THE “CALL IN”PERIOD FOR THESE DECISIONS EXPIRES AT 5.00 PM ON THURSDAY, 22 AUGUST 2002.  NONE OF THE DECISIONS CAN BE IMPLEMENTED UNTIL AFTER THAT DATE.

 

MINUTES OF A MEETING OF THE EXECUTIVE HELD AT COUNTY HALL, NEWPORT, ISLE OF WIGHT ON TUESDAY, 13 AUGUST 2002 COMMENCING AT 9.30 AM

 

Present :

 

Mrs S A Smart (Chairman), Mr R R Barry, Mr E Fox, Mr P G Harris, Mrs M A Jarman, Mr D J Knowles, Mrs B Lawson, Mr R G Mazillius,                 Mr H Rees, Mrs J L Wareham

 

Also present non-voting :

 

Mr B E Abraham, Mr A C Bartlett, Mr J A Bowker, Mr M J Cunningham, Mr J H Fleming, Mr J F Howe, Mr P D Joyce, Mr A J Mundy, Mr K Pearson, Mr A A Taylor

 

 

 


82.              MINUTES

 

RESOLVED :

 

THAT the Minutes of the meeting of the Executive held on 30 July 2002 be confirmed.

 

83.              DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

 

There were no declarations received at this stage.

 

84.              PUBLIC QUESTION TIME

 

Questions were put to the Chairman as follows :

 

Mrs J Wade of 189 Great Preston Road, Ryde, on behalf of SEAGAP asked a question relating to Prestwood Farm (PQ77/02)

 

Mr R Mullins of 45 Fletchers Close, Bromley, Kent asked a question relating to Prestwood Farm (PQ78/02)

 

Miss H Joyce c/o Acorn House, West Green, St Helens asked a question relating to Prestwood Farm (PQ79/02)

 

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

 

85.              PORTFOLIO HOLDER FOR RESOURCES

 

(a)        Prestwood Grange Farm, Ryde

 

            Members were informed that written advice had been received from Counsel, which gave regard to making a Discontinuance Order.  This would require, subject to payment of compensation, the discontinuance of any use of land.  The Development Control Committee would need to consider the making of such an order after giving consideration to the evidence as to the difficulties suffered by the local residents.  The advantage would be that the Council would not need to purchase the land, and the compensation would accordingly be reduced.  Based on this advice, it was advised that no further action was taken at present to pursue the proposed CPO, but that a report be presented to the Development Control Committee with a request that the Committee consider making a Discontinuance Order. Members stressed the importance of continuing to try and reach a negotiated settlement with the owner of the land.

 

            RESOLVED :

 

(i)                  THAT the Development Control Committee be asked to consider making a Discontinuance Order

 

(ii)                THAT no further action be taken to pursue the Compulsory Purchase Order for the time being

 

(b)                                        Access to Development Land at Pan, Newport

 

Members were reminded that the development of a planning brief for a major landholding in and around Pan area had been authorised by the Executive on 16 October 2001.  The Council had now received an approach from the proposed developer of the adjoining football training pitch to enter into discussions for the provision of a roundabout and access road. 

 

If the Council wished to access its land from St Georges Way, then there would need to be an agreement concerning the practice pitch at Newport Football Ground as the route of an access. Consideration was given to enter into these negotiations with a view to settling terms by agreement for a joint access and for those terms to be brought back to the Executive for recommendation. 

 

RESOLVED :

 

THAT negotiations be authorised with a report to come back to the Executive

 

(c)        Depot at 21 Whitcombe Road, Carisbrooke

 

The Portfolio Holder introduced the report for the sale of the freehold reversion to a special purchaser. The Quarr Group, had written to the Council expressing a need to review the business strategy for the Company and requested that consideration be given to entering into discussions relating to the freehold reversion of the site. Since 1 April 1992 most of the property had been leased to them on a 99 year lease, subject to a premium of  £428,000 for a nominal rent.  An outline of the current use of the site and planning history was given in the report.  The proposed sale would mean that the Council would need to give up occupation of part of the former main highway depot that included transport offices and the main area for the Wight Bus Fleet.

 

RESOLVED :

 

THAT the commencement of negotiations with the Quarr Group be authorised and the outcome with recommendations be reported back to the Executive.

 

86.              PROPOSED GROUND LEASE TO SEAVIEW FOOTBALL CLUB FOR PAVILLION AT SEAVIEW RECREATION GROUND

 

Consideration was given to the grant of a long lease to Seaveiw Football Club and a request for the Council to make a grant equal to the value of the lease premium. The pavilion and changing rooms currently used by Seaview Football Club had reached the end of its life. The Club had been in discussions with the Football Association to seek support for a replacement building.

 

The scheme proposed had been costed at between £120,000 to £140,000 excluding fees and VAT.  To help secure funding from the Football Foundation, the Club had asked for a long ground lease of 125 years as the site for the pavilion.  Members considered the terms of the lease and the making of a grant.

 

By granting this facility the Council would be meeting the objectives in the Corporate Plan and given the scale of grant requested this could be managed within existing budget constraints.  However, if the Council were to replace this facility with a portacabin estimated at £20,000 to £30,000, there would need to be a capital bid.

           

RESOLVED :

 

(i)         THAT a ground lease on the terms set out in the report to Seaview Football Club be granted, subject to planning permission being consented and grant funding being secured to build the new pavilion.

 

(ii)        THAT a grant of £2,000 be made to match the premium for the lease.

 

87.              INSTRUMENT OF GOVERNMENT FOR SCHOOLS

 

The Portfolio Holder reminded members that under the terms of the School Standards and Framework Act 1998 all schools were responsible for maintaining their Instruments of Government which laid out the membership of governing bodies.  Medina House School was seeking to increase the number of governors on the Governing Body from 10 to 13 (including the Headteacher) so that the Governing Body could function more effectively.

 

RESOLVED :

 

THAT the revised Instrument of Government for Medina House School be approved.

 

88.              FORWARD PLAN

 

In order to update the Executive, each Portfolio Holder gave an oral summary of the current work being undertaken within their remit and identified items due to be reported in the near future to the Executive

 

89.              MEMBERS’ QUESTION TIME

 

Questions were put to the Chairman as follows :

 

Mr Mazillius asked a question relating to Council owned air conditioning systems (MQ60/02).

 

Mr Effemey asked a question relating to Cowes Tourist Information Office (MQ61/02)

 

Mr Effemey asked a question relating to Northwood House Trust (MQ62/02)

 

Mr Effemey asked a question relating to safety at Cowes Week (MQ63/02)

 

Copies of the questions and replies given are contained in the Members' Question Register.

 

 

 

CHAIRMAN