West Dorset District Council committees

The public are welcome to attend all district council committee meetings. On occasions some reports on the agenda will be confidential (referred to as 'exempt') because they contain, for example, information relating to individuals or legal advice.  The press and the public will be asked to leave the meeting for this part of the agenda.

Agendas and minutes of district council meetings going back 2 years are available on this website. If you would like to see older agendas and minutes or those for non-current committees, please contact the Democratic Services Team on (01305) 252216 or by e-mail using the contact details at the bottom of each committee's page on this website.

• Full Council

  The main function of the Council meeting is to approve the key plans and strategies of the Council that make up the 'policy framework' and to set the council's budget.

• Executive Committee

  The committee is responsible for most day to day decisions made by the council. It oversees the formulation of new policies and strategies and considers reports and recommendations from the Efficiency Scrutiny Committee and Policy Scrutiny Committee.

• Shared Services Joint Advisory Committee

  The joint advisory committee has been established under the Collaboration Agreement adopted by West Dorset District Council and Weymouth and Portland Borough Council. The committee is responsible for advising both councils on the delivery of the specified functions with a view to their more economical, efficient and effective discharge.

• Audit and Governance Committee

  The Audit and Governance Committee has the role of raising the profile of internal control, risk management and financial reporting issues as well as consideration of issues raised by internal and external auditors and corporate governance.

• Development Control (Planning) Committee

  The Development Control Committee is responsible for determining planning applications and considering other related planning matters including enforcement action, modifications to existing planning permissions and rights of way. It meets every four weeks and is made up of 12 councillors.

• Licensing and Appeals Committee

  The Licensing and Appeals Committee considers matters such as applications for Hackney Carriage Driver Licenses, appeals in relation to financial grants awarded by officers and applications for the designation of public places in order to restrict anti-social drinking. Please also use this link for information about the Licensing Sub-committee.

• Standards Committee

  The role of the Standards Committee is to promote and maintain high standards of conduct by councillors. The committee also provides advice when the Councillors' Code of Conduct is revised or updated.

• Efficiency Scrutiny Committee

  The Efficiency Scrutiny Committee is responsible for undertaking cross-cutting scrutiny reviews of council services or of matters of relevance to the council and district.

• Policy Scrutiny Committee

  The role of the committee is to review and assist with the development of the council's key policies, strategies and plans and make recommendations to the Executive Committee.

• Overview and Scrutiny Annual Reports

  The Overview and Scrutiny Annual Report summarises the work of the Efficiency Scrutiny, Policy Scrutiny and Ad-hoc Call-in Committees during each year.

• Ad-hoc Call In Committee

  The committee meets as it is required to consider the call in of Executive Committee decisions in accordance with the council's call in procedure set out in the Constitution.

• Dorchester Markets Informal Joint Panel

  The joint markets panel deals with the day-to-day control and management of markets across the district.

• Gryphon Leisure Centre Management Committee

  The management committee is responsible for the administration of the leisure centre, including use of the facilities and fixing of charges.

• West Dorset Heritage Joint Advisory Committee

  West Dorset Heritage Joint Advisory Committee advises partner organisations on how natural features of special interest in West Dorset should be conserved and enhanced. It advises on environmentally sustainable forms of economic and social development. This committee is currently being held in abeyance.

• West Dorset Partnership

  The West Dorset Partnership is a group of local public, private and voluntary sector organisations working together to improve the quality of life in the district.