MINUTES OF A MEETING OF THE ENVIRONMENT AND TRANSPORT SELECT COMMITTEE HELD AT COUNTY HALL, NEWPORT, ISLE OF WIGHT ON WEDNESDAY 1 AUGUST 2001 COMMENCING AT 4PM

Present :

Mrs T M Butchers (Chairman), Mr J R Adams, Mr B C Buckle, Mrs B D Clough, Mr M J Cunningham, Mr J Effemey, Mr J H Fleming, Mrs M J Miller, Mrs E Oulton,

Apologises :

Mr A C Bartlett, Mrs J L Wareham

Spokesperson :

Mr E Fox

Also Present non voting :

Mr R R Barry, Mr D J Knowles, Mr V J Morey, Mrs S A Smart

RESOLVED

THAT the minutes of the meeting held on 3 April 2001 be confirmed.

2. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

Mr M Cunningham declared an interest in minute 3 in relation to Southern Vectis.

3. RURAL BUS SUBSIDY GRANT

The Select Committee considered the report of the Director of Environment Services which detailed the processes that lead up to service procurement through the utilisation of the Rural Bus Subsidy Grant (RBSG) 2001. Details were given of the new guidance notes which defined the eligibility of services for subsidy by RBSG which had only very recently been published. Members were advised that with the agreement of Chairman of the Select Committee and of the portfolio holder for Transport, the Council had made a de-minimis award of six contracts, to the total annual value of �70,000, to Southern Vectis. This brought the remaining level of RBSG within the limit where it could be administered under the UK domestic tendering procedure.

The Director informed the Committee that the date for receipt of tenders for this remaining amount had only just passed and negotiations were still continuing. He gave details concerning the particular bus routes for which tenders had been invited. Members indicated that they wished to discuss the details of the tenders that had been received. To enable this to take place it would be necessary to exclude the public and press.

RESOLVED :

THAT under Section 100(A)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 the public and press be excluded from the meeting for consideration of details of tenders on the grounds that there is likely to be disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraphs 7, 8 and 9 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act.

After the public and press had left the meeting the Director confirmed that there were still some outstanding issues and that negotiations were continuing. He informed the Committee of the number of tenders that which had been received and for which services they were for together with the financial implications.

The public and press were then re-admitted to the meeting.

RESOLVED :

(i) THAT the de-minimis grant of �70,000 be endorsed.

(ii) THAT authority be given to Officers to carry out post tender negotiations concerning the remaining amount of the Rural Bus Grant Subsidy

(iii) THAT a report go to the Executive for decision on any outstanding awards and issues sum once the post tender negotiations were concluded.

4. MEMBERS' QUESTION TIME

A question was put to the Chairman as follows :

Mrs E Oulton in relation to recent roadworks taking place on the Island. (MQ 04/01). A copy of the question and reply is contained in the Members' Questions Register.

CHAIRMAN