making best use of brownfield sites, optimising the density of development, and discussing with neighbouring authorities whether they could accommodate some of the identified need, as demonstrated through the statement of common ground.14 Before any amendment to Green Belt boundaries in South East Dorset, therefore, it will need to be demonstrated that this latter solution has been properly considered through joint working.
27. When considering whether or not to allocate land for development within the South East Dorset Green Belt, it is important to recognise the potential sustainability benefits of providing new homes in close proximity to the conurbation, within easy reach of jobs and services. Not developing in the Green Belt would displace development pressure to elsewhere in Dorset. This is not to say that all areas outside the Green Belt are inherently unsustainable, but there are some more remote parts of the county where development could result in less sustainable commuting patterns and an increase in congestion. There is also the risk of market demand in these areas being lower, so that development might be less likely to be implemented.
28. It will therefore be important for joint working on strategic planning issues across Dorset to be informed by an appraisal of all realistic options for development, including the option of releasing land from the Green Belt. Green belt boundaries have been reviewed in the emerging local plan reviews, on an individual local authority basis, but a Strategic Green Belt Review will be required to help inform this options appraisal. The Strategic Green Belt Review will need to consider whether or not the current extent of the Green Belt remains fit for purpose, and whether changes may be appropriate to help accommodate the county’s development needs. Any Green Belt reviews across South East Dorset will need to be assessed against the following five purposes of Green Belt as set out in paragraph 134 of the NPPF 2018:
12 Paragraph 11 (d) National Planning Policy Framework 2018 13 Paragraph 136, National Planning Policy Framework 2018 14 Paragraph 137, National Planning Policy Framework 2018
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To check the unrestricted sprawl of large built-up areas;
To prevent neighbouring towns merging into each other;
To assist in safeguarding the countryside from encroachment;
To preserve the setting and special character of historic towns; and
To assist in urban regeneration, by encouraging the recycling of derelict and other urban land.
Unmet housing need from areas adjoining Dorset
29. The Eastern Dorset SHMA considers housing provision in local authority areas which adjoin the Eastern Dorset HMA and concludes that the principal issue of potential unmet housing need is likely to arise from New Forest District15. This relates partly to Eastern Dorset and partly to South Hampshire.
30. New Forest District Council has an adopted Core Strategy (adopted in 2009)16 which covers the area outside the National Park, whilst the National Park Authority has an adopted Core Strategy and Development Management Policies DPD (adopted in 2010)17. Both authorities are preparing local plan reviews. The District Council’s Local Plan Review was published for pre-submission public consultation on 29 June 2018. It proposes 10,500 additional homes between 2016-2036, based on a 2017 Objectively Assessed Need assessment for the New Forest area, which identified needs of 521 per annum (10,420) for the New Forest District outside the national park, and 63 per annum (1,260) within the National Park. The National Park Authority’s Local Plan Review was submitted in May 2018 and examination hearings will take place in November 2018. The submission Local Plan proposes an additional 800 dwellings, rather than the objectively assessed need of 1,260 identified in the SHMA, which cannot be met without conflict with statutory National Park purposes. There is therefore an unmet need in the National Park. The new standard methodology also results in significantly higher figures (965 per annum for New Forest District including that part within the National Park).
31. The Eastern Dorset HMA also adjoins Wiltshire and South Somerset, whilst the Western Dorset HMA adjoins South Somerset and East Devon. Officers have not identified any current issues of unmet need arising from East Devon, South Somerset, or Wiltshire, but discussions with these adjoining authorities will continue through the local plan preparation process and this situation could change.
32. The Dorset local planning authorities will need to consider any issues of unmet need arising from neighbouring local authority areas. At this stage, it is likely that the principal issue of potential unmet housing need will arise from New Forest District.
Housing mix
15 See paragraphs 10.53-10.58 of the Eastern Dorset SHMA (2015) 16 The Local Plan Part 1: Core Strategy for New Forest District (outside the National Park) (2009) can be accessed online at: http://www.newforest.gov.uk/index.cfm?articleid=14183 17 The New Forest National Park Core Strategy and Development Management Policies DPD (2010) can be accessed online at: http://www.newforestnpa.gov.uk/info/20040/planning_policy/23/core_strategy
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33. The NPPF requires local planning authorities to address the need for all types of housing, including affordable housing and the needs of different groups in the community18. The Eastern Dorset SHMA identifies a recommended housing mix across the HMA for the period 2013-2033, as set out in table 4. This shows a higher need for one and two bedroom properties for affordable homes, and a higher need for two and three bed properties on the open market. However, this will vary by location. The SHMA also includes recommendations for the appropriate housing mix in each local authority area, and goes on to state that local authorities should consider detailed evidence for their areas when setting policies for the future mix of housing.
1-bed 2-bed 3-bed 4+ bed Market 10% 45% 35% 10% Affordable 35-40% 30-35% 20-25% 5-10% All dwellings 20% 40% 30% 10% Table 4: Recommended Housing Mix for Eastern Dorset HMA, from 2015 SHMA
1-bed 2-bed 3-bed 4+ bed Market 0-5% 30-35% 40-45% 20-25% Affordable 20-25% 45-50% 20-25% 5-10% All dwellings 30-35% 35-40% 20-25% 5-10% Recommended Housing Mix for Eastern Dorset HMA, from emerging SHMA update 2018
34. The Western Dorset SHMA19 indicates a greater need for two and three bedroom homes on the open market, but again this will vary according to location, and will change over the plan period.
35. The mix of homes needed across the Eastern Dorset HMA is likely to have implications for the most appropriate strategy for housing. As an example, family housing is unlikely to be provided in the more central areas of the conurbation, where flats are more viable, and hence a need for family housing may lead to pressure for development on the edges of the conurbation. This relationship between housing mix and the appropriate location of development will need to be considered as part of the appraisal of options for future growth in Dorset.
36. Local authorities will also need to consider the need for different types of affordable housing (intermediate housing and social or affordable rented homes), specialist housing and accommodation for older persons (sheltered housing and extra care provision), registered care provision (for households who live in care homes), student housing provision, and wheelchair accessible homes. The Eastern Dorset SHMA considers each of these matters and includes recommendations for the individual local authorities to consider through their local plans.
37. The Government has widened the definition of ‘affordable housing’ which now includes; affordable housing for rent; starter homes; discounted market sales housing; and other affordable routes to home ownership (the latter including shared ownership and ‘rent to buy’).20 The revised NPPF states that where major housing development
18 See paragraphs 59-62 of the National Planning Policy Framework 2018 19 The Weymouth and Portland and West Dorset Strategic Housing Market Report (2014) can be accessed online at: https://www.dorsetforyou.com/article/410419/Local-Plan-Examination-Document-Library-Other- Evidence---Sustainable-Pattern-of-Development 20 Annex 2: Glossary, National Planning Policy Framework 2018
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is proposed, planning policies and decisions should expect at least 10% of the homes to be available for affordable home ownership, as part of the overall affordable housing contribution from the site.21
38. The issue of housing mix will be considered in more detail by individual local authorities through their local plans, though there may be a need to consider the broad mix of housing types needed across the whole area, and issues around consistency of approach, as part of any joint working.
Gypsy and Traveller provision
39. The Dorset local authorities are all working together to prepare a Dorset-wide Gypsy and Traveller (including Travelling Showpeople) Joint Development Plan Document (DPD). An updated needs assessment was completed in 2017, taking into account changed definitions in Government guidance, and the pre-submission DPD is currently in preparation. It is anticipated that this issue will be dealt with through the joint DPD.
Dorset’s economy and employment land requirements
40. The NPPF sets out that planning policies and decisions should help create the conditions in which businesses can invest, expand and adapt, and that significant weight should be placed on the need to support economic growth and productivity, taking into account both local business needs and wider opportunities for development.22 Planning policies should set out a clear economic vision and strategy which positively and proactively encourages sustainable economic growth, having regard to Local Industrial Strategies and other local policies for economic development and regeneration.
41. Dorset is covered by a single Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP). A ‘Review of Economic Evidence’ undertaken for the Dorset Leaders Growth Board in February 201523 notes that ‘the issue of Dorset as a functional economic market area was fully addressed when the establishment of the Dorset [LEP] was proposed and approved by government’. It goes on to state that ‘whilst, like all LEP areas, there is diversity within Dorset, it does function as a specific business location with its own identity and as an economic area, whilst also having links to the wider locality and their economies’.
42. The Dorset LEP area consists of a range of distinct geographical areas which all play a key part in Dorset’s economy24:
The Conurbation (Bournemouth, Poole, Christchurch and parts of East Dorset and Purbeck) contains the majority of Dorset’s population and employment. It benefits from an airport, a major port, two universities and a strong business services and visitor economy.
21 Paragraph 64, National Planning Policy Framework 2018 22 Paragraph 80, National Planning Policy Framework 2018 23 The Dorset Leaders’ Growth Board ‘Review of Economic Evidence’ (February 2015) can be viewed online at: https://www.dorsetforyou.com/media/201819/Dorset-Review-of-Economic- Evidence/pdf/Dorset_Review_of_Economic_Evidence.pdf 24 See ‘Review of Economic Evidence’ at link above.
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The Central Area is based on the twin towns of Dorchester and Weymouth and their immediate hinterland, around which major employment sites, two ports and county wide services are based.
Rural Dorset is characterised by coastal and market towns, including Blandford Forum, Shaftesbury, Gillingham, Wareham, Swanage, Portland, Bridport, Sherborne and Lyme Regis, as well as the wider countryside. This area accommodates a diverse range of businesses in manufacturing, technology, tourism, retail, accommodation and food services.
The ‘Jurassic Coast’ between Swanage and Lyme Regis (and beyond into Devon) has World Heritage Status and serves as a major attractor of visitors to the area. This rural and semi-rural area is typified by a diverse range of small and micro businesses delivering retail and accommodation and food services.
43. The Dorset LEP has prepared a Strategic Economic Plan (SEP), Transforming Dorset, which outlines ambitions and aspirations for transformative change to the Dorset economy25. This was launched in 2014 and refreshed in 2016. The SEP identifies four thematic priorities (Connected Dorset, Talented Dorset, Responsive Dorset, and Competitive Dorset) and emphasises that partners in Dorset are committed to ensuring that the LEP area can deliver the local growth potential suggested by economic forecasts.
44. Local planning authorities have a key role in helping to deliver the priorities of the LEP through the identification of employment land (for use classes B1: Business, B2: General industrial and B8: Storage or distribution) in their local plans.
45. The Bournemouth, Dorset and Poole Workspace Strategy was prepared in 2016, updating the previous 2008 and 2012 reports.26 This provides projections of the amount of B1, B2 and B8 employment land required in the period up to 2033, for the Dorset LEP area and the Eastern and Western Dorset HMAs (as functional urban areas). It also provides recommendations regarding the provision and distribution of land and premises across the Dorset LEP area and Eastern and Western Dorset HMAs. The Workspace Strategy forms part of the evidence base for the emerging local plans.
Provision of retail, leisure and other commercial development
Town centres
46. National planning policy states that local planning authorities should allocate a range of suitable sites to meet the scale and type of retail, leisure, commercial, office, tourism, cultural, community and residential development needed in town centres27.
25 The Dorset Strategic Economic Plan, Transforming Dorset (March 2014), is available online at: http://dorsetlep.co.uk/local-delivery/strategic-economic-plan/ 26 The 2016 Workspace Strategy is available online at https://www.dorsetforyou.gov.uk/planning-buildings- land/planning-policy/joint-planning-policy-work/bournemouth-dorset-and-poole-workspace-strategy-and- study.aspx 27 Paragraph 85(d) of the National Planning Policy Framework 2018
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47. Table 5 sets out the town centres, district centres and local centres across Dorset, as identified in current and emerging local plans.
Local planning authority Town, district and local centres Bournemouth Town centre: Bournemouth District centres: Castlepoint; Boscombe; Westbourne; Winton; Boscombe East; Charminster; Holdenhurst Road; Kinson; Moordown; Southbourne Grove; Tuckton; Wallisdown Christchurch and East Dorset Town centres: Christchurch; Ferndown; Verwood; Wimborne Minster District centres: West Moors; Highcliffe Local centres: Purewell; Barrack Road; Corfe Mullen; West Parley North Dorset Town centres: Blandford Forum; Gillingham; Shaftesbury; Sturminster Newton District centre: Stalbridge Poole Town centre: Poole District centres: Broadstone; Ashley Cross; Ashley Road (there are also a number of smaller local centres in Poole) Purbeck Town centres: Swanage; Wareham; Upton Key service villages: Bere Regis; Bovington; Corfe Castle; Lytchett Matravers; Sandford; Wool West Dorset and Weymouth Town centres: Weymouth; Dorchester; Bridport; and Portland Sherborne; Lyme Regis Local centres: Easton (Portland); Fortuneswell (Portland); Beaminster Table 5: Town, district and local centres in Dorset
48. There are many instances across the county where town centres in neighbouring local planning authorities have an influence on one another (e.g. the town centres in North Dorset are each influenced by larger centres in neighbouring authorities, such as Poole, Salisbury and Yeovil), and this is reflected in recent retail needs assessments.
49. It is also important to recognise that retail need is likely to be driven by the location of future housing. The identification of the most sustainable broad locations for additional housing could therefore have implications for the retail hierarchies identified in the current and emerging local plans. Any cross-boundary issues identified through the retail need assessment updates will need to be considered jointly.
Tourism
50. Tourism makes an important contribution to Dorset’s economy. Around 8% of all Dorset employees work in tourism, with the highest proportions seen in Weymouth and Portland (14%) and Purbeck (13%)28. The current and emerging local plans include policies to support and guide tourism related development, such as tourist accommodation and new tourist attractions. The Dorset strategic planning work offers
28 Dorset in Profile 2014 (based on data from 2012), available online at: https://www.dorsetforyou.com/article/339782/District-profile-leaflets-and-documents
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an opportunity to highlight the importance of planning for sustainable tourism across the area.
Provision of infrastructure
Transport
51. National planning policy sets out that local planning authorities should seek to support a pattern of development which facilities the use of sustainable modes of transport. In addition, local authorities should work with neighbouring authorities and transport providers to develop strategies for the provision of viable transport infrastructure to support sustainable development29.
52. The Bournemouth, Poole and Dorset Local Transport Plan (LTP) 3 sets out the strategy for the management, maintenance and development of the area’s transport system. LTPs explain how funds, largely allocated by the Government, will be used to deliver improved transport and help meet the key objectives for transport established by both government and local authorities.
53. The LTP3 came into effect from April 2011, and covers the period 2011 to 2026. The plan identifies five goals to guide the approach to transport in Dorset:
Supporting economic growth
Tackling climate change
Equality of opportunity
Better safety, security and health
Improved quality of life.
54. Key solutions are identified for each of the five goals. The Strategic Economic Plan (SEP), and future reviews, also have important implications for transport priorities.
55. The need for strategic transport infrastructure to support the delivery of future development across the area, in particular the potential increase in the rate of housing development, is a critical issue that needs to be addressed jointly as part of an integrated strategy to deliver infrastructure improvements alongside new homes and jobs. Proposals are currently being put forward to the Local Enterprise Partnership for funding to prepare integrated transport studies for both South East Dorset and western Dorset.
Telecommunications
29 Paragraphs 103-104 of the National Planning Policy Framework 2018.
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56. National planning policy states that, in preparing local plans, local planning authorities should support the expansion of electronic communications networks, including next- generation mobile technology such as 5G and full fibre broadband connections30.
57. The Superfast Dorset project is currently progressing across the whole of Dorset, Bournemouth and Poole, and aims to provide as close as practicably possible to 100% superfast broadband connectivity at 30Mbps by 2020, as well as 50% connectivity to ultrafast services and businesses able to access faster services as required, and 50% take up of superfast services by residents and businesses. These aims are set out in the Digital Infrastructure Strategy for Dorset (September 2015). So far, access to superfast broadband has dramatically improved, with 620 structures across the county, 83,633 properties with access to superfast broadband and 96% of the county able to get superfast broadband.
58. No specific cross boundary issues have been identified in relation to telecommunications infrastructure, but there may be opportunities in any joint working to emphasise the importance of improving telecommunications across the area, through projects such as Superfast Dorset.
Waste Management
59. A new Waste Plan is currently being prepared to provide for Bournemouth, Dorset and Poole’s waste management needs. This is at an advanced stage with examination hearings taking place in 2018. The Waste Plan identifies sites for new waste management facilities to meet the county’s needs. Once adopted, it will provide the policy framework for determining planning applications for waste management facilities.
60. Any cross boundary issues relating to waste management will be dealt with through the emerging Waste Plan, which covers the whole of the area. It is important to recognise the importance of sustainable planning for waste to maximise its value as a resource and as a key supporting element for economic competitiveness.
Water supply and wastewater
61. The Dorset local planning authorities have contacted water suppliers and wastewater treatment providers during the preparation of each of the current and emerging local plans, in order to ensure that any issues arising can be addressed. Joint working on the options for development across the area will need to be informed by a similar exercise, to ensure that any proposed development strategy can be accommodated in terms of water supply and wastewater infrastructure.
62. At this stage, officers have not identified any specific cross boundary issues in relation to water supply and wastewater provision. However, it is important to ensure that appropriate infrastructure is provided alongside development.
Flood risk
30 Paragraph 112 of the National Planning Policy Framework 2018.
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63. The current and emerging local plans in Dorset are each supported by Strategic Flood Risk Assessments(SFRAs), as required by national planning policy31. As an example, a joint Strategic Flood Risk Assessment (Level 1 SFRA) was prepared in 2007 for Bournemouth, Christchurch, East Dorset, North Dorset and Salisbury. The study area for the SFRA was defined by the main river catchments of the Stour and the Avon, and the SFRA formed part of the evidence base for the participating local planning authorities. The 2007 SFRA has subsequently been replaced in 2017 by jointly-procured SFRAs for Bournemouth, Christchurch, East Dorset and North Dorset councils, providing updated evidence to underpin local plan production.
64. Another example of cross boundary work in relation to flood risk is the Dorset Stour Catchment Flood Management Plan (CFMP) (2009), which gives an overview of flood risk in the Dorset Stour catchment and sets out a preferred plan for sustainable flood risk management over the next 50 to 100 years. The Management Plan was produced by the Environment Agency and Christchurch and East Dorset Councils, and informed the preparation of the Christchurch and East Dorset Core Strategy.
65. It is worth noting that flood risk is a significant constraint to development within the urban areas of Christchurch, Poole and Weymouth. This has implications for the appropriate location of future development and will affect decisions about the distribution of growth across the area. There may also be opportunities for joint working on strategic scale flood attenuation and mitigation infrastructure. No other specific cross-boundary issues relating to flood risk have been identified.
Coastal change management
66. The Dorset coast is covered by two shoreline management plans32 which set out policies to assist decision making on flooding from the sea and coastal erosion risk management over the next 20, 50 and 100 years. The original shoreline management plans (SMP1) have been reviewed and updated to produce SMP2.
67. The Poole and Christchurch Bays SMP2 (October 2010) covers the length of coast between Hurst Spit near Milford-on-Sea and Durlston Head near Swanage, and includes the harbours of Poole and Christchurch. The Durlston Head to Rame Head SMP2 (June 2011) covers the length of coast from Durlston Head (near Swanage) to Rame Head (near Plymouth).
68. National planning policy states that local planning authorities should identify Coastal Change Management Areas to cover any area which is likely to be affected by physical changes to the coast. In addition, local authorities should be clear about what development will be appropriate in such areas and in what circumstances, and they should also make provision for development and infrastructure that needs to be relocated away from Coastal Change Management Areas33.
69. This matter is being addressed in the local plan reviews of each of the coastal local authorities in Dorset. The local planning authorities will however liaise with each other
31 Paragraph 156 of the National Planning Policy Framework 2018. 32 Information about the Shoreline Management Plans can be accessed online via: https://www.dorsetforyou.com/article/408559/Shoreline-Management-Plans---round-2-SMP2 33 Paragraph 167 of the National Planning Policy Framework 2018.
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to ensure that a consistent approach is taken along the full length of the Dorset coastline.
Provision of minerals
70. The Bournemouth, Dorset and Poole Minerals Strategy was adopted in May 2014 and sets out the strategy for quarrying stone, sand and gravel, ball clay and other minerals within the county, taking into account the need to meet requirements in a sustainable manner. The plan contains the policies and criteria used for considering planning applications for mineral developments. The Minerals Sites Plan, allocating suitable sites for quarrying of sand, gravel, building stones and ball clay to meet requirements, is currently going through its public examination.
71. Officers envisage that any cross boundary issues relating to the provision of minerals will be dealt with through the adopted and emerging minerals plans. Future joint work however offers the opportunity to ensure effective integration of minerals planning with growth and infrastructure needs in Dorset. There is also an opportunity to ensure the restoration of quarries has regard to economic, social and environmental opportunities that support sustainable economic growth.
Provision of energy (including heat)
72. National planning policy states that local planning authorities should have a positive strategy to promote energy from renewable and low carbon sources, and design policies to maximise renewable and low carbon energy development while ensuring that adverse impacts are addressed satisfactorily34.
73. The Bournemouth, Dorset and Poole Renewable Energy Strategy to 2020 is being implemented by the Dorset Energy Partnership35. The strategy sets out the agenda for renewable energy in Bournemouth, Dorset and Poole and identifies six priority areas:
Supporting the development of community renewable energy;
Maximising the local economic benefits of renewable energy generation;
Creating a more supporting planning system for renewable energy;
Developing locally appropriate technologies;
Delivering leadership and partnerships that support renewable energy; and
Improving renewable energy communications and learning.
74. The Renewable Energy Resource Assessment for Bournemouth, Dorset and Poole (March 2012) supports the Renewable Energy Strategy and summarises local renewable energy resources, based upon a national methodology36. The assessment
34 Paragraph 151 of the National Planning Policy Framework 2018. 35 The Bournemouth, Dorset and Poole Renewable Energy Strategy to 2020 is available online at: https://www.dorsetforyou.com/renewable-energy-strategy-2020 36 The Renewable Energy Resource Assessment for Bournemouth, Dorset & Poole can be accessed online at: https://www.dorsetforyou.com/renewable-energy-strategy-2020
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covers onshore wind, biomass, microgeneration, hydropower and offshore (wind, tidal and wave) resources.
75. In addition, the local planning authorities for Christchurch, East Dorset, North Dorset and Purbeck commissioned Land Use Consultants Ltd to undertake studies to assess landscape sensitivity to wind and solar energy development in each district. The studies were published in April 2014 and can be accessed on the relevant local planning authority pages of the Dorsetforyou website.
76. National planning policy states that planning applications for wind energy developments should not be considered acceptable unless it is in an area identified as suitable for wind energy in a development plan; and following consultation, it can be demonstrated that the planning impacts identified by the affected local community have been fully addressed and the proposal has their backing.37 This is reflected in current and emerging local plans across the area. There may be a role for joint working to help ensure a consistent approach to renewable energy provision, including exploring the potential for cross boundary district heating.
Provision of health, security, community and cultural infrastructure
Promoting healthy communities
77. Councils have a legal duty to take appropriate steps to improve the health and wellbeing of residents38 and in April 2015, Public Health Dorset launched the LiveWell Dorset lifestyle service, which provides a single point of contact to help people with their health and wellbeing across Dorset, Bournemouth and Poole39.
78. National planning policy highlights the role of planning in facilitating social interaction and creating healthy, inclusive communities40. This should include consideration of how best to promote:
Opportunities for meetings between members of the community who might not otherwise come into contact with each other;
Safe and accessible environments where crime and disorder, and the fear of crime, do not undermine quality of life or community cohesion; and
Safe and accessible developments, containing clear and legible pedestrian routes, and high quality public space, which encourage the active and continual use of public areas.
79. This also includes planning positively for the provision and use of shared space, community facilities and other local services; guarding against the loss of valued
37 Footnote 49, paragraph 154b of the National Planning Policy Framework 2018 38 See Section 12 of the Health and Social Care Act 2012, available online at: http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2012/7/contents/enacted 39 Further information on the LiveWell Dorset service can be accessed at: http://www.livewelldorset.co.uk/index.html 40 Paragraph 91 of the National Planning Policy Framework 2018.
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facilities and services; ensuring that established shops, facilities and services are able to develop and modernise in a way that is sustainable; and ensuring an integrated approach to considering the location of housing, economic uses and community facilities and services.
80. These matters are considered through the current and emerging local plans of each of the local planning authorities in Dorset. However, the Strategic Planning Forum is also working with Public Health Dorset and the Dorset Clinical Commissioning Group to improve the links between planning and health systems in Dorset, foster shared understanding and identify opportunities for future collaboration. The aim of this is to highlight the importance of promoting healthy communities through planning, thus contributing to the wider duty on Councils to take steps to improve health and wellbeing. A joint workshop between officers from the planning and health systems was held on 25 June 2018 and the health authorities are regularly invited to the Strategic Planning Forum meetings.
Green infrastructure
81. Green infrastructure can be defined as a network of multi-functional green space, urban and rural, which is capable of delivering a wide range of environmental and quality of life benefits for local communities41. National planning policy states that local planning authorities in their local plans should take a strategic approach to maintaining and enhancing networks of habitats and green infrastructure, and plan for the enhancement of natural capital at a catchment or landscape scale across local authority boundaries.42
82. The South East Dorset Green Infrastructure Strategy (Investing in Green Places, July 2011) was jointly prepared by the councils in South East Dorset (Bournemouth, Christchurch, Dorset, East Dorset, Poole and Purbeck) in partnership with Natural England, the Environment Agency and the Forestry Commission43. The Strategy provides a non-statutory framework for green infrastructure across South East Dorset. It sets out a vision for the area which seeks to co-ordinate the planning for, and investment in, parks, open spaces, wildlife corridors, street trees and other green spaces.
83. The Stour Valley forms an important sub-regional area of green infrastructure, and the South East Dorset Green Infrastructure Strategy identifies a key strategic project to develop a strategy for the Lower Stour Valley. The project aims to develop a strategy for the river Stour and its floodplain from Sturminster Marshall to Christchurch. Key aspects include provision of an accessible route for walking and cycling, encouraging access to existing ‘hubs’ (recreational facilities, greenspace, visitor centres, etc) and encouraging multifunctional uses via provision of footpaths, cycle routes, access to river, flood attenuation and biodiversity and landscape enhancements.
41 Page 67 (Glossary) of the National Planning Policy Framework 2018. 42 Paragraph 171 of the National Planning Policy Framework 2018. 43 The South East Dorset Green Infrastructure Strategy, Investing in Green Places, can be accessed online at: https://www.dorsetforyou.com/greeninfrastructure
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84. Suitable Alternative Natural Greenspaces (SANGs) have a key role in heathland mitigation in the eastern Dorset area, and this is discussed further below, in the section on the conservation and enhancement of the natural environment.
85. Green infrastructure networks are being identified within the current round of local plan reviews.
86. The councils will consider jointly whether any update is needed to the South East Dorset Green Infrastructure Strategy, and whether there could be merit in preparing a single joint Green Infrastructure Strategy to cover Dorset in future.
Housing Standards Review
87. The Housing Standards Review highlighted the issue of councils imposing a range of local technical requirements on the construction of new dwellings (e.g. requiring specific levels of the Code for Sustainable Homes or different wheelchair accessible housing standards). The recommendations of the review have been encompassed in the Deregulation Act which received royal assent in March 201544.
88. The Deregulation Act provides a set of national standards (space, water efficiency and accessibility) that can only be applied if they are included in an adopted local plan. The Act also ended the Code for Sustainable Homes (Part L of the Building Regulations is now the only energy efficiency delivery mechanism) and replaced ‘Secured by Design’ with Part Q (Security) of the Building Regulations. This means that existing local plan policies which seek to set standards for new development in relation to these matters are now likely to be out of date.
89. Each local planning authority will consider the implications of these changes within their local plan reviews, but the Strategic Planning Forum and joint officer working may offer an opportunity to consider the consistency of approaches to the new national standards across Dorset.
Addressing climate change and conservation and enhancement of the natural and historic environment
Climate change mitigation and adaptation
90. National planning policy highlights the role of planning in helping to shape places to secure radical reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, minimising vulnerability and providing resilience to the impacts of climate change, and supporting the delivery of renewable and low carbon energy and associated infrastructure45. Climate change mitigation and adaptation are broad ranging topics, encompassing issues of flood risk, coastal change management, water supply and demand, green infrastructure, and planning positively for renewable energy provision. These issues are each considered in more detail elsewhere in this paper, but joint working across Dorset offers an
44 The Deregulation Act 2015 can be accessed online at: http://services.parliament.uk/bills/2014- 15/deregulation.html 45 Paragraph 148 of the National Planning Policy Framework 2018.
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opportunity to re-emphasise the role of planning in supporting climate change mitigation and adaptation.
Conservation and enhancement of the natural environment
91. Dorset has a high quality natural environment. Around 55% of Dorset is covered by an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), whilst 19,000 hectares of the county (7% of the land area) are designated as Sites of Special Scientific Interest46. The county also includes a number of internationally protected sites (Special Areas of Conservation and Special Protection Areas) including the Dorset Heathlands and Poole Harbour.
92. The Dorset Local Nature Partnership (LNP) has adopted a vision and strategy for enhancing ‘natural value’ in Dorset47. The strategy identifies six strategic priorities which will guide the LNP’s actions:
Natural capital – investing in Dorset’s natural assets;
Natural value – adding value to the local economy;
Natural health – developing Dorset’s ‘natural health service’;
Natural resilience – improving environmental and community resilience;
Natural understanding – improving understanding of, and engagement in, Dorset’s environment;
Natural influence – integrating natural value in policy and decision-making, locally and beyond.
93. The Dorset AONB stretches from Lyme Regis in the west, along the coast to Poole Harbour in the east, and north to Hambledon Hill near Blandford Forum. It covers parts of North Dorset, Purbeck, West Dorset and Weymouth and Portland. The current Dorset AONB Management Plan (2014 to 2019)48 sets out the AONB Partnership’s vision for the landscape and describes how the area’s authorities, communities and businesses might work together to achieve that vision.
94. The Cranborne Chase AONB extends from Wimborne Minster in the south to Warminster in the north, and covers parts of North and East Dorset. The current Cranborne Chase AONB Management Plan (2014 to 2019)49 sets out objectives and policies to help conserve and enhance the AONB.
95. Joint working on strategic planning matters will be an opportunity to highlight the importance of the natural environment and nature conservation issues across the
46 Dorset in Profile (2014), available online at: https://www.dorsetforyou.com/article/339782/District-profile- leaflets-and-documents 47 Dorset Local Nature Partnership: A vision and strategy for enhancing ‘natural value’ in Dorset (March 2014) can be accessed online via: http://www.dorsetwildlifetrust.org.uk/dorset_local_nature_partnership.html 48 The Dorset AONB Management Plan can be accessed online at: http://www.dorsetaonb.org.uk/the-dorset- aonb/management-plan 49 The Cranborne Chase AONB Management Plan can be accessed online at: http://www.ccwwdaonb.org.uk/publications/aonb-management-plan/
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county, and to ensure that these are given full consideration when appraising options for future growth.
Dorset Heathlands
97. The Dorset Heathlands cover an extensive area of South East Dorset, with many sites designated as Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), Special Protection Areas (SPA), Special Areas of Conservation (SAC) and Ramsar sites. The local authorities of Bournemouth, Christchurch, Dorset County, East Dorset, Poole and Purbeck have been operating a strategy for the protection of heathland since 2007. During this time the local authorities and Urban Heath Partnership have been gathering evidence into the effects of urban pressures on the protected heaths to inform the future strategy for avoiding and mitigating the significant adverse effects of development.
98. Local plans and any other planning strategies will need to be accompanied by a Habitats Regulations Assessment (HRA) to demonstrate that any proposed development strategy will not adversely affect the ecological integrity of the European designations (SAC, SPA and Ramsar). The HRA will test growth options, and will include consideration as to whether appropriate mitigation is achievable for the level of growth proposed.
99. The local planning authorities in south east Dorset have jointly produced a planning framework to manage pressures on sensitive heathlands resulting from development. Joint working on the topic has been taking place since 2006 and the latest Dorset Heathlands Supplementary Planning Document (SPD), covering Bournemouth, Christchurch, East Dorset, Poole and Purbeck, was published in January 2016. The SPD aims to ensure that there continues to be a strategic approach to the protection of the internationally important heathlands in South East Dorset. The updated SPD is based on the current local plan housing requirements, and a further update is likely to be required following adoption of any revised local plans by any of the local authorities.
100. Strategic Alternative Natural Greenspaces (SANGs) can be provided alongside development to mitigate adverse effects on the Dorset heathlands. The identification of broad locations for strategic SANGs will need to be considered alongside the locations for additional housing development, through local plans and any joint working on the distribution of development.
Poole Harbour
101. Poole Harbour is an outstanding natural feature and is designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), Special Protection Area (SPA) and Ramsar site for its nature conservation importance. Increasing nitrogen levels from sewage and agriculture are contributing to the growth of algal mats in the harbour, restricting the growth, distribution and variety of important food available for wading birds protected under European law and smothering estuarine habitats.
102. As with the Dorset Heathlands, it will be necessary to demonstrate that any proposed development strategy will not adversely affect the integrity of the Poole Harbour SPA/Ramsar. Adverse effects could arise in relation to recreational pressures and/or impacts on water quality. Habitats Regulations Assessments will need to be prepared
Page 26 of 30 Page 34 Statement of Common Ground between local planning authorities in Dorset- DRAFT September 2018
alongside local plans and any other relevant planning strategies, to include consideration as to whether appropriate mitigation can be provided.
103. A joint ‘Nitrogen Reduction in Poole Harbour’ SPD has been adopted, providing detailed guidance to ensure that development does not lead to an increase in the level of nitrates in Poole Harbour. The SPD covers the catchment for Poole Harbour, which incorporates parts of North Dorset, Poole, Purbeck and West Dorset50. It has been adopted by all four local authorities in 2017.
104. One of the options for providing mitigation is to purchase agricultural land and change the use to a sparsely treed landscape. This leads to a reduction in the amount of nitrogen which is being spread onto the land within the catchment from agriculture, which offsets the additional nitrates arising due to residential development. It is worth noting that land purchased for nitrogen mitigation can also be considered for SANGs or more general green infrastructure, thus offering multiple benefits. Nitrogen mitigation can be delivered anywhere within the catchment, and local authorities will work together to ensure that appropriate mitigation is delivered.
Conservation and enhancement of the historic environment
105. Dorset has a rich historic environment, and includes 5% of the nationally scheduled monuments51. 95 miles of the Dorset and Devon coast, between Orcombe Point near Exmouth and Studland Bay near Poole, are protected under World Heritage status as the Jurassic Coast. The county also includes numerous other heritage assets, including listed buildings, conservation areas, and parks and gardens of special historic interest.
106. The current Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site (WHS) Management Plan (2014 – 2019)52 outlines aims and policies for managing the WHS over the coming years, and indicates a range of activities for achieving them.
107. National planning policy states that local planning authorities should set out in their local plan a positive strategy for the conservation and enjoyment of the historic environment, including heritage assets most at risk through neglect, decay or other threats53. Each of the Dorset local planning authorities will have considered these issues through the preparation of the current and emerging local plans, but there is an opportunity for joint work to reinforce the importance of conserving and enhancing the historic environment through planning policy. There may also be scope to develop a positive strategy for conserving the historic environment across Dorset as a whole.
50 A small part of the Poole Harbour catchment falls within East Dorset, but as it is protected habitat where no development is planned, mitigation is not necessary. 51 Dorset in Profile (2014, data from 2013) available online at: https://www.dorsetforyou.com/article/339782/District-profile-leaflets-and-documents 52 The Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site Management Plan (2014 - 2019) can be accessed online at: http://jurassiccoast.org/conserving-the-coast/management-files/category/14-managment-plan-current 53 Paragraph 185 of the National Planning Policy Framework 2018.
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Summary and Priorities for joint working
108. This paper has summarised broad cross boundary matters which affect the local planning authorities in Dorset, many of which are already the subject of joint policies or joint evidence base studies. Joint working through the Strategic Planning Forum provides the opportunity to highlight key planning themes and issues across the area, and to promote continued effective joint working. There is also an opportunity for this joint working to develop further, to set out a positive planning strategy to provide for additional growth in Dorset, including additional homes. The priorities for future strategic planning work are set out in table 6. It is important to emphasise that at this stage the suggested scope of the work is necessarily broad. Each of the issues will require further investigation, and further issues may arise, as the work progresses.
109. At the time of preparing this first Statement of Common Ground, the local planning authorities are all in the process of moving towards the establishment of two new unitary councils in Dorset in April 2019. Decisions about the geography of future local plans have not yet been made, and such decisions will need to include the consideration of how best to achieve joint working between the two unitary councils on strategic planning matters including the distribution of development.
110. The table below summarises the issues raised in the main body of this Statement, identifying the potential scope for joint working between the local planning authorities. As described earlier in this Statement, the most significant challenge remains that of meeting the housing needs under the new standard methodology: whether these can be met within individual local authority areas; if not, whether they can be met within neighbouring areas of Dorset; and what the most sustainable and appropriate distribution of development across the area would be. This will be the highest priority for joint working between the local planning authorities.
Theme Potential scope for joint working Overall strategy Determining the most sustainable pattern of growth to meet future needs, taking account of objectively assessed needs, environmental and other constraints including Green Belt Homes and jobs Setting out a positive planning strategy to provide for additional growth in Dorset, including additional homes. Setting out a strategic approach to the provision of additional homes in Eastern Dorset, to meet objectively assessed needs. This strategy will need to be informed by an appraisal of all reasonable options for the distribution of growth, taking account of issues such as housing mix, land availability, infrastructure capacity, and development constraints. It will need to include consideration of all options including urban potential, urban extensions and new settlements. A Strategic Green Belt Review to help inform the strategy. Identifying and addressing any issues of ‘unmet’ housing need arising from areas adjoining Dorset. Providing an overview of the broad mix of housing types needed Addressing any cross boundary issues relating to employment land
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provision identified through the Workspace Strategy. Addressing any strategic issues relating to education and skills. Retail, leisure Identifying key relationships between town centres, both within and other Dorset and in neighbouring areas. commercial Emphasising the importance of a ‘town centre’ first approach to development new retail development. Considering any implications of the location of additional housing for the retail hierarchies identified in the current and emerging local plans. Addressing any cross-boundary issues that may be identified through updates to existing retail studies. Highlighting the importance of planning for sustainable tourism across Dorset. Infrastructure Emphasising the importance of improving infrastructure, including and resources improvements to transport, telecommunications, water supply and wastewater infrastructure. Ensuring effective integration of minerals planning with growth and infrastructure needs in Dorset. Ensuring sustainable planning for waste to maximise its value as a resource and as a key supporting element for economic competitiveness. Ensuring the restoration of quarries has regard to economic, social and environmental opportunities that support sustainable economic growth, where appropriate. Highlighting the importance of avoiding inappropriate development in areas at risk of flooding. Exploring opportunities for strategic scale flood attenuation and mitigation infrastructure. Developing a consistent approach to Coastal Change Management Areas, to be applied along the full length of the Dorset coastline. Ensuring a consistent approach to renewable energy provision, including wind energy, across Dorset. Exploring the potential for cross boundary district heating. Health, security, Highlighting the importance of promoting healthy communities community and through planning. cultural Encouraging a consistent approach across Dorset to the new infrastructure national standards for space, water efficiency and accessibility. Considering whether any update is needed to the South East Dorset Green Infrastructure Strategy, and whether there could be merit in preparing a single joint Green Infrastructure Strategy to cover Dorset. Climate change Emphasising the role of planning in supporting climate change and historic and mitigation and adaptation. natural Highlighting the importance of nature conservation issues across environment the county, and ensuring that these are given full consideration when appraising options for future growth. Securing renewed commitment to the existing joint approaches to address heathlands and nitrates mitigation. Identifying broad locations for strategic SANGs (Suitable
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Alternative Natural Greenspaces), to link in with the preferred strategy for additional housing, once this is identified. Habitats Regulations Assessments (HRA) to demonstrate that any proposed development will not adversely affect the ecological integrity of the European designations. Reinforcing the importance of conserving and enhancing the historic environment through planning policy, and developing a positive strategy for conservation of the historic environment across Dorset as a whole. Table 6: potential scope for joint working
Page 30 of 30 Page 38 Agenda Item 7
Management Committee Tuesday 11th December 2018 Licensing of Private Rented Sector Housing in Melcombe Regis For Decision
Portfolio Holder(s)/ Briefholder Cllr G Taylor
Senior Leadership Team Contact: S Hill, Strategic Director
Report Author: G. Joy. Housing Improvement Manager
Statutory Authority Housing Act 2004
Purpose of Report
1 a) To advise members of work undertaken in response to a proposal from the Melcombe Regis Board to consider a Housing based intervention to address issues identified within the ward of Melcombe Regis.
b) To provide details of a proposed Selective Licensing scheme for private rented housing within a defined area of the ward, and to review the process leading to its drafting.
c) To seek support to progress to wider consultation on the proposed scheme as required by the Housing Act 2004, including the release of funding to facilitate the consultation exercise.
Recommendations
2. Authority be given to the Head of Housing to commence a formal consultation exercise on proposals to designate a ‘Selective Licensing’ scheme, which will cover those parts of the Melcombe Regis ward detailed in Appendix IV and V of this report.
Reason for Decision
3. Selective Licensing of the private rented sector is considered to be the most appropriate intervention available to address issues of deprivation and crime (including anti-social behaviour) within the ward, and when combined with other measures taken in the area by the local housing authority, or by other persons together with the local housing authority, will contribute to the improvement of the social or economic conditions in the area. Page 39 Background and Reason Decision Needed
4. The Melcombe Regis Board was formed in 2016 with the aim of delivering a strategic response to the long term issues affecting the ward. ‘Housing’ was identified as one of six priorities, and the Housing department was asked to consider the options for a Housing based intervention that might deliver on key objectives for the ward.
5. Evidence was gathered to provide an insight into the characteristics of the Melcombe Regis ward, its housing, health, crime levels, community satisfaction and the demographic profile of the area. That evidence is presented in the paper attached as Appendix II.
6. Salford City Council were subsequently commissioned to review the Evidence base and advise the council on the Board’s preferred option for intervention which was that of a ‘Selective Licensing’ designation for the ward. Salford City Council has considerable experience of licensing of the private rented sector having introduced seven such schemes in their own area and being recognised as a trailblazer authority by the MHCLG.
7. A report to the Management Committee on 17th September 2017 considered the evidence and the initial observations from Salford City Council. The committee authorised the Head of Housing to progress work to develop a licensing scheme and requested that details of any proposal be presented at a future meeting.
8. Officers from Salford City Council have worked with officers in the Housing Improvement Team to develop a proposal that meets all statutory requirements for a designation; addresses identified objectives; and will, when combined with other measures taken in the area by the local housing authority, or by other persons together with the local housing authority, contribute to the improvement of the social or economic conditions in the area. The proposal has subsequently been reported to the Melcombe Regis Board and considered by the Policy Development Committee. Letters of support for the proposal have been received from key partner agencies including Dorset Police, Dorset County Council, Dorset and Wilts Fire and Rescue Service and Dorset Waste Partnership and are attached as Appendix III.
9. The scheme proposal is contained within a report from Salford City Council attached as Appendix I. Officers from Salford will be in attendance to present their report to the committee.
10. Should members agree to progress this proposal to the statutory ten week consultation exercise, Salford City Council will assist the council with planning of stakeholder events and the production of suitable consultation material.
Implications
Corporate Plan 11 The proposal is consistent with the following corporate priorities Building a Stronger Local Economy Empowering Thriving and InclusivePage Communities 40 Improving Quality of Life
Financial 12. The Management Committee authorised the release of funding from the Housing reserve to meet the cost of resourcing scheme development work. The services of Salford City Council and Dorset CC have been commissioned to assist with this work. The contract with Salford City Council includes advice on the statutory consultation process. The full consultation process will require additional funding which the Strategic Director has indicated can be funded from existing budgets.
The cost of implementing any scheme, including the consultation stage, should be covered by the licence fee should a designation be eventually confirmed.
Equalities 13. The scheme is designed to address inequalities within the ward.
Environmental 14. The scheme will not directly deliver environmental improvements but will operate in conjunction with other initiatives aimed at delivering those improvements.
Economic Development 15. The scheme will address deprivation within the ward and seek to encourage investment.
Risk Management (including Health & Safety) 16. This report requests approval to proceed to a consultation exercise only. A risk assessment will accompany any future report seeking to designate an area for Selective Licensing. See App VII.
Human Resources 17. Any additional resource found necessary to facilitate the consultation exercise will most likely be on a casual employment basis. Additional resource will be required to administer the licensing process and policing of the scheme should a Selective Licensing designation be eventually approved.
Consultation and Engagement 18. There is a statutory ten week consultation stage required before designation is permitted.
Appendices 19. App I. Report from Salford City Council. App II. Evidence case dated May 2017. App III. Letters of support from key statutory agencies. App IV. Map of proposed area for designation. App V. List of streets within proposed designation area. App VI. Draft Licence Conditions App VII.Example of a scheme risk assessment.
Page 41 Background Papers
20. a) Reports to Management Committee dated 8th Nov 2016 and 19th September 2017. b) Reports to Melcombe Regis Board dated 14th June 2016; 30th Mar 2017; 15th May 2017; and 5th Oct 2018. c) Housing Act 2004 d) The Selective Licensing of Houses (Specified Exemptions)(England) Order 2006. e) The Selective Licensing of Houses (Additional Conditions) (England) 2015 f) DCLG Selective Licensing in the Private Rented Sector: A guide for Local Authorities (March 2015).
Footnote Issues relating to financial, environmental, economic and equalities implications have been considered and any information related to the decision is included within the report.
Report Author: G. Joy. Housing Improvement Manager Telephone: 01305 252286 Email: [email protected] Date: 26th Nov 2018
Page 42 Appendix I. Report from Salford City Council
TO WEYMOUTH AND PORTLAND BOROUGH COUNCIL MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE
ON 11 DECEMBER 2018
TITLE: Selective Licensing Consultation in the Melcombe Regis Ward
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
The main provisions of the Housing Act 2004 came into effect in April 2006, giving local authorities the power to introduce the Selective Licensing of certain private rented dwellings where the local authority considers it will benefit tenants and communities, in areas of low housing demand and/or where there are significant problems of anti-social behaviour.
In April 2010, the DCLG announced that there would be a change to the approval process for Selective Licensing schemes, and that a General Consent would become operative and that no further schemes would be approved by the Secretary of State. The General Consent process now allows Local Authorities to introduce Selective Licensing schemes without DCLG approval.
This report provides background information to enable the WPBC Management Committee to proceed to formal consultation with residents, landlords, managing agents and businesses on proposals to designate a Selective Licensing scheme which will cover parts of the Melcombe Regis Ward.
1.0 Background
1.1 The Housing Act 2004 gives Local Authorities the power, upon obtaining the appropriate approval, to introduce Selective Licensing of certain individual private rented dwellings where the area is one experiencing -
a) low housing demand(or is likely to become such an area) b) a significant and persistent problem caused by anti-social behaviour
The legislation was amended by the Selective Licensing of Houses (Additional Conditions) Order 2015. The conditions were extended to include
c) poor property conditions; d) high levels of migration; e) high levels of deprivation; f) high levels of crime
1.2 In considering whether to designate an area for selective licensing on the grounds on property conditions, migration, deprivation and crime, a local housing authority may only make a designation if the area has a high proportion
Page 43 1 Appendix I. Report from Salford City Council
of property in the private rented sector.The Private Rented Sector within the ward makes up 46% of the total housing stock which is considered very high.
1.3 When considering whether to make a selective licensing designation a local housing authority must first identify the objective or objectives that a designation will help it achieve. Secondly, it must also consider whether there are any other causes of action available to it that would achieve the same objective or objectives as the proposed scheme without the need for the designation to be made.
1.4 Only where there is no practical and beneficial alternative to a designation should a scheme be made. The designation made must ensure that the exercise of the power is consistent with their overall housing strategy and seek to adopt a co-ordinated approach in connection with dealing with homelessness, empty properties and anti-social behaviour affecting the private rented sector as regards combining licensing with other action taken by them or others.
. 2.0 Details - Selective Licensing Proposals – Melcombe Regis Ward
2.1 Based on local intelligence and officer knowledge and the collection of a rigorous evidence base parts of the Melcombe Regis ward have been identified as containing areas that might be suitable for designation under Selective Landlord licensing.
2.2 Subject to the Committee’s approval a formal consultation exercise may commence on the proposal to introduce a Selective Licensing scheme on grounds that the proposed area is an area with high levels of deprivation and high levels of crime and that the criteria set out in the Housing Act 2004 can be met.
2.3 The Selective Licensing of Houses (Additional Conditions) (England) Order 2015 states that in deciding whether an area is, or is likely to become an area of high levels of deprivation a local authority must take into account (among other matters) –
The employment status of adults The average income of households The health of households The availability and ease of access to education, training and other services for households housing conditions the physical environment levels of crime
2.4 Further, a guidance document titled “Selective licensing in the private rented sector” produced by the Department for Communities and Local Government details other factors which should be considered by a Local Authority when deciding if an area is suffering from high levels of deprivation. These factors include:
Page 44 2 Appendix I. Report from Salford City Council
The local housing authority may only make a designation if a high proportion of the housing in the area is in the private rented sector The scheme should state what actions the local housing authority intend to take to combat associated with the deprivation. This includes licence conditions to ensure properties are managed properly and can contribute to an improvement in the well being of the occupants and wider community The outcome of the designation should be (together with other measures) a reduction of the problems with housing in the private rented sector contributing to the high level of deprivation
2.5 The Selective Licensing of Houses (Additional Conditions) (England) Order 2015 states that in deciding whether an area is an area of high crime a local authority must take into account
That the area suffers from high levels of crime That the criminal activity affects those living in the private rented sector or other households and businesses in the area: and That making a designation will, when combined with other measures taken in the areas by the local housing authority, other persons together with the local housing authority or by the police, contribute to a reduction in the levels of crime in the area, for the benefit of those living in the area.
2.6 DCLG guidance requires that the licensing scheme must be part of a wider strategy to address crime in the designated area and can only be made if a high proportion of properties in that area are in the private rented sector. In particular the local housing authority should consider :
Whether criminal activities impact on some people living in privately rented accommodation as well as others living in the areas and businesses therein; The nature of the criminal activity Whether some of the criminal activity is the responsibility of some people living in privately rented accommodation
2.7 The scheme should show what measures the local housing authority will be able to take through licensing to reduce criminal activity in the area, such as imposing conditions in licences to ensure properties are safe from intruders.
2.8 The outcome of a scheme designation under the crime criteria together with other measures should lead to a reduction in crime in the area.
2.9 Section 81 of the Housing Act 2004 also applies to the power of a local authority to make designations under section 80 of the Act. In that regard the local authority must ensure that the exercise of any power is consistent with the authority’s overall housing strategy. The authority must also seek to adopt a co- ordinated approach in connection with dealing with homelessness, empty properties and anti-social behaviour both as regards combining licensing with other courses of action available to them and as regards combining such licensing with measures taken by other persons. The authority must not make a designation under section 80 unless they have considered whether there are any other courses of action available to them (of whatever nature) that might provide an effective method of achieving the objective/s that designation would
Page 45 3 Appendix I. Report from Salford City Council
be intended to achieve and they consider that making the designation will significantly assist them to achieve the objective/s (whether or not they take any other course of action as well).
2.10 Evidence has been gathered which appears to support a scheme being introduced in the proposed area detailed in this report. The Evidence case is attached as Appendix II to the cover report while a map of the proposed area can be found in Appendix IV, and a list of streets is provided in Appendix V..
2.11 The evidence appears to indicate that the proposed area is one of high deprivation and high levels of crime. Furthermore the evidence indicates that making a Selective Licensing designation of the area will, when combined with other measures taken in the area by the Council, or by other persons together with the Council will contribute to the improvement of the social or economic conditions in the area.
3. High Levels of Deprivation.
3.1 Three of the four LSOAs in the ward are amongst the top seven most deprived in the county across all the deciles of deprivation and are amongst the top 20% nationally
3.2 Three of the four LSOAs in the ward are considered to be in the top eight most deprived in the county for Income and are amongst the top 20% nationally
3.3 All four LSOAs in the ward are considered to be in the top ten most deprived in the county on the grounds of health and disability and are amongst the top 20% nationally for this decile of deprivation
3.4 Three of the four LSOAs in the ward are considered to be in the top 20% nationally for Crime (Burglary, Theft, Criminal Damage and Violence) with Melcombe Regis Town Centre LSOA within the top 2% nationally.
4. High levels of crime
4.1 Total crime is very high in the Ward with a figure of 528.2 crimes per 1,000 population compared to 122.6 for Weymouth and 103.7 for England and Wales.
4.2 Recorded total crime in the ward increased by 46% between 2014 and 2016.
4.3 The varied physical make-up and dynamic of the Ward has led to further analysis of reported crime. Melcombe Regis contains both the commercial core of Weymouth, an extensive night-time economy (NTE), high proportions of transient rental residents and a predominantly younger demographic. The Ward also covers the main built-up part of the Esplanade and beach front area. However, analysis of crime within the ward during the first half of 2018/19 revealed that crime not associated with the NTE constituted 61% of total crime in the ward.
Analysis of the crime data shows crime hotspots within the ward which correlate with areas of high private rented sector.
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5 Proposed scheme objectives
5.1 Having given careful consideration to the proposed designation criteria draft objectives have been proposed and will be subject to the consultation. These are detailed below:
To promote more effective partnership working and regulation of private sector landlords and managing agents to:
1. Improve the health of PRS tenants through improved professional standards of tenancy management
2. Improve the living environment for all residents by ensuring relevant licence conditions are met
3. Tackle crime and anti-social behaviour associated with the private rented sector that is affecting the local community
4. Improve resident satisfaction with the way in which PRS tenancies are managed within the designation
6. Consultation
6.1 Section 80(9) of the Housing Act 2004 requires local authorities to take reasonable steps to consult persons who are likely to be affected by the designation and consider any representations made in accordance with the consultation and not withdrawn before make a designation. The manner in which such a consultation exercise is to be undertaken is further informed by government guidance and case law.
6.2 Before making a selective licensing designation the Council must take reasonable steps to consult persons who are likely to be affected by the designation and consider any representations made during the consultation and not withdrawn.
6.3 This consultation will be carried out over a 10 week period and will be widely publicised using various channels of communication. Everyone who responds to this consultation will have their view acknowledged and responded too. All comments received will be fully considered.
6.4 Once the consultation has been completed the results will be published and made available to the local community. This feedback will be in the form of a summary of the responses received during the stakeholder consultation and will explain how the responses have been acted on or not, with full reasons. Following this, a report will be produced based on the findings and will be presented to the Committee.
6.5 The Council is required to take reasonable steps to consult with persons likely to be affected by the designation. This should include local residents, including tenants, landlords and where appropriate, their managing agents and other members of the community who live or operate businesses or provide services within the proposed designation. It should also include local residents and those Page 47 5 Appendix I. Report from Salford City Council
who operate businesses or provide services in the surrounding area outside of the proposed designation that will be affected. Everyone who responds to this consultation will have their view fully considered.
6.6 Persons to be Consulted
A comprehensive engagement and consultation process will include partners, stakeholders and Private landlords Managing agents (where appropriate) Accredited private landlords Private tenants Local communities Tenant and resident associations Landlord associations Citizens Advice Bureau Registered providers of social housing Local community committees Locally elected members Local businesses Dorset Police Other local authority teams including Social Services, Homelessness and Housing Advice
6.7 Methods of Consultation
Publication of consultation document and questionnaires will be available on Dorsetforyou website We will write to all accredited landlords, all licensed landlords and their managing agents, and landlord, tenant and resident associations who operate in and around the proposed area. We will write to all residents and business or services within the proposed area of selective licensing and surrounding area; The consultation will be promoted on social media, such as Facebook and Twitter We will supply a press release to local media. Questionnaires will be available to landlords, residents and businesses who operate within the proposed area Road show events are being planned for the area to allow those people affected to come along and discuss the selective licensing proposals. It will also give an opportunity for landlords to talk about what requirements will be placed on them by the scheme, if it is approved. Details of events will be advertised and published on the councils website. Members of the private sector housing team will be available to attend community meetings. Articles about the proposals will be published in local community newsletters
An example of a consultation for a previously approved selective licensing scheme can be found on Salford Councils website at
Page 48 6 Appendix I. Report from Salford City Council
https://www.salford.gov.uk/housing/information-for-landlords/landlord- licensing/areas-covered-by-selective-licensing/charlestown-and-lower-kersal/
7. The Proposed Scheme
7.1 The borough as a whole consists of 32,760 residential properties of which 17.8% (5831) are within the private rented sector. Within the ward of Melcombe Regis there are approximately 4274 properties of which 42% are privately rented.
7.2 The proposed designation would consist of approximately 2655 residential properties of which 926 are privately rented. This represents 15.8% of the borough wide PRS stock and as such the scheme can be locally approved as opposed to requiring approval from the Secretary of State.
7.3 The proposed designation area map seeks to focus on the parts of the ward which evidence the highest levels of privately rented properties and represents a manageable sized scheme.
8. Fit and Proper Person Assessment
8.1 An important aspect of obtaining a Selective Licence is the requirement for the local housing authority to decide whether or not a landlord is a fit and proper person to be a licence holder and has satisfactory management arrangements in place. Without a Selective Licensing scheme in place the local housing authority does not have any control over who operates as a landlord in the designation area.
In making a fit and proper assessment of a licence applicant the local housing authority must have regard to (amongst other things)
Whether a person has:
Committed any offence involving fraud or other dishonesty, or violence or drugs or any offence listed in schedule 3 of the Sexual Offences Act 2003 Practised unlawful discrimination on grounds of sex,colour,race,ethnic or national origins or disability in, or in connection with, the carrying on of any business Contravened any provision of law relating to housing or of landlord and tenant law;or Acted otherwise in accordance with a code of practice approved under section 233
Other considerations include
Whether any person proposed to be involved in the management of the house has a sufficient level of competence to be so involved; Whether any person to be involved in the management of the house (other than the manager) is a fit and proper person to be so involved; and Whether any proposed management structures and funding arrangements are suitable
Page 49 7 Appendix I. Report from Salford City Council
9. National Overview and Benefits of a Selective Licensing Scheme
9.1 Currently there are 27 schemes in operation across the country and 14 schemes that have ended after the 5 year designation period. A scheme typically covers around 800 privately rented properties. However some schemes have contained only 200 properties and some borough wide schemes have covered upto 6000 privately rented properties
Key benefits from introducing a selective licensing scheme include
Enhanced understanding of the housing market within the designation area Greater collaborative working with partner agencies to address local issues Improved landlord engagement An increase in intelligence led, proactive housing inspections rather than a response, complaint based approach Preventative early intervention to respond to breaches of licence condition Unlicensed landlords are unable to serve a section 21 repossession notice whilst a privately rented property remains unlicensed
9.2 Where landlords fail to obtain a licence or breach licence conditions they commit a criminal offence. The local housing authority has the option to prosecute the offender in the criminal courts or issue a civil penalty. Where there is no reasonable prospect of a privately rented property becoming licensed then the local housing authority can make an interim management order and take legal control of the unlicensed property. These powers provide a strong deterrent to non compliant landlords and help improve overall standards in the private rented sector.
10. Resources Required
10.1 It is a legal requirement that Selective Licensing schemes are cost neutral and the fee set should therefore cover the actual cost of running the scheme for the full 5 year duration of any designation. Fees do vary across local authority areas however several local authorities have reported a shortfall in revenue as a result of setting a fee that did not reflect the true cost of running a selective licensing scheme. Nationally fees have varied from £350 to £750 with an average of around £550 per property.
10.2 The setting of a fee structure will be subject to the consultation and legal advice following recent case law. However an indicative standard fee of £625 is proposed. The consultation will seek opinion on whether this figure will be reduced for landlords who licence early, have multiple properties or are members of the councils Landlords Local Authority Partnership (LLAP). It should be noted that the fee is for the full five year duration of the scheme and if the fee was set at £625 this would be the equivalent cost of £2.40 per week.
10.3 In order to deliver an effective scheme it is essential that a dedicated landlord licensing team be put in place from the outset to be able to process
Page 50 8 Appendix I. Report from Salford City Council
applications, pursue unlicensed landlords and take action where breaches of licence condition are evidenced.
10.4 Section 79(5) places a general duty on the local housing authority to make such arrangements as are necessary to secure the effective implementation of the licensing regime and to ensure that all applications for licences are determined within a reasonable time.
11. Risk Assessment
11.1 An example risk assessment for the implementation of a selective licensing scheme is detailed in Appendix VII of the cover report and a finalised version will form part of the consultation document. It is considered that the implementation of a selective licensing scheme will have positive benefits for the Melcombe Regis ward and that identified risks can be managed providing the scheme is adequately resourced.
12. Exemptions from Licensing
12.1 The Housing Act 2004 exempts certain types of exempt tenancy which do not require a licence . These include: it is granted by a non-profit registered provider of social housing It is granted by a profit-making registered provider of social housing in respect of social housing
12.2 Further exemptions are detailed in the Selective Licensing of Houses (Specified Exemptions)(England) Order 2006
13. Licence Conditions
13.1 A set of draft licence conditions have been prepared which will from part of the Consultation. The conditions will become legal requirements placed on private sector landlords who rent properties within the proposed designation area and will improve standards of tenancy management.
13.2 Schedule 4 of the Housing Act 2004 prescribes mandatory conditions the local housing authority must attach to a Selective Licence. These are Gas safety Electrical appliances and furniture Smoke alarms Carbon Monoxide alarms Tenant references Terms of occupation
Locally applied conditions include provisions relating to: Property management Security and crime External areas and refuse and waste Management/Anti social behaviour Energy efficiency and affordable occupation Notification of change of circumstances Page 51 9 Appendix I. Report from Salford City Council
A copy of the draft conditions can be found in Appendix VI.
14. Future Committee Authority
14.1 Should the recommendation in this report be approved and a consultation exercise be undertaken, a detailed analysis of the survey responses will be carried out and a further report will be prepared for consideration by the Committee which sets out the outcomes of the consultation and any recommendations which have been informed by the said outcomes. This will include a review of the business case for the operation of any eventual scheme and ensuring that an appropriate licence fee is set to cover relevant costs including, staffing levels required in line with legislation and current case law.
15. Timeline to designation
15.1 The formal consultation will be for a minimum of ten weeks and following any future decision of the local housing authority to confirm a selective licensing scheme a statutory process must be followed as detailed below
Within 7 days after the date on which the designation was confirmed or made the local housing authority must: Place a statutory notice on a public notice board at one or more municipal buildings within the designation area Publish the notice on the authority’s internet site ; and Arrange for its publication in at least two local newspapers circulating in or around the designated area 1) In the next edition of those newspapers; and 2) Five times in the editions of those newspapers following the edition in which it was first published, with the interval between each publication being no less than 2 weeks and no more than three weeks
Within 2 weeks after the designation is made the local housing authority must send a copy of the notice to
Any person who responded to the consultation Any organisation which to the reasonable knowledge of the authority, represents landlords,tenants,managing agents,estate agents or letting agents within the designation area; and Every organisation within the local housing authority area that the loal housing authority know or believes provides advice on landlord and tenant matters, including law centres, citizens advice, housing advice and homeless persons units
15.2 The date for commencement of the scheme is determined by the local housing authority but must be no earlier than three months after the date on which the designation is confirmed.
Page 52 10 Appendix I. Report from Salford City Council
16. Conclusion
16.1 To summarise, the evidence demonstrates strong evidence to support a selective licensing designation based upon the proposed designation being an area which suffers from a high level of deprivation and crime.
16.2 Officers are satisfied that there is sufficient justification to support the introduction of a process of formal consultation to inform consideration of any decision regarding the designation of a Selective Licensing scheme to cover parts of the Melcombe Regis ward.
16.3 Authority is therefore sought from the Management Committee to commence a formal consultation exercise on the proposals to introduce a Selective Licensing scheme on grounds set out above.
Robert Turner BSc (Hons) MCIEH CEnvH Regulatory Services Manager Regulatory Services Place Directorate Salford City Council tel 0161 793 2922
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Evidence Pack for options appraisal: The following analysis looks at a range of specific areas that provide an insight into the characteristics of Melcombe Regis ward, its housing, health, crime levels, community satisfaction and the demographic profile of the area.
Section 1 - Housing and Living Environment
1.0 Table 1 highlights the proportion of total housing1 in Weymouth & Portland which is located in Melcombe Regis. The data illustrates that just under one in eight residential properties in the Borough are located in the Ward.
Table 1
Melcombe Regis ward can be broken up into four smaller geographies ‘Lower Super Output Areas2’. The Lower Super Output Areas in Dorset have been named and the four that are within Melcombe Regis have been defined as: Melcombe Regis Lodmoor Hill, Melcombe Regis Park District, Melcombe Regis Carlton Road and Melcombe Regis Town Centre. Table 1a illustrates the number of residential properties in each of the areas and highlights more properties in the town centre (one in three).
Table 1a
1.1 Table 2 shows the very high proportion of privately rented property in the ward with almost half the homes in the area rented privately in comparison to 18% for the borough as a whole. Table 2 and 2a illustrate the very high proportion of privately rented households in all four LSOAs (59.3% in Town Centre LSOA) and the corresponding low proportion of owner occupied and publicly rented property in the Ward itself (43.5% and 8.6% respectively).
1 Ordnance Survey Address Base, Dorset County Council 2016 2 Lower Super Output Areas are census geographies with on average 1,500 population
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Table 2 Tenure for Melcombe Regis 20113
Table 2a Tenure for Melcombe Regis LSOAs 2011
1.2 Table 3 illustrates the change in the proportion of owner occupation in the Ward and across Weymouth and Portland, Dorset and England. The proportion of Owner occupied property in the Ward has historically been lower than that in the borough but did rise to almost 60% in the 1981 census before falling down to 43% by 2011 (15 percentage points) decrease compared to the Borough which saw a slight increase over the same period.
Table 3 Variation of proportion of Owner Occupiers from 1971 to 20114
3 ONS Census 2011- All Households are classified as properties with one usual resident and exclude empty properties (this data even with empty households added is 10% different to the 2016 address data – and is a reflection of the different data sources used) 4 ONS Census 2011, 2001, 1991, 1981 and 1971
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1.3 Table 4 highlights the relatively low proportion of publically rented properties in the Ward. The proportion of properties has remained around 8% since 2001 after rising from 3% in 1981. This is very different to the Borough as a whole which has much higher proportions of social housing but has fallen from approximately 20% in 1971 and 1981.
Variation of proportion of Publically Rented from 1971 to 20115
Table 4
1.4 Table 5 illustrates the very significant proportion of properties in Melcombe Regis that have been rented privately over the period from 1971 to 2011. The proportion of properties in the private rented sector has risen by over ten percentage points since the Census in 2001, and has consistently been much higher than the Borough, County and country as a whole.
Variation of proportion of Privately Rented Properties from 1971 to 20116
Table 5
5 Ibid. 6 Ibid
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1.5 Table 6 highlights a number of characteristics in relation to the dwellings in the ward including a much higher proportion of purpose built flats and/or bed-sits than the comparators. This table doesn’t include Guest Houses and Bed & Breakfast properties that are classified separately as ‘other communal establishments’. Data from the Census 2011 indicates that there are 427 of these properties in Melcombe Regis which represents 64% of all these property types across the Weymouth & Portland borough.
One in six properties in Melcombe Regis are either second homes or holiday homes or being used by very short term residents, being recorded as having ‘no usual resident’. This figure is much higher than for Weymouth, Dorset and England and Wales.
Table 6 Dwelling Type8
Page 58 Page
A household space with no usual residents may still be used by short-term residents, visitors who were present on census night, or a combination of short term residents and visitors. Vacant household spaces, and spaces that are used as second addresses, are also classified in census results as ‘household spaces with no usual residents’.
7 Ibid. 8 ONS Census 2011
4
Table 6a considers the same characteristics across the four LSOAs in the Ward and highlights the very high proportion of flats in Melcombe Regis Town Centre LSOA (80%) and Lodmoor Hill LSOA (75%) and also the high proportion in Carlton Road LSOA (66%) and Park District LSOA (52%). Almost one in five of all properties in Melcombe Regis Town Centre are either second homes or holiday homes or being used by very short term residents (recorded in the census as having ‘no usual resident’).
Table 6a Dwelling Type
Page 59 Page
5
Figure 1 illustrates where the highest number of flats that are part of a shared house or bed-sit are located across the Ward and LSOA. The map highlights the highest number are found in the Town Centre and the Park District. Data has been mapped by Census Output Area (the smallest census geography made up on average of 130 households).
Figure 1
6 Page 60
Figure 1a highlights areas with the highest numbers of private rental flats across Melcombe Regis based on data from the census and particularly highlights the town centre as an area with high numbers of privately rented flats.
7 Page 61
1.6 Figure 2 highlights the location of Licensed Houses of Multiple Occupancy (HMOs) across the Ward. In order to require licensing, a building must be of three or more storeys and contain five or more people not in a single household sharing amenities. The map highlights the 30 HMO properties within the Ward that are licensed, plus other licensed HMOs within the surrounding wards. There are 48 licensed HMOs in the Borough9.
Figure 2
9 Dorset Council Partnership 2016
8 Page 62
Table 7 highlights data from a survey10 conducted by the Borough Council. The survey which was limited to an external inspection of properties revealed a very high proportion of properties in the Town Centre area with three or more storeys (86%) and also a high proportion of buildings converted to flats (41%). The proportion of three storey properties and converted flats was lower in the Park District area. The data also highlights that one in four properties in the Town Centre require external decorative work.
Table 7
1.7 In relation to housing condition, Melcombe Regis has a lower proportion of properties with central heating than Weymouth & Portland, Dorset and England. Approximately one in six households are overcrowded11 much higher than any of the comparators. The data in Table 8 and displayed in Figure 3 also highlights a high proportion of pensioners living alone in the ward.
Table 8 – Housing Living Indicator12
10 Borough council survey for HMOs conducted 2016/17
11 Having fewer bedrooms than the notional number recommended by the bedroom standard section 324 (definition of overcrowding) of the Housing Act 1985.
12 ONS Census 2011
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Figure 3
1.8 Table 9 illustrates activity by the Borough Council Housing Department in response to service requests from residents concerned by their living conditions. The data illustrates a high proportion of enquiries in 2016 (33%) and complaints (43%) arising from within Melcombe Regis. The table also shows that in 2016 40% of the formally recorded Cat 1 hazards13 removed were from Melcombe Regis.
Table 9
13 Category 1 Hazards are defined by the Housing Act 2004.
10 Page 64
1.9 Another important issue in relation to housing conditions is fuel poverty. A household is considered fuel poor if (1) their required fuel costs are above average, and (2) if they were to spend that amount, they would be left with a residual income below the official poverty line14. Fuel poverty in Dorset and Weymouth and Portland is in line with the national average, however there are several places with high incidences of fuel poverty. The Park District, Melcombe Regis, is the most notable, in spite of a focus on improving housing in the area in the past few years. Table 10 illustrates Fuel Poverty Statistics from the ONS in 2014 and highlights the very high proportion of properties in the Park District suffering from Fuel Poverty.
Table 10
1.10 House Price and Rental data
Like the rest of the country, property prices have fluctuated somewhat since the world economic crisis in 2008. Average prices paid for flats and maisonettes in Melcombe Regis currently sit at just over £160,00015 (Figure 4) which is virtually identical to the figure for Weymouth and Portland and £25,000 lower than the figure for Dorset.
14 Fuel Poverty Briefing Note Dorset County Council 2017
15 HM Land Registry 2016
11 Page 65
Figure 4
Rental prices16 (Figure 5) for cheaper one and two bedroom properties in Melcombe Regis indicate that for one bedroom properties Melcombe Regis monthly rental prices are 10% lower than for Weymouth and Portland as a whole. The price for cheaper two bedroom properties is currently the same as for the Borough as a whole.
Rental prices in Weymouth for cheaper one bedroom properties has risen from £400 per month in 2007 to £465 in 2017 and the price of two bedroom cheaper properties has increased from £500 in 2007 to £625 in 2017.
Figure 5
16 Online Estate and Letting Agents Survey 2007, 2011 and 2017
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1.11 Demand for Social Housing / Supported Homes
Figure 6 illustrates applications to the housing register in Weymouth and Portland17 and highlights the relatively high proportion (28%) of applicants for one bedroom properties in Weymouth & Portland from applicants currently residing in Melcombe Regis Ward. This compares to lower overall demand for two, three, four and five bedroom properties more likely to accommodate families.
Figure 6
Applicants to the Housing Register from WPBC residents 900 800 700
600
500
400 Residents 300 200 100 0 1 Bedroom 2 Bedroom 3 Bedroom 4 Bedroom 5 Bedroom needed needed needed needed needed
Melcombe Regis Weymouth & Portland
Data from Weymouth and Portland Borough Council indicates that between 1/4/2016 and 28/2 2017 there were 10518 decisions made on homelessness applications in the Borough of which 17 (16%) of them showed the applicants last address as being within Melcombe Regis. As an outcome of the decisions, 109 households are accommodated in temporary accommodation in Weymouth of which 71 (77%) are within Melcombe Regis. West Dorset District Council also placed 17 households in B&B in Melcombe Regis during the period.
In addition, the County Council and their partners provide assistance in placing vulnerable adults in temporary accommodation. Currently there are 100 residential units in Melcombe Regis providing accommodation for approximately 120 residents.19 This short term accommodation provides support for residents with learning difficulties, mental health issues and single homeless with support needs. There are also a number of properties that offer temporary offender accommodation and that are not included in the properties described above.
17 Dorset Council Partnership 2017 18 Ibid. 19 Dorset County Council 2017
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2.0 Demographic Profile
2.1 Melcombe Regis has a younger age profile than for Dorset and Weymouth and Portland as a whole. The median age for the Ward is 42 years old compared to 44 for Weymouth & Portland and 47 for the County20. The average age however is still slightly higher than for England and Wales which is 39 years old.
Figure 7 illustrates the age breakdown within the Ward and compares it with local and national comparators, and highlights a high proportion of residents aged between 20 and 39 particularly when compared to Weymouth and Portland and Dorset21.
20 ONS Census 2011 21 ONS Mid-Year Estimates 2015
14 Page 68
Age Breakdown – Mid Year Estimates 2015
Figure 7 Page 69 Page
15
2.2 Figure 8 clearly illustrates a higher proportion of Males 57% to Females 43% in the 25 to 39 age bracket within the ward of Melcombe Regis22. This is atypical for Dorset and contrasts significantly with the population pyramid for Weymouth & Portland which has a much more proportional split between the genders. The gender division is, however, typical of a deprived seaside area and is similar to areas such as Hastings and Boscombe.
Figure 8
Melcombe Regis Weymouth & Portland Page 70 Page
22 ONS Census 2011
16
2.3 Historical Trends in Age Breakdown
Figure 9 highlights the changes in the age profile of the Ward since 199123. The data shows the higher proportion of young children in Melcombe Regis in 2015 when compared to previous years. The data also illustrates a slightly higher proportion of people aged 55 to 74. There has also been a fall in those aged between 20 and 29 since 1991 where this age group was the most significant proportion of the population.
Figure 9
Age Profile Change since 1991 to 2015 14%
12%
10%
Page 71 Page 8%
6% % of % population 4%
2%
0% % 0 to 4% 5 to 9 % 10 to % 15 to % 20 to % 25 to % 30 to % 35 to % 40 to % 45 to % 50 to % 55 to % 60 to % 65 to % 70 to % 75 to % 80 to % 85 to 90+ % 14 19 24 29 34 39 44 49 54 59 64 69 74 79 84 89 five year age groups
1991 2001 2011 2015
23 ONS Census 1991, 2001, 2011 and ONS MYE 2015
17
Tables 11 and 11a illustrate the current population and the total increase in population within Melcombe Regis since 200124 and compare this with the Borough as a whole and the County. The data highlights a rise in the Melcombe Regis population from 5,510 in 2001 to 6,068 in 2015 which reflects an increase of 10%. This figure is much higher than for the Borough (2%) and slightly higher than Dorset County (8%).
Table 11
Table 11a
2.4 Ethnicity in Melcombe Regis
Data from the Census in 2011 shows the ethnicity data for the Melcombe Regis area in comparison with ethnicity figures for Weymouth & Portland, Dorset, Dorset, Bournemouth and Poole; and England & Wales. The data (Table 12) illustrates that the proportion of the BME population (Black and Minority Ethnic) in Melcombe Regis is significantly higher than for both the Borough and the County but much less than for England and Wales. ‘White British’ make up 88.7% of the population of the area in comparison to 80.5% for England and Wales and 91.9% for Bournemouth Dorset & Poole25.
The BME Category ‘Other White’ represents 54% of Melcombe Regis’s BME population. Other significant ethnic groups include Asian/Asian British which make up one in five of the BME Population and Mixed Multiple Ethnic Groups which comprise one in eight of the BME population.
24 ONS 2001, 2011 and 2015 25 ONS Census 2011
18 Page 72
Table 12
Data from previous Censuses26 (Table 13 and Figure 10) indicate a significant increase in BME Groups from 1.5% in 1991 to 11.3% in 2011. The most dramatic increase occurred between 2001 and 2011 and reflects an increase in residents from the Accession EU countries which occurred in 2004 and 2007.
Table 13
26 ONS Census 1991, 2001 and 2011
19 Page 73
Figure 10
Ethnicity Change in Melcombe Regis 1991 to 2011
Melcombe Regis 1991
Melcombe Regis 2001
Melcombe Regis 2011
0.0 10.0 20.0 30.0 40.0 50.0 60.0 70.0 80.0 90.0 100.0
% White British % BME (Black or Minority Ethnicity)
3.0 Income and Deprivation
3.1 Income
Experimental data from ONS27 (Figure 11) puts the average annual household income in Melcombe Regis and Rodwell as £30,680 which is much lower than for Dorset as a whole which is £37,257 and Weymouth and Portland which is £34,551. The figure for England and Wales is £39,500.
Figure 11
27 ONS 2016 Small area model-based income estimates, England and Wales: financial year ending 2014 Experimental statistics are not National Statistics but are statistics which are undergoing evaluation with a view to their becoming National Statistics.
20 Page 74
Based on modelled data from Experian Mosaic,28 the average annual household income per postcode is illustrated in the map in figure 12 below. This gives a better indication of likely distribution of household income across the ward. It should be borne in mind that all the income data and the Experian data is modelled and is an estimate and should be treated with a degree of caution and used as a guide only.
Figure 12
28 Experian Mosaic 2014
21 Page 75
3.2 Benefit Data
The chart (Figure 13) below illustrates relatively low levels of residents claiming Job Seekers Allowance29. The proportion has fallen from just over 3% in March 2015 to just below 2% in July 2016.
These figures are certainly affected by seasonal trends that highlight a fall in those claiming Job Seekers Allowance during the summer months when more jobs are available throughout the holiday season. The data also illustrates that the proportion of the population claiming job seekers allowance is consistently higher in the Ward than for the borough as a whole.
3.2.1 Job Seekers Allowance
Figure 13
3.2.2 Employment Support Allowance30
Whilst Job Seekers Allowance has fallen slightly, the proportion of people claiming Employment Support Allowance has risen significantly in Melcombe Regis from 2.1% in May 2009 to 16.1% in May 2015. This suggests that one in six of the working age population are unable to work due to illness or disability. The rise in Employment Support Allowance reflects similar rises across the County and in the country. However, the levels are much higher in Melcombe Regis (Table 14 and Figure 14).
29 Which looks at those people who are unemployed but actively seeking employment (ONS 2016) 30 Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) is a benefit for people who are unable to work due to illness or disability. ONS 2016.
22 Page 76
Table 14
Figure 14
23 Page 77
Figure 15 illustrates the latest Employment Support Allowance data for August 201631 and highlights that two-thirds of those claiming ESA have mental health related illness that prevents them from working.
Figure 15
3.2.3 Pension Credits
Employment Support Allowance and Job Seekers Allowance look at benefits for those of working age. If benefits for pensioners are considered, then Figure 16 illustrates that the proportion of older people in receipt of Pension Credit32 (paid to low income pensioners) has fallen in Melcombe Regis from 24% in 2009 to 19% in 2015. However, this is still significantly higher than for Weymouth and Portland, Dorset and England and Wales and shows that one in five of those aged 60 and over in Melcombe Regis are on low income.
31 ONS 2017 32 ONS 2016
24 Page 78
Figure 16
Table 15 highlights the high proportion of Housing Benefit Recipients living in Melcombe Regis (29%) in 2017 which compares to approximately 9% of the Borough’s population that live in the Ward. It also indicates that almost 50% of all the properties with three or more Housing Benefit Recipients are within Melcombe Regis. The data also illustrates that there are 72 properties in the ward that are classed as long term empty for Council Tax purposes which represents 30% of such properties within the borough.
Table 15
3.3 Deprivation
Melcombe Regis ward is one of the most deprived areas in Dorset. The national measure for deprivation measured at a local level is the Indices of Deprivation 201533. This looks at deprivation at Lower Super Output Area (average of 1,500 residents). There are 32,844 LSOAs in England, 249 in Dorset and 452 in Bournemouth, Dorset and Poole.
33 Indices of Deprivation 2015, DCLG
25 Page 79
There are four LSOAs in Melcombe Regis: Melcombe Regis Town Centre, Melcombe Regis Park District, Melcombe Regis Carlton Road and Melcombe Regis Lodmoor Hill. Three of these areas (Cartlton Road, Park Centre and Town Centre) are in the top ten most deprived in the County and the top 20% most deprived nationally. Table 16 illustrates the areas in Dorset including Bournemouth and Poole that are within the top 20% most deprived nationally for deprivation. The data highlights levels of deprivation that exist particularly in the Melcombe Regis and Boscombe area. More information on deprivation can be found in the appended report: Appendix1 ID2015 Report.
Table 16
4.0 Crime Data
Melcombe Regis has higher recorded levels of anti-social behaviour than any other ward in Dorset County Council’s authority area. Total crime is also very high in the Ward with a figure of 528.2 crimes per 1,000 population compared to 122.6 for Weymouth and 103.7 for England and Wales34.
High crime rates can often be exacerbated by comparatively small resident population figures in an area, although the population of Melcombe Regis is actually larger in comparison to most other
34 www.ukcrimestats.com
26 Page 80
wards in Dorset, (2015 population figures show that Melcombe Regis was the 14th most populous ward in the County, with 6,070 residents). However, the high crime rate is undoubtedly a reflection of the varied physical make-up and dynamic of the Ward – at least in part. Melcombe Regis contains both the commercial core of Weymouth, an extensive night-time economy, high proportions of transient rental residents and a predominantly younger demographic. The Ward also covers the main built-up part of the Esplanade and beach front area.
These varied characteristics present greater opportunities for the committal of a wider range and higher volume of crimes, certainly in comparison to wards that are predominantly residential in character.
A compact town centre is characterised by a peninsula land form, surrounded on three sides by water. With the railway station a key landmark in the north, the western, southern and eastern edges of the town centre all have a waterside. Within the town centre, there is well-connected network of streets, focused around a central spine connecting the station with the Town Bridge that comprises Park Street and St Thomas Street. The peninsula form is significant in that the town centre requires bridge crossings to connect it with the surrounding area. These are the Westham Bridge, Town Bridge and the A354 Bridge. These bridges have a bearing on the after dark experience in that it concentrates pedestrian movement onto just a few key routes as people make their way back home to the nearby residential areas (Figure 17). This has implications for noise and other disturbances35.
Figure 17
35 After dark consultation report - Weymouth & Portland Borough Council 2010
27 Page 81
It has been possible to undertake a limited analysis of Melcombe Regis offender data. This illustrates that between 2014 and 2016 there were just under 1,600 criminal incidents across Dorset County where the suspect lived in Melcombe Regis36 (this could, of course, include repeat offenders). Analysis of the data also indicates that over this period there were 500 criminal incidents37 reported in postcodes where HMOs38 operate and just over 1,000 crimes39 in postcodes that have properties that have been designated by the police as ‘Welfare Check Addresses’40.
These Welfare Check Addresses fall into just eleven postcodes across Melcombe Regis, but the incidents that have occurred in these areas represent a huge number of crimes (one in five, 22%, of all crimes committed in Melcombe Regis). It is important to clarify that the crimes have not necessarily occurred at the welfare address or HMO but within the same postcode. Probation statistics also show that a disproportionately high share of the overall number of offenders in the Dorset County area are attributable to Weymouth & Portland. During the period Jul 2012-Jun 2013, approximately 25% of all offenders in the Dorset County offending caseload (247 individuals in total) were drawn from the DT4 postcode district (which covers much of the urban area of Weymouth south of Radipole, and Portland). This is a noticeably higher proportion than the share of the adult resident population of Dorset – those aged 18 and over – attributable to the Weymouth & Portland local authority area (just under 16% of the total)41.
Figure 18 illustrates crime within the ward of Melcombe Regis or where a resident of Melcombe Regis has been identified as a suspect42.
The data shows a rise in total crime within the ward since 2014 (45% increase) and a fluctuation in the levels of anti-social behaviour. Crimes committed in postcodes with Houses of Multiple Occupancy43 (HMOs) have also increased (almost doubling since 2014). There has also been a significant increase in crimes reported in postcodes that are known to accommodate Welfare Check Addresses44 from approximately 370 in 2014 to just over 1,150 in 201645.
36 Dorset Police Analysis, 2017 37 Ibid. 38 Data on location of HMOs provided to Dorset Police by WPBC Housing based on an external survey (this is a guide only) 39 Ibid. 40 Classified as properties where Dorset Police undertake a welfare check where they believe the resident or residents are vulnerable to criminal activity 41 Dorset Community Safety Partnership, Nov. 2013 42 Dorset Police Analysis, 2017 43 Please note these crime occur in the same postcode rather than necessarily at the property (HMOs) 44 Please note these crime occur in the same postcode rather than necessarily at the property (Welfare Check)
45 Dorset Police Analysis, 2017
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Figure 18
Figure 18a illustrates the very high proportion of total crime and anti-social behaviour in the town centre.
Figure 18a
29 Page 83
Figure 19 highlights the rate of anti-social behaviour and total crime compared to the Borough, County and National figures46.
Figure 19
Anti-social behaviour and total crime per 1,000 population in 2016
600.0
500.0
400.0
300.0
200.0
100.0 Rate per Rate 1,000 population 0.0 Melcombe Regis Weymouth & Portland Dorset CC England and Wales Area
ASB Per 1,000 Pop Total Crime Per 1,000 Pop
4.1 When compared with other similar seaside towns across the UK, Melcombe Regis (Table 17 and Figure 20) shows higher levels of both anti-social behaviour and total crime47.
Table 17
46 Dorset Community Safety Partnership 2017 47 www.ukcrimestats.com
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Figure 20
4.2 Figure 21 looks at the proportion by ward of anti-social behaviour incidents in the Borough and compares this with the proportion of all privately rented homes in Weymouth & Portland by ward. The data48 illustrates the very high proportion of both privately rented properties and anti-social behaviour incidents in Melcombe Regis.
Figure 21
48 ONS Census 2011 and www.ukcrimestats.com
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4.2.1. Figure 22 looks at the proportion by LSOA of anti-social behaviour incidents in Melcombe Regis and compares this with the proportion of all privately rented homes in the Ward. The data49 illustrates the high proportion of both privately rented properties and anti-social behaviour incidents in Melcombe Regis Town Centre.
Figure 22
4.3 Anti-social behaviour incidents are broken down into three constuent parts for recording purposes: Environmental, Nuisance and Personal.
Environmental anti-social behaviour is classified as Graffiti, Vandalism and Environmental Offences - including litter, fly-posting and dog fouling.
Nuisance anti-social behaviour is by far the most common form of anti-social behaviour in general and involves disputes with neighbours over noise. It also includes ´other noise´ category: which can include construction noise, music from pubs and barking dogs. Another common complaint involves issues of people on the streets causing disorder, often alcohol related. Within this category are also: gangs, drugs and vehicle nuisance.
Personal anti-social behaviour covers a wide range of behaviour that is directed at a particular person such a violence, intimidation and hoax calls.
The data for 2015/16 illustrates that 84%50 (Figure 23) of the anti-social behaviour incidents recorded in Melcombe Regis are classified as nuisance types. This is approximately 10% higher than for Weymouth and the County as a whole.
49 ONS Census 2011 and www.ukcrimestats.com 50 Dorset Community Safety and Dorset Police 2017
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Figure 23
Anti-social behaviour types in Melcombe Regis
8% 8%
84%
Personal Environmental Nuisance
Figure 24 compares the proportion of pubs, clubs, bars and late night restaurants51 in Weymouth and Portland wards with anti-social behaviour incidents across Weymouth and Portland. The data illustrates a very high proportion of both of these in Melcombe Regis Ward.
Figure 24
60%
50% Percentage of Pubs, Bars, Clubs and Restaurants compared to anti-social behaviour in Weymouth Wards 40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
% Anti Social Behaviour Incidents % of all Pubs, Clubs, Bars and Restaurants
Figure 25 illustrates the data provided at a smaller geography – Lower Super Output Area level across Melcombe Regis and compares the density of these late night establishments with anti-social behaviour incidents across the ward52.
51 Calculated from OS Address Base data 2017 with tertiary classification: Pubs, Clubs, Bars and Restaurants discounting cafes and take aways not selling alcohol.
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Figure 25
The data highlights the very high proportion of both pubs, clubs, bars and restaurants and anti-social behaviour within Melcombe Regis Town Centre particularly when compared to the rest of the ward.
4.4 Figures 26 and 27 look at the distribution of anti-social behaviour and total crime across Melcombe Regis ward53 and highlight which areas of the Ward see most incidents of crime and anti- social behaviour.
52 Ibid. 53 Dorset Police Crime Data via www.ukcrimestats.com
34 Page 88
Figure 26
35 Page 89
Figure 27
36 Page 90
5.0 Health Data
5.1 Overall Health
Figure 28 indicates the higher levels of poor overall health in Melcombe Regis54. One in four residents (25%) have a limiting long term illness in Melcombe Regis, compared to 18% for England and 22% in Weymouth and Portland, and 8% rate their health as being bad or very bad. This is more significant when the relatively young age profile of the ward is also considered.
Figure 28
Health and Care Indicators
England
Dorset
Weymouth & Portland
Melcombe Regis
0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30%
Percentage of residents
Limiting Long Term Illness General Health Bad or Very Bad General Health Very Bad
5.2 Life expectancy at birth55 in Melcombe Regis (Table 18 and Figure 29) for Males is eight years less than for Dorset as a whole and five years less than for Weymouth & Portland56 and six years less than for England. Life Expectancy levels for Females are again lower, but not as significantly as for Males.
54 ONS Census 2011 55 Life expectancy at birth is defined as the average number of years that a new-born could expect to live if he or she were to pass through life subject to the age-specific mortality rates of a given period.(United Nations Population Division) 56 Local Health.org Public Health England 2016
37 Page 91
Table 18
Figure 29
Life Expectancy at Birth 86 84 82 80 78
Years 76 74 72 70 Melcombe Regis Life Weymouth & Portland Dorset Life Expectancy England Life Expectancy Expectancy at Birth Life Expectancy at Birth at Birth Years at Birth Years Years Years Area
Males Females
5.3 Figure 30 illustrates the prevalence of Asthma for patients and the data shows it is slightly higher in the GP Surgeries that serve Melcombe Regis when compared to Dorset and England as a whole57.
Figure 30
Prevalance of Asthma 2015/16
9%
8% 7% 6% 5% 4% 3% 2%
Percentgae Percentgae Prevalance 1% 0% The Bridges The Royal Dorchester Dorset England Medical Crescent Road Surgery Practice Surgery GP Surgery/Area
Data is available at a local level for the percentage of births to teenage mothers and the percentage of binge drinking adults in the resident population. The data for Melcombe Regis indicates no significant differences in the results for the ward when compared to national data58.
57 National General Practice Profiles – Public Health England 2016/17
38 Page 92
5.4 Smoking
The data from the GP Surgeries59 in Melcombe Regis (Figure 31) indicates that smoking prevalence is significantly higher in one of the surgeries and slightly higher in the other two than for England as a whole and higher in all the surgeries than for Dorset generally.
Figure 31
Estimated Smoking Prevalence
25%
20%
15%
10%
5% Percentage Percentage Prevalance
0% The Bridges The Royal Dorchester Dorset England Medical Crescent Road Surgery Practice Surgery GP Surgery/Area
6.0 Resident Satisfaction and priorities
6.1 In 2008, residents of Dorset including those in Melcombe Regis took part in a ‘Place Survey’ to gather benchmark data on levels of satisfaction, priorities and issues (Table 19).
The data for Melcombe Regis indicated that affordable decent housing, levels of crime and clean streets were the top priorities for residents in the area. The data also indicates a high proportion of residents in the area concerned about anti-social behaviour (the last five questions).
58 Localhealth.org – Public Health England 2016/17 59 National General Practice Profiles – Public Health England 2016/17
39 Page 93
Table 19
Place Survey Question Melcombe Borough Rank60 Regis Percentage of respondents satisfied with their 82% 85% 10 local area as a place to live? Percentage of respondents that feel they 51% 60% 12 belong to their neighbourhood? Percentage of respondents who think public 70% 69% 7 services in their area are working to make the area safer? Percentage of respondents who feel that they 30% 25% 5 can influence decisions affecting their local area? Percentage of respondents who agree that 77% 77% 6 their area is a place where people from different backgrounds get on well together? Percentage of respondents who think there is a 43% 29% 13 problem with people not treating each other with respect and consideration in their local area? Percentage of respondents that feel safe when 40% 56% 14 outside in their local area after dark? Percentage of respondents who agree that the 27% 27% 6 police and other local public services seek people's views about anti-social behaviour and crime issues in their local area? Percentage of respondents who agree that the 39% 30% 2 police and other local public services are successfully dealing with anti-social behaviour and crime issues in their local area? Percentage of respondents who feel there is a problem with the following, in their local area? Teenagers Hanging around streets 60% 42% 13 Rubbish or litter lying around 47% 35% 12 Vandalism, graffiti and other deliberate 46% 31% 12 damage to property or vehicles People using or dealing drugs 66% 32% 15 People being drunk or rowdy in public places 69% 35% 15
Worse than borough average within 10% of borough average better than borough average
60 The individual wards are ranked from 1 to 15 with the highest (most satisfied residents) ranked 1 and the least ranked 15.
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7.0 In Summary
7.1 Housing & Living Environment
In terms of housing, Melcombe Regis ward is substantially different to many of the wards in Dorset; with a significantly high proportion of private rental stock. Not only is this the case when compared to the local Weymouth and Portland average but also in comparison to the national figure. The Ward has a very high level of bedsits and flats (70%). There are 30 licensed HMOs in Melcombe Regis most of which are within the three LSOAs outside the town centre. One bedroom flats are cheaper to rent in the Ward than elsewhere in the Borough. The condition of housing in Melcombe Regis is poorer than the rest of the Borough with one in six households in the Ward classified as overcrowded and the proportion with central heating in the Ward is lower than the Borough and the County. In addition one in three of all enquiries to the Housing Department come from properties in Melcombe Regis.
The Ward is also an area where there are high levels of supported temporary housing offered to vulnerable adults by partner organisations with 100 residential units providing accommodation for 120 residents. The Ward is also known to host temporary accommodation for probation services, although details of that provision are not available.
7.2 Population and Health
The overall demographic profile for the Ward highlights a younger age profile when compared to the Borough and the County but slightly older than the national average. Melcombe Regis has a significantly greater proportion of males than females in the 25 to 39 age group. There is also a higher proportion of young children (under 10) in the Ward compared to the Borough and County as a whole.
There is a higher number of residents from Black and Minority Ethnic Groups in Melcombe Regis than for Weymouth as a whole. The highest proportion of these is classified as White Other.
Poor levels of health have seen a very high proportion of the working age population claiming Employment Support Allowance. Life expectancy is significantly lower in Melcombe Regis than elsewhere in Weymouth and particularly so for males.
7.3 Deprivation
Much of the Ward is within the top 20% most deprived in the country when measured by the national indices of deprivation 2015. Three out of four of the LSOAs in the Ward are within the top 20% most deprived nationally: Melcombe Regis Carlton Road, Town Centre and Park District. In addition 29% of the borough’s Housing Benefit claimants live in Melcombe Regis.
7.4 Crime
The Ward is also subject to much higher Anti-social Behaviour Incidents and Total Crime when compared to the Borough, County, England & Wales. Total Crime has risen in the Ward over the past three years. And crime rates are also higher when compared to a selection of seaside resorts.
41 Page 95
The geographical distribution of crime and anti-social behaviour indicates particular areas of the Ward with very high numbers of these incidents - particularly around the railway station and in the commercial heart of the town. 84% of all anti-social behavioural incidents that occur in the Ward are nuisance incidents, this figure is 10% higher than the proportion in Weymouth & Portland and Dorset as a whole where nuisance incidents are recorded as 75%. The greatest proportion of these are within the town centre. Levels of crime occurring in postcodes with HMOs are significant and those occurring in postcodes with ‘Welfare Check Properties’ are very high (over 1,000 incidents) and both have risen over the past three years.
The area has a much higher proportion of pubs, bars, clubs and restaurants than the other wards in the Borough – within the Ward the greatest concentration (87%) of these is within Melcombe Regis Town Centre.
7.5 Community Satisfaction
Perception of the local area from residents, albeit from a survey in 2008, illustrates a ward where 82% of residents are satisfied with the area as a place to live only slightly lower than for Weymouth as a whole. But there are particular concerns over anti-social behaviour and community safety, however, residents do feel that public services are trying to tackle the issue. The highest priorities for the residents in 2008 were affordable decent housing, levels of crime and clean streets.
Produced by Research and Policy, Dorset County Council, May 2017
42 Page 96 Page 97 This page is intentionally left blank
Mr Stuart Caundle Assistant Chief Executive Weymouth & Portland Borough Council Council Offices Commercial Road Weymouth DT4 8NG
30 November 2018
Dear Mr Caundle
I refer to the proposal for the Selective Licensing Scheme within the ward of Melcombe Regis, which was presented at the Melcombe Regis board on 4 October 2018, and subsequently circulated to all board members.
I wish to formally offer, and record, my full support for the scheme, as the Police and Crime Commissioner for Dorset.
As we know, and as is widely documented, Melcombe Regis has higher recorded levels of anti- social behaviour than any other ward in Dorset County Council’s authority area and total crime is also very high in the ward.
I remain passionate over the key role of the Melcombe Regis Board, to bring agencies together to understand the complex relationships between the factors affecting health and well-being, to help give direction and remove obstacles, and, to enable change. As such, I consider the Selective Licensing Scheme to sit firmly within the objectives of the Board. The overall ethos of this scheme is that it will work with our communities to seek to protect those people at risk of harm and indeed the potential benefits for the community are overwhelming. The scheme will drive up accommodation conditions and standards, thereby improving wellbeing and health outcomes. This ambition very much works towards my PCC commitments and overall policing objectives arising from the Police and Crime Plan 2017/2021, in particular, protecting people at risk of harm , and, working with our communities .
As you know, I have already committed resources and support to the area of Melcombe Regis. I am pleased to have co-funded both the Weymouth Community Safety Accreditation Scheme, to be utilised primarily in the Melcombe Regis area of the town, and also to have co-funded the Melcombe Regis Capacity Worker.
I continue to remain supportive of the Melcombe Regis Board, and all that we collectively achieve.
Yours sincerely
Martyn Underhill Police and Crime Commissioner
Page 99 This page is intentionally left blank Public Health Dorset Princes House Princes Street Dorchester Dorset DT1 1TP
Telephone: 01305 225880 Email: [email protected]
To whom it may concern.
Ref: Public Health Dorset Support for a Licensing Scheme within Melcombe Regis Ward
Public Health Dorset are keen to lend their support to the development of a selective licensing scheme within the ward of Melcombe Regis.
The evidence is very clear on the importance of safe, warm, appropriate and good quality homes have on people’s health and wellbeing. We wholly support this initiative as a way to support the improvement of the standard of accommodation available to residents living in Melecombe Regis.
We already work very closely with the Borough and as part of the Melcombe Regis Board. As part of the multi-agency partnership board we quickly identified the need to improve the situation facing the residents in private rental sector accommodation within the ward and were made aware of a number of cases where people were living in very poor quality accommodation which had a disproportionately negative impact on their health, both physically and mentally. This is particularly of concern as it often impacts on the more vulnerable members of our community.
In addition to our continued and ongoing work with the Healthy Homes Dorset and HEAT Melcombe Regis programme, we would welcome any future involvement in this area of work. We would be happy to either help shape how this develops and indeed evaluate the impact on the health and wellbeing on the residents within the ward if this scheme is adopted.
Best wishes
Rachel Partridge
Assistant Director of Public Health
Page 101 This page is intentionally left blank Superintendent Caroline Naughton Neighbourhood Policing and Partnerships Dorset County
Dorset Police Weymouth Police Station Assistant Chief Executive Stuart Caundle Radipole Lane Weymouth & Portland Borough Council Weymouth Council Offices Dorset Commercial Road DT4 9WW Weymouth Dorset Phone: 101 ext. 776 6543 DT4 8NG Email: [email protected]
15 November 2018
Dear Mr Caundle
Support for the Licensing Scheme within Melcombe Regis
The purpose of this letter is to express my support for the selective licensing scheme within the Melcombe Regis Ward.
Dorset Police are actively involved in the Melcombe Regis area and are a committed partner to the Melcombe Regis Board arrangements. We clearly recognise the benefits that the introduction of a selective licensing scheme will be bring to the area, and the positive implications it will have in reducing crime and anti-social behaviour, improving the quality of life for local residents, supporting and maintaining health and well-being for local people and improving the living environment for the community. Through these key benefits we also recognise that wider improvements are likely to be gained, particularly for local businesses and tourism.
As an area of high deprivation and higher than average crime levels we have implemented a range of measures to support the local community and drive the work of the Melcombe Regis Board. Dorset Police currently contribute towards the funding of a community worker, and we have played an active part in supporting the introduction of community safety accredited officers within the area through the CSAS scheme, by providing accommodation, training and logistical support. Financial support has also been provided to the scheme from the Police & Crime Commissioner for Dorset – Mr Martyn Underhill.
Our commitment to Melcombe Regis has also resulted in the introduction of a dedicated Police Officer from our Neighbourhood Policing team who works closely with partners in delivering wider problem solving within Melcombe Regis. Through the introduction of the national ‘Police Now’ initiative we are also dedicating two ‘Police Now’ officers into Melcombe Regis. One will be focused on the neighbourhood policing issues within the area, and the other will focus on the emerging drug and
Protective Marking Status Page 103 violent crime issues that are linked to the ‘County Lines’ drug networks. Dorset Police have committed these officers to Melcombe Regis for two years and we will continue to play an active part in supporting the regeneration of the area, reducing crime and anti-social behaviour, and improving the quality of life for local residents and people visiting the area for work or travel.
Moving forward we are keen to develop more inclusive partnership engagement to support regeneration and would hope that funding realised from the licensing fee could be reinvested to improve the look and feel of the area and help design out crime through effective landscaping and urban design. We would also welcome re- investment in services for young people and diversion schemes aimed at those affected by alcohol and substance misuse.
In conclusion we are confident that the introduction of the selective licensing scheme will lead to a range of improvements to the Melcombe Regis area, and vitally support the quality of life and health for the local people, help reduce crime and anti-social behaviour, and improve the levels of satisfaction for residents, businesses and visitors to the area.
Yours sincerely
Caroline Naughton Superintendent
15/11/18 ProtectivePage Marking 104 Status Page 2 of 2 Princes House Princes Street Dorchester, Dorset DT1 1TP
Telephone: 01305 225459
[email protected] Councils working together DX: DX 8716 Dorchester Website: www.dorsetforyou.com Stuart Caundle Assistant Chief Executive Date: 13 November 2018 Weymouth & Portland Borough Council Ask for: Council Offices My ref: Commercial Road Weymouth Dorset DT4 8NG
Dear Stuart
Support for Licensing Scheme within Melcombe Regis Ward, Weymouth
I am writing to offer the Dorset Waste Partnership's support for the above licensing scheme.
The draft conditions within the scheme make up to date provision for external areas, refuse and waste to allow us to carry out our statutory waste and cleansing activities in the most efficient and effective manner.
Our experience has shown that in the past some landlords in Melcombe Regis have not allowed adequate space for waste containers or provided important information to tenants about their waste collection service, and in some cases allowing fly tipping in the alley-ways. This has resulted in containers and bags being left out on the wrong day, or being missed, which can then lead to refuse and litter being spread over the roads and pavements, and additional cleansing resource being organised by DWP to clean it up.
I therefore very much welcome the licensing scheme as it aims to improve not only waste collection and the street scene but with the other measures, improved health and living environment overall for the residents of Melcombe Regis.
Yours sincerely
Karyn Punchard Director Dorset Waste Partnership
Page 105 This page is intentionally left blank Page 107 This page is intentionally left blank Appendix IV. Map of proposed area for designation.
Page 109 This page is intentionally left blank Appendix V
LIST OF STREETS WITHIN THE PROPOSED DESIGNATION AREA
ALEXANDRA GARDENS ARCADE ASTRID WAY AVENUE ROAD BATH STREET BELLE VUE BLOCKHOUSE LANE BOND STREET BROWNLOW STREET BROWNLOW WALK CAROLINE PLACE CASSIOBURY ROAD CHARLES STREET CHELMSFORD STREET CHELMSFORD WALK CHURCH PASSAGE CLIFTON PLACE COBURG PLACE COMMERCIAL ROAD CONEYGAR LANE COSENS QUAY CRESCENT STREET CUSTOM HOUSE QUAY DERBY STREET DERBY WALK EAST STREET EDWARD STREET FREDERICK PLACE GLOUCESTER MEWS GLOUCESTER STREET GOVERNORS LANE GRANGE ROAD GREAT GEORGE STREET HARBOURSIDE WALKWAY ANGLING CLUB SECTION HARBOURSIDE WALKWAY THROUGH TO WESTHAM BRIDGE CAR PARK HARDWICK STREET HELEN LANE JOHN STREET LENNOX STREET LOWER BOND STREET LOWER ST ALBAN STREET LOWER ST EDMUND STREET MAIDEN STREET
Page 111 Appendix V
MARKET STREET MELCOMBE PLACE MITCHELL STREET MULBERRY TERRACE MUSGRAVE PLACE NEW BOND STREET NEW BOND STREET SPUR TO ST NICHOLAS STREET NEW STREET PARK STREET PENNY STREET PILGRIMS WAY QUEBEC PLACE FORMER STREET NOW STOPPED UP QUEEN STREET RANELAGH ROAD RANELAGH WALK SCHOOL STREET SOUTH PARADE ST ALBAN STREET ST EDMUND STREET ST MARY STREET ST NICHOLAS STREET ST NICHOLAS STREET SPUR TO REAR OF WHITE HART ST THOMAS STREET STANLEY STREET STANLEY WALK TERMINUS STREET THE ESPLANADE PART ON SEAWARD SIDE OF ALEXANDER GARDENS THROUGH TO THE QUAY THE ESPLANADE ROW THE ESPLANADE SUBWAY INCLUDING STEPS AND RAMPS TURTON STREET UPWAY STREET VICTORIA STREET WATERLOO PLACE WESLEY STREET WEST STREET WESTHAM ROAD WILLIAM STREET WOOPERTON STREET
Note: Some streets may not have residential property within them but have been included as they are within the proposed designated area.
Page 112 Draft Conditions for Selective Licensing of the Private Rented Sector in Melcombe Regis
The following are the licence conditions to which the Licence Holder (or their nominated agent where specified) must adhere, as required by section 90 and Schedule 4, Housing Act 2004. If you do not understand the requirements, please contact the Council who will be able to help you.
In these conditions, “house” is meant to refer to the building or part of a building, which is licensed under Part 3 of the Housing Act 2004.
“Authority” is meant to refer to the local housing authority, namely Weymouth and Portland Borough Council.
Item Condition Housing Act 2004 Prescribed Conditions:
Gas If gas is supplied to the house, the Licence Holder must produce to the council annually for their inspection, a gas safety certificate obtained in respect of the house within the last 12 months.
Electrical The Licence Holder must keep all electrical appliances and furniture Appliances supplied in a safe condition and must supply the Council, on demand, a and furniture declaration as to the safety of such appliances and furniture.
Smoke Alarms The Licence Holder must ensure that smoke alarms are installed on each storey of the house on which there is a room used wholly or partly as living accommodation; keep them in proper working order; and must supply the authority, on demand, with a declaration by him as to the condition and positioning of such alarms.
Carbon The Licence Holder must ensure that a carbon monoxide alarm is Monoxide installed in any room in the house which is used wholly or partly as living Alarms accommodation and contains a solid fuel burning combustion appliance; keep any such alarm in proper working order; and supply the Council, on demand, with a declaration by him as to the condition and positioning of any such alarm.
N.B Reference to a room includes a hall or landing. Tenant The Licence Holder must obtain references from all persons who wish to References occupy the house. The Licence Holder shall provide a copy of the said references to the Council on demand.
Terms of The Licence Holder must provide each occupier of the house with a Occupation written statement of the conditions of the terms on which they occupy the house. The Licence Holder shall provide a copy of the said terms to the authority on demand.
Scheme specific conditionsPage 113
HMO08 Property The Licence Holder must provide every tenant with information relating to Management their occupation of the property. The statement must include information relating to:
The management of deposits by the Licence Holder; Details of any deposit required, what it covers and arrangements for return; An inventory of contents; (See below) Details of rent payable and payment dates; Details of any utilities (gas, electric, water) and any other payments included in the rent; The responsibility for payment of Council Tax; Refuse disposal arrangements (See below); and Contact details for reporting faults.
The Licence Holder shall provide a copy of the information to the Council on demand.
The Licence Holder must ensure that the occupiers of the house are provided with written details of the following on commencement of the tenancy;
● Name and address of the Licence Holder or managing agent ● A contact address, daytime telephone number ● An emergency contact telephone number
In multiply occupied property this information must be clearly displayed within the house. Where the property is occupied by a single household, the Licence Holder shall provide the tenants with a copy of the licence certificate and conditions which is in force.
The emergency number for the Licence Holder/agent or representative shall also be made available and must be notified to the Council.
The Licence Holder must ensure: a) All occupants of the house receive written confirmation detailing arrangements in place to deal with repairs and emergencies and to report nuisance and anti-social behaviour.
b) If accommodation is provided on a furnished basis and includes electrical appliances, the Licence Holder must provide the occupier copies of user manuals for equipment provided as part of the agreement for the occupation of the house.
c) Throughout the period of the licence, that the electrical appliances provided by the landlord are covered by a valid portable appliance test (PAT) certificate. Where a PAT certificate expires during the term of the licence, an up-to-date certificate must be provided to the Council within 28 days of the expiry date.
d) A detailed inventory (including waste and recycling containers) is agreed with each occupant upon commencement of their occupation of the house and kept on filePage by the 114 Licence Holder at their business address. The Council’s Housing team may be able to assist with this condition.
e) Where the property is a house in multiple occupation the Licence Holder must produce to the council annually for their inspection, a Fire Detection & Alarm System Certificate (in accordance with BS5839) obtained in respect of the house within the last 12 months.
f) All occupiers are made aware of the licence and conditions.
g) The water supply or drainage system, or the gas or electricity supply that is used by the occupiers of the house is not unreasonably interrupted.
h) The Licence Holder and/or his manager must ensure that the property is inspected at regular intervals, of at least once every 12 months, to ensure that the conditions of the tenancy agreement are being adhered too. Should the Licence Holder receive a complaint about the property or tenancy, the Licence Holder and/or his manager must ensure that the property is inspected to investigate such complaint. For example, if a complaint was made with regards to the accumulation of rubbish in the garden of the property. Similarly in the event that payments of two months’ rent are missed, a visit must be made to the property to advise of debt counselling services, or to ensure that the property is secure, tidy and has not been abandoned.
Security / The Licence Holder must ensure that:- Crime a) Where a burglar alarm is fitted to the house, the occupant must be informed in writing the circumstances under which the code for the alarm can be changed, and provide details when required on how this can be arranged.
b) Where lockable alley gates are installed to the rear of the licensed property, the Licence Holder must take responsibility for holding a key and make satisfactory arrangements for the occupiers’ access.
c) All new occupants must be provided with appropriate crime prevention information including written information advising how they can reduce the likelihood of being a victim of burglary by ensuring that all reasonable steps are taken to secure the house e.g., by locking external doors, closing and locking windows, security marking personal belongings.
d) All new occupants must be provided with details of the Neighbourhood Police Team.
The team can be contacted by phoning 101, via an Online Form at the Dorset Police Website, or email to [email protected]
Further useful information can be found on the ASK NED section of the Dorset Police Website. Page 115 External The Licence Holder must ensure that:- areas, Refuse and Waste a) The exterior of the property is maintained in a reasonable decorative order and state of repair;
b) All outbuildings, yards, forecourts and gardens surrounding the house are maintained, in repair and kept in a clean, tidy and safe condition, free of graffiti, accumulations of waste, fly tipping deposits and infestations.
c) Any tenant likely to qualify for an assisted collection service from DWP is signposted to that service and arrangements made for the collection of waste from the property. An application can be made online at dorsetforyou.com or by phone on 01305 221040.
d) All tenants have access to waste and recycling containers sufficient for the number of occupants, and that these containers provide adequate means of separation of waste and recycling by type, as per the guidance issued by the Dorset Waste Partnership on. https://www.dorsetforyou.gov.uk/bins-recycling-and-litter/about-the-dorset- waste-partnership-and-recycle-for-dorset.aspx .
e) Where necessary for the emptying of waste and recycling containers from secure areas, the Council has the required access key / code or specific arrangements are made with the Dorset Waste Partnership.
f) All refuse containers are returned within the curtilage of the property on the same day that they are emptied by the Council.
g) Arrangements are made immediately for the proper collection and disposal of any rubbish additional to that within the bins and such rubbish is stored within the curtilage of the property, at the rear if feasible.
h) Any kind of refuse which the Council will not ordinarily collect (e.g. large items, hazardous waste) is disposed of responsibly and appropriately.
i) Tenants are provided with, at the commencement of the tenancy, information packs regarding waste and recycling services including collection dates and how to present their waste for collection, including the requirement to return the refuse containers to the property on the same day they are emptied by the Dorset Waste Partnership.
DWP contact details are:
On-line:dorsetforyou.com/recycle Tel: (01305) 221040 Twitter: @recycle4Dorset
Page 116 Management/ The Licence Holder must take reasonable and practical steps to reduce or Anti-social prevent Anti-Social Behaviour or criminal activity by persons occupying or behaviour visiting the house and the use of premises for illegal purposes, including making an informed choice on letting a property.
In particular the Licence Holder shall:
a) Produce a written action plan detailing procedures for investigating and resolving complaints of Anti-Social Behaviour or criminal activity associated with the property. The action plan shall incorporate an incremental process of investigation of any complaints which have been made either directly to them, or via the Council, regarding their occupiers, or visitors to the property, and include the name, address, telephone number, mobile telephone number and email address of the person(s) responsible for responding to such complaints or any emergency at the property.
b) Submit the action plan to the council within 28 days of the issue of this licence.
c) Provide a copy of the action plan to each tenant on the date they first occupy the house and require said tenants to sign a declaration that they have received a copy. (Appendix A);
d) Retain a copy of all declarations signed by tenants for the duration of this licence.
e) Ensure that an up to date register is maintained of all complaints of Anti-Social Behaviour or criminal activity associated with the property and retain the register for the duration of this licence (Appendix B);
f) Use all reasonable endeavours to investigate and resolve complaints of Anti-Social Behaviour or criminal activity associated with the property in accordance with the action plan including taking a range of appropriate actions including the taking of legal advice, issuing formal written warnings to tenants and / or possession proceedings and provide on demand, written records of any such investigation to the Council.
g) Ensure that all new tenants receive a written statement of the terms and conditions on which the house is occupied which contains a clause holding the occupants responsible for any Anti-Social Behaviour or criminal activity by themselves and/or their visitors.
h) Ensure that the occupants of the house are aware of the services available to them and how they can report nuisance and Anti-Social Behaviour to the Council.
i) Ensure that tenant references obtained prior to granting a tenancy refer to previous tenancy conduct, including behaviour of the proposed tenant and household. The Licence Holder needs to have due regard to what the reference says and be satisfied that the tenant is not likely to cause any Anti-Social Behaviour, or take part in criminal activities.
j) Upon receipt of a referencePage 117 request for a current or former tenant for the purposes of an application to rent a property from another Licence Holder, respond to the request in writing within a reasonable period. . k) Make regular inspections of the property to ensure that the property is in a decent state of repair and that the occupiers are not in breach of tenancy terms and conditions.
l) Provide upon request to the Council information regarding the full names and dates of birth of each occupant.
Energy The Licence Holder must provide the occupier with a copy of the operating Efficiency and manual for any boiler or other heating appliance provided within the Affordable property and advise the occupier of the most efficient use of any such occupation appliance.
The Licence Holder must not unreasonably restrict the occupier from changing energy supplier or tariff should such a change be considered to be economically advantageous to the occupier.
The Licence Holder must not unreasonably refuse the provision of affordable energy efficiency improvements that have either been recommended in an EPC report, or independent surveyors report.
The Licence Holder must not unreasonably refuse permission for the occupier to elect to have a water meter installed, should such an installation be considered economically advantageous to the occupier.
The Licence Holder must ensure that all tenants are signposted to appropriate support services available from both statutory agencies and the voluntary sector. The council currently lists services available on
https://www.dorsetforyou.gov.uk/housing/pdfs/weymouth-and-portland- directory-of-services.pdf
Occupation The Licence Holder must ensure that rooms other than bedrooms are not used for sleeping purposes
Notification/ The Licence Holder and his managing agent must inform the Housing team Consultation of the authority within ten working days of any changes in their of Changes circumstances as follows:
a) Details of any unspent convictions not previously disclosed to the Local Authority that may be relevant to the Licence Holder and/or the property manager and their fit and proper person status and in particular any such conviction in respect of any offence involving fraud or dishonesty, or violence or drugs or any offence listed in Schedule 3 to the Sexual Offences Act 2003;
b) Details of any finding by a court or tribunal against the Licence Holder and /or the manager that he/she has practiced unlawful discrimination on grounds of sex, colour, race, ethnic or national origin or disability in, or in connection with, the carrying on of any business;
c) Details of any contraventionPage 118 on the part of the Licence Holder or manager of any provision of any enactment relating to housing, public health, environmental health or landlord and tenant law which led to civil or criminal proceedings resulting in a judgment or finding being made against him/her;
d) Information about any property the Licence Holder or manager owns or manages or has owned or managed which has been the subject of any appropriate enforcement action described in section 5(2) of the Housing Act 2004;
e) Information about any property the Licence Holder or manager owns or manages or has owned or managed for which a local housing authority has refused to grant a licence under Part 2 or 3 of the Act, or has revoked a licence in consequence of the Licence Holder breaching the conditions of his/her licence;
f) Information about any property the Licence Holder or manager owns or manages or has owned or managed that has been the subject of an interim or final management order under the Housing Act 2004;
g) Change in managing agent or the instruction of a managing agent;
h) Change of address of Licence Holder or Landlord
i) The undertaking of any substantial works to the property including conversions and modernisations.
Absence The Licence Holder is required to have in place suitable emergency and other management arrangements in the event of their absence.
The name and contact details of the Licence Holder and/or manager must be supplied to each occupier; must also be on display in a prominent place, and updated immediately any changes are made..
General The Licence Holder will not discriminate against prospective occupiers of the house on the grounds of race, disability, gender, religion or sexual orientation.
The Licence Holder must ensure that all information and documents that are provided by the landlord to their tenants are in a language/form that they can understand.
The Licence Holder will be expected to apply to be a member of the Councils Landlords’ Local Authority Partnership (LLAP), a free to join forum for the benefit of landlords promoting good management practice.
Appendix A Declaration: Anti-Social Behaviour
The Housing Act 2004 section 57 (5) defines “anti-social behaviour” as conduct on the part of occupiers of, or visitors to, residential premisesPage – 119 a) which causes or is likely to cause a nuisance or annoyance to persons residing, visiting or otherwise engaged in lawful activities in the vicinity of such premises, or b) which involves or is likely to involve the use of such premises for illegal purposes.
The signed declaration below confirms that I have received a copy of the Landlords’ action plan for dealing with complaints of anti-social behaviour and that I am aware of my responsibilities detailed in my tenancy agreement.
ADDRESS OF PROPERTY :
Room Licence Holder/ Tenants full name Number/Name & Signature Date Manager (Capitals) Location e.g. (If (Tenants) Signature/Date appropriate)
Contact Information
Should residents, tenants or the Licence Holder wish to make a complaint or discuss a situation involving anti-social behaviour please contact:
Dorset Councils Partnership https://www.dorsetforyou.gov.uk/asb General 01305Page 251010 120 Out of Office Hours 01305 838427 Anti-Social Behaviour Team 01202 226570
Dorset Police www.dorset.police.uk/contact-us/ 101 for non-emergency calls 999 for emergency calls
Page 121 Appendix B Anti – Social Behaviour Complainants Register
Date and Name & Date & Location Details of incident Details of Name & Action Licence time Address of time of of (what exactly any other Address of Holder has taken to complaint complainant incident incident happened) witnesses the alleged resolve the problem (Yes/No) perpetrator Page 122 Page
Licence Holder signature:…………………………………………………..Date: ………………………………………………. Appendix V. Example Risk Assessment.
Possible Likelihood Impact Total Controls effects of Designation Landlords do Unlikely Major Medium Full consultation not licence to be their undertaken properties Active campaign promoting landlord licensing Reduced fee for early applications Appropriate and effective use of enforcement where necessary Displacement Unlikely Major Medium No evidence of of this in previous unprofessional designation (in landlords to Salford) other areas PRS actually increased in size in area during previous designation (In Salford) No evidence of landlords selling and moving out of area as a result of designation (In Salford) Work with/support/tra in landlords to promote/encour age satisfactory management arrangements Increased cost Almost Minor Medium Proposals for to landlords certain reduced fee for early applications Ability to pay a fee over proposed 2 year period Interest free
Page 123 Appendix V. Example Risk Assessment.
instalment option proposed
Licence fee Moderate Minor Low No evidence this passed to has occurred in tenants rent previous scheme (In Salford) Reduction in turnover Reputable Unlikely Moderate Medium No evidence this landlords has occurred in ceased previous scheme operating to (In Salford) avoid licensing regime Restricting the Unlikely Major Medium No evidence this growth of the has occurred in private rented previous scheme sector (In Salford) PRS actually increased in size in area during previous designation (In Salford)
Risk matrix used
Likelihood Impacts Insignificant Minor Moderate Major Catastrophic Almost Medium Medium High High High certain Likely Low Medium Medium High High Moderate Low Low Medium High High Unlikely Low Low Medium Medium High Rare Low Low Low Medium Medium
Page 124 Agenda Item 8
Management Committee 11 December 2018 Public art project in Weymouth – consultation results and design brief
For Decision
Portfolio Holder: Cllr Richard Kosior – Tourism, Culture & Harbour
Senior Leadership Team Contact: M Hamilton,Strategic Director
Report Author: T. Hurley, Leisure Commissioning Manager
Statutory Authority Localism Act 2011 – ‘general power of competence’.
Purpose of Report
1. To present to the committee a report on the public consultation undertaken to inform the public art project in Weymouth and seek agreement as to the brief for implementation of the project.
Officer Recommendations
2. That Management Committee notes the consultation results as summarised in Appendix A;
3. That Management Committee approved the project implementation brief as set out in Appendix B subject to the following optional variations to the project:
a) that the project is undertaken by a single, lead artist who is urged to make use of local craft-workers and engage with local students and artists;
or
b) that the project is undertaken by commissioning different artists to each produce one artistic installation and that will collectively form the trail.
c) that the project attempts to integrate water refill stations in to some of the artistic installations and to do so in partnership with Wessex Water. Page 125 Reason for Decision
3. To enable Management Committee to take forward the Action Plan objective of creating a sculpture trail in the borough.
Background and Reason Decision Needed
4. At its meeting in December 2017, the Committee allocated £123,000 to a sculpture trail for the borough. Given the scale and complexity of this public art project it is recommended that it is, in accordance with best practice, undertaken in two stages.
Stage One: Consultation, design selection and identifying what permissions are required (e.g. planning permission). The retention of specialist project management expertise to oversee the process would ease capacity issues within the existing workforce.
Stage Two: The costed designs and implementation requirements will be presented to Management Committee for consideration and approval – along with estimates of future maintenance costs.
5. The local arts organisation B-side was commissioned to undertake stage one of the project (consultation) and also to prepare a brief for the subsequent implementation stage. The consultation programme comprised online survey and also an innovative ‘walk-talk-art’ technique, whereby residents and visitors were invited to give their views by taking part in a guided walk around the town, particularly in the areas where the sculpture trial might be installed. The results of this consultation are set out in the executive summary report, Appendix A. More detailed reports on the consultation findings are available and will be used to inform the implementation stage.
6. In response to the consultation, B-side produced a brief for the council to use to procure a lead artists to design, fabricate and install the sculpture trail. This brief is set out in Appendix B.
7. During the research for this project, B-side explored the potential for the public art installations to perhaps include water refill units – thereby providing the public with the opportunity refill drinking water bottles and help reduce single-use plastics. This concept fitted well with aspects of Weymouth history and picked up on general public concern about the use of plastics. Discussions with Wessex Water highlighted their interest in this concept and potential to fund the on-going costs of water supply to the refill units.
8. Consultation with the Member Arts Advisory Panel did, however, highlight the following member concerns:
a) The trail should preferably be produced by a variety of artists, perhaps a different artist for each installation; b) Where possible, Dorset-basedPage artists126 should be employed; c) The inclusion of water refill units should be a secondary concern and not detract from the primary artistic purpose of each installation.
9. The advice of B-side, based on the organisations extensive local experience and expertise, is that it would be preferable to appoint a lead artist to design and oversee the creation of the whole trail, in order to ensure continuity and a coherent style throughout. Whereas, employing different artists for each installation would be more expensive and result in a fragmented concept.
10. The brief for the next stage of the project (going from design to installation), as set out in Appendix B, is therefore based on the advice of B-side. However, in order to reflect the views of the Member Arts Advisory Panel, this report requires Management Committee to decide to amend the brief to introduce the concept of different artists per installation and whether or not include water refill stations. These options, are set out in recommendation 3 above, can be summarised as follows:
The brief is amended to provide for different artists to work on the trail and each to produce a single installation. The trail would, therefore, comprise a series of artistic installations / sculptures each produced by a different artist. This is in contract to the approach current recommended by B-side, whereby one artist leads on the creation of the whole trail but perhaps collaborates with different craftspeople on each installation.
The brief currently includes the potential for included water refill points in some of the installations (depending on available water supply) and to do so in partnership with Wessex Water. However, members are presented with the option of removing this concept from the brief.
11. A budget of £110,700 is available for this project and it is proposed that up to £25,000 is allocated to the contract for the detailed design of the trail as per the brief (Appendix A). This will leave the remainder of the budget for fabrication and installation. In addition, the creation of a temporary busking/performance space will be commissioned within the existing budget.
12. As the project develops, a discussion will need to take place between Weymouth Town Council and Dorset Council as to short-term responsibility for the implementation of the project and long-term responsibility for maintenance.
Implications
13. Corporate Plan. Empowering Thriving and Inclusive Communities. The need to develop sculpture trail is also identified in the Management Committee’s Action Plan.
14. Financial. A budget of £123,000 was allocated by Management Committee to this project and following public consultation and research and preparation of the brief, £110,700 remains available for implementation. Page 127 15. Equalities. Consideration will need to be given to ensuring that any supported arts projects are accessible to all sections of the community.
16. Economic Development. Arts events and installations can make a significant contribution to economic growth.
17. Risk Management (including Health & Safety). With regard to the programme of public arts / sculpture trail, there are a range of risks that need to be considered. These risks include: the possibility that not all the proposed installations will be able to secure planning consent (if required); reputational risk if there is not significant public support for the designs; and possible long-term maintenance costs that may not be affordable and for which there is currently no budget.
Consultation and Engagement
18. Consultation has been undertaken with the briefholder for culture (Cllr Kosior) and the Member Arts Advisory Panel.
Appendices
19. Appendix A – Consultation executive summary report prepared by B-side. September 2018. Appendix B – Draft brief for implementation of the project.
Background Papers
20. WalkTalkArt full consultation report. B-side and Mark Simons. September 2018.
Footnote
21. Issues relating to financial, environmental, economic and equalities implications have been considered and any information relevant to the decision is included within the report.
Report Authors: Tony Hurley (Leisure Commissioning Manager). Telephone: 01305 252317 Email: [email protected]
Page 128 WalkTalkArt Weymouth Executive Summary Report of Public Art Consultation Prepared by Carolyn Black, Consultant for b-side September 2018 Page 129 Page $2tlpi2rn.docx
Outline to consultation ...... 3 Aims of consultation ...... 3 Methodology...... 3 The Walks Through Weymouth...... 4 Marketing...... 5 The route of the walks ...... 5 Key findings ...... 5 Responses to the questions (not all included in this summary)...... 5 Tell us about the things you love about Weymouth (open text question) ...... 5
Page 130 Page Is it important that the new artwork has a practical function (such as a water fountain or bandstand) or not? and can you tell us why? (as many answers as you wish)...... 7 Are you more interested in the art being a single piece of work or a series of works that are located throughout the town? (multiple choice)7 Are there any particular areas in the town that would benefit from the inclusion of public art, and why? (answers not limited to one)...... 8 How does it currently feel to walk through the town and is it possible for public art to improve this experience? (multiple choice) ...... 8 How do you think art could change visitors and resident’s perception of Weymouth? (open text box) ...... 9 Do you have a story of your own to share with us about Weymouth? (open text box)...... 9 Conclusions & recommendations to inform the commissioning brief...... 11 Locations ...... 11 Type of artwork...... 11 The Construction...... 11 Permanent AND temporary ...... 11 Visibility...... 12
2 $2tlpi2rn.docx OUTLINE TO CONSULTATION Weymouth & Portland Borough Council asked for people’s thoughts to help shape an artist brief, with the aim of delivering new public art work in the town of Weymouth. The council value input, ideas and opinions about this exciting initiative for Weymouth town centre. The public art project aims to enhance the built environment, improve the visitor experience and raise the profile of the town. AIMS OF CONSULTATION To gain qualitative & quantitative feedback by engaging people in conversations and online surveys To give a voice to interested communities that will genuinely inform decision making about what the public art commission could be To discuss issues arising on-site, to look, consider and discuss possible locations and types of artwork To inform and shape the artist brief METHODOLOGY WalkTalkArt Weymouth – The walks took place during July and August. A series of walks through the streets with small groups of people, each led by at least two of the b- side. Various groups and individuals were invited to book a free place via Eventbrite. The WalkTalkArt sessions were held twice on each date – one in the afternoon and one the same evening, to ensure they would attract a range of participants. Carolyn Black collated the WalkTalkArt qualitative data. Page 131 Page
WalkTalkArt Online Survey – The online consultation was launched on 26 July and closed on 20 August 2018. The questions used online were reframed slightly to accommodate the online survey. Dorset Councils Partnership hosted the survey on Dorset For You website. Mark Simons collated the quantitative data from the online survey, working closely with Carolyn Black. 201 surveys were completed. THE WALKS THROUGH WEYMOUTH WalkTalkArt invited members of interest groups to walk through the designated areas of the town. The Civic Society Councillors WeyProgress Street Pastors Council officers from various fields – urban design, planning, comms, town management Weymouth College WPBC officers ArtWey
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The invited groups represented a diverse range of specialist knowledge bases. Fields of interest were: Student visitors to the College Local artists/arts groups Culture consumers Town planners Architects Writers Historians Conservationists MARKETING An online and paper survey were available. Promotion was done through the local news network, social media, e-newsletters and local influencer groups. Page 132 Page WalkTalkArt invited individuals and groups directly by email and phone. Posters were also displayed in the library and other locations; shared on various Weymouth user groups on Facebook, on Twitter via b-side, WPBC & amplified widely. A press release was sent out via WPBC communications Poster displayed on b-side website
THE ROUTE OF THE WALKS
The route was shaped by the areas outlined in the consultancy brief, namely Weymouth Town Centre (retail area), Esplanade, harbourside, and Hope Square. Each walk used a slightly different route, to ensure we considered the streets from a range of angles and approaches KEY FINDINGS
The results of each of the methods used have been summarised in two separate reports, available on request. This document draws from both reports and illustrates how similar the findings were from both sources.
4 $2tlpi2rn.docx RESPONSES TO THE QUESTIONS (NOT ALL INCLUDED IN THIS SUMMARY)
Tell Us About The Things You Love About Weymouth (Open Text Question) Note: Some people nominated more than one thing. Both processes gave similar outcomes with regards to naming specific areas. Of 242 responses on the survey, 105 (43%) chose seaside related places. 78 (32%) chose parts of town relating to the build environment, including the harbour and history. The rest loved a mix of things, from fresh air to countryside, access to travel, with 31 (13%) saying Weymouth feels safe or is their home. The respondents on the walks gave more detail, and abstract, responses, such as ‘big skies’ and ‘ambience’, many relating to views. Page 133 Page
Word clouds summarising what people love about Weymouth – left, from the walks; right, from online survey
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Is It Important That The New Artwork Has A Practical Function (Such As A Water Fountain Or Bandstand) Or Not? And Can You Tell Us Why? (As Many Answers As You Wish)
In statistical terms, found through the online survey, apart from the preference for signposting/trail (60% of respondents), there was a fairly even spread between public drinking fountain, bandstand/pavilion, sculpture, lighting, adaptable structures and other. The top three choices of what the art might be (which could all be part of a trail) were, in this order: 1. Public drinking fountain (48%) 2. A structure/bandstand/pavilion for performances and events (48%) 3. Sculpture (46%) Again, the walking conversations were more complex, not having been given a Page 134 Page range of options. Many of the words used were related to things that the artwork needs to ‘have’ or ‘be’. Such as respectful, meaningful, shared, profound, humble and amusing. Wordcloud showing what those on the walk felt the artwork should ‘have’ or ‘be’ Are You More Interested In The Art Being A Single Piece Of Work Or A Series Of Works That Are Located Throughout The Town? (Multiple Choice)
187 people responded to this question. There was a clear preference for a mixture of permanent and temporary artworks with nearly 60% of respondents selecting this type of delivery. The least popular was a single permanent artwork/structure with only 13% of respondents choosing this. Just an adaptable/modular/moveable artwork on its own gathered only slightly more support. A series of art installations however was reasonably popular with 37% supporting this method.
Word cloud showing descriptions of ‘how’ artworks may be placed/experienced/viewed
The walks provided a very physical response to place and were therefore more considered, and aware, of how one might encounter or view the artworks. Comments often related to specific actions/ways of ‘how’ artworks may be placed/experienced/viewed, such as looking up to see gargoyles, roof lines, or along the streets to the sea.
6 $2tlpi2rn.docx Are There Any Particular Areas In The Town That Would Benefit From The Inclusion Of Public Art, And Why? (Answers Not Limited To One)
The locations identified both in the survey and during the walks were almost unanimous. Survey results: 1. Esplanade (65%) 2. Hope Square (63%) 3. Outside Debenhams/Bond Street (57%)
There was an open question following this asking: why did you select those areas? The majority described the reason to be because they are neglected, spread, open, busy and central. During the walks, each location brought up a wide range of conversations, with many people discussing what kind of work might work in particular places. There was a keenness, generally, that artworks should respond to the locations, work with and for them. Others suggested using existing fixings – maybe we could attach works to lampstands? For example, several people on different walks referred how exciting it would be to have something underneath the bridge, only visible when it lifts. Similarly, several people suggested audio-works, but some expressed concern that the repetitiveness of sounds in a townscape can become irritating. Because a high number of creatives engaged in WalkTalkArt we received several ideas by email which could be considered to be proposals, as opposed to opinions or feedback. The suggestions within those proposals have been added to this list of possible outcomes. No particular preferences were expressed by attendees with regards as to whether the artwork Page 135 Page should be visible during the day or at night.
How Does It Currently Feel To Walk Through The Town And Is It Possible For Public Art To Improve This Experience? (Multiple Choice)
The word ‘unify’ came up often during the walks and feedback, which is useful when planning the commission/s, as did the need to create photo-opportunities. The survey tells us: St Albans Street (49%) is the most inviting, whilst St Thomas Street (-45%) is the least. All streets came out as more relaxed than edgy, with Hope street, Custom House Quay, Trinity Road/Brewers Quay as the most relaxed Regards feeling cluttered, St Thomas Street, St Albans and Custom House Quay were considered to be most cluttered. Most areas were considered architecturally interesting, with the exception of New Bond Street.
How do you think art could change visitors and resident’s perception of Weymouth? (open text box)
Look to the hills – not to the gutters. Weymouth isn’t perfect but nowhere is. Art is something that instigates discussion not something that everyone will like but if its ignored we will have failed The stones on poles already show that Weymouth can make things happen. Art does “speak” and people do care they simply are not slow to feel disappointed if the Art work is not significant. Many of the b-side events have been very thin on quality – nice try but not worthy enough and certainly not lasting enough for a Town Art investment. Think Ilfracombe Verity statue – love it or hate it crowds of people will visit specially – but with your mean budget no chance. 7 $2tlpi2rn.docx Nobody liked the aesthetic of New Bond St or the square by Debenhams. They thought it bare, plain and static. Someone sent a number of images of seating ideas – supporting the useful/beautiful concept Providing stimulating imagery or written plaques for tourist endeavors would be my go to take of action. By drawing attention to the quality of the built environment and architectural details – it’s not just the Esplanade – and the history and the people associated with it. GIII is obvious, but there is Christopher Wren and Daniel Defoe is reputed to have stayed at the White Hart. It would be great if the art could reinforce the zeitgeist with regard to plastic. We generate a lot of it here, obviously – from water bottles to swim flippers. It would be great to raise awareness of the dangers of plastics getting into our seas, as well as create something beautiful and intriguing.
Do you have a story of your own to share with us about Weymouth? (open text box)
There were several references to the old tramway The relationship between tomatoes and Guernsey One about the naming of the Black Dog Pub. The Plague Page 136 Page The Dreadnought Story Canon ball shot by the Weymouth side of the harbour embedded in the Melcombe Regis side of the harbour due to what I imagined to have been a disagreement. A mosaic in St Peter’s Church on the Isle of Portland was laid by a self-confessed murderess. I think people should know about other Towns success stories Since Weymouth became a Seaside destination in the 1700’s it has always been promoted for its health benefits. Bathing machines lined the sands, allowing visitors to ‘take the waters’ whilst retaining their modesty. King George III famously came to Weymouth in 1789 to recover from ill health. Originally the bathing machines were built for one or two-person occupancy, later for multiple occupancy (albeit single sex).
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CONCLUSIONS & RECOMMENDATIONS TO INFORM THE COMMISSIONING BRIEF
Taking into consideration the feedback we have received, we believe that there is clear evidence that the commissioning brief should be shaped around the following factors:
Locations A trail that connects various sites around the town, with specific attention to Hope Square, New Bond Street and the Esplanade
Type of artwork There is evidence of strong support for a series of public drinking fountains. The viability has been discussed with officers and specialists and desk research conducted as to what the best options are. Drinking water refill units will be most accessible (as compared to drinking fountains). They are better designed to be vandal-proof, easier to maintain, are accessible to wheelchair users, therefore give best value in terms of provision for the town. They are
Page 137 Page also on-message with environmental practice in terms of discouraging single-use plastics. Weymouth is all about water, we need to put out positive messages about how we care for it. This approach aligns with other activity in the town to combat the pollution caused by single-use plastics. The option of a pavilion/performing space was also well received. We intend to use the designs produced for the refill units to demarcate designated sites for creative activities. Those areas can host community activities – places to hold events and deliver performances – offering attractive locations where people can congregate and enjoy what the town has to offer. The Construction The refill units will be encased, surrounded by, connected with, or accompanied by, their visual and material identity. They will be constructed using unique designs, in materials that reference the Victorian and Georgian history of the towns architecture in a contemporary manner. An artist/artists will be contracted to provide designs to be constructed using sustainable materials e.g. ceramic tiles; wrought iron; glass; stone or other. We aim to initially install between 6 & 8 units, which could be added to in the future. Permanent AND temporary This recommendation seeks to provide for both permanent and temporary solutions, allowing for a flexible approach that can accommodate community artworks and events in the future, as well as lead the way in creating something very special for the identity of Weymouth as a destination. Visibility There were many comments about creating selfie/photo opportunities. They too will be taken into consideration when selecting suitable locations for each unit.
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Weymouth Artist Design Brief for a Permanent Public Art Commission
COMMISSION SUMMARY FOR LEAD ARTIST/MAKER/SCULPTOR/CREATIVE TEAM...... 2 DETAIL OF COMMISSION OPPORTUNITY FOR LEAD ARTIST/MAKER/SCULPTOR/CREATIVE TEAM ...... 2 CONCLUSIONS & RECOMMENDATIONS OF PUBLIC CONSULTATION CONDUCTED SUMMER 2018 ...... 2 Type of work...... 3 Locations ...... 3 Permanent AND Temporary...... 3 Visibility...... 3 THE BRIEF FOR THE LEAD ARTIST/TEAM ...... 3 DELIVERABLES ...... 4 ENVIRONMENTAL RESPONSIBILITY...... 4 HOW TO APPLY...... 5 SELECTION PROCESS ...... 5 SELECTION CRITERIA TO BE APPLIED TO EOI...... 5 OUTLINE PROPOSAL SELECTION CRITERIA...... 6 TIMELINE...... 6 FEES, PRODUCTION BUDGET AND OUTPUT STAGES...... 7 Modularity...... 7 Copyright ...... 8 Insurances...... 8 PARTNERS & SUPPORT PROVIDED BY WPBC ...... 8 CONTACTS ...... 8
Page 139 1 $bmaijgbw.docx COMMISSION SUMMARY FOR LEAD ARTIST/MAKER/SCULPTOR/CREATIVE TEAM
Weymouth & Portland Borough Council seeks to commission an artist/designer/creative team to lead on the design of a series of public sculptures as a town trail. As the lead artist, they will also have a consultancy role to guide the integration of elements derived from community involvement into some of the works. They will be responsible for liaising with our producer, industrial manufacturer and other freelancers, with regards to the production and installation of the sculptures. Some of the sculptures will be required to integrate water bottle refill units into their design.
Deadline for expressions of interest (longlisting): TBC Fee payable for outline proposal by 3 shortlisted artists: £1,000 per artist, to include research site-visit Total contract fee for selected artist/team: £25,000 (supported by an estimated £40k production/installation budget) Contract duration: TBC
Enquiries: contact TBC
1. DETAIL OF COMMISSION OPPORTUNITY FOR LEAD ARTIST/MAKER/SCULPTOR/CREATIVE TEAM
Weymouth & Portland Borough Council wish to appoint an artist/designer/sculptor to lead on a public art project along a designated route in Weymouth Town Centre. The resultant sculptures/installations will demarcate a journey around the town, in relation to a series of water refill units. Historically, drinking fountains were much loved because they were beautiful architectural features, which created places where people could congregate.
We seek to commission an experienced artist, maker and visionary thinker/s to lead the project and create a feature artwork. We welcome applications by teams if that provides the complex skills base this commission demands. Someone who can imagine how, in the footsteps of the Victorians and Georgians, we can install contemporary drinking fountains throughout the town using a sculptural approach, to present them as both beautiful and useful. One of the reasons public drinking fountains increasingly disappeared from our streets is the health risk they are perceived to present. Today’s solution is to think differently, with an environmental impetus – to reduce the amount of single-use plastics overwhelming our land and oceans. By providing water refill stations in the town centre, we hope to reduce litter and pollution, whilst providing fresh water, free for all.
This commission is for a creative practitioner who is passionate about how contemporary art & design can improve the places where we live, work and play. We are looking for inspirational ideas about how the refill units can be embraced, embellished and integrated into the streets by the using some form of sculptural presence, as well as introduce a trail between them. There will be 6-8 stations iinstalled connecting both sides of the harbour. Some of the water refill units will be encased, surrounded by, connected with, or accompanied by, their visual and material identity.
The full role of the lead artist is set out below the summary of the consultation findings.
2. CONCLUSIONS & RECOMMENDATIONS OF PUBLIC CONSULTATION CONDUCTED SUMMER 2018 b-side, an NPO Arts Council England funded arts organisation, were contracted to conduct a public consultation to inform this brief for a significant public artwork/s in the town. Beginning with the question “Should this public artwork be useful, or beautiful, or both?” a discussion was raised about what contemporary art might look like in the town, and what it might be. Consultation feedback was that it should be both, and three favoured approaches rose to the surface – a pavilion, sculpture/s or a drinking fountain. All feedback was collated and analysed – the drinking fountains came up as the favourite. The pavilion idea will be addressed by using the commissioned artwork to define designated busking areas for public events and performances to occur. Combining the drinking fountains with some form of sculptural installation came up as a clear favourite. (See consultation report).
Page 140 2 $bmaijgbw.docx Type of work
Preferences: 1. Drinking fountain 2. Pavilion/bandstand 3. Sculpture
Locations
People wish to see a trail of sculptures that connect various sites around the town, with specific attention to Hope Square, New Bond Street and the Esplanade
Permanent and Temporary
People asked us to provide both permanent and temporary artworks, allowing for a flexible approach that can accommodate community artworks and events in the future, as well as lead the way in creating something permanent and special for the identity of Weymouth as a destination.
Visibility
There were many comments about creating selfie/photo opportunities. They will be taken into consideration when selecting suitable locations for each unit.
3. THE BRIEF FOR THE LEAD ARTIST/TEAM
Weymouth has a fascinating history, a beautiful bay, working harbour and wonderful architecture. How the commissioned artworks tell the story of Weymouth is open to your creative interpretation.
What we seek to achieve: We want the artworks to tell a story about Weymouth, with a contemporary twist. A series/trail of artworks that lead visitors through the town, some/or all of them, positioned in relation to water refill units. The lead artist is required to develop some way of connecting the units visually, to create a trail of sculptures along an agreed route and tell a story as it does so. Together, the artworks and stations will animate the streets, connecting people and places, to produce an exciting and unique way of creating public art that is both useful, and beautiful. Cohesion could be achieved by using a repeat/sequential motif. For example, there may be areas that require demarcation as designated busking areas, or signage, creating a visual network. We encourage creative solutions concerning how sculpture/installation can relate to the refill units.
Traditional public drinking fountains are deemed to carry health risks, due to mouth contact, so we have been advised to focus on water refill stations. We will be the first seaside town in the UK to integrate the fountains with sculptures in such a unique way. This brief is for the permanent artwork/s, requiring a lifespan of a minimum of ten years. Consider how the Victorians and Georgians dressed their water fountains. What/how might the artwork be manifest is open to interpretation. Together, the refill unit and the sculpture create a ‘refill station’.
The refill units: The units will be supplied from a separate budget to the fee, production and installation budgets and be WRAS compliant. Which units are suitable will depend on how the artist/designer elects to work with them, so that will be decided at a later stage. They need to be robust in every way and require plumbing in and have a low level of drainage. They are inclined to be visually low-impact. The design: The ‘design’ we refer to is the concept and the physical presence in relation to the refill units. It could be a sculpture or an installation of any form. We seek visually high-impact designs that will stand out, as the streets are visually busy.
Page 141 3 $bmaijgbw.docx The ‘motif’: Is where a theme or ‘repetitive’ element is employed within the ‘design’ which may be applied in other contexts.
Ideas/questions to stimulate thinking:
1. The artwork could be installed on the ground, on walls close to, or around, the units or above them, or some other way. 2. It may be possible to embed the units into, or surround them by, the artwork. 3. A motif may be used to link the different sculptural forms and could also appear in surprise places, such as the underside of the Town Bridge (a popular suggestion), on the interior walls of public toilets, on rooftops, at the end of streets. 4. Consider in what ways communities could contribute to the design of the motif/s.ii 5. Modular units may be the best way to proceed – e.g. using tiles, cast materials (metal, concrete, glass, resin etc). Modularity allows flexibility in how many can be produced within budget. 6. The sculptures can all be different but must be visually relatable in some way, to provide a sense of ‘trail’ and a narrative to connect them. 7. The sense of ‘trail’ could be evident by telling a story or revealing a sequence of events.iii 8. As the refill units are discrete in scale and design, how can we draw attention to them and make them visible from a distance? 9. How can they be positioned to connect both sides of the harbour?
As the lead artist/team, you will be familiar with working collaboratively with communities. You will have the support of a Producer, Project Manager and Council Officers with relevant experience. Wessex Water will also advise on the project, specifically in matters relating to the refill units. You will have the support of a Producer, Project Manager and Council Officers with relevant experience.
4. DELIVERABLES
To devise, design and produce a series of sculptural installations, making a trail through the town. Some of the installations will be required to incorporate water refill units and/or motif’s contributed by communities, others to define/demarcate busking areas.
In detail: a) To design a related series of works that have the potential to host input from others in terms of motif/objects/words/styling. For example, if the work is to be ceramic, it may have drawings transcribed on tiles; if it were of cast elements there might be objects elected or cast by others, to embed; or patterns embraced – all depends on the medium used by the lead artist/team. The series could be identical in form, or different; identical in materiality, or different. b) To liaise with producer, industrial manufacturer and other professionals with reference to manufacture/production of the sculptures and how the proposed motifs are installed/embedded c) To liaise with an appointed local historian/storyteller to agree on a visual narrative that can a) connect the series of works and b) provide a starting point for others to contribute ideas/designs for motifs. A ‘station’ may respond to either its location, or to some factor drawn from the story. d) To liaise with the Producer on how best to deliver public engagement aspects of the project, which will be supported from another budget line e) To advise manufacturers and contractors on production of all works f) To liaise with Producer, Project Manager and other parties where required
5. ENVIRONMENTAL RESPONSIBILITY
With the increasing need for us to reduce single-use plastics, modern drinking fountains are now manufactured for the public to refill their reusable drink containers. We wish to integrate them into the streetscape my making them highly visible, by accompanying them with some form of contemporary fabrication process. Think ceramic tiles, wrought iron, glass or another street-wise material that is
Page 142 4 $bmaijgbw.docx sustainable and vandal-resistant. Those old drinking fountains are your inspiration, we wish to extend how that thinking could be used to connect places by forming trails and telling stories.
6. HOW TO APPLY
We initially request a simple expression of interest which must include: Up to two sides of A4 expression of interest (excluding the CV). In your EOI, you should succinctly outline your track record and creative practice, and how your preliminary thoughts for this commission might meet the selection criteria below. Your contact details CV – no longer than 2 sides of A4 If you are applying as a team, include CV’s for all and a brief outline of how you will work together Up to four images of previous artworks, URLs links to other media documentation of your work 2 named referees, which will be taken up should you be shortlisted to final three
7. SELECTION PROCESS
1. We request initial applications in the form of 2 - page EOI & CV with 2 named referees and up to four images of previous artworks, URLs and links to other media documentation of your work. Submitted by email. No fee is payable for this stage. References will only be followed up if you are shortlisted to produce an outline proposal. No interviews will be held – shortlisting will be conducted on the quality of the ideas and track record presented in the EOI and CV. You are welcome to contact us for an informal conversation prior to submitting your EOI. 2. The independent Producer will present a longlist of EOI’s and CV’s to the selection panel. 3. The Arts Advisory Paneliv, supported by the Producer, will select three artists/teams to take forward to present an outline proposal. 4. Following the site visit and receipt of the three outline proposals, The Arts Advisory Panel, supported by the Producer, will select one artist/team to take forward to contract as lead artist/team.
8. SELECTION CRITERIA TO BE APPLIED TO EOI
Applicants must consider the following criteria which their EOI will be measured against during the selection process. On receipt of the EOI’s, an Arts Producer will create a shortlist of potential artists who meet these criteria and present those to the Arts Advisory Panel. Together, they will select 3 artists to produce an outline proposal for a fee of £1000. In the EOI you must reference these 6 criteria to be eligible for selection:
1. Demonstrate how well you understand the needs of a public art commission and provide evidence of relevant experience. 2. Demonstrate your enthusiasm for doing the necessary research in the town, to ensure the finished artwork will be unique and site-responsive. Your design will be required to engage with local narratives. It is not necessary, at this stage, to have identified the precise narrative theme, but if you have ideas, do share them. 3. Demonstrate your understanding of your proposed medium/process for the sculpture/installation. Your preferred material may be ceramics, glass, iron, stone, or anything else that meets the needs of a permanent, outdoor artwork, as a maintenance contract will be required to cover a minimum of ten years. (You may, for instance, be a studio potter and have never produced tiles suitable for outdoor use. That’s fine, as the final production will be made by a commercial industrial process, using your design, with your guidance.) But do tell us if you have done something similar before. 4. Evidence your experience in designing artworks which are constructed and installed by a team of professionals, with guidance from appropriate specialists, as well as yourself. 5. Evidence that you are experienced at working with a diverse range of partners who will contribute to the overall project. 6. As the lead artist/team, you will be familiar with working collaboratively with communities.
Page 143 5 $bmaijgbw.docx It would also be useful to know your experience of the following:
1. Tell us how you might meet the need to create a trail through the town. 2. Depending on the final proposal, we may need to gain planning permission for the final work. Tell us if you have experience of submitting planning applications for permanent artworks. 3. Share any understanding of relevant legislation with regards to manufacture, including material-specific needs, British Standards and compliance with regulations.
3 artists will be selected by the Advisory Panel, supported by the Producer, and will be awarded a £1000 fee to progress an outline proposal. As part of that process, artists will be required to attend a site visit for information gathering and research, prior to preparing their outline proposal. This will be an opportunity to talk with the commissioning team and look at the locations identified during the consultation. The site visit is part of the selection process and is compulsory.
The contract will be awarded according to the outline proposals submitted, informed by our confidence that the selected person is the best applicant to meet the needs of the project.
9. OUTLINE PROPOSAL SELECTION CRITERIA
The outline proposals will be scored against the following criteria: The overarching design strategy – how achievable it is within budget Clear allocation of costings by category - fees, materials, specialists, manufacture, installation How it meets the needs of the overall brief in terms of permanence (a ten-year maintenance schedule will be required) How each element of the project is addressed, including how community/Dorset artist involvement will be achieved Demonstration of professional approach and understanding of public art work Demonstration of how quality control will be managed How the proposed sculptures/installations will provide something unique for Weymouth How the proposed sculptures/installations successfully create a coherent trail in the designated areas
Further information on application process: The expression of interest must respond to the criteria against which it will be assessed. These criteria are particularly important to the Council as a means of ensuring that the artist/designer/team is able to deliver within the tight time window and has a good understanding of the processes required when producing a permanent public artwork for a town centre. Only individual applicants, or teams, who have experience of creating work for the public realm are going to understand those complexities.
In-house support for the artist/designer throughout the commission period: The Council will employ an Independent Producer, who will be available to support and guide as and when needed. There will be a designated Council Project Manager who will oversee all technical, licensing and installation needs, as well as liaising with the various Council departments, as required. The Producer and Project manager will liaise with external partners, for example, Wessex Water, who are supporting this project.
10. TIMELINE
Applicants must be able to work within these time constraints.
ACTION DEADLINE NOTES Expressions of interest TBC Initial applications by 2-page EOI & CV only. submitted Inc 2 named referees and up to 4 images + links/URL’s. (see below) No fee payable
Page 144 6 $bmaijgbw.docx 3 Shortlisted TBC The Arts Advisory Panel is supported by an artist/designer/teams selected Arts professional will select three artists to take forward to outline proposal stage. They will attend a site-visit and work up an outline proposal and associated budget. 1 artist/team will be selected TBC Dates for progressing the work will be agreed from the shortlisted 3 with the designated Project Manager, the Arts Advisory Panel and the arts professional. Artist research, planning and TBC Dates to be agreed designing Final design signed off for TBC Dates for approving the final design for the production work will be agreed with the designated Project Manager, the Arts Advisory Panel and the arts professional Installation of the works TBC Dates for manufacturing and installing the work will be agreed with the designated Project Manager, the Arts Advisory Panel and the arts professional
11. FEES, PRODUCTION BUDGET AND OUTPUT STAGES
There are separate budgets for the whole project. Please note that the stage one payment is for the design phase only, the production and installation budgets allow for either the artist or sub-contractor to manufacture the works and will be managed flexibly. The full proposal will be required to include detail of manufacture costs etc. with which to commence the production phase. Staged payments will then be agreed according to need.
1. No fee is payable for the expression of interest. Artists are asked to submit a 2-page (maximum) expression of interest, CV up to four images, 2 names of referees and links to further information. As explained above, the expression of interest must respond to the criteria against which they will be assessed by. (see above). 2. A fee of £1000 will be payable to each of the 3 artists/teams selected from EOI submission to attend a site meeting and submit an outline proposal and outline budget tender. The £1000 fee must cover all travel and accommodation costs and materials relating to presentation of the outline design proposal and deliverables. 3. A staged contract for £25,000 will be issued to ONE artist/team awarded the contract. Payment stages to be agreed on appointment. They will then develop their broad stage outline to a final working proposal, with proposed budgets, for approval by the Advisory Committee. The artist will be working very closely with the Producer and Project Manager, as part of the project/engineering team throughout the implementation of the project. Other support will be provided as needed. This combined design & consultancy fee is to develop the final design/s of the series of sculptures, which must include an aspect of integrating design elements/motifs provided by others, in a pertinent way. To liaise with producer and industrial manufacturer with reference to manufacture/production of the sculptures and how the motifs are installed/embedded.
It is important to understand at this stage that there is a separate budget for production and installation. We can provide some flexibility in how that is used, in response to the proposed works and methods of manufacture. As a guideline only – we anticipate a total of £40,000 to be available to cover materials, production and installation. We actively encourage using Dorset suppliers, makers, craftworkers and materials where possible.
Modularity
It is anticipated that the finished artworks will need to be industrially manufactured to meet BS Standards and any necessary compliancy regulations. It must be frost proof, resilient, vandal resistant, colour fast and salt-water/wind resistant. If the designs are flexible and modular, we can cost out how many we can purchase of each. Inevitably, the amount we can purchase will impact on the design and how Page 145 7 $bmaijgbw.docx many/where the units/modules are installed. We are open to exploring options. Until we know the intentions of the selected design, it is not possible to cost it accurately.
Copyright
The artist will retain the copyright on all drawings and designs they produce for the primary commissioning contract. We reserve the right to use the designs produced for this commission for other associated merchandise and signage in the town of Weymouth in perpetuity.
Insurances
The artist, and anyone working with them, must have suitable insurance as below: Public Liability £5m Employers Liability £5m (needed if the artist employs staff) Product Liability £1m
12. PARTNERS & SUPPORT PROVIDED BY WPBC
The Arts Advisory Panel is comprised of seven Councillors. They will select the artist for the commission, with support from an Independent Producer, who will then advise the artist for the duration of the commission. The Producer will liaise with the artist and the Project Manager, and officers, where required. They will also assist the artist in making key curatorial decisions. A local historian/writer will be contracted, from another budget line, to advise on local narratives and support the lead artist in developing the theme for the final proposal A Dorset artist/educator will be contracted, from another budget line, to support the project to deliver community workshops if required. To be agreed by appointed lead artist/team and producer. Support will be available, if needed, to transcribe source designs from public for use in the finished artworks. Weymouth & Portland Borough Council has a wide range of in-house staff who will support the commission, ranging from an Urban Designer, Town Manager, Conservation Officer, Beach Manager and Environmental Officer. They will also provide an in-house Project Manager who will liaise with the artist at all stages and ensure all the engineering, technical and highways needs are addressed. If a planning application is necessary, all officers will help to ensure the application is submitted appropriately. Tourism and marketing will be involved in the development of the project, as it is intended that the results will be exciting, compelling and attract people to the town, as well as be of interest and pride to those that live here. Wessex Water is supporting the Weymouth community who wish to install water refill points. It will contribute to the costs of a set number of an agreed style of refill units with Wessex Water branding clearly visible. Wessex Water will provide expert advice on the location, installation and ongoing public health maintenance.
13. CONTACTS
Submit your EOI by email to: [contact name subject to agreement prior to release of this brief]
i This is budget dependant ii For example, casting objects, incorporating words, drawings or designs, sourced from the community participants. iii For example, The Dreadnought Story includes Weymouth – it could mean that each of the units tells the story of the major events) iv The Arts Advisory Panel is a group of 7 elected Councillors, who will be supported on the selection by an independent Producer
Page 146 8 Agenda Item 9
Management Committee 11th December 2018 St Alban Street pedestrianisation scheme
For Decision
Briefholder: Transport and Infrastructure - Cllr Colin Huckle
Senior Leadership Team Contact: M Hamilton,Strategic Director
Report Author: Nick Thornley, Head of Economy, Leisure and Tourism
Statutory Authority: Road Traffic Regulations Act 1984
Purpose of Report
1 To seek support and funding to introduce a trial pedestrianisation scheme in St Alban Street in Weymouth town centre.
Recommendations
2 a) That Dorset County Council be asked to introduce an Experimental Traffic Regulation Order for St Alban Street, including a period of consultation with businesses and the general public.
b) That a budget of £12,000 for this be considered by the Budget Working Group.
Reason for Decision
3 To continue to make further improvements to the pedestrian and vehicular use of Weymouth town centre in order to support the local economy.
Background and Reason Decision Needed
4 The council has already implemented a scheme to improve pedestrian access to St Mary and St Thomas Streets, working with Dorset County Council and requiring input from the Town Centre Manager. Improved pedestrianiastion measures in the town centre are action 41 in the Management Committee Action Plan.
5 A proposal to extend the pedestrianisation of further streets in the town centre, particularly St Alban Street, has been considered over recent months by Dorset County Council.Page 147 6 It is proposed that an experimental Traffic Regulation Order be introduced, estimated to cost £12,000. This will allow for a trial to take place over up to 6 months, featuring extensive consultation with businesses and the general public. If successful, the full cost of implementing the scheme covering St Alban and related streets is estimated to be £80,000.
Implications
Corporate Plan Priority: A2. Improving infrastructure to enable businesses to grow Priority: A4. Regenerating and supporting vibrant town centres
Financial The Budget Working Group is asked to consider a request for £12,000 of funding, payable to Dorset County Council, to enable a trial to go ahead.
Equalities No implications from this report
Environmental No implications from this report
Economic Development The pedestrianisation of the town centre is considered to be an important way of supporting the town centre economy and to improve the safety of shoppers.
Risk Management (including Health & Safety) No implications from this report
Human Resources No implications from this report
Consultation and Engagement The trial TRO is designed to allow full consultation and engagement with local people and businesses before a full scheme is considered.
Appendices
Background Papers
N/A
Footnote
Issues relating to financial, environmental, economic and equalities implications have been considered and any information relevant to the decision is included within the report.
Report Author: Nick Thornley Ed Warr Telephone: 01305 252474 Email: [email protected] Date: 28/11/18
Page 148 Agenda Item 10
Management Committee 11 December 2018 Support to People Vulnerable Through Substance Abuse
For Decision
Briefholders Cllr Mike Byatt – Community Safety Cllr Jon Orrell – Social Inclusion
Senior Leadership Team Contact: S Hill, Strategic Director
Report Author: G Duggan, Head of Community Protection
Statutory Authority Anti-Social Behaviour Crime & Policing Act 2014 Licensing Act 2003 Homeless Act 2002 Homelessness Reduction Act 2017
Purpose of Report
1. Cllr P McCartney submitted a scrutiny request (Appendix 1) to examine the council’s role in supporting people with drug and alcohol issues. Scrutiny and Performance Committee has considered the issue and has proposed the following recommendations to your committee.
Recommendations
2. (i).That the Council provides funding for sharps disposal boxes in all relevant public toilets and that all disposal boxes are clearly labelled in regards to who to contact for cleansing, maintenance and emptying.
(ii).That the Council ask Public Health Dorset to report on the effectiveness of the needle exchange scheme in the Borough and how it could be made more effective in reducing discarded needles.
(iii).That this Council supports the creation of a community safety hub for relevant agencies to work together in the town centre.
(iv).That officers work with Public Health Dorset to run an information and educational campaign around the services which are available to help those made vulnerable through substance abuse. Page 149 (v).That officers meet with 3rd sector agencies that are involved with supporting vulnerable people to ensure there is joined up working between all service providers.
Reason for Decision
3. To ensure that the council makes best use of the resources available to it to support those who are vulnerable through substance abuse and dependency.
Background and Reason Decision Needed
4. The scrutiny commenced at a meeting of Scrutiny and Performance Committee on 4 October 2018 where a report was presented (Appendix 2) and a panel of invited guests spoke about their organisations roles in the issue and answered questions from committee members. The organisations that were represented were Dorset Clinical Commissioning Group; Public Health Dorset; Dorset Police and the councils Community Safety service. Cllr Orrell spoke as a local GP and Briefholder for Social Inclusion and Cllr Byatt as Briefholder for Community Safety.
5. An informal meeting of Scrutiny and Performance Committee took place on 22 October 2018 to review the information gained from the previous meeting. Recommendations were developed which were considered by the committee at their meeting on 22 November 2018 and proposed to your committee today.
Implications
Corporate Plan
6. Contributing to Corporate Plan objectives;
Supporting vulnerable people so that they can live healthy and independent lives Enhancing the quality of life of people living and working in the Borough. Providing services that are shaped and focused by the needs of our customers.
Financial
7. The installation and labelling of sharps disposal boxes can be accommodated within existing budgets and provision is made for servicing. A proposal for a community safety hub in the town centre for agency use is being explored and a report may be made to your committee at a later stage.
Equalities
8. Addressed within reports.
Page 150 Environmental
9. Addressed within reports.
Economic Development
10. Nil
Risk Management (including Health & Safety)
11. There is a reputational risk to the council if it does not exercise the powers available to it (within resources available).
Human Resources
12. Nil
Consultation and Engagement
13. Dorset Clinical Commissioning Group Public Health Dorset Dorset Police
Appendices
Appendix 1 - Scrutiny request Appendix 2 – Report to Scrutiny & Performance Committee 4/10/18
Background Papers
Minutes of Scrutiny & Performance Committee 4 October 2018 Minutes of Scrutiny & Performance Committee 22 November 2018
WPBC is a signatory to the pan-Dorset Alcohol and Drugs Strategy, which runs to 2020, this can be viewed using the following link:
http://www.publichealthdorset.org.uk/our-partners/?wb48617274=AA2E4A23#da
Footnote
Issues relating to financial, environmental, economic and equalities implications have been considered and any information relevant to the decision is included within the report.
Report Author: Graham Duggan Telephone: 01305 252285 Email: [email protected] Date: 29 November 2018
Page 151 Appendix 1
Request by Councillor for Scrutiny Review
Area for review Drugs / Alcohol – Engagement with community
Reason As a councillor I am getting reports of drug taking, drunken violent behaviour in the community. People are now witnessing drug taking in our car parks, parks, town centre, it’s not a hidden problem. What is the council’s policy for engagement with support within Weymouth? How effective is our engagement? What outcomes do we get?
Evidence Recently we were in difficulty regarding a location of a home for rehab in Weymouth, our current services in Weymouth, EDP and Turning Point are they getting council support in delivering outcomes? The council are seen as totally lacking direction, effective action is lacking, across social media complaints are rising. Is our strategy working, purposeful and outcome based?
Desired Outcome I would like this review to look at the relationship, policy with the community improve. That our community can see active work in tackling addiction, that our partnerships are effective in delivering outcomes.
Name(s) Councillor Penny McCartney
Date 6/2/18
Page 152 Appendix 2 Scrutiny & Performance Committee 4 October 2018 Support to People Vulnerable Through Substance Abuse
For Recommendation
Briefholders Cllr Mike Byatt – Community Safety Cllr Jon Orrell – Social Inclusion
Senior Leadership Team Contact: S Hill, Strategic Director
Report Author: G Duggan, Head of Community Protection
Statutory Authority Anti-Social Behaviour Crime & Policing Act 2014 Licensing Act 2003 Homeless Act 2002 Homelessness Reduction Act 2017
Purpose of Report
1. Cllr P McCartney has submitted a scrutiny request (Appendix 1) to examine the council’s role in supporting people with drug and alcohol issues. This report provides an overview of the council’s role and that of other agencies to assist your committee with its review.
Recommendations
2. That your committee consider whether it wishes to make recommendation(s) as appropriate to Management Committee in relation to services provided by the council.
3. That your committee pass observations as appropriate to agencies about the services which they provide.
Reason for Decision
4. To ensure that the council makes best use of the resources available to it to support those who are vulnerable through substance abuse and dependency. Page 153 Background and Reason Decision Needed
5. Members have been concerned about the consequences of street drinkers and drug users in the town centre, along the Rodwell Trail and at The Marsh recreation ground. The consequences include crime; anti-social behaviour and discarded drug paraphernalia which effects the look and feel of the town. Weymouth is little different in this respect to any other urban area and seaside resort town however, it is appropriate to review how effective services are in dealing with the underlying causes of substance abuse and the effects on residents; businesses and visitors.
6. All communities are affected by drug and alcohol abuse and addiction. However, coastal towns appear to experience higher rates of problems and addiction. This could be due to a number of factors including the availability of cheaper housing stock; concentration of treatment facilities and ‘end of the railway line’ issues. The rate of drug use in the Borough is 11.9 in every 1000 people compared to the Dorset County Council area of 5.6. For comparison, the rate in Bournemouth is 15.2. Alcohol abuse and dependency is much wider in our society but for the purpose of this report, the focus is limited to problematic street drinking and there is a small core of individuals who gather along The Esplanade.
7. Some of the associated impacts of drugs and/or alcohol abuse include;
poor mental and physical health leading to higher strain on primary health and treatment services increased crime especially violent crime and shoplifting people visibly under the influence of drink and/or drugs and associated ASB finds of drug paraphernalia especially in areas of secluded greenspace squalid housing conditions due to chaotic lifestyles a feeling of being less safe amongst local communities.
There are a range of service providers helping those with drug and alcohol issues in the Borough.
Public Health Dorset
8. Public Health Dorset (PHD) commissions services for people with substance abuse disorders across Dorset. Services are provided in accordance with national guidance from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), Public Health England (PHE) and the Advisory Council for the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD). Treatment involves people receiving prescribed medication if they require it to help with any physical dependence on substances, along with talking therapies and wider support to better understand and address any underlying issues that might be stopping them staying well. This support incudes life skills such as self-care, cooking, and readinessPage 154 for employment. Psychosocial support is provided through group work or 1:1 support depending on the needs and availability of each service user. Support is also provided for family and carers.
9. For those still using alcohol or other drugs, harm reduction advice is offered, which may include the provision of needle exchange to reduce the transmission of blood borne viruses such as HIV and Hepatitis, along with other infections and health harms. A range of local pharmacies as well as specialist treatment services offer needle exchange services, which give people who inject drugs the opportunity to dispose of used equipment as well as to receive new, sterile supplies.
Newly designed services are in operation in Dorset from November 2017, and will be in place until October 2020, with the option to extend them for two further years. The contract was awarded to EDP and services operate under the name of Reach.
10. Dorset has a high-performing treatment system when compared to national and regional averages, with service users completing their course of treatment successfully at rates above the national average. The latest data available suggest that 9% of opiate users, 42% of non-opiate users, and 45% of alcohol users engaged in local services completed their treatment successfully in a 12-month period and did not return to services in the 6 months following. However, this does not mean that they did not relapse rather that they did not return to the service.
11. PHD secured £620,000 from the Department of Health to provide an integrated treatment facility to be based in Weymouth. It proved very difficult to identify a suitable property within the budget available and unfortunately, the funding had to be returned. Opportunities to re-bid are being watched for.
PHD produces the pan-Dorset Alcohol and Drugs Strategy which can be viewed by following this link given later in this report.
Primary care services
12. GP practices; Weymouth Community Hospital and Dorchester County Hospital provide primary clinical services to those affected by drug and alcohol abuse and dependency. Mental health services are accessible by referral and a mental health outreach for vulnerable people is currently funded consisting of two trained nursing practitioners. South West Ambulance Service Trust provide paramedic response to incidents.
Previously, the NHS were more involved in helping people with addictions. Residential detoxification was available at three mental health units in West Dorset and there were support facilities at Weymouth Hospital.
Police & Council – Community Safety
13. Dorset Police and the councils Community Safety team work closely together to tackle issues such as ASB which can be linked drug and Page 155 alcohol abuse. In conjunction with the Police a range of approaches are used;
Anti-Social Behaviour Contracts (ABC’s) Voluntary scheme for first time or low level offenders of ASB. Instead of taking formal action offenders can agree to sign up to an Anti-Social Behaviour Contract which will have conditions about how they must behaviour going forwards. Failure to comply with the conditions of the ABC can result in formal proceedings being instigated.
Criminal Behaviour Orders (CBO’s) Can be placed on any individual following a conviction. A CBO will place restrictions or positive requirements on a person, for example, not allowed to enter Weymouth town centre. 30 CBO’s have been issued to the most prolific offenders.
Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) There is a recently made ASB Order with two relevant elements;
o Power to seize alcohol from persons consuming in an anti- social manner o Power to issue fixed penalty notices for begging
Both provisions are available within defined areas
Community Safety Accreditation Scheme (CSAS) following an application process, the Chief Constable has approved a CSAS for the town centre and Rodwell Trail. Partners are funding 4 patrol officers to operate in the area exercising some Police and Council powers. They will provide high visibility patrolling, tasked with tackling issues of ASB from street drinking and drug use. They will also provide support and assistance to those in need.
Provision of public space CCTV surveillance in the town centre. Operators work with Dorset Police and others to identify and obtain support for vulnerable people.
14. The Police respond to 999 and 101 telephone calls and to on-line reporting of crime and ASB associated with drug use and alcohol abuse. Response is proportional to a threat, risk and harm assessment and the resources available. The Police also respond to ‘concern for welfare’ reports which can be linked to drug and alcohol use.
Council – Housing
15. Housing support people with drug and alcohol dependencies by helping them to secure appropriate housing provision (recognising the stress on housing supply). Often, people with dependencies live a very chaotic lifestyle and maintaining tenure is problematic. Also, supported housing schemes provided by Registered Providers (Housing Associations) have reduced along with the funding over recent years. A homelessness outreach service is provided, currently through Julian Page 156 House, to tackle rough sleeping and support vulnerable people into housing. The service supports the operation of the Bus Shelter project.
Council – Environmental Health/Dorset Waste Partnership
16. Services arrange for the removal of drug paraphernalia including sharps from public land. Sharps drop boxes have been installed in some public convenience sites to reduce the risk of needle stick injuries. This is an initiative which will be reviewed to determine the future approach as some public toilets in the town centre have become a focus for drug related activity. There have been some significant ‘drug dens’ found along the Rodwell Trail, containing large amounts of drug detritus. Cleaning these areas up is costly and the Rodwell Trail is discussed separately.
The Lantern
17. The Lantern looks to support people with diverse learning disabilities to achieve their full potential. Some of the client group may also have substance abuse issues. The Lantern also offers assistance both financial and practical support to enable rough sleeper’s access to sustainable accommodation. A range of agencies operate surgeries from the facility including Shelter; Citizens Advice Bureau; Department of Work & Pensions; healthcare professionals and the Reach drug and alcohol service. Two nurse practitioners do outreach clinics for the homeless, one specialising in physical health and the other in mental health. The Lantern are using their expanded property to establish a treatment room for this work.
Bus Shelter & Street Pastors
18. The Bus Shelter charity provides accommodation and support for rough sleepers with a link to the local area some of whom will have substance abuse issues. The charity has access into (for example) healthcare; education and skills and employment services. It aims to get rough sleepers into permanent accommodation with a sustainable change in lifestyle.
The Weymouth Street Pastor service provides care and assistance for those who are vulnerable, often through alcohol consumption. They work closely with other agencies and are a highly valued asset to the night-time economy.
Working Together
19. There is significant collaboration between agencies to address the problems caused by substance abuse. At street level, the Police and council Community Safety officers liaise to agree the most appropriate approach to address individual ASB and also work with the homelessness outreach service, Julian House. A monthly multi-agency tactical meeting takes place, the Weymouth & Portland Police Co- ordination Group where issues are discussed and actions agreed. At a more strategic level, the Borough Council’s Management Committee receives an update about communityPage 157 safety in Melcombe Regis at each of its meetings and the councils Briefholder for Community Safety meets monthly with the Police Inspector as well as ad-hoc meetings on a regular basis. The Dorset Community Safety Partnership and Melcombe Regis Board have some oversight of policing and community safety and the Dorset Health and Wellbeing Board has oversight of commissioned health provision including drug and alcohol services.
20. The Melcombe Regis Board work to improve the life chances of people in central Weymouth as health indicators are relatively poor. An underlying dynamic in recent years has been that national agencies in drug & alcohol and probation services have rehoused individuals in the area primarily due to the availability of cheaper housing stock. The improvement of housing, particularly in the rented sector, is a key priority for the Board.
21. The Briefholder for Community Safety has met with Dorset’s Police & Crime Commissioner, most recently with representatives from a social media group who amongst other matters were concerned about the effects of street drinking and drug taking on the local community. A number of actions were agreed by the parties and a further meeting is to be scheduled. The issue of street drinking in particular is very visible and does attract social media and press attention. However, it is perpetrated by a relatively small number or people, usually with alcohol dependency issues. It is important for agencies to communicate effectively about what they do to help people with substance abuse issues and to control associated crime and ASB.
Future Developments
22. To improve multi-agency working and community safety, a project is being scoped to establish a town centre hub, possibly in an empty retail unit, providing a visible base for staff involved in policing; community safety and streetscene. There may also be a public reception point delivered on a surgery basis. Agencies might include;
Dorset Police Community Safety Accreditation Scheme Patrol Officers Weymouth BID Town Centre Manager Borough Council (Town Council/Dorset Council) Street Pastors – safe place for vulnerable people
A facility such as this may help provide a quicker response to issues involving people who are vulnerable and/or are a cause of ASB as a result of substance abuse.
23. There are community safety concerns from drug related issues along the town section of the Rodwell Trail. Locations have been discovered within the embankment areas that have/are being used for drug injecting and significant amounts of drug paraphernalia and waste have accumulated. As these areas are found, clear-ups are taking place and work on the vegetation to prevent access is done. There have also been a small Pagenumber 158of public place violence incidents, also drug related, that have received wide publicity. A community safety assessment of this section of the trail is being undertaken and recommendations will be brought forward. There has been a call from some sectors for artificial lighting and CCTV and these will be included in the assessment.
24. The CCTV monitoring station is being relocated and up-graded with funding from Office of the Police & Crime Commissioner; Dorset Police; Dorset County Council and the Borough Council. Phase 2 of this project may involve improved CCTV coverage in key areas including the railway station. This will improve the control of crime and ASB linked to drink and drug abuse.
Harm minimisation approaches are already being used such as needle exchange schemes and the provision of sharps boxes in public facilities. Nationally, other approaches are under discussion such as providing safe treatment areas to help get drug injecting out of public facilities and off the streets into clean, safe spaces with treatment options. Some early discussion is taking place in Dorset.
25. On 1 April 2019, the local government map in Dorset will change with the creation of two new unitary councils and two new town councils. Services currently delivered by WPBC will instead be delivered by Dorset Council and Weymouth Town Council. It is most likely that community safety services will be delivered by Dorset Council, the current resource to the Borough being 0.5 full time equivalent (FTE) Community Safety Officer and 1 FTE ASB caseworker plus management support. Your committee may wish to comment on the limited amount of resource available in Community Safety and how this will operate from next April together with the Community Safety Accreditation Scheme.
Conclusion
26. A number of agencies are involved in providing support to those with substance abuse issues and dealing with the consequences of their behaviour in public places. However, as the problem of substance abuse and addiction has grown, budgets in the public sector have significantly reduced both in terms of prevention; treatment and policing. This makes it imperative that the most appropriate services are commissioned and provided and that agencies work together to maximise benefit. In conducting your review, your committee may want to consider the following questions in relation to the council and other agencies;
Are there any gaps in current service provision?
Are the most appropriate services being provided?
How effectively are agencies working together?
What suggestions are there for improving support to those with substance abuse issues and better managing the consequences? Page 159 Implications
Corporate Plan
27. Contributing to Corporate Plan objectives;
Supporting vulnerable people so that they can live healthy and independent lives Enhancing the quality of life of people living and working in the borough Providing services that are shaped and focused by the needs of our customers.
Financial
28. Nil
Equalities
29. Addressed within the report.
Environmental
30. Addressed within the report.
Economic Development
31. Nil
Risk Management (including Health & Safety)
32. There is a reputational risk to the council if it does not exercise the powers available to it (within resources available).
Human Resources
33. Nil
Consultation and Engagement
34. Public Health Dorset Dorset Police
Appendices
Appendix 1 - Scrutiny request from Cllr Penny McCartney Appendix 2 – Agency matrix
Page 160 Background Papers
WPBC is a signatory to the pan-Dorset Alcohol and Drugs Strategy, which runs to 2020, this can be viewed using the following link:
http://www.publichealthdorset.org.uk/our-partners/?wb48617274=AA2E4A23#da
Footnote
Issues relating to financial, environmental, economic and equalities implications have been considered and any information relevant to the decision is included within the report.
Report Author: Graham Duggan Telephone: 01305 252285 Email: [email protected] Date: 24 September 2018
Page 161 Request by Councillor for Scrutiny Review
Area for review: Drugs / Alcohol – Engagement with community
Reason As a councillor I am getting reports of drug taking, drunken violent behaviour in the community. People are now witnessing drug taking in our car parks, parks, town centre, it’s not a hidden problem. What is the council’s policy for engagement with support within Weymouth? How effective is our engagement? What outcomes do we get?
Evidence Recently we were in difficulty regarding a location of a home for rehab in Weymouth, our current services in Weymouth, EDP and Turning Point are they getting council support in delivering outcomes? The council are seen as totally lacking direction, effective action is lacking, across social media complaints are rising. Is our strategy working, purposeful and outcome based?
Desired Outcome I would like this review to look at the relationship, policy with the community improve. That our community can see active work in tackling addiction, that our partnerships are effective in delivering outcomes.
Name(s): Councillor Penny McCartney
Date: 6/2/18
Page 162 AGENCY MATRIX
Agency Provision
Council – Community Safety Work with Police to tackle ASB; gain evidence for Criminal Behaviour Orders With Police operate CSAS patrol officers who help enforce street drinking & begging provisions of Public Space Protection Order Coordinate rough sleeper left belongings protocol Provide CCTV evidence to support Police action
Council - Housing Assertive rough sleeper outreach service through Julian House Individual help to identify and advise rough sleepers and where possible help them into accommodation Lead participants in the rough sleeper Core Group, which monitors rough sleepers locally and directs activity aimed at reducing numbers
Council – Parks & Open Spaces Clean up greenspace areas being used for ASAB/crime. ‘Design out’ solutions
Dorset Police Tackle and prevent crime and ASB. Protect and improve community safety
Public Health Dorset Commission prevention, harm reduction and treatment services
Reach Provision of drug & alcohol treatment and harm reduction services in Dorset
The Lantern Offers financial and practical support to enable rough sleeper’s access to sustainable accommodation Develop new building to provide new services and increase hours Page 163 Shelter will be based in the new building with its “Housing First” workers who will be working with the most complex and hard to engage client group New CAB and DWP drop in’s to help our most complex customers have access to Universal Credit support and back to work training New clinical space to offer a range of health care professionals to rough sleepers and substance misuse via REACH and the Homeless Healthcare Service.
NHS Provision of primary care services
Dorset Waste Partnership Clear up drug and street drinking paraphernalia from specific locations and general street cleansing
Page 164 Agenda Item 11
Management Committee 11 December 2018 Councillor Appointment to Outside Body
For Decision
Purpose of Report
1 To consider including a new organisation within the council’s list of outside bodies.
2 To appoint a member to serve on this organisation if its inclusion is approved.
Recommendations
3 To consider including Weymouth Pavilion Community Interest Company (CIC) within the council’s list of outside bodies.
4 To appoint a member to serve on this organisation’s board meetings if the inclusion of Weymouth Pavilion CIC is approved as one of the council’s outside bodies.
Reason for Decision
5 To consider representation of Weymouth & Portland Borough Council on this group.
Briefholder: Cllr Alison Reed
Senior Leadership Team Contact: S Caundle, Head of Paid Service
Report Author: Hayley Caves, Councillor Development and Support Officer
Statutory Authority Local Government Act 1972
Background and Reason Decision Needed
6 As part of the lease arrangements between Weymouth Pavilion CIC and the council, the council is required to appoint one councillor to serve on Weymouth Pavilion CIC board meetings in the role of an observer.
7 The councillor will have no executive authority at the meetings and will be required to report back to the council. Page 165 8 All members of council were invited to apply to be the council’s representative on this board. One application was received from Cllr C James which is appended to this report.
Implications
Financial There are no financial implications arising from the process of making appointments to internal working groups or outside bodies.
Equalities All members of WPBC were invited to apply for this vacancy
Appendices Appendix 1 - Application received for the position of observer on Weymouth Pavilion Community Interest Company Board Meetings
Footnote
Issues relating to financial, environmental, economic and equalities implications have been considered and any information relevant to the decision is included within the report.
Report Author: Hayley Caves Telephone: 01305 252394 Email: [email protected] Date: 30 November 2018
Page 166 REPRESENTATIVES ON OUTSIDE BODIES - APPLICATION FORM
1. Name: Christine James
2. Outside Body: Weymouth Pavilion CIC
3. Do you have a specific skill or area of expertise relevant to the organisation? Please state: I have a number of skills that could relate. Such as preforming on the stage at the pavilion several times.
Sitting on various council committees.
Was one of the two members who had originally requested that we listen to the needs of the community to allow Mr Say to take on the task or regenerating our theatre.
I’ve sat on a few outside bodies so have the experience of representing the council.
4. Do you have an interest and motivation for the subject? Please state:
I have a great interest in the pavilion; I’ve always supported their ventures. And believe it was the best move the council ever made.
I believe I would be a worthy candidate for this role and would be able to put across the council’s position as well as listen to theirs to make sure that this valuable community asset remains just that.
5. Can you demonstrate your commitment to the aims of the organisation and how these connect to the priorities of the council? Please state:
Yes.
6. Please indicate that you have considered whether you have the time to accommodate the level of representation required. Yes
7. Please indicate your commitment to submitting an annual report on the activities of the organisation. Yes
Signature: C James
Date: 20/11/2018
Page 167 This page is intentionally left blank WEYMOUTH AND PORTLAND BOROUGH COUNCIL – MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE ACTION PLAN KEY: Red = Close Monitoring Amber = Watching Brief with regular updates Green = Completed
Decision points & Councillor Anticipated Funding & Project and lead officer who makes Progress Update champion delivery date Source decision
1. Community Facilities - KATE WHELLER
Allotments, Cemeteries and Crematorium, Clubs, Community Centres, Parks and Open Spaces, Leisure Centres, Sports Grounds, Swimming Pool, Chalets, Play Areas, Local Plans and Infrastructure, Public Conveniences
1. Greenhill Chalets future Kate Wheller Management Oct 2016 CIC registration awaited from management Committee March 2017 Charity Commission, all Sarah Cairns Sept 2017 NA paper work otherwise Dec 2017 complete. April 2018 Page 169 Page 2. New Boxing Club on Kate Wheller Management Boreholes – Planning permission secured the Marshes Committee Dec 2018 and council commissioning Nick Thornley / Work to borehole survey to test Council Tony Hurley commence (December 2018) for reserves March 2019. presence of contamination before building work starts in March 2019. Public Conveniences Kate Wheller Management Feb 2018 Report to be presented to 3. To Finance Martin Hamilton Committee April 2018 management committee in
Group Agenda Item 12 August.
Page | 1 December 2018 WEYMOUTH AND PORTLAND BOROUGH COUNCIL – MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE ACTION PLAN KEY: Red = Close Monitoring Amber = Watching Brief with regular updates Green = Completed
Decision points & Councillor Anticipated Funding & Project and lead officer who makes Progress Update champion delivery date Source decision
2. Community Safety - MIKE BYATT
CCTV, Community Safety, Crime and Disorder, Emergency Planning, Environmental Health, Licensing, Police and Crime Commissioner, Police and Crime Panel
4. Preventing drink- Mike Byatt Management March 2017 NA Early Morning Restriction fuelled disorder. Committee June 2017 Order and Late Night Levy Consider late night July 2017 currently not supported by Page 170 Page levy and limiting Performance & Oct 2017 opening times. Scrutiny Committee Sept 2017 Dorset Police. Revised Night Graham Duggan Jan 2018 Time Economy policing April 2018 strategy performing well and to be replicated in daytime period. 5. Town centre space Mike Byatt Management Update at Within existing ASB Public Space Protection controls to address Matt Prosser to Committee each MC budget Order implemented. general antisocial update at MC required. Community Safety behaviour. Accreditation Scheme Graham Duggan officers (4) in training & on patrol. Scrutiny & Performance Committee review into supporting those with substance abuse issues on your agenda today.
Page | 2 December 2018 WEYMOUTH AND PORTLAND BOROUGH COUNCIL – MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE ACTION PLAN KEY: Red = Close Monitoring Amber = Watching Brief with regular updates Green = Completed
Decision points & Councillor Anticipated Funding & Project and lead officer who makes Progress Update champion delivery date Source decision
6. Tackling litter/dog Mike Byatt Management July 2017 Within existing Dog related PSPO in place. fouling street trading Matt Prosser to Committee Sept 2017 budget 3GS environmental activity and waste. update at MC Feb 2018 enforcement service Tackling street May 2018 continues with focus on town offences. Graham Duggan centre. 7. Emergency Planning Mike Byatt NA LA Emergency Planning update group meets regularly to Martin Hamilton discuss implementation plan for EP, it also looks at day
Page 171 Page one critical functions that need to be in place to ensure a response for Dorset Council and then the longer term functions. A new Emergency Response Plan is currently in draft format ready to go out for consultation with current service duty officers across all Boroughs, Districts and County Council. Current EP arrangements are still in place for DCP with fully trained gold, silver and bronze officers responding 24/7.
Page | 3 December 2018 WEYMOUTH AND PORTLAND BOROUGH COUNCIL – MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE ACTION PLAN KEY: Red = Close Monitoring Amber = Watching Brief with regular updates Green = Completed
Decision points & Councillor Anticipated Funding & Project and lead officer who makes Progress Update champion delivery date Source decision
8. Melcombe Regis Gill Taylor/Mike Management Update at Partners and Decision to be taken on Board Action Plan. Byatt Committee each MC Council proceeding to consultation on Matt Prosser reserves selective housing licensing scheme. Report being prepared on the Board and LGR. Page 172 Page
Page | 4 December 2018 WEYMOUTH AND PORTLAND BOROUGH COUNCIL – MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE ACTION PLAN KEY: Red = Close Monitoring Amber = Watching Brief with regular updates Green = Completed
Decision points & Councillor Anticipated Funding & Project and lead officer who makes Progress Update champion delivery date Source decision
3. Corporate Affairs and Continuous Improvement - ALISON REED
Democracy, Elections, Policy, Member Services, Risk Management Services, Legal Services, Public Relations and Publicity, Audit, Performance and Improvement, Personnel, Shared Services Project, Local Strategic Partnership, Weymouth & Portland Partnership, Relationships External to the Borough, Twinning, Relationship with Portland Town Council
9. Set up a Town Council Alison Reed / Town Centre Steering Public consultation ends in Weymouth Jeff Cant Group March 2018 March 2018. Initial scoping Agreed in Stuart Caundle Management of services and finances for budget 2017/18 Committee Town Council has taken
Page 173 Page place. 10. Establishing the Alison Reed Management Feb 2018 Town Council to consider position of Portland Committee services it might wish to run Ongoing Town Council after a Unitary Authority Stephen Hill meeting. 11. Unitary Council / Jeff Cant / Delegated to Ongoing A Cross County Committee Combined Authority Alison Reed CEO/Leader updates has been set up and NA Matt Prosser approved by full Council to oversee the project. 12. Review of incoming Alison Reed Scrutiny Committee TBA Officer and Member Working grants from outside Management Group established. bodies Committee Summary of grant receipts Jane Nicklen NA and allocations to be provided for end of current financial year. 13. Review of links with Alison Reed / Scrutiny Committee Feb 2018 To be scoped by Scrutiny outside bodies Andy Management NA Committee. Stuart Caundle Blackwood Committee
Page | 5 December 2018 WEYMOUTH AND PORTLAND BOROUGH COUNCIL – MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE ACTION PLAN KEY: Red = Close Monitoring Amber = Watching Brief with regular updates Green = Completed
Decision points & Councillor Anticipated Funding & Project and lead officer who makes Progress Update champion delivery date Source decision
4. Economic Development - RICHARD NICKINSON
Economic Regeneration, Employment Sites, Inward Investment, Market, Business Development and Promotion, Local Shopping Centres. 14. Support Leader and Richard Management 2018/19 Grant from Successful meeting with Jake Chief Executive to Nickinson Committee Coastal Berry and local business promote package for Communities representatives. Detailed Weymouth with Central Fund proposal now to be formulated Government and submitted in the Autumn. Page 174 Page Nick Thornley 15. Support for local Richard Management 2018/19 Grant to support Starlight Enterprises formally enterprise and small Nickinson Committee rent free period opened for business. Grant business start-ups Nick agreed. Thornley 16. Maintain good work Richard Management 2018/19 WPBC Ongoing liaison relationships with Nickinson Committee Weymouth BID and Chamber Nick Thornley 18. Promote the Western Richard TBC Continuing focus to maintain Relief Road Nickinson the proposal on the agenda Stephen Hill together with support from our local MP.
Page | 6 December 2018 WEYMOUTH AND PORTLAND BOROUGH COUNCIL – MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE ACTION PLAN KEY: Red = Close Monitoring Amber = Watching Brief with regular updates Green = Completed
Decision points & Councillor Anticipated Funding & Project and lead officer who makes Progress Update champion delivery date Source decision
5. Environment and Sustainability - RAY NOWAK
Building Control, Cleansing, Coast Protection and Policy, Conservation, Development Control, Environmental Education and Initiatives, Forward Planning, Flooding, Local Development Plan, Recycling and Refuse Collection, Sea Defences, Sustainable Development, World Heritage
19. First Phase Flood Jeff Cant / Management Sept 2017 DEFRA/LEP Following a meeting with Defences Ray Nowak Committee April 2018 Therese Coffey MP in the Martin Hamilton autumn, officers have
continued to work with Page 175 Page colleagues from Environment Agency to develop a prioritised programme of repairs. A meeting was held with in March with the Chairman of the Wessex Regional Flood & Coastal Committee to discuss progress and potential funding.
20. Review ways of Ray Nowak / Management Nov 2017 TBC Drive up the quality of the enforcing improvement Paul Wyeth Committee built environment. of run down buildings in Agreement reached with private hands. Town Centre Group to Stephen Hill identify and pursue owners of run down building.
Page | 7 December 2018 WEYMOUTH AND PORTLAND BOROUGH COUNCIL – MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE ACTION PLAN KEY: Red = Close Monitoring Amber = Watching Brief with regular updates Green = Completed
Decision points & Councillor Anticipated Funding & Project and lead officer who makes Progress Update champion delivery date Source decision
6. Finance and Assets - JEFF CANT
Budget Control, Corporate Property, Council Offices, Finance Consultation, Fees and Charges, Treasury Management, Procurement, Depot, Long Term Asset Management, Property Services, Collection of Local Taxes, Leasing, Regeneration
21. Redevelopment of Jeff Cant / all Management Outline External Several versions of proposals North Quay site Committee Planning Funding to redevelop the site have Martin Hamilton Proposal been reviewed by the Council/PSP partnership.
Page 176 Page Planning application due to be submitted in May 22. Town Centre Jeff Cant / all Management First phase Council £700k committed to project to Regeneration Committee project borrowing take to outline planning. Peninsula Completion Martin Hamilton 2020 Demolition to start Jan 2018.
23. Town Centre Jeff Cant Management Dec 2017 Mixed Funding This requires the construction Regeneration – Committee of a consortium proposal Commercial Road from the three site owners. Martin Hamilton 24. Submit a case for Jeff Cant/ N/A Ongoing N/A Met the Minister for Coastal additional funding Group Leaders Communities March 2018. support to Department A team of cross departmental for Communities and civil servants will visit to hear Local Government our case and construct a Martin Hamilton / proposition to help us forward Simon King The Minister will then visit.
Page | 8 December 2018 WEYMOUTH AND PORTLAND BOROUGH COUNCIL – MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE ACTION PLAN KEY: Red = Close Monitoring Amber = Watching Brief with regular updates Green = Completed
Decision points & Councillor Anticipated Funding & Project and lead officer who makes Progress Update champion delivery date Source decision
25. Create an Active Jeff Cant Management Rolling NA Initial list of properties for Property Asset Committee programme of disposal/development Management Plan reports considered by Assets & Martin Hamilton / Regeneration Group and Sarah Cairns approved by MC. List to be revisited to form the basis for Town Council discussions. 26 Pavilion makeover Jeff Cant Management Oct 2017 Funds allocated £250k allocated to the Martin Hamilton Committee project. Lease finalisation now being undertaken by Page 177 Page legal team External works to start September. 27. Construction of new Jeff Cant Management Verbal update £400,000 Funds Surveys complete, designs public conveniences at Committee at each allocated from being produced and minor the Esplanade Management capital reserves repairs and redecorations in Martin Hamilton Committee progress, report will come to July MC.
Page | 9 December 2018 WEYMOUTH AND PORTLAND BOROUGH COUNCIL – MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE ACTION PLAN KEY: Red = Close Monitoring Amber = Watching Brief with regular updates Green = Completed
Decision points & Councillor Anticipated Funding & Project and lead officer who makes Progress Update champion delivery date Source decision
7. Housing - GILL TAYLOR
Affordable Housing, Homelessness, Housing Advice, Housing Benefit, Private Sector Leasing Scheme, Housing Assistance and Improvements through Grants, Loans, Advice and Enforcement
28. Melcombe Regis Board Gill Taylor / Report to Monthly Joint funding Following their endorsement Improving Melcombe Mike Byatt / Management updates from from the by the Melcombe Regis Regis as a place to live. Jeff Cant Committee CEO/ participating Board on 5 October 2018, Matt Prosser Briefholders bodies detailed proposals for a
Page 178 Page selective housing licensing for Melcombe Regis will begin the WPBC process in November 2018. 29. Review unlicensed Gill Taylor Update to Monthly verbal Continue to Report on a proactive HMO’s in the Borough Management update await approach to ensuring safe Clive Milone Committee October Government HMOs. 2017 legislation anticipated in Summer 2018 30. Action Plan required Gill Taylor / Report to March 2017 Joint funding Accelerated Home Building bringing together Jeff Cant / Management May 2017 from the three strategy with the objective to Council and Housing Ray Nowak Committee August July 2017 Councils. increase number and pace of Associations 2017 following review Verbal update house building. Stephen Hill / of funding by Finance at each MC Clyde Lambert Group.
Page | 10 December 2018 WEYMOUTH AND PORTLAND BOROUGH COUNCIL – MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE ACTION PLAN KEY: Red = Close Monitoring Amber = Watching Brief with regular updates Green = Completed
Decision points & Councillor Anticipated Funding & Project and lead officer who makes Progress Update champion delivery date Source decision
8. Social Inclusion - JON ORRELL
Social Inclusion, Customer Contact Centre, Localism Project, Community Regeneration and Development, People with Special Needs and Exclusions, People element of Bereavement Service etc., Safeguarding/vulnerable adults, Health service, Public health, Health & Wellbeing Board, Voluntary Bodies and Groups
31. Review Corporate Jon Orrell Management Feb 2018 NA Dorset Shared Equality Equality Policy Committee Objectives and Dorset Jane Nicklen Councils Partnership Equality Objectives 2018-19 adopted
Page 179 Page by Management Committee July 2018. 32. Armed Forces Jon Orrell Management Monthly Council Work to support local Covenant project to be Committee updates Reserves veterans going ahead under investigated. auspices of The Lantern, Jane Nicklen Royal British Legion, Dorset HealthCare Armed Forces (Veterans) Community Health and Wellbeing Team and The Veterans Hub. The Veteran’s Project to develop a Cycle Hub working with veterans at Weymouth Railway Station on hold with possibility of partial delivery through DCC Coastal Communities Fund bid to refurbish the site.
Page | 11 December 2018 WEYMOUTH AND PORTLAND BOROUGH COUNCIL – MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE ACTION PLAN KEY: Red = Close Monitoring Amber = Watching Brief with regular updates Green = Completed
Decision points & Councillor Anticipated Funding & Project and lead officer who makes Progress Update champion delivery date Source decision
9. Tourism and Culture (including Harbour) - RICHARD KOSIOR
Arts, Attractions, Beach, Beach Cleaning, Culture, Esplanade, Events and Festivals, Museums, Pavilion, Tourism Publicity, Tourism Development (moved from 4), Tourist Information Centre, Seafront Management
34. Developing the Ian Bruce/ Management Verbal updates Advice on long term way commercial potential of Richard Kosior Committee forward provided by the Harbour
Page 180 Page specialists Fisher Associates Nick Thornley and being reviewed. Some new prices agreed at 6.12.17 Harbour Board. 5 main projects being explored including an MMO funding application for improved Fish and Seafood handling facilities. Active engagement with Peninsula development team. 35. Esplanade lighting Richard Kosior Management March 2019 Coastal £200k grant from Coastal system Committee Communities Communities Fund. Nick Thornley Project Plan agreed. Project Tony Hurley on track. Designer appointed, member and public consultation continues.
Page | 12 December 2018 WEYMOUTH AND PORTLAND BOROUGH COUNCIL – MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE ACTION PLAN KEY: Red = Close Monitoring Amber = Watching Brief with regular updates Green = Completed
Decision points & Councillor Anticipated Funding & Project and lead officer who makes Progress Update champion delivery date Source decision
36. Proposal for sculpture Richard Kosior / Management March 2019 £123,000 from Public consultation complete trail Jeff Cant Committee borough council and brief being revised to Tony Hurley reserves take account of Member Arts Advisory Panel comments – brief to be submitted to Management Committee for approval in December 2018. 37. Signage Richard Kosior / Management March 2018 Funding Delivery of new signs Nick Thornley Colin Huckle Committee provided by expected by September Weymouth BID 2018.
Page 181 Page and WPBC
38. Review of concessions Richard Kosior Scrutiny Committee Jan 2019 NA Before allocation of licences process and product for 2019 season and service mix The seafront concessions Sarah Cairns / licences and leases are due Matt Ryan for renewal in 2020. They will be reviewed later in 2018 to plan for action to take place during 2019 39. Clarify the offering to Richard Kosior Management Completed in WPBC as part of Completed as reported to visitors and Review the Committee April 2018 TCP management committee active promotion of meeting 17.4.18. tourism Nick Thornley
Page | 13 December 2018 WEYMOUTH AND PORTLAND BOROUGH COUNCIL – MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE ACTION PLAN KEY: Red = Close Monitoring Amber = Watching Brief with regular updates Green = Completed
Decision points & Councillor Anticipated Funding & Project and lead officer who makes Progress Update champion delivery date Source decision
10. Transport and Infrastructure - COLIN HUCKLE
Highways and Traffic Management, Parking Policy and Enforcement incl. fees and charges, Public Transport, Taxis and Private Hire incl. fees and charges, Cycle Network, Footpaths and Rights of Way, Liaison with Utility Companies
41. New Traffic Colin Huckle / Management To be agreed Funding St Mary’s Street / St Thomas management Jeff Cant Committee once scheme approved June Street completed. Second programme for the drawn up. MC for first phase pedestrianisation Page 182 Page Town Centre to include phase of report October. Full Traffic pedestrianisation pedestrian- Management proposal Feb proposals. isation 2018. - St Mary’s Street / St Nick Thornley Thomas Street improved pedestrianisation measures completed and being monitored by Town Centre Manager. Second phase pedestrianisation project being progressed with DCC. Full traffic management plan to be prepared with DCC based on site developments and LEP funded study. 42. Cost of complementary Colin Huckle Management December car park passes. Committee 2018 Nicola Keyworth- Wright.
Page | 14 December 2018 SUPPLEMENTARY UPDATE TO MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE ACTION PLAN
11 December 2018
Cost of Complimentary Parking
The events policy which was taken to Management Committee in March 2018 stated that the (up to 20) free parking permits for event staff was to be removed and event organisers would be required to pay for the use of car park(s) in accordance with the proposed new charging regime as part of the Council Parking Services Policy.
A caveat was put on this decision that Events and festivals that were already booked with the Events Services prior to 1 April 2018 and take place prior to 31 December 2018 would not be subject to this.
The parking services team have taken the role of issuing all free parking permits for events up to the end of December 2018 and have documented in the table below the permits issued and the equivalent cost of the parking which would have been received had these been charged for
Date Event location duration number equivalent of cost permits 25-Mar Weymouth Pavilion 8am - 20 £ 120 Walkies 3pm 12-13 May Weymouth Lodmoor 2 days 20 £ 320 Colour run 26-May Weymouth Swannery all day 20 £ 160 Regatta 26-May Nothe Fort Nothe all day 20 £ 160 26-27 May Fayre in the Council Offices 2 days 20 £ 480 Square 2-3 Jun Weymouth Pavilion 2 days 8 £ 128 Classic Mini 2-3 Jun Wessex Folk Council Offices 2 days 20 £ 480 Festival 08-Jun Nothe Fort Nothe all day 20 £ 160 10-Jun Weymouth ½ Pavilion all day 20 £ 160 marathon 17-Jun March for Men Pavilion 8am- 20 £ 160 3pm 04-Jul Mayor's civic Pavilion all day 30 £ 240 day 07-Jul ASA open water Lodmoor all day 20 £ 160 swim 7 - 8 Jul Tag Rugby Pavilion 2 days 20 £ 320 7 - 8 Jul OMRA Model Pavilion 2 days 20 £ 320 Powerboat Racing 12-Jul MP visit Harbourside/Melcome 1-6pm 3 £ 24 Regis/Pavilion 14-15 Jul Dorset Sea Pavilion 2 days 20 £ 320 Food Festival Page 183 18-Jul Royal Navy Pavilion all day 20 £ 160 Rugby event 20-22 Jul Beachfit event Pavilion 3 days 20 £ 480 20-23 Jul Angling Club Pavilion 4 days 20 £ 640 25-Jul Beach Soccer Pavilion all day 20 £ 160 23-29 Jul Weymouth Pavilion 7 days 4 £ 224 Beach Volleyball 27-29 Jul Weymouth Pavilion 3 days 16 £ 384 Beach Volleyball 18-19 Aug Nothe Fort Nothe 2 days 20 £ 320 26-Aug Dragon Boat Pavilion all day 20 £ 160 Racing 8-9 Sep Nothe Fort Nothe 2 days 20 £ 320 13-19 Oct Weymouth Pavilion 7 days 20 £ 1,120 Speedweek 14-20 Oct International Pavilion 7 days 20 £ 1,120 Boat Angling Centre 21-Oct Weymouth 10 Pavilion all day 20 £ 160 23-Oct Nothe Fort Nothe all day 20 £ 160 27-28 Oct Motocross Pavilion 2 days 20 £ 320 02-Dec Nothe Fort Nothe all day 20 £ 120 16-Dec Chase the Pavilion 8am - 15 £ 75 Pudding 1pm £ 9,635
There is no policy in place to differentiate between the types or duration of events being held so permits have been issued to the organisers on request up to a maximum of 20 permits with the exception of the Mayors civic day when 30 permits were issued. Whilst it is appreciated that these events may bring visitors into the town there has been no formal monitoring in place to evaluate the number of visitors who attended each event, whether the event is charitable or income generating or how it impacts on fee generating car park spaces.
The free permit arrangement was to cover events which took place up to the end of December 2018 in line with the event policy
In addition to this we have issued annual permits to specific volunteer organisations on direction of the Briefholder and the Strategic Director
Citizens Advice - issued with 10 free permits for Swannery Car Park RNLI charged £546 for 40 permits for lifeboat crew on active duty valid only in Nothe car park Samaritans paid for 2 permits @£546 each but issued with 20 permits to enable handover of staff Swanherd – issued with free permit for Swannery Car Park Each of these 53 permits would normally be charged at £546 per annum bringing in a potential revenue of £28,938 to the Borough Council however it is unlikely that if we charged these volunteers this amount that they would purchase that number of permits.
Nicola Keyworth-Wright 29 November 2018 Page 184 Management Committee Four Month Forward plan 1 December 2018 To 31 March 2019
This Plan contains the decisions that the Council intends to make over the next 4 months, but will be subject to review at each committee meeting. The Plan does not allow for items that are unanticipated, which may be considered at short notice. It is available for public inspection along with all reports (unless any report is considered to be exempt or confidential). Copies of committee reports, appendices and background documents are available from the council’s offices at Council Offices, Commercial Road, Weymouth, DT4 8NG 01305 251010 and will be published on the council’s website Dorsetforyou.com 3 working days before the meeting. Page 185 Page Notice of Intention to hold a meeting in private - Reports to be considered in private are indicated on the Plan as Exempt. Each item in the plan marked exempt will refer to a paragraph of the Local Authorities (Executive Arrangements) (Meetings and Access to Information) (England) Regulations 2012 and these are detailed at the end of this document.
Brief Holders Community Safety - Cllr M Byatt Corporate Affairs and Continuous Improvement – Cllr A Reed Economic Development – Cllr R Nickinson Environment and Sustainability - Cllr R Nowak Finance and Assets – Cllr J Cant Agenda Item 14 Housing – Cllr G Taylor Community Facilities – Cllr K Wheller Tourism, Harbours and Culture – Cllr R Kosior Social Inclusion – Cllr J Orrell Transport and Infrastructure – C Huckle KEY DECISIONS
Title of Report Purpose of Report Consult Exempt Portfolio Holder & Decision Date Committee Report Author Request to extend To request an extension to the Dog WPBC Briefholder for 5 Feb 2019 Weymouth and Portland Related Public Spaces Protection Order Community Safety - M Dog-related Public 2016 for Weymouth and Portland. Byatt Spaces Protection Jane Williams, Team Order 2016 Leader (Environmental Protection West) Page 186 Page
Non- Key Decisions
Title of Report Purpose of Report Consult Exempt Portfolio Holder & Decision Date Committee Report Author Tumbledown Farm To update committee on the development WPBC Briefholder for 5 Feb 2019 proposal for Tumbledown Farm as a Community Facilities - K community asset and secure agreement Wheller, WPBC to proceed to detailed design. Briefholder for Environment and Sustainability - R Nowak, WPBC Briefholder for Social Inclusion - J Orrell Graham Duggan, Head of Community Protection NON KEY DECISIONS
Title of Report Purpose of Report Documents Exempt Portfolio Holder & Decision Date Report Author Quarter 3 Business To provide the strategic overview of WPBC Briefholder for 5 Feb 2019 Review Report performance, risk, revenue and capital Finance and Assets - J expenditure and income. Cant Chris Evans, Financial Performance Manager Adoption of Dorset Adoption of Dorset AONB Management Weymouth & WPBC Briefholder for 21 Feb 2019 AONB Management Plan 2019-2024. Portland Environment and Plan 2019-2024 Borough Sustainability - R Nowak Council Hilary Jordan, Head of
Page 187 Page Management Planning Community & Committee Policy Development 5 Feb 2019 Private meetings
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1. Information relating to any individual 2. Information which is likely to reveal the identity of an individual 3. Information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information) 4. Information relating to any consultations or negotiations, or contemplated consultations or negotiations, in connection with any labour relations matter arising between the authority or Minister of the Crown and employees of, or office holders under, the Page 188 Page authority. 5. Information in respect of which a claim to legal professional privilege could be maintained in legal proceedings 6. Information which reveal that the authority proposes:- a. To give under any enactment a notice under or by virtue of which requirements are imposed on a person; or b. To make an order or direction under any enactment 7. Information relating to any action taken or to be taken in connection with the prevention, investigation or prosecution of crime. Page 189 This page is intentionally left blank Agenda Item 16 By virtue of paragraph(s) 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972.
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