ENABLING LOCAL COUNCILS IN DORSET TO ACHIEVE …

1 DORSET Association of Parish and Town COUNCILS Annual Report 2015/2016 DAPTC DORSET Association of Parish and Town COUNCILS ANNUAL REPORT 2015 - 2016 ENABLING LOCAL COUNCILS IN DORSET TO ACHIEVE EXCELLENCE Sponsored by Annual Report 2015/2016 2 DORSET Association of Parish and Town COUNCILS Annual Report 2015/2016 2 DORSET Association of Parish and Town COUNCILS Our Aim: To support LOCAL COUNCILS in DORSET in achieving excellence. In doing this, DAPTC provides advice, support, training and assistance to its member COUNCILS , many of whom employ only one official, the Clerk, usually on a part-time basis.

2 The advice and support offered by DAPTC is backed-up by the Association s links with the National Association of LOCAL COUNCILS (NALC) to which it is affiliated. _____ Contents: Chairman s Forward Chief Executive s Report Training Report Highlights from our Member COUNCILS A Message from the DAPTC President Treasurer s Report List of Member council and Parish Meetings _____ Acknowledgements: Our thanks go to all who have helped the Association during the year, particularly: DORSET County council The officers of the District COUNCILS in DORSET All members of the Executive Committee Councillors and Clerks of member COUNCILS who have contributed to the running of Area and Town and Larger COUNCILS Committees. All Area Secretaries Tony Gibb & Cllr Janet Page for all their efforts with DAPTC training courses.

3 Front Cover: The Village Fayre at South Perrott in August submitted by Cllr Sue Coutanche of Parrett & Axe Parish council . Association Structure President David Jenkins DL Vice Presidents Cllr Janet Page Tony Gibb Chairman Cllr Haydn White Vice Chairman Cllr John Parker Honorary Steven Pink Treasurer Auditor Andrew Notley Chief Executive Hilary Trevorah Executive Committee Central Area Cllr Alan Thacker Cllr Jill Barry Eastern Area Cllr Janet Wallace Cllr Penny Yeo Cllr Adrian Hibbard Northern Area Cllr Simon Firbank Cllr Mike Jones Cllr Crawford May Purbeck Area Debbie Weller Western Area Cllr Chris Turner

4 Cllr John Broom Cllr Debbie Snook Town & Larger Cllr Chris Turner COUNCILS Cllr Haydn White Cllr Lindsey Dedden Cllr Janet Page Cllr K D Johnson Cllr Jackie Stayt DORSET Association of Parish and Town COUNCILS 3 Annual Report 2015/2016 Chairman s Forward by the Association s links with the National Our thanks go to all who have helped the Review of 2015/2016 2015/2016 was an interesting and exciting time for DAPTC but was tinged with sadness, the sadness came with the loss of two of our stalwarts; Ken Whetlor, former Mayor of Lyme Regis, Vice President of our association, for many years Chairman of Western Area and our NALC representative.

5 Caroline MacLeod, former Chairman of Purbeck Area and for many years a member of our Executive Committee, her down to earth and common sense approach will be sadly missed. In happier times we have extended our influence by being involved with the Clinical Commissioning Group, with what I believe will be a growing partnership to our mutual benefit and that of the community at large. The work with the CCG and our ever increasing involvement with DORSET County council has greatly increased the workload of our staff and officers. May I offer my personal thanks for the effort and time they have committed to these projects. I would also like to thank the Leadership and Senior officers of DCC, for the way they have encouraged and embraced our new relationship. There is an uncertain future awaiting LOCAL government and we at the parish and town level must ensure our presence at all stages of these discussions.

6 Our views must be embedded in whatever changes may occur. I have attended all of our area committees and have been impressed with the level and quality of debate as well as the commitment of those present but it is important that all parish and town COUNCILS are represented at these meetings especially over the next year. It is certain that in a county like DORSET "ONE SIZE DOES NOT FIT ALL". There will be need for flexibility, the like of which seemed beyond the reach of our principal Authorities in the past. It is not only the principal authorities that will need to change. Parish and town COUNCILS will need to rethink their roles and their relationship with their neighbours . Councillor Haydn White DAPTC Chairman Annual Report 2015/2016 4 DORSET Association of Parish and Town COUNCILS Chief Executive s Report Introduction 2015-16 has seen an increase in membership and an increased strategic role for the Association.

7 In addition to providing training, guidance and support, DAPTC has responded to its members concerns about the challenges coming with change to LOCAL government in DORSET . The Association has given many opportunities for discussion on this topic throughout the year. The Executive Committee and Area Meetings have been vital in taking the Association forward in these discussions and supporting the following items. Above: The DAPTC Executive Committee Increase in membership Three additional COUNCILS joined the Association in 2015 16. Broadwindsor, Winterborne St Martin and Winterborne Abbas & Steepleton Parish COUNCILS were warmly welcomed. This made DAPTC one of the most representative county associations in England with nearly 160 member COUNCILS , including all town COUNCILS in DORSET .

8 The work of the association Working Together Project In 2015, a joint project to improve co-ordination was started initially involving DORSET County council , four DORSET town clerks and the Association. Town Clerks Karen Wright of Lychett Minster and Upton, Martin Ayres of Swanage, Bob Gillis of Bridport and Trevor Savage of Sherborne plus Cynthia Starkey, the previous DAPTC Chief Executive put significant effort into the project, with considerable officer time from the county council When Cynthia retired in June 2015, I took her place in the project. To give more emphasis towards smaller parish COUNCILS , the DAPTC Executive invited a parish clerk to work on the project, Michele Harding, who works for three parish COUNCILS and is involved with training other clerks. DORSET Association of Parish and Town COUNCILS 5 Annual Report 2015/2016 Chief Executive s Report The work of the association Working Together Project (Cont.)

9 All clerks have to constantly juggle their priorities and workload, so improvements in co-ordinating consultation and liaison with county council services could be a real asset to them. Parish and town COUNCILS can often suggest innovative ideas to improve existing DCC services so it s vital that these suggestions are considered before changes are made. The project was presented at the Clerks Seminar in September by DCC Head of Strategic Development Patrick Myers. He explained that improvements were necessary particularly in the light of changes to county council services and possible restructure of LOCAL government in DORSET . All town and parish COUNCILS were sent a copy of the recommendations coming out of the Working Together project in the autumn. Broad support for the project was shown with concern over the impact on precept levels, finances and resources if services are devolved.

10 In view of all the changes that are happening to LOCAL government services, the project is becoming even more important. As part of this project, new ways of delivering highway services are actively being explored to find cost effective solutions to respond to community needs. Impact of LOCAL Government reorganisation on Parish and Town COUNCILS Unitary proposals for DORSET were announced in late September 2015. Bournemouth, Christchurch, East DORSET and Poole principal authorities stated that they were jointly exploring the possibility of a single, brand new council to cover their respective geographic areas. DORSET County council announced proposals for a pan DORSET unitary council . In response to this, the DAPTC AGM hosted a presentation and discussion on this topic in November. All member COUNCILS can send two representatives to the AGM and the event was very well attended.