Wyke, Gillingham Ward

Development Control Site Visits 28th February

There were no Site Visits within the Gillingham Area.
It was very interesting though as we looked at Fiddleford Mill, Sturminster Newton, where it was proposed to install an Archimedes Screw hydropower turbine. (I spoke with the technical advisor as to whether such a thing could be used within the Gillingham area, after all we have 3 rivers; sadly a 5m drop is necessary to obtain the required water pressure.)

Service Review 29th February

1. WORK IN DEVELOPMENT CONTROL
The Portfolio Holder (Economy) and the Acting Development Control Manager gave a verbal update on the work being undertaken with consultants looking at the Development Control Service.

2. DEVELOPING BUSINESS MANAGEMENT INDICATORS
The Reputation and Improvement Manager will outline to the Committee the initial work undertaken by the Performance Management Working Group; to provide direction on the key service data and the range of business management information indicators which the Committee may wish to recommend to Cabinet.

3. DRAFT CORPORATE PLAN 2012 – 2016
The Reputation and Improvement Manager consulted members on the draft Corporate Plan 2012/16 and reviewed the Council’s priorities.

This was an excellent review session scrutinising some major points and issues which I found very relevant especially as a member of NDDC’s Development Control Committee.

Planning Policy Panel 7th March

1. NORTH DORSET BUSINESS PARK (STURMINSTER NEWTON) DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT BRIEF
The Planning Policy Officer presented a report informing Panel about the design and development brief that has been prepared for North Dorset Business Park, Sturminster Newton. Panel recommended the brief to Cabinet for adoption as an evidence based study, and then to Council for endorsement.

2. THE ADOPTION OF THE GILLINGHAM TOWN DESIGN STATEMENT
The Planning Policy Officer presented a report setting out the detail of the Gillingham Town Design Statement (TDS). Panel recommended to Cabinet its informal adoption as an evidence based study prepared by the local community pending its subsequent inclusion in a neighbourhood plan.

3. BOURNEMOUTH/POOLE STRATEGIC HOUSING MARKET ASSESSMENT 2011 UPDATE: SUMMARY REPORT FOR NORTH DORSET
The Planning Policy Manager presented his report informing Members of the contents of the updated Strategic Housing Market Assessment (SHMA) summary report for North Dorset, and outlined the main implications for planning policy.

4. MOVING FORWARD WITH THE SPATIAL STRATEGY FOLLOWING AN INITIAL CONSULTATION WITH THE PARISHES ON THE OPTIONS FOR GROWTH AND NEIGHBOURHOOD PLANNING.
The Planning Policy Officer updated Panel on the response of town and parish councils to the proposed options for growth in Stalbridge and the villages and reported on the local appetite for neighbourhood planning. Members considered further targeted consultation on a revised Option 3a that offers greater certainty in terms of delivery whilst maintaining maximum choice for local communities.

Development Control 13th March

There were no planning applications from Gillingham to be considered, however the proposal to install an Archimedes Screw hydropower turbine at Fiddleford Mill was approved.
Cabinet 19th March

This was a meeting worth waiting for;
Cabinet approved the 2012/13 Investment Strategy and the Prudential Indicators for 2012/13, (hard work but very interesting once explained!);
We considered a proposed response to Government’s consultation paper on the allocation of Social Housing, (satisfying in a very smug way as most of the points NDDC were asked to look at they had already addressed and adopted):
Members were informed about the new Police and Crime Commissioner role and the supporting role of the Police and Crime Panel which will be a local authority Committee;
Most importantly Members were asked to agree to the contents of the Gillingham Town Design Statement (TDS) and for Members to informally adopt it as evidence based study prepared by the local community pending its subsequent inclusion in a neighbourhood plan. (Members unanimously agreed to this adoption. I asked for it to be minuted, that all those concerned with the development of the Gillingham TDS and the newly set up Neighbourhood Plan Group thanked Trevor Warrick and his team for all the advice, guidance and support they give.)

All agendas and minutes can be found on the www.dorsetforyou.com website
Cllr David Walsh

Service Review 18th January

This meeting looked at:

PERFORMANCE OF CONSULTATIONS USED TO DELIVER THE GYPSY AND TRAVELLER CONSULTATION EVENTS
UPDATE ON PERFORMANCE OF THE STOUR VALLEY PARTNERSHIP (SVP)
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY
THE REVIEW OFTHE DORSETFORYOU WEB SITE

A full and lengthy discussion was held on the public consultations that had taken place in the towns and villages of North Dorset, including the one held in Gillingham. The Plant world site was still in the documentation debated and so:
“Cllr Walsh reiterated the thanks for other members to the Planning Policy Team . He had recently attended an open meeting at which a landowner had stated that he had put forward land some years ago for housing development but claimed that he had never put this forward as a possible site for Gypsies and Travellers. He was concerned at the public perception of the way in which the documents had been put together.”

Cabinet 23rd January

I had to give my apologies and miss this meeting because as Vice Chairman of the CAB I had to attend an “awayday” for Trustees and staff.

Full Council 27th January

1. HONORARY ALDERMAN

We received a report from the Democratic Services Manager setting out proposals for the criteria conferring the title of Honorary Alderman on former Councillors.

This point was heavily debated, especially the criteria that should be met before the Honour conferred upon a councillor. The point I gave was that I thought the only criteria necessary was that Council had found that a Councillor warranted the title through merit rather than time served.

It was resolved to refer the criteria conferring the title of Honorary Alderman on former Councillors back to Political Management Panel for further consideration.

2. REVIEW OF POLLING DISTRICTS, POLLING PLACES AND POLLING STATIONS

We received a report from the Democratic Services Manager setting out in detail recommended changes to polling places and polling stations, and also to explain the need to look at warding of Sturminster Newton.

During the ensuing debate “Councillor Milsted pointed out that it would be preferable for voters in Lodbourne to vote at the Methodist Hall in Gillingham, whilst voters for Gillingham Town Ward should be able to vote at the Town Hall. The Democratic Service Manager advised that the need for this change had been recognised but missed from the report.
Councillor Walsh asked about the financial implications of undertaking a Community Governance Review and was advised that these were insignificant, requiring a few letters, information being produced on-line and possibly consultation through Unity.com.”

Community and Safety and Health

Councillor Jeffery reported that a number of people had expressed their disappointment in the assistance Job Centres were able to offer. The Chief Executive advised Council that it was her intention to prepare a paper to Council regarding the preparation of a bid to do some of the front-facing work currently undertaken by Job Centre Plus. Although it was Government’s intention to deliver Universal Credit on-line, she felt there was a case for providing a front-facing service in rural areas in partnership with others, including the Citizens Advice Bureau.
Councillors reported a number of issues that had been raised within their Wards indicating that a lot of people were facing financial difficulties.

“Councillor Walsh urged all the different agencies to work across district and county boundaries as the problems being experienced were not restricted to local areas.”

Development Control Site Visits 31st January

There were no Site Visits within the Gillingham Area

Cabinet 6th February

1. MEDIUM TERM FINANCIAL STRATEGY 2012/13 TO 2016/17
To provide a framework for budget setting over the next five years

2. REVENUE BUDGET 2012/13
To agree the growth items and the savings required to meet the Council’s priorities
and achieve a council tax of £108.43 for 2012/13

3. CAPITAL PROGRAMME 2012/13 – 2016/17
To approve the Capital Programme 2012/13 to 2016/17

Development Control 14th February

Though 2 of the 8 Planning Applications due for considered by the Development Control Committee were deferred it was still a very long session, mainly due to the contentious application of the proposed Tesco’s expansion in Blandford. There were no applications that specifically effected Gillingham.

Joint meeting of Policy and Service Review 15th February

The purpose of this meeting was to scrutinise the

1. Medium Financial Strategy
Members received a report from the Finance and Resources Manager, considered at Cabinet on 6th February providing a framework for budget setting over the next 5 years.

2. Revenue Budget 2012/13
Members received the report from the Finance and Resources Manager, considered by Cabinet on 6th February 2012, setting out the growth items and the savings required to meet the Council’s priorities and achieve a council tax of £108.43 for 2012/13.

A very detailed Q & A session took place, it was the process behind the setting of the Budget that was scrutinised as opposed to the Budget itself.
It was suggested that a step was missing in the process and that these three items should have gone through the scrutiny phase before going to Cabinet.

3. Capital Programme 2012/2013 – 2016/17

Members received the report from the Finance and Resources Manager, considered by Cabinet on 6 February 2012, setting out the Capital Programme 2012/13 to 2016/17.

Members noted the Capital Programme report and the Chairman indicated his intention to call a joint meeting to look specifically at the issues surrounding the Capital Programme later in the year.

Member / Officer workshop on the Dorset-wide Gypsy and Traveller Site Allocations DPD 16th February

1. Review of the Issues and Options Consultation (30 minutes)
Feedback from officers on the exhibitions
Feedback from Members on community views

2. Key issues from the Consultation (30 minutes)The performance of the consultants (Baker Associates) at exhibitions
Criteria used in site selection

3. The way forward with Baker Associates (1 hour)
Member engagement in the next phase of consultation
Monitoring future performance of Baker Associates

This workshop did not look at specific sites put forward by the consultants but the process that had been used. It was felt that there were inconsistencies and that we wished for a meeting between Members and representatives from Bakers Associates.
I asked to see a copy of the contract that had been agreed between NDDC and Bakers Associates and which body had been signing off each stage for payment.

Cabinet 20th February

1. We received the Performance Management Update for the third Quarter 2011 – 2012 from the “Reputation and Improvement Manager”.
This Management Report enables the Cabinet to monitor the Council’s progress over the first three months of the year. Failure to meet the targets outlined in each service business plan would have consequences both for the delivery of outcomes to our communities and the current momentum in improving our services.

2. A Review of Aids and Adaptations services in Dorset.
Cabinet was asked to consider and agree a response to the recommendations of consultants who were commissioned to review the Aids and Adaptations services provided across Dorset.
Members requested more information on this whole process, it seemed very complicated, even over-complicated in parts. During the presentation NDDC was asked to come along on this journey (his words not mine) to this there seemed to be reluctance no one knew firstly; who was driving and secondly could NDDCbe assured that we would not be passengers during the whole process and then left to pay the fare. Cabinet wanted to know which body would be leading and responsible for this process.

3. A report was given from Dorset Community Action on its activities during the quarter October to December 2011.

All agendas and minutes can be found on the www.dorsetforyou.com website
Cllr David Walsh

Development Control Site Visits 2nd January
There were no Site Visits Scheduled for this day

Policy Review Committee 11th January

A very informative meeting at which were present 3 members of Yeovil Hospital and a representative of the Patients association. Yeovil had recently been assessed for their CQC (Care Quality Commission) www.cqc.org.uk/ and they were very open about short fallings that were highlighted through this and what was being done to address them. The structure of the meeting made for a very open Q &A session

Development Control 17th January

There was one application for Gillingham;
Malt House Residential Home, Bay Road, Gillingham.
Though planning permission had been granted 2 years ago (to “Demolish existing dwelling (Broadlands) and erect 28 bed dementia care wing, with link to the existing malthouse residential care home.”) the Section 106 agreement to secure the commitment to the continual updating and implementation of the Travel Plan as required by the Committee’s in its resolution to grant permission was still outstanding.
The Planning Officer informed the Committee that the S106 Agreement was being finalised this week and the commitment would be secured, therefore Planning permission was not rescinded.

There will be a Service Review meeting today looking at:
PERFORMANCE OF CONSULTATIONS USED TO DELIVER THE GYPSY AND TRAVELLER CONSULTATION EVENTS
UPDATE ON PERFORMANCE OF THE STOUR VALLEY PARTNERSHIP (SVP)
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY
THE REVIEW OFTHE DORSETFORYOU WEB SITE

I will give an update on this next month.

Development Control 27th September
The day after September’s Full Council the Development Control Committee met at NDDC where 6 applications that had been brought before us were debated, though 3 were in Shaftesbury, none were from within the Gillingham area.

PLANNING APPEALS
The Committee noted the report of the Development Control Manager for the period between 22nd August and 16 September 2011. The Senior Solicitor advised the Committee that since the report had been prepared, Ecotricity had submitted an appeal in respect of the decision to refuse permission to erect wind turbines at Silton/Bourton. He said that the Council had 6 weeks from 22 September to agree a common statement with the appellant and a 5 day public inquiry had been suggested that the Council would not oppose.

Full Council 30th September

At this meeting council adopted the Iwerne Minster VDS and associated documents as a Supplementary Planning Document and also adopted the Iwerne Minster Village Design Statement as a Supplementary Planning Document.

Members of the Cabinet presented a report on its activities for August to September 2011. Additional items were reported and Portfolio Holders were questioned on the matters reported.

Silton Wind Farm Planning AppealIn a response to a question from Councillor Cooper regarding the costs of the forthcoming planning appeal, the Leader advised that provision was routinely made to cover the costs of any appeals that might be made as a consequence of the Development Control Committee’s decisions.

Core Strategy
Councillor Deborah Croney (Planning Policy Panel Chair) asked all Members to encourage their Wards to consider what infrastructure development they would like to see or felt was necessary within their areas and feed this information into the Planning Policy Team for use in developing the Core Strategy.

Pre-application advice

Councillor Croney reported that the pre-application service being piloted in Development Control had been slow to start but early indications showed that this advice was seen as valuable. It was intended to monitor this service to ensure consistency in advice given.

Dorset Joint Scrutiny Review Panel

Councillor David Milsted was appointed to the Dorset Joint Scrutiny Review Panel with immediate effect as the North Dorset District Council representative.

Cabinet 3rd October

PREPARATION OF THE GYPSY AND TRAVELLERS AND TRAVELLING SHOWPEOPLE DEVELOPMENT PLAN DOCUMENT – CONSULTATION

To inform members of the current state of preparation of the Dorset-wide Gypsy and Traveller Site Allocations (including Travelling Showpeople) Joint Development Plan Document and seek Members’ approval of a District-wide consultation exercise on the Issues and Options Consultation Document and Site Options Summary Document.

RESPONSE TO THE GOVERNMENT’S CONSULTATION ON THE DRAFT NATIONAL PLANNING POLICY FRAMEWORK
To agree a response to the Government’s consultation on the draft National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF).

“Cllr Croney introduced the report and stated that it described the approach taken in the Draft National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) in relation to how councils should be guided by the NPPF in order to inform their own policies. It was extremely pro-growth and there was a presumption in favour of sustainable development. She continued that the general thrust of the report lacked clarity and she asked the Planning Policy Manager to detail areas of concern.
Cllr Walsh asked that the initial draft of the NPPF stated if an application went against local plan policies then it should be refused. However, it was stated in the current draft document that if an application was not acceptable then Councils should look for solutions so that schemes can be approved wherever it is practical to do so. He was concerned that this would take additional resources and felt that the previous statement that ‘if an application went against the local plan then it should be refused’ should be reinstated.
Cllr Croney stated that at the end of the proposed response outlined in paragraph 44 of the report a sentence should be added emphasising the need for planning decisions to be made in conformity with the local plan. This was agreed.”

MEDIUM TERM FINANCIAL STRATEGY 2012/13 TO 2016/17

To provide a framework for budget setting over the next five years.

CONSULTATION ON THE LOCALISATION OF COUNCIL TAX BENEFITS

To update members of the Government’s proposals to localise the payment of council tax benefit.

CONSULTATION ON THE LOCALISATION OF BUSINESS RATES
To update members on the Government’s proposals to localise the retention of business rates.

DELEGATED POWERS TO THE SOLICITOR TO THE COUNCIL – PROCEEDS OF CRIME ACT 2002
To clarify delegated powers of the Solicitor to the Council

EQUALITY: ACHIEVING CUSTOMER EXCELLENCE AND NATIONAL EQUALITY FRAMEWORK
To review the Council’s objective of Achieving Customer Excellence in 2012.

Planning Policy Panel 11th October

COMMUNITY PROFILING
The Reputation and Improvement Manager presented a report to raise awareness of community profiling information currently being collated on each of the wards and the main parishes in the District.

BOURNEMOUTH/POOLE STRATEGIC HOUSING MARKET ASSESSMENT UPDATE
The Planning Policy Manager presented his report informing Members of the contents of the updated Strategic Housing Market Assessment for the Bournemouth/Poole Housing Market Area and outlined the main implications for planning policy.

TOWN AND VILLAGE DESIGN STATEMENTS AND NEIGHBOURHOOLD PLANS
The Planning Policy Officer informed Members of the current situation in relation to Town and Village Design Statements and implications of the proposed changes to the planning system and the introduction of neighbourhood plans.

TAKING FORWARD THE SPATIAL STRATEGY FOR THE DISTRICT AND THE OPTIONS FOR GROWTH IN THE VILLAGES
Members were invited to comment on the possible options for development at Stalbridge and the villages and give their views on taking forward these proposals for engagement with local communities.

GILLINGHAM TOWN DESIGN STATEMENT
The Planning Policy Manager gave an oral update on the Gillingham Town Design Statement.
The Panel were shown the truly wonderful Town Design Statement that is being prepared for Gillingham and we praised those who had worked so hard in producing it.
When it is finished I hope that copies will be available in the Library, Museum and the Town Hall for all to see how wonderful our town is, rich in abundance in both history and bio-diversity, confirming our status as the main town in North Dorset, not the poor relation to neighbouring ones, anyway, I prefer “Kingsmill”.

Team North Dorset 14th October

This was a meeting held at Gillingham Town Hall focusing on gaining an understanding of the Key issues and projects in Gillingham, building on an area based approach to improvement.

• Gillingham key facts and profiles – Mark Williams
The facts and figures are getting more and more up to date and further away from the dreaded Atkins report, though until the figures are released from the latest census we are still sadly using some from 2001. (Though why it is taking a multi National Weapons Manufacturer using state of the art computer software 4 years to collate the information from our last census, I will never know.)

• Gillingham Direct – Stephen Hill
Stephen gave a very encouraging update on Gillingham Direct, stating that all is going to plan.

• Housing issues and development – Andrew Heath, Signpost Housing Association/Spectrum Housing Group.
Andrew gave a very good presentation and it also gave me the chance, when he mentioned their Community Chest supporting local groups and organisations, to thank him for the award being given to Gillingham Job Club.

• Planning Policy for Gillingham – Trevor Warrick (Planning Policy Manager)Yes after listening to a very well given presentation, I did ask
“As there is plenty of space for businesses at present within previously allocated employment land and due to the economic downturn and planning for the building of less houses than previously proposed and therefore less migration and less need for the employment projections previously favoured. Did he still think that there as still a need for a business park at Wyke? Bearing in mind that the intention was for a High Class, Clean, Knowledge Based Business Park, and that the “Economic Development Strategy 2010 – 2013 ‘Strategy for Action’” paragraph 51 states that
‘Property pilot is reporting a steady increase in B8 enquiries and a recent slight increase in B2 space enquiries (Storage and Distribution and Light Industry) but not D use (Knowledge Based, HE, FE)’”
(Yes! this is a question that I am continually asking him, but I think Trevor would die of shock if I didn’t, so it is purely for his health that I continue to do it.)

He answered that within the current climate and looking at current projections and with the previously allocated employment land available, he did not think that a Business Park at Wyke was needed at this time but as he has told me many times before, the “Draft Core Strategy” is at present being reviewed and the revised New Plan will be available in about a month.

• Community Issues and Initiatives – Hilary Ritchie/Community Partnerships
Hilary gave a very good update on all community projects going on in the area but kindly let me give an update of how well Gillingham Job Club is going and the great success that we had with the “Jobs and Volunteering Fair”. It gave me the chance to tell them that we had won a second award from the Awards For Market Towns as all the section winners were assessed and we were chosen as the winner of the “Most Easily Transferable Project for Towns” and after winning the Business and Economy Class prize I was very proud to shout about it. I then invited everyone to go into the Civic Hall as “Gillingham Job Club” was still in progress, it was only then that I thought, “that was the kiss of death” and that there would be no one in there. How wrong could I be, the room was full of hard working, dedicated, wonderful volunteers and Job Seekers wanting our help and support.
On a final note (you will be overjoyed to read), Cllr Richard Arnold informed me at P & R that 4 people that came along to the job fair were to start their training at Care Watch next week.

All minutes and Agendas are available on the “dorsetforyou” website

Cllr David Walsh

Development Control 25th October

Nine planning applications were deliberated but none came from within the Gillingham area.
Three times during this meeting I raised the point that councils had sent bullet points of one or two words as their objections to an application with no further details and no representative to elaborate or answer questions from the committee. It must be realised that very little weight can be given to this and I therefore suggested at the end of the meeting that Town and Parish Councils should be written to with regards to asking that when possible (work commitments allowing of course) that a spokesperson was available to put forward their views or that at least a detailed summary of their reasoning is available to members.

Overview and Scrytiny 26th October

DEVELOPMENT CONTROL PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT
Members were provided with an update following their review of the Development Control Service in September 2011.

• A constructive steer on the priority of members between speed of determination and ensuring issues were put right prior to determination.
• Dorset’s Development Management colleagues had been approached as to whether they were looking at targets beyond performance and very few were looking at quality of outcomes. The Committee appeared to be a step ahead of other authorities.
• The DC Team Leader continued that at present the charging for pre-application advice had produced more revenue than was initially expected. He pointed out that the Government was changing the way in which costs for dealing with planning applications were established and the new regime would be brought in next April. The idea was that all costs for the service would be re-cooped from planning fees. This had resulted in the service undertaking a time management process to determine the cost per application type. Each authority’s charges would look different, partly due to the recharge for internal services. This process would take a lot of time and resources and it would be difficult to administer any other changes whilst the process was undertaken during November and December.
• Two way dialogue with parishes, which had been touched upon at the Development Control Committee. There were occasions when no response had been forthcoming. (refer to previous DC meeting).

SCOPING OF THE REVIEW OF THE DORSETFORYOU WEB SITE
Members were invited to contribute to the drafting of the scoping document for the review of the Dorsetforyou website.

Full Council 28th October

PREPARATION OF THE DORSET-WIDE GYPSY AND TRAVELLER SITE ALLOCATIONS (INCLUDING TRAVELLING SHOWPEOPLE) JOINT
DEVELOPMENT PLAN DOCUMENT – CONSULTATION
Members received the report of the Senior Planning Policy Officer setting out the proposals for a public consultation exercise in respect of the Dorset-Wide Gypsy and Traveller site allocation (including Travelling Showpeople) Joint Development Plan Document.
The council endorsed the proposed public consultation exercise based on the Issues and Options Consultation Document and Site Options Summary Document of the Dorset-wide Gypsy and Traveller Site Allocations (including Travelling
Showpeople) Joint Development Plan Document.

“SHAPING OUR FUTURE” PROGRAMME
Members received the report of the Chief Executive giving detail of the change management plan setting out the framework for the future of the Council.

CABINET REPORT AND GENERAL QUESTION TIME
The Leader of the Council to present a report on Cabinet activities during October 2011 (attached). Members may question individual Cabinet members on the contents of this report.
The Leader announced the appointment of 4 Spokespersons who, with the permission of the Portfolio Holders, could speak in their absence on matters of responsibility.

Councillor Walsh – Community (Safety and Health) for Cllr Burch
Councillor Pothecary – Economy for Cllr Croney
Councillor Somper – Environment (Learning and Knowledge) for Cllr Roake
Councillor Batstone – Building Local Capacity (and Community) for Cllr Webb

I was especially pleased to be working with Cllr Burch as she is NDDCs link with Gillingham, through CPEND (Community Partnerships Executive North Dorset).
My first portfolio meetings were fascinating, it was very informative to receive updates from the section/team leaders.

Cabinet 31st October

WASTE AND RECYCLING COLLECTION SERVICE
Cllr Roake introduced the report and advised that it would be referred to Council for support on the proposals. He felt that the report was self explanatory and members had received the details about the service at the presentation given to them following the recent Full Council meeting. He therefore did not intend to go into detail and presented the recommendations to Cabinet. Cllr Milsted indicated that the new systems would make little difference to the residents of Gillingham who had been operating with this for some time. He felt that it was important for members to be fully informed and if the partnership required member champions to talk to groups or individuals about the changes he hoped the Gillingham Members would be asked to do this. The Chairman welcomed this offer and stated that the report and various presentations to members were important to fully inform them of not only the new systems but also the costs involved.

APPLYING FOR NEIGHBOURHOOD PLANNING FRONT RUNNERS SCHEME GRANT ON BEHALF OF GILLINGHAM TOWN COUNCIL
Cllr Croney introduced the report and stated that she had been really impressed with the way in which the community had taken the opportunity to begin to create a Town Design Statement. There had been an announcement from the Department for Communities and Local Government stating that grant funding would be made available to taken the creation of Neighbourhood Plans forward. The application from the Town Council required endorsement by the District Council.
The Senior Planning Policy Officer explained that Gillingham was at an advanced stage on the work on the Town Plan. Discussions had been undertaken with various steering groups, the community partnership and Planning Policy Officers and a decision had been taken to proceed to draw up a Neighbourhood Plan. She highlighted that page three of the report outlined the eligibility criteria.

She advised members that the advantages of the plans were that they would address local issues and involve land outside the settlement boundary. They would also support the delivery of strategic growth and planning considerations.

Cllr H Webb queried the wording of the recommendation and queried who needed to apply and manage the grant. The Senior Planning Officer advised that the District Council were required to apply for the funding on behalf of the Town Council. The District Council would be responsible for managing the funding, working closely with the Town Council.
Cllr Croney stated that the Planning Policy Team were working very closely with the Town Council and it had been indicated that the Senior Planning Officer should be enabled to focus on this work. She felt that it was important that the authority backed the Town Council in this application.

Resolved That the Council will apply and take responsibility for grant function on behalf of Gillingham Town Council in accordance with the eligibility criteria set out in the report.

Reason for Decision The funding, if agreed, would help to deliver the Neighbourhood Plan which it is hoped will help deliver strategically important growth alongside locally important regeneration and development whilst safe guarding and enhancing local assets of community value.

Development Control Site Visits 8th November

There was only one site visit and that was in Shaftesbury.

Planning Policy Panel 16th November

NORTH DORSET LOCAL DEVELOPMENT FRAMEWORK ANNUAL MONITORING REPORT FOR 2011
The Monitoring and Research Officer presnted the draft Annual Monitoring to inform members of progress towards achievement of the Local Development Scheme milestones as well as Local Plan and National Core Indicators, and to seek members comments on the Annual Monitoring Report prior to consideration by Cabinet and publication on line.

DRAFT UPDATED PLANNING GUIDANCE NOTE: PLANNING OBLIGATIONS FOR THE PROVISION OF COMMUNITY INFRASTRUCTURE
Members’ views were sought on the revised Planning Guidance Note (PGN) – Planning Obligations for the Provision of Community Infrastructure, prior to consideration by Cabinet.

CONSULTING WITH THE PARISHES ON TAKING FORWARD GROWTH IN THE TOWNS AND VILLAGES OF NORTH DORSET AND THE ROLE OF NEIGHBOURHOOD PLANNING
Members were informed of the proposed consultation on taking forward growth in the towns and villages and to seek their views on the documentation prior to engaging with local communities on the options.

GILLINGHAM NEIGHBOURHOOD PLAN AND TOWN DESIGN STATEMENT
Officers gave Members an oral update on the proposals for a Neighbourhood Plan for Gillingham and on public consultation on the draft Town Design Statement.

Policy Review Committee 21st November

REVIEW OF THE STANDARD OF PERSONAL CARE FOR ELDERLY AND VULNERABLE ADULTS WHEN IN HOSPITAL
A number of representatives of hospitals and other organisations relevant to the review had been invited to attend the meeting of the committee to give Members detail of the implementation of policies where appropriate, or to give their views and experience of the standard of personal care for local elderly and vulnerable adults when in hospital.
This was very informative and quite an eye opener.

Development Control 22nd November

One of the 8 applications discussed and debated was that of:
Location: M D H Motor Co, Cemetery Road, Gillingham, Dorset, SP8 4AZ
Proposal: Change of use from car vehicle sales and workshop to vehicle rental, station portakabin and erect security fencing (Demolish existing workshop).
Gillingham Town Council Development Recommendation Committee recommended refusal of this application and it was referred to NDDC Development Control for consideration.

After the committee’s deliberations it was decided to refuse the application. This decision was reached mainly due to the effects that the proposal would have on the amenity of neighbouring dwellings; specifically the siting of the portakabin and the obtrusiveness of the security fencing.
It is hoped that the applicant will come back with a revised application less detrimental to the character of the area and amenity of the neighbouring residents.

It was appreciated that a representative of Gillingham Town Council DCRC was present to give the committee’s views and be available to answer questions if Members needed clarification on any points raised.

All agendas and minutes can be found on the www.dorsetforyou.com website (See my Links at top of page)

Political Management Panel 24th November

The proposed parliamentary boundary changes were discussed.

Budget Workshop 30th November

This was a very interesting and important session with Helen Watson. As councillors representing our constituents it is imperative for us to have a grounded knowledge on the subject of how moneys are accrued and spent at the District Council level just as it is for Town Councillors to have an understanding of how the Precept is set.
Thankfully I remembered from one of our induction days, many, many, many months ago the difference between Revenue and Capital and what they mean in the world of the “Local Authority”.
I found the workshop truly fascinating, especially when we were put into the position within our small groups, of answering the important questions of how we would spend the money available and whether we would borrow or sell assets to cover any short fall, knowing the effects that our decisions would have upon the people of North Dorset.
There was a very serious side to the whole day, for though we do not know precisely how much money NDDC will have over the next term, through Government grants, New Homes Bonuses and Council Tax etc, we do know for certain that it will be less than we are working with now. New ways must therefore be found to provide the same services but with less money, thankfully this is a problem that NDDC has learnt to overcome in the past by forming Partnerships with neighbouring districts e.g. “The Waste Partnership”, enabling them to share running costs (Revenue that is; ha ha how smug am I?)

Media Skills Workshop 5th December

This was a workshop that I attended in my role as spokesperson at Cabinet to Cllr Audrey Burch. Who if you have been following these reports, you will know holds the portfolio for Communities and is the link from NDDC to The Three Rivers, our Community Partnership Executive in North Dorset.
It was a very enjoyable, though terrifying day which we seemed to spend being interviewed in front of a camera or analysing the recordings of ourselves being interviewed on camera. I learnt a great deal about dealing with the media.

Development Control Site Visit 6th December

There was only one site visit which was in Stalbridge.

Gypsy and Travellers (and Travelling Show people) Public Consultation 8th December

During the hours 10am – 1230pm a Public Consultation was held at Gillingham Town Hall, which was well attended by local people though 99% seemed to me to have come to ask questions relating to the site suggested at Plant World, Milton on Stour.
Not only was the morning well attended by local members of public but also by Senior Planning Officers from NDDC who were only too willing to answer the questions arising from such a contentious subject. At no point did they run to the hills, in fact I think that they showed themselves in a very good light

Policy Review Committee 14th December

Tomorrow I will be sacrificing my Christmas Lunch with the Citizens Advice Bureaux, (Yes I dare say I could cope with missing a meal) to attend a Policy Review Committee meeting at NDDC. This will be of particular interest to me as Chairman of Gillingham Job Club (www.gillinghamjobclub.co.uk) as one of the guests is a representative of “Job Centre Plus” who is coming to speak about the future of that organisation. I pray that it will always have a future, Job Centre Plus is essential to North Dorset, with unemployment drastically on the increase and 40% of Dorset working in the Public Sector, which is taking such a hard hit.
I found out from Hilary Ritchie an hour ago at a meeting discussing unemployment and NEETs (such a cute word for something so horrific) that North Dorset was the second from bottom (bottom being the lowest) in a list of unemployment in this region; sadly we are now seventh from bottom.
On a happier note, at the end of September, the last quarter figures, Gillingham’s unemployment figures had gone down, which is why towns in Dorset, Wiltshire and Somerset have approached our Job Club to help them set up their own. “Thank you” to all of our hard working volunteers and a ….

VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS TO YOU ALL

All agendas and minutes can be found on the www.dorsetforyou.com website

How are we to regenerate our High Street? Shops set to close ……….. http://www.westernleader.co.uk

COUNCIL TAX FREEZE FOR NORTH DORSET

North Dorset District Council agreed to freeze its share of the Council Tax for the second year running at its council meeting of Thursday 23 February.

This means that Council Tax payers in North Dorset will pay £104.78 in 2012/13 for their district council services, exactly the same as last year. This is some £60 a year less than the Band D householder pays on average in the rest of the country.

Cllr Peter Webb, Leader of the Council, said: “I am pleased for the tax payers of North Dorset that we are able to freeze Council Tax once again this year, but I am disappointed that the government has moved the goalposts regarding local taxation and threatened to penalise councils if they increased Council Tax. This creates a great deal of uncertainty about how a very low taxing district such as North Dorset will be able to fund essential services for local people in the future.”

Cllr Webb continued: “It is to be hoped that the government will soon correct some of the major inequalities and deficiencies of funding, particularly with respect to rural areas.”

Cllr David Milsted, Leader of the liberal Democrat group, said: “For the sake of a penny a day, NDDC has given in to threats and bullying. This decision is bad news for local democracy, and marks the end of any trust our council had in the Government’s so-called Localism Agenda.”

The opposition Liberal Democrat group and one Independent councillor voted against the proposal to freeze Council Tax.

The Council had originally received a recommendation from Cabinet to increase the tax by 3.49% to ensure its financial viability and enable it to continue to provide essential local services. However, recent government comments have steered the Council towards accepting the lower offer of a one year 2.5% grant instead.

In recent years the Council has reduced its costs by 41% through a range of shared services, by reducing management costs and managing vacancies. Employees have had their pay frozen for the last two years and a further wage freeze is expected this year equating to an overall 15% pay cut according to GMB union officials.

The Council Tax bill is made up of charges from Dorset County Council, Dorset Police Authority, Dorset Fire Authority and North Dorset District Council together with charges from Town and Parish Councils. The District Council element represents approximately 7% of the bill.

Rural councils such as North Dorset receive less government funding per head of population than urban councils, despite costs per citizen being higher.

The Council is likely to have to make large reductions in its budgets from 2013/14 because of further planned reductions in government funding.

- ends -

For more information contact: the Communications Manager at North Dorset District Council on 01258 484100; phyde@north-dorset.gov.uk

NDDC votes not to raise Council Tax but accept the Freeze Grant offered by Coalition Government

Currently the amount paid to NDDC from Council Tax on a Band D property is £104.78 per year (the Base Rate), where as East Dorset’s is £190. Cabinet wanted to raise North Dorset’s by 3.49% which equates to 1p extra per day, a yearly increase of £3.65. this would have raised the Base Rate to £108.43 meaning that next year when there is no Freeze Grant on offer from Government we would be able to raise £108.43 by 3.49% which would still be a very minimal raise of £3.78 taking it to £112.21 per year. To a Council having the lowest Council Tax in Dorset and 7th lowest in the whole country it was deemed necessary.

3.49% was chosen because a raise of 3.5% or more would entitle the community to call for a Referendum which would cost so much money that it would negate any proposed raise contested.

The government offered a Freeze Grant which would give those Councils that did not raise their Council Tax a grant to the equivalent of them having actually raised it by 2.5%. A problem perceived with this is that when the Freeze Grants end after this year, our Base Rate will still be very low (£104.43) and if all the constraints with regards capping future raises of 3.5% and Referendums still apply we will in my opinion, have a very difficult task ahead ensuring that the people of North Dorset continue to receive the services that they are entitled.

Recently MP Grant Shapps has stated in no uncertain terms that any council raising their Council Tax will, next year have their Base Rates put back to the level it was before they raised it, (the period 2011-2012) when future Government Funding is calculated.

It was therefore the majority view at NDDC in today’s Budget meeting that the Council Tax Freeze on offer was taken; there would have been no future benefit in refusing it and raising Council Tax.

“The benefits that would have previously been realised by raising Council Tax would no longer be available. Any increased Base Rate would be negated when future government funding for North Dorset District Council was calculated.”

Read the Budget Speech made by the Leader of North Dorset District Council (Below)

Budget Speech 2012/13

Cllr Peter Webb (Leader North Dorset District Council)

Chairman, This is the tenth successive year that I have stood in front of this Council to propose its budget for the following year. I think that has given me an opportunity to offer some broad comments on some of the enduring characteristics of the rural local government experience since the turn of the century. What is local government? Is it a place where local wishes are translated into local action with local funds by accountable elected members? Or a place that is required to implement central government edicts in a locality – essentially without regard to local interests or source of funds? I suppose it is bound to be a mixture of the two, and with a typically British lack of clarity, the distinction between local and central government is not codified, and therefore difficult to define. It is consequently flexible. It is worth remembering that it is central government who makes the rules of the day, and they have endless ways of using carrots and sticks and brick walls, to get their beasts of burden to move where they want them to. What is ironic is that during the expansionist times under the previous Government, there were heavy central rules, which reduced local choice and discretion; and yet the current Government – more philosophically supportive one would have thought of local choice – pursues contraction by reductions in funding at a faster rate than it can unpick the burden of duties imposed on local government; and this also results in reduced local choice and discretion. It can also be observed, that irrespective of the colour of central government, the beasts of burden of local government seem to have had their dietary regimes fixed: namely the ones that were well fed in the past can continue to be relatively well fed; and those that preferred a slimmers diet in the past must now continue to slim, no matter what weight loss has already resulted.

Whatever you may understand about the trend towards ‘Localism’, I detect that the trend towards local choice in the traditional sense of local democracy is declining remorsely. Furthermore, I suspect that the endgame for local government by central government will be Unitaries, justified effectively from the position that England cannot afford the luxury of district level democracy, any more than Scotland or Wales were afforded it. I hope that either I am wrong, or that the demise of the District Council in England is a long way in the future; they are the only major local voice in local government with effective representational roots in distinctive communities. Another clear trend is essentially the continuous reduction of public expenditure, combined with the gradual erosion in average standards of living across the nation. This may sound grim but alternatives are likely to be ten or a hundred times worse. Essentially the national money elastic has been stretch too far – it either needs to be contracted in a controlled way or else it will snap back at a destructive rate.

This is all pretty unpopular stuff for Central Government. There is also the politically sensitive beast of Council Tax to tame. Although never a popular tax, Council Tax suits Central Government rather well. It is set, collected and explained at local level, and the many strings that Governments pull are not very visible or easily understandable to the general public. There is only one danger, and that is if all Councils start putting up council tax by large amounts, then it’s pretty obvious that Central Government is the cause, and could even be blamed! This happened in 2004, and the backlash was council tax capping, which essentially squashed local representative democracy in a traditional mode. It also prompted the likes of this council to pursue successful new engagements with local communities to help them sustain selected local facilities. Unless Government takes action to control Council Tax rises, the consequence of cutting central funding by say 10% in a year, with no other changes, is more or less a 10% increase in Council tax. Now …. that really wouldn’t go down too well would it? So some clever obstacles such as referendum triggers and one-off grant schemes are brought into play, designed to channel most Councils down a path of freezing Council Tax at 2010/11 levels for a couple of years. A straightforward 2.5% equivalent grant for 4 years did the trick for all councils last year; this year the offer is for 2.5% equivalent for one year only. For Councils with average or high tax levels, this is sufficient incentive to fund a further freeze this coming year.

However, our Council does not charge near or above average tax levels. It currently charges 60% of the average District Council Tax. It has been forced down a road in the last seven years which results in it giving a 40% discount compared to the national average for District Councils. It has also done almost all it can do in that time to reduce internal costs, and options for yet more cost reductions are becoming severely limited. The scope for transferring further responsibilities from the District Council to other parts of our communities and their structures is also limited, although we remain committed to engaging with local communities to make the best of the opportunities that can be mutually engineered. Costs are above average in rural areas like North Dorset, therefore, all other things being equal you would expect NDDC’s tax level to be recognised as clearly good value for money if it was at or under the average tax level. That means it would be good value, relative to the rest of England, if it were around £170 a year.

The revenue budget has been under active examination and discussion since at least last November, when a very well attended budget workshop examined a number of key options, as well as the trends and economic context in which we operate. Since that time, it is increasingly clear that there are additional adverse indications affecting the outlook for both expenditure, and income. We have seen recent indications that the current year’s budget looks like being overspent by around £350k; it is worth noting that this was the amount of unbudgeted income reduction from last year when the expected Planning Delivery Grant stopped after we had set the budget and had to find in year. That meant we had to find about £1M in savings in the current year, a 41% reduction of our net budget over recent years. This has made this year very tight indeed and it is the weaker than expected income that is primarily responsible for the present blip on overspend. That is specifically taken into accounted for our budget next year. However, on top of all the formal estimates dealt with in the budget papers, I can see a clear trend toward an increase in future revenue cost risk. I put this in the order of £500,000 a year over the coming years, which amounts to an increase of £20 on Council Tax. Put another way, in the current context, (and that means at current levels of central funding and other incomes), I consider that our Council requires a level of Council Tax of around £130 p.a. to be able to sustainably meet its responsibilities, essentially those of statutory obligations and good community practice. It can scrape by on less for a year or two, and that is the direction chosen in the recommendations laid before Council. There are two main choices for this Council: to aim to scrape by using the one-off ‘freeze grant’ offered by Government; or to scrape by, by raising Council Tax by an amount below the referendum trigger, which would amount to a minute increase of 30 pence a month for the average household.

The calculation of the public interest for North Dorset was perfectly clear on the 6th February, when Cabinet recommended to Council that NDDC’s tax rate should not be frozen, but rather be set at a level some £60 a year below the average rate for District Councils in England.

Since that recommendation was made, the government has indicated its clear intention to move the goalposts, which both changes and confuses the assessment of the future public interest in North Dorset. The new message is that the Government is particularly keen that there should not be council tax rises this year. On top of the carrot of a temporary freeze grant, it is now adding the stick that it could/would adjust the new funding formula for next year, and onwards, to negate any benefits that individual councils gained by increasing their tax rate this year.

I suppose if I were brutally honest, I am in the ‘once bitten, twice shy’ camp. Before capping was introduced, I did not expect a British Government to interfere so blatantly with the fundamental local responsibility of local government. To their shame and my embarrassment, in 2005 they did, and maintained central control over what look like local taxes for many years. With the demise of the previous Government, one had hopes for greater respect for local autonomy from the current one. Sadly, the national coffers are now an overriding priority and this Government has enough unpopular things to do without the spectre of uncontrolled council tax rises as well. So it is understandable that Government continues its combinations of sticks, carrots and brick walls to channel its local government beasts of burden down the best path for central government. This is not a healthy time for local government, particularly, poorly funded councils, who have so little local choice allowed to them, that the term ‘local’ hardly seems appropriate. There is one small ray of hope for beleaguered Councils such as ours in the future, and that is that the present review of central funding will provide some balancing up and additional funds to more equitably support each resident in rural areas, where average costs are higher, at the expense of the better fed urban areas.

I would like to propose a small increase in this Council’s tax rate, to the comparatively very low level of £130 a year for a Band D property. This would provide a secure income for this Council to discharge its short and long term responsibilities whilst offering its residents exceptionally low taxes. However, for all the reasons I have just been discussing, I cannot do that. Instead I propose that we do as the Government requests and accept their offer of a freeze grant for one year. As far as I can judge, despite the numbers that were clear when Cabinet recommended an increase, the freeze route now looks so close to what would happen with a small rise in tax – and the subsequent promised reduction in central funding – that it is no longer clear which route would be the better medium term choice for our residents. On a 50/50 assessment, it is the freeze route that wins. That means that next year’s District Tax rate will be the same as this year’s and last year’s, namely £104.78 per annum for a Band D household. The budget will be balanced by a small adjustment in planned savings, without altering the expenditure intentions on any service from those in Cabinet’s recommendations of the 6th February. It is now to be hoped that Government will soon correct some of the major inequalities and deficiencies of funding treatment with respect to rural areas in particular. For clarity, the proposed budget continues the current level of support for concessionary travel, but without prejudice to the scheduled review.

I would like to pay tribute to the quality work and analysis that officers of this Council have put in to help us examine the complex and changing scenarios we are in. I would also like to thank not only fellow Councillors, but the many others in the North Dorset Community who have assisted us in the process of establishing this budget with its continued commitment to our communities and the further improvement of value for money. I commend my proposals to this Council.

PW

Cllr Peter Webb (Leader North Dorset District Council)

23.2.2012