High salaries for executives and improving conditions at Dorset City Council's sewage treatment plants were among the topics of discussion during a “sofa session” with senior councilors this month.
Public questions during the hour-long social media event included calls for improved NHS provision in Chickerell and questions about funding for the Port of Portland's Bibby Stockholm Barge.
The issues of bus routes and “green” housing were also raised by members of the public during an online Q&A.
Council leader Spencer Flower said the authority would not be able to attract or retain the key staff it needed in a nationally competitive market if it did not pay “current remuneration”, adding that many senior councilors He defended six-figure salaries for his staff.
Cllr Flower said he was satisfied that the quality of the council's services was reflected in the quality of its staff.
“If you want to hire the right people, you have to pay market rates. If you go against the trend[by lowering wages]you lose people and it impacts services.” he stated.
In response to claims that Dorset City Council owns 13 sewage treatment facilities, many of which are said to not meet basic standards for events, Dorset City Council's finance director, Aidan Dunn, said the issue was He said £4.1m had been allocated in next year's budget to address the issue. Authorities are now trying to be proactive with their properties rather than reacting reactively.
Other questions included support payments for the Bibby Stockholm Barge, along with claims that council taxpayers' money was being used.
Mr Dunn said no council tax money had been used so far, with costs coming from the Government's £3,500 per barge crew and a £377,000 lump sum funding for support provided through the voluntary sector. Ta.
Regarding expanding healthcare provision to Chickerell, Mayor Flower said the council was lobbying for improvements, but standards were making it difficult to secure additional GPs.
The leader also explained why it would be financially difficult to subsidize more bus routes, saying a review in 2016/17 found many routes were poorly used and the council at the time They argued that the level of subsidies they had been paying had become unreasonable.
Mr Dunn said an extra £12 million would need to be raised next year to support public transport, often taxis, to transport children with additional education needs to and from school. Stated.
One of the questioners asked why when a new home is built, it can't be covered with solar panels, and Gary Suttle, a portfolio holder in the finance sector, said everyone could do it if they had their way. It said it would, but said government planning rules did not allow it. That's the reality, and there was nothing the council could do at this point other than try to persuade developers to incorporate solar and other “green” electricity measures into their plans.
Mr Dunn said the council would use a £19 million government grant to install panels and other energy saving measures on as many council properties as possible, saving significant financial and carbon savings over the long term. He said it contributed to savings.
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