17 May 2025 / 17 May 2025 by chrishenderson
Ten Conservative councillors walked out of the Dorset Council chamber on Thursday, rather than hear a public deputation requesting that the Dorset Pension Fund take investments out of companies supporting the Israeli war effort in Gaza. Green Councillor Clare Sutton said she could only interpret the choice of those who left the council chamber during the session on Gaza as support for the Israeli leader’s decision to bomb children and hospitals.
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15 May 2025 / 17 May 2025 by chrishenderson
Dorset Council Children's Services have been rated "outstanding" by Ofsted. Its Cabinet member is Green Councillor Clare Sutton (since May 2024, in an otherwise Lib Dem Cabinet). Children's Services were graded outstanding in its impact of leaders on social work practice, experiences and progress of children who need help, experiences of children in care and overall effectiveness. It was graded good for the experiences and progress of care leavers.
13 May 2025 / 13 May 2025 by chrishenderson
Helen Toft. Green Weymouth Town Councillor for Wyke Regis, has been knocking on doors and chatting with residents about reducing the speed limit. "There’s strong support for introducing a 20mph zone — especially on Doncaster Road, Marlborough Road, and Wyke High Street, which are often used as cut-throughs."
8 May 2025 / 13 May 2025 by chrishenderson
Ken Huggins, Green Party Parliamentary candidate for North Dorset in 2019 and 2024, has had his latest column published in The New Blackmore Vale magazine. Ken writes: “Both Tories and Labour have failed us badly on protecting the wellbeing of citizens. “Widespread dissatisfaction with the state of British politics has doubtlessly contributed to the relative […]
1 May 2025 / 13 May 2025 by chrishenderson
A well-used route near the Rodwell Trail is once again open for use, following stabilisation of the surrounding bank and resurfacing. This restoration comes after a landslip and a fallen tree had left the path unusable. Dorset Council's highways team cleared vegetation and rubbish and rebuilt the bank along the footpath from Rylands Lane off Doncaster Road in Wyke.
18 April 2025 / 24 April 2025 by chrishenderson
Green Councillor Clare Sutton was quoted by the Dorset Echo: "For Portland Port to claim in its newsletter that it has our ‘community at heart’ is not just insensitive and ill-judged; it is downright insulting. Would that be the community which has come out in force to oppose the waste incinerator at every step of the way for over five years?"
11 April 2025 / 24 April 2025 by chrishenderson
Bridport & Lyme Regis News reported on Green Councillor Belinda Bawden's question to the full Dorset Council meeting on 10th April: "[...] Could we please design a process whereby Dorset Council promptly develops project proposals for the requested repairs, maintenance and improvements in our wards, with suggested requests for co-funding if appropriate, so that town and parish councils can decide whether they are prepared to contribute financially to get things done?"
10 April 2025 / 24 April 2025 by chrishenderson
The Dorset Echo covered an intervention by Green Councillor Belinda Bawden in support of a Labour councillor's complaint that an approved car park extension to a Dorset Council-owned site in Chickerell is set to be tarmac, rather than a semi-permeable surface.
4 April 2025 / 4 April 2025 by chrishenderson
Green Bridport Town Councillor Kelvin Clayton told Bridport & Lyme Regis News he welcomed Dorset Council's decision to refuse planning permission for 70 new retirement homes in Bridport with no affordable housing element - but that he "very much hopes" a new developer will take on the site to provide much needed affordable housing.
3 April 2025 / 3 April 2025 by chrishenderson
Dorchester Town Council has approved a proposal by Green Councillor Poppy Farmer to increase the proportion of plant-based food provided at its receptions and civic events.
