MINUTES OF A MEETING OF THE EXECUTIVE HELD AT COUNTY HALL, NEWPORT, ISLE OF WIGHT ON THURSDAY, 12 JULY 2001 COMMENCING AT 9.30 AM

Present :

Mrs S A Smart (Chairman), Mr R R Barry, Mr J A Bowker, Mr E Fox, Mr P G Harris, Mrs M A Jarman, Mrs B Lawson, Mr M O Morgan Huws, Mr H Rees, Mrs J White

Also Present (non voting) :

Mr A C Bartlett, Mrs T M Butchers, Mr M J Cunningham, Mrs D Gardiner, Mr R G Mazillius, Mr A J Mellor, Mr V J Morey, Mr A J Mundy, Mr K Pearson, Mr R A Sutton, Mr A T Tiltman, Mr D T Yates

RESOLVED :

THAT the minutes of the meeting held on 2 July 2001 be confirmed, subject to Mr A J Mundy being added to the attendance list.

6. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

Interests were declared in the following matters :

Mrs S A Smart declared a non pecuniary interest in Minute 8 - Social Services and Housing Budget 2001-02.

Mrs B Lawson declared a non pecuniary interest in Minute 11 as a member of Vectis Housing.

Mr M O Morgan Huws declared a non pecuniary interest in Minutes 14 and 12 - Discretionary Home to School Transport Policies and 2001/2002 Draft Isle of Wight Council (Parking Places) Order - Results of Formal Consultation.

Mrs J White declared a non pecuniary interest Minute 11 as a member of a Housing Association.

Mr J A Bowker declared a pecuniary interest in Minute 11 as a Board member of Medina Housing Association.

7. PUBLIC QUESTION TIME

Questions were put to the Chairman as follows :

Mrs S Chambers of 11 Victoria Road, Cowes in relation to 2001/2002 Draft Isle of Wight Council (Parking Places) Order (PQ01/01).

Gay Pointon of 11 St Swithins Crescent, Bouldnor, Yarmouth in relation to 2001/2002 Draft Isle of Wight Council (Parking Places) Order (PQ02/01).

Hilary Mannall of Owls Mead, Tattles Lane, Thorley in relation to 2001/2002 Draft Isle of Wight Council (Parking Places) Order (PQ03/01).

Joyce Love of 31 Marina Avenue, Ryde in relation to 2001/2002 Draft Isle of Wight Council (Parking Places) Order (PQ04/01).

Jan Kelly of Garden Cottage, Clatterford Road, Carisbrooke in relation to 2001/2002 Draft Isle of Wight Council (Parking Places) Order (PQ05/01).

Elaine Martin of 4 Argyll Road, Newport in relation to 2001/2002 Draft Isle of Wight Council (Parking Places) Order (PQ06/01).

Charlotte Winter of Woodstock, Main Road, Arreton in relation to 2001/2002 Draft Isle of Wight Council (Parking Places) Order (PQ07/01).

Mrs M Linington of 39 Hillrise Avenue, Binstead in relation to 2001/2002 Draft Isle of Wight Council (Parking Places) Order (PQ08/01).

Copies of questions and replies are contained in the Public Questions Register.

8. POSITION OF CHAIRMAN

Due to the Chairman having declared an interest in the following matter and therefore vacating the Chair it was :

RESOLVED :

THAT Mr H Rees be elected Chairman for the following item.

9. URGENT BUSINESS - SOCIAL SERVICES AND HOUSING BUDGET 2001-02

The Chairman agreed to an item of Urgent Business as a decision was needed before the next meeting.

The Director of Social Services and Housing told members that there was an urgent need to take action to control the overspend within the Directorate. Members discussed the potential savings and where they would come from. There was also the possibility that some staff would be at risk of redundancy but every effort would be made to redeploy staff where possible.

A late letter received from the Chairman of the Primary Care Trust was circulated to members and read out to those who had not seen a copy. The Director confirmed that he had monthly meetings with the Trust and the next one was due to be held on 18 July 2001. The Director clarified that if the eligibility criteria for home care was applied to existing clients the domestic cleaning service would be withdrawn after assessment.

RESOLVED TO RECOMMEND TO THE RATIFICATION COMMITTEE :

(i) THAT the reassessment of existing clients in receipt of a domestic cleaning only service using the existing eligibility criteria and the withdrawal of the service where the need no longer exists be agreed.

(ii) THAT the Director of Social Services and Housing takes a full report to the Select Committee for Social Services, Housing and Benefits at its meeting on 5 September 2001.

(iii) THAT the Director of Social Services and Housing work with the Health partners on the Island to explore all avenues to minimise the impact of the financial difficulties and service users and patients.

Mr Rees left the Chair and the Chairman re-entered the room and retook the Chair.

10. REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR OF CORPORATE SERVICES

(a) Management of the Executive

Members were reminded that at the Annual Council meeting held on 20 June 2001 the Council's Constitution was adopted. At that meeting it was determined that the Executive should meet every two weeks, with the provision that the Leader could call additional meetings if the need arose. It was proposed that Executive should be held at 9.30 am every other Tuesday, commencing on 24 July 2001.

Members discussed the adoption of the Council's Procedure Rule 15 to guide procedure within meetings of the Executive. Members were advised that until amendments to the legislation were implemented then all meetings of the Executive would be followed by a meeting of the Ratification Committee.

RESOLVED TO RECOMMEND TO THE RATIFICATION COMMITTEE :

(i) THAT Council Procedure Rule 15 (Rules of Debate) be adopted to guide procedure within meetings of the Executive.

(ii) THAT the Executive meets at 9.30 am on every other Tuesday from 24 July 2001 subject to the Leader calling additional meetings if circumstances dictate.

(b) Appointments to outside Bodies

The Executive was advised there was a need to appoint a number of representatives to specified outside bodies. Seven members were also required to be appointed to the Investment Panel.

RESOLVED TO RECOMMENDED TO RATIFICATION COMMITTEE :

THAT the following appointments be made :

(c) Formal Acceptance of Portfolios

RESOLVED TO RECOMMEND TO THE RATIFICATION COMMITTEE :

THAT the following Portfolios be accepted :

Economic Development, UK and EU, Regional issues - Mr H Rees

Education and Life Long Learning - Mr P G Harris

Fire and Emergency Planning - Mrs J White

Public, Environment Protection and Waste - Mr M Morgan Huws

Resources - Mr R R Barry

Responsibility for Agenda 21 and Countryside matters - Mrs B Lawson

Social Services and Housing - Mr J Bowker

Tourism and Leisure - Mrs M A Jarman

Transport - Mr E Fox

(d) Extension of Mobile Phone Contract

Members were advised that to comply with Standing Orders as to Contracts, approval was being sought to extend the contract for mobile phones for an additional period of one year. The Director outlined the background to the contract and told members that savings in the region of �25,000 per annum would be made.

RESOLVED TO RECOMMEND TO THE RATIFICATION COMMITTEE :

THAT the existing contract with Orange be extended for an additional period of one year thereby obtaining the maximum saving in tariff costs.

11. PROPOSED MERGER OF MEDINA HOUSING ASSOCIATION WITH WESTERN CHALLENGE HOUSING GROUP

The Director of Social Services and Housing outlined the proposed merger between Medina Housing Association and Western Challenge Housing Group. Mr Wayne Morris, Chief Executive of Western Challenge Housing Group and Mr John Seddon Acting Chief Executive of Medina Housing Association attended the meeting and answered questions put to them by members of the Executive.

A new Group Board would need to be set up consisting of four members from the existing Medina Board and four nominated by Western Challenge. The balance would be made up of six independent members, two of which would be nominated by Medina Housing Association and four by Western Challenge. The Executive was advised that under the proposed arrangements Medina Housing Board would retain control over the day to day housing management and that the merger offered benefits to the tenants and the Council.

Mr Seddon advised the Executive of the outcome of consultations that had been held with the stakeholders, the majority of whom were in favour of the merger.

Some members expressed the view that a merger with other Housing Associations on the Isle of Wight would have been preferable and so felt that the report should be noted only. Concern was raised as to tenants of Western Challenge being moved to the Island to be housed but Mr Morris assured members that Medina Housing Association would retain complete autonomy and would have to comply with the Council's allocations policy which gave priority to Isle of Wight residents in housing need.

RESOLVED TO RECOMMEND TO THE RATIFICATION COMMITTEE :

THAT the report be noted.

12. 2001/2002 DRAFT ISLE OF WIGHT COUNCIL (PARKING PLACES) ORDER - RESULTS OF FORMAL CONSULTATION

The Director of Environment Services presented his report on the results of the formal consultation on the 2001/2002 draft Isle of Wight Council (Parking Places) Order.

82 letters of objection and a 19 signature petition had been received. The Director informed members that there were three main aspects to the objections :

The withdrawal of 12 monthly parking permits, the redesignation of Chapel Street car park as short stay and the provision of coach parking at Upper Coppins Bridge car park.

The redesignation of Chapel Street car park was wholly consistent with the Local Transport Plan. To partly resolve some of the objections it was suggested that a small area be provided for long stay parking in the north western corner of the car park which would accommodate approximately 35 cars. An Islandwide parking review was being undertaken and it was anticipated the results of this would be brought to the Executive by the end of September 2001.

Rather than discontinue the 12 monthly parking permit, it was suggested that the issue of such permits be suspended until the outcome of the Islandwide parking review. It was felt that the permit was underpriced and a more realistic rate would be �365.00 which would work out at �1.00 per day.

Other issues discussed included consideration of implementing a 5 hour charging band in car parks. The Environment and Transport Select Committee were to be asked to look at this issue and the decriminalisation of parking.

RESOLVED TO RECOMMEND TO THE RATIFICATION COMMITTEE :

(i) THAT the issue of 12 monthly parking permits be suspended until September 2001 and be subject to review after the results of the Islandwide parking review were known.

(ii) THAT Chapel Street car park be redesignated short stay and provision for long stay parking for 35 cars be maintained.

(iii) THAT a coach parking area be provided at Upper Coppins Bridge car park.

13. MEMBERS' ALLOWANCES REVIEW

At the Annual Council meeting held on 20 June 2001 it was resolved to seek an early review of the Members' Allowances Scheme. The Local Government Act 2000 required the Council to consider the recommendations of an Independent Remuneration Panel in any review of the scheme.

It was anticipated that short term issues, such as responsibility allowances for the leaders of the opposition, would be reviewed straight away and then the longer term ones would be looked at in March 2002. A Panel of 3 should be appointed which would include Dr Declan Hall as Chairman and 2 members to be appointed from the Standards Committee. Expenses would be payable to members of the panel including a recharge fee for the Chairman.

RESOLVED TO RECOMMEND TO THE RATIFICATION COMMITTEE

(i) THAT a Remuneration Panel of three members be appointed.

(ii) THAT Dr Declan Hall be invited to chair the Remuneration Panel, with two other members being appointed from the Standards Committee.

(iii) THAT appropriate expenses be paid to the members of the Panel including a recharge fee for the Chairman.

14. DISCRETIONARY HOME TO SCHOOL TRANSPORT POLICIES

The Director of Education and Community Development outlined his report on Discretionary Home to School Transport Policies. The review had been scrutinised by the Education, Community Development and Lifelong Learning Select Committee in October 2000.

Members reviewed the various elements contained in the discretionary transport policies. In cases of pupils who moved house to a different entitlement area, free transport was provided in certain circumstances back to the original school and these were outlined by the Director. The Best Value Study highlighted that other authorities approached did not give such a concession.

Discussion took place on the provision of transport for pupils from families who had been declared homeless and placed into temporary accommodation outside the entitlement area of their existing schools. Members believed that there was a case for Council assistance in specified circumstances to help create educational and social stability for those children involved. It was anticipated that provision would be for 6 months in the first instance then reviewed again after that.

RESOLVED TO RECOMMEND TO THE RATIFICATION COMMITTEE :

(i) THAT free transport be withdrawn with effect from September 2001 for those children moving house to a different school entitlement area, except for pupils in Years 10 and 11.

(ii) THAT free transport be provided for a maximum period of six months in the first instance, then review after that time by the Director of Education and Community Development, for the children of homeless families who have been re-located to a different area and have registered a request with the housing department to return to their previous area when permanent accommodation becomes available.

(iii) THAT free transport will take the form of a bus pass, or the cost equivalent of a bus pass, and no other forms of transport assistance will be provided. Where a parent elects to receive the cost equivalent, only one such sum shall be provided, irrespective of the number of children within the family who are being transported.

15. MEMBERS' QUESTION TIME

Questions were put to the Chairman as follows :

Mr A F Tiltman in relation to 2001/2002 Draft Isle of Wight Council (Parking Places) Order (MQ02/01)

A copy of the question and reply is contained in the Members' Question Register.

16. EXCLUSION OF 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 the following item of business, namely Minute number 17 on the grounds that there is likely to be disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraphs 8 and 9 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act.

17. LAND ADJOINING BINSTEAD COUNTY PRIMARY SCHOOL

The Director of Corporate Services presented his confidential report on land adjoining Binstead Primary School. The outcome of the consultations held with the school and the Director of Education and Community Development were outlined.

RESOLVED TO RECOMMEND TO THE RATIFICATION COMMITTEE :

THAT the Council acquire the land as an opportunity purchase.

CHAIRMAN