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Other News from around Dorset

Growing the Jurassic Coast Community Last Summer, the Heritage Lottery Fund accepted the Jurassic Coast Partnership’s application to run a project entitled “Growing the Jurassic Coast Community”. This project aims to unite the various organisations and individuals who live or operate on or near the Jurassic Coast, and to create a vibrant, active and financially sustainable community. As part of the project, Guy Kerr was appointed as Community Coordinator to oversee its operations. Guy has been recruiting Ambassadors throughout Dorset and East Devon. These are talented, passionate people who are interested in helping out on Jurassic Coast projects and in running their own. Some examples of Ambassador projects to date are a training day held in Seaton in February on various Jurassic Coast and environmental topics. The day was organised and hosted by Ambassadors and attracted over 50 attendees. Other Ambassadors have run activities days for children through local businesses. The community project also involves recruiting Council Champions, representatives from various parishes and councils in Dorset and Devon who act as points of contact for the Jurassic Coast Partnership. Champions can be kept up to date with upcoming events, training and other Jurassic Coast news. They can also lead the way on organising Jurassic Coast events in their area. The Partnership would love to expand our presence into areas of Dorset that we have not previously engaged with – just because you’re not directly on the coast doesn’t mean you can’t benefit from learning more about the spectacular World Heritage Site on our doorstep. If you’re interested in becoming a Council Champion or you know of someone who’d like to be an Ambassador, please email Guy for more information – g.kerr@jurassiccoast.org

Jurassic Coast geologist Sam Scriven leads a guided

walk at West Bay

Jurassic Coast Ambassador Norah Jaggers

speaking at the Shelter in Beer, East Devon

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Other News from

around Dorset

More take up means more will benefit from superfast broadband

The rollout of fibre broadband continues to progress throughout Dorset, and to date more than 35,000 properties have access to superfast speeds above 24Mbps. Take up of the new service is climbing, with nearly 13 per cent of people who have access to the high-speed technology having taken up a new service. Mannington, in East Dorset, continues to lead the way with more than 50 per cent take up locally. Why is take up important? Because people can’t benefit from the new technology unless they take up a new service. Once fibre broadband is live in an area, existing connection speeds do not improve automatically. A

choice of providers will be available for residents to find the best service to suit their needs. Take up is also important because it’s a potential source of additional funding for Superfast Dorset. Earlier and higher levels of take up will bring investment back into the programme to be used to extend coverage into communities that are not in current rollout plans. More information on this ‘Final 5%’ can be found on the DAPTC website. For residents in hard to reach areas who don’t want to wait for fibre to reach their area, alternative solutions might be available to you now. Learn more at https://www.dorsetforyou.com/broadband/alternative-solutions

The Broadband Connection Voucher Scheme has just launched in Dorset, set to boost local businesses. Dorset’s SMEs and charities could get up to £3,000 to cover the cost of connecting to a better broadband service—and not just for fibre, the money can be used to cover other technologies, too. Upgrading to faster broadband helps businesses grow and access new markets, increase productivity and helps future-proof for the digital challenges of tomorrow. The scheme is running for a year and vouchers are limited and on a first come, first served basis. To find out more, visit:https://www.dorsetforyou.com/connection-vouchers As the summer sets in, the Superfast team together with stakeholders and volunteers hope to visit community fairs and village fetes where fibre broadband is available to ensure people know how to get it and how to benefit. If you’re planning a community event this spring or summer and you’re looking for stall holders, please get in touch with the team! For the latest on what’s happening in your community, check the map and coverage pages, register to keep informed at www.dorsetforyou.com/superfast and follow @SuperfastDorset on Twitter.

13

Other News from around

Dorset

Liz Goodall retires from North Dorset District Council

At a special council meeting on Friday 27 February North Dorset District Councillors paid tribute to retiring Chief Executive, Liz Goodall, after 12 years at NDDC and 42 years in Local

Government. Liz inherited a troubled Council in 2003 and led it through significant change to winning awards including: Best Community Partnership in 2010 and, in 2013, European Best Practice Award for

“Weathering the Financial Storm”. Liz turned round a troubled council to create a highly motivated workforce, modern business-like

services and 40% efficiency savings. She devised an innovative project in 2006 to inspire local communities to take ownership of local services resulting in high quality venues with substantial

levels of volunteering.

Matt Prosser appointed Chief Executive of Tri-Council Partnership At the Council meeting on 19 February, NDDC approved an agreement to establish a ground-

breaking Tri-Council Partnership with West Dorset District Council and Weymouth and Portland

Borough Council and to appoint Matt Prosser as its next Chief Executive.

Within the partnership each council retains its sovereignty with its own set of councillors but all

three will share back office functions. Property assets will be rationalised with the main HQ for all services eventually being South Walks House in Dorchester.

A new Senior Leadership Team will be in post across the partnership by the end of April 2015. After which a carefully planned programme of service convergence will be instigated.

Cllr Tony Harrocks

Cllr Tony Harrocks was found dead at his home on Sunday 15 March. He represented the Blandford Hilltop ward since 2011 and had been actively involved in a number of events and initiatives in Blandford recently, particularly

World War 1 commemorative events and with Forum Focus magazine.

Cllr Richard Moyle Cllr Richard Moyle, who represented the Riversdale Ward of NDDC, sadly was found dead at his home in

Winterborne Zelston on Tuesday 24 March 2015. Cllr Moyle had been a Member of the Council since 1999. During

that time he held many positions of responsibility including being a member of the Cabinet from 2004 to 2010.

North Dorset freezes Council Tax North Dorset District Council agreed to freeze its share of the Council Tax at its council meeting of Thursday 19

February.

This means that Council Tax payers in North Dorset will pay £111.96 (for a Band D property) in 2015/16 for their district council services, exactly the same as last year. This is some £80 a year less than the Band D

householder pays on average in the rest of the county.

Freezing council tax means that the Council can set a budget of £5,563,750 to deliver its service priorities to the

people of North Dorset.

Council savings initiative recognised in national report

NDDC’s work with two local leisure centres has been cited as an example of good practice in a government report,

Good Practice in Local Government Savings, from the Department for Communities and Local Government.

It recognises the way in which NDDC worked with the community in Gillingham and a private sector business partner in Blandford Forum to: maintain the leisure centres for their communities; improve the facilities offered;

provide better value for money for users; and save money for the local tax-payer.

Continued on next page

Pictured: Matt

Prosser

Pictured : Liz Goodall

14

Other News from around

Dorset

Continued from previous page North Dorset councils fly flags for the Commonwealth

Several North Dorset councils joined the international initiative to ‘Fly a Flag for the Commonwealth’ on Monday 9 March. The intention was for hundreds of Commonwealth flags to be flown in significant, strategic and eye-catching

positions across the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth.

Blandford Fly treatment Treatment of the River Stour to prevent the emergence of the Blandford Fly took

place on Tuesday 31 March.

Hopes had been high since early this year that NDDC would be given permission to

carry out the treatment this spring, but in mid-March the council was still waiting to hear whether approval would be given or not.

Roger Frost, Food, Safety and Licensing Manager at NDDC, confirmed that final

authorisations to carry out the treatment were secured in late March.

Smarter Planning status award In April the Council was awarded “Smarter Planning Champion” status by the Planning Portal. (Central Government’s

point of call for all planning information and application management) The award, held by about 70 of England’s County, District and Unitary Authorities underpins Government’s overall

drive to a ‘digital by default’ approach to information sharing. It reflects national recognition for the work the Council has undertaken over the past three years to improve its

electronic planning services, including consulting towns, parishes and all consultees electronically. This change in

approach following pilot trials with volunteer groups was recognised by the Portal as a key element of its Planning Champion award and reflects upon all the local public bodies and interest groups who have risen to the challenge of

new ways of working resulting in reduced costs and delays in the application process.

Council to issue flood warning signs

Communities affected by long-term flooding in North Dorset are to be issued with flood warning signs by North Dorset District Council.

Villages in the Chalk Valleys and those in close proximity to the River Stour in North Dorset will be contacted by the council’s Principal Technical Officer, Mike Coker, this summer to discuss their requirements.

The decision was made at the council meeting of Friday 27 March when it was announced that the County Council will not be providing flood warning signs in future.

The signs will be deployed by the relevant Parish Councils or Flood Wardens to alert motorists and other road users

to any impending problems of flooding and to safeguard property from vehicle wash. Importantly, it will be the responsibility of the Parish Council or Flood Warden to remove the signs once the flooding has abated.

Long serving councillors stand down

Four long-serving Members of North Dorset District Council with a combined experience of 97 years

stood down before the election on 7 May.

• Council Chairman, Su Hunt (Milton ward) stood down after 12 years.

• Cllr Mervyn Jeffery (Shaftesbury Christy’s ward) retired after 20 years.

• Former Chairman Cllr Mike Oliver (Cranborne Chase ward) had 24 years’ experience.

• Cllr Geoffrey Miller (Bourton& District ward), with a record 41 years as a councillor, was the

longest serving of all.

Other councillors who stood down were:

Cllr Richard Arnold (Lodbourne), Cllr Joe Hickish (Blandford Old Town),

Cllr Traci Handford (The Stours), Cllr Adrian Shaw (Motcombe& Ham) and

Cllr Julian Speers (The Beacon).

15

Other News from around DorsetOther News from around DorsetOther News from around DorsetOther News from around Dorset

Councils invest in future of Purbeck employment site

Purbeck District Council and Dorset County Council are to invest £927,000 each in the Dorset Green

employment site at Winfrith Newburgh. This will help to secure the future of one of Dorset’s strategic employment sites.

Previously a nuclear facility, the site is now home to a range of businesses, including two key defence-related advanced engineering businesses.

The District Council and the County Council have been working with the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA),

which is the freehold owner of the site, to acquire 6.2 hectares of land on the 40 hectare site.

The current leasehold owners of the site recently went into receivership so investment is needed in the site to

provide reassurance to existing businesses and kick-start future employment development on the site to build further confidence.

This investment is in addition to successful Local Growth Deal funding of £600,000, which Purbeck District Council

applied for through the Dorset Local Economic Partnership (LEP). The LEP had identified Dorset Green as a

strategic employment site and a high priority for investment through the government funded growth deal.

It is proposed that the first phase of development in the south eastern corner of the site will commence at the earliest opportunity. A planning application will be submitted by May 2015. This would include building 1,800

square metres of modern functional workspace for small business use on 1.3 hectares of the land and a new site road to enable future sales of the remaining 4.9 hectares. Development could commence on site as early as

October 2015.

In total, the site provides 40 hectares of strategic employment land. A large part of the remainder is being

marketed by the Receiver which aims to identify a private sector operator who will be required to invest in the employment future of the site.

Purbeck District Council sets its council tax for 2015/16 A 1.94% rise was agreed for Purbeck District Council’s share of the Council Tax in 2015/16. This amounts to an increase of £3.28 per year for a band D household for the District Council’s share. The increase in Council Tax has helped the Council to meet a £357,000 reduction in its external funding for 2015/16, compared to 2014/15. Since austerity measures were first introduced in 2008, the District Council has seen its support from Government reduce by £1.4m per annum, which is 38% of the Government’s support in 2008. Measures taken to meet the reduction for 2015/16 included organisational changes and reducing the number of managers and other staff within the Council. There has also been an increase in income from business rates following more economic activity in the District, and extra government funding of £80,000 through new local housing. Further funding cuts are expected in the next five years, and it is anticipated that the Council will need to save £360,000 per annum by 2020. £172.41 (approximately 1/10th) of the annual Council Tax collected in 2015/16 for a band D property will go to Purbeck District Council. Taking into account charges for Dorset County Council, the Dorset Police & Crime Commissioner and the Dorset Fire and Rescue Authority (but excluding increases for town and parish councils), the overall average council tax for a band D household in Purbeck will be £1,642.65 per year. This is an increase of 1.75%, or 54p per week, for a band D household.

16

Dorset Clinical Commissioning GroupDorset Clinical Commissioning GroupDorset Clinical Commissioning GroupDorset Clinical Commissioning Group

Since October 2014 Dorset Clinical

Commissioning Group, the organisation led by local doctors and other health professionals

whose job it is to plan and secure the healthcare for Dorset’s people, has been

considering how to improve and modernise

Dorset’s health services.

Working with over 200 clinicians across primary, community, mental health and acute

care, health and social care leaders in Dorset and neighbouring areas, staff, and patient,

carer and public representatives, discussions

have been taking place about ensuring the high quality and affordable care for local

people now and into the future.

Although most patients currently receive good

care in Dorset, achieving the best standards of care for everyone is becoming increasingly

difficult.

Patient needs are changing as we have a high and growing population of older people, and

increasing numbers living with chronic

conditions like dementia and diabetes.

The way we currently organise our health resources doesn’t reflect these needs as well

as it could. There are also advances in

medicine and technology that we want to make best use of. And we want to ensure that

care is being delivered by the right staff, at the right time and in the right place. So there is an

urgent and important need to change the way

we do things.

Over the course of the last few months a significant amount of work has been undertaken to help us to identify potential options for changes to address the challenges we face.

Later this summer a consultation will be run during which the public’s views will be gathered. No decisions about any

changes to be made will be made until after local people have had the chance to give their views.

Detailed information about the Need to Change, gathered and analysed evidence and the evaluation criteria to assess potential future options is available at www.dorsetsvision.nhs.uk . Paper copies are available on request by contacting 01202 541946.

People can also sign up to join the CCG’s Health Involvement Network to receive regular updates on the review’s progress and the consultation documents through this website or telephone number.

17

On 4 March 2015, the Secretary of State signed the Combination Order for the new Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Authority. Whilst this formally takes effect from 1 April 2016, it also enables a Shadow Authority to be formed in 2015 to begin the necessary combination and convergence issues. I was extremely fortunate that on 26 February I was appointed as Chief Fire Officer (Designate) for the new Authority. Over the next 12 months, I will be working with my counterpart in Wiltshire, CFO Simon Routh-Jones, to design, develop and delivery new structures and functions for our new Fire and Rescue Service to take effect from 1 April 2016. Our existing Fire Authorities will become combined in a new Fire Authority which will be called the Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Authority. This will consist of councillors from all our constituent authorities (Bournemouth, Dorset, Poole, Swindon and Wiltshire). The first meeting of the new Authority will take place on 23 June 2015 where amongst other things they will elect a Chairman and Vice-Chairman. They will then meet throughout the year to continue the journey to becoming a new Fire and Rescue Authority. A key purpose of the combination is to protect as far as possible frontline services from future funding reductions. We therefore hope that in terms of the combination and our communities, over the coming years our communities will see a more effective and efficient Fire and Rescue Service rather than one that is subject to continuous cuts. Finally, a key role for us moving forward will be to further strengthen the prevention work we undertake with our communities and in particular working with our partners to help address agendas associated to Safe and Independent Living and the wider wellbeing of all vulnerable individuals. Darran Gunter Chief Fire Officer

Dorset Fire and Rescue - Combination Update

18

Dorset CPRE (Campaign to Protect Rural Dorset CPRE (Campaign to Protect Rural Dorset CPRE (Campaign to Protect Rural Dorset CPRE (Campaign to Protect Rural

England)England)England)England)

In 2014 Winfrith Village Stores was chosen as Dorset’s Best Village Shop in the competition run by Dorset Community Action. This was sponsored by Dorset CPRE as we are campaigning to help save village shops. A key factor is the need for successful retailers to pass on their strategy to others struggling to survive against the giant supermarkets. Pascal Surret, one of the partners behind Winfrith Village Stores, has written a Case Study on how they transformed the shop in less than a year, having bought it when it was at a low ebb. The full transcript can be found on the Dorset CPRE website. He and his partner Marc had a vision revolving around three main points:

• Delivering a variety of local, fresh and unusual produce, as well as the basics, to their

community to restore the shop to a sustainable business level.

• Promoting involvement of the local community by maintaining and creating local employment,

supporting local suppliers, contributing to local charitable events and re-investing into local projects.

• Introducing an element of fun to the shopping experience as well as the working experience for

their employees, whilst maintaining high levels of approachable and caring customer service.

The response from villagers was overwhelming, helping with renovations and providing them with answers as to what they would like from the shop. They reviewed the product range, cutting back on unprofitable lines, and rethought the layout. The existing staff embraced the new technology to manage sales and stock, while introducing the other changes, so customers soon commented favourably. They had to tackle an absence of customer data and learn how to communicate with them using modern media, such as a website and a Facebook page. They do not exclude the older generation though and publish newsletters in the Parish Magazine. These are just a few of the “before” and “after” initiatives:

The shop has been very successful, and monthly turnover is up over 30% since they started, with the business now sustainable . Sharon Narraway, a local villager, said: “This local village shop has helpful, friendly staff and owners who are always around to help. The range of food and drink now on offer is amazing.” Everything is well presented and they make the most of the tight space showing lots of stock. Plenty of Dorset produce, such as Capreolus bacon and Piddle beer, is prominently displayed and there is a scrumptious looking deli and bakery section. Pascal’s partner, Marc, is the book-keeper and baker, cooking up delicious quiches. Continued on next page

Before After

Exterior and interior of shop unattractive

Interior and exterior of shop renovated/painted as soon as

possible so the village can see a fundamental change

Unclear product zones Products organised to appeal to the customer as they progress

through the shop

Unattractive window display Create a fun and inviting window display to tempt customers

through the door’s threshold

Outdated till and processes Update the till and review all processes to ensure increased

accuracy and stock control

Secrets revealed behind Dorset’s Best Village shop

19

Dorset CPRE (Campaign to Protect Rural Dorset CPRE (Campaign to Protect Rural Dorset CPRE (Campaign to Protect Rural Dorset CPRE (Campaign to Protect Rural

England)England)England)England)

Secrets revealed behind Dorset’s Best Village shop—continued from previous page There is an excellent window display, which was themed for Valentine’s Day. Writer Janet Gleeson helps on this and acts as a marketing assistant, doing price comparisons and market research. She comments: “ As well as supplying everyday necessities, it's become a destination for gourmets and gossips alike. The locals love it and visitors wish they had something like it too”. Overall the shop is fizzing with new ideas; a monthly newsletter, a good website, a loyalty card and even online ordering.

Pictured above: before and after photos of the frontage of Winfrith Village Stores

Do you know families in your local community who may be struggling to pay for childcare? Dorset County Council’s Family Information Service offers support to parents and carers of children aged 0-19 (or up to 25 for young people with a disability) through its online directory and over the phone. Families can access a wide range of information about help with funding the cost of childcare, finding good quality childcare locally, as well as details of after school clubs, nearby children’s activities and parent support groups in their area. The online directory also lists clubs and activities for teenagers, as well as places where young people can go for help and guidance if they are going through a difficult time. There’s even a handy e-newsletter, packed with useful information, tips and news, which is emailed every month. To subscribe visit www.dorsetforyou.com/parent-newsletter Parish and town councillors are often seen out and about in their local communities, so it would be great if you could help spread the word to families in your area or mention us in your local newsletter or magazine. To contact the Family Information Service: T: 01305 221066 E: familyinfo@dorsetcc.gov.uk W: www.dorsetforyou.com/fis

Family Information ServiceFamily Information ServiceFamily Information ServiceFamily Information Service

20

DAPTC Training CalendarDAPTC Training CalendarDAPTC Training CalendarDAPTC Training Calendar

JUNE 2015 New Councillors including Code of

Conduct–West Committee Room, Mountfield, Bridport

6.30pm-9.00pm Cost £30 New Councillors including Code of Conduct–Central

Dorset County Council, Committee Room 1

6.30pm-9.00pm Cost £30

New Councillors including Code of Conduct–North

Tarrant Keyneston Village Hall, Near Blandford Forum 2.00pm-4.30pm Cost £30

New Councillors including Code of

Conduct–Purbeck Corn Exchange, Wareham 6.30pm-9.00pm

Cost £30

New Councillors including Code of

Conduct–East

Horton & Chalbury Village Hall, Near Wimborne 6.30pm—9.00pm Cost £30

All Councillors - new and experienced -

require information on the powers of parish

and town councillors and the duties that they are required to undertake. These sessions are for new councillors, to

help them understand this sector of local government by passing on relevant

If you wish to attend on any of the above dates, please complete the booking form on the DAPTC website at the end of the individual course or seminar or contact us for more details.

DAPTC welcome contributions to the magazine which are relevant to Dorset’s Parish and Town Councils.

The views and opinions expressed in the DAPTC Magazine do not necessarily represent the views of the editor or of DAPTC.

Where space is at a premium, the editor reserves the right to shorten articles as appropriate.

Please check the DAPTC website for further details about the above courses and for other courses and seminars running throughout 2015 after publication of this

magazine.

Essential Finance

Dorchester Youth Association, Dorchester

9.30am—12.30pm Cost £30 This is for new clerks/RFO’s and more experienced clerks to re-assess the basics of financial management in their role.

JULY 2015

Nearly New Clerks

Dorchester Youth Association, Dorchester

9.30am-12.30pm Cost £30

A follow-on session for Clerks who have been

in post for a while.

Wed 3rd

Tue 9th

Tue 16th

Tue 16th

Thur 25th

Thurs 2nd

Thur 9th

Chairmanship—East

Tarrant Keyneston Village Hall, Near Blandford Forum 7.00pm-9.00pm Cost £30

Chairmanship-West

Dorset County Council, Committee Room 2,

Dorchester Cost £30 These sessions are for all Chairmen; new, inexperienced, highly

experienced, Chairmen of full councils, Committee Chairmen and councillors thinking

about putting themselves forward as a Chairman. Topics and information of relevance and

importance to the role are covered and

discussed.

Tues 14th

Wed 15th