THE “CALL IN”PERIOD FOR THESE DECISIONS EXPIRES AT 5.00 PM ON THURSDAY, 27 JUNE 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, 18 JUNE 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, Mrs B Lawson, Mr R G Mazillius, Mrs J L Wareham

Apologies : 

Mr H Rees, Mr D J Knowles

Also present non-voting :

Mr A C Bartlett, Mrs T M Butchers, Mr M J Cunningham, Mr P D Joyce, Mr R A Sutton

40.      MINUTES

           RESOLVED :

THAT the Minutes of the meeting of the Executive held on 5 June 2002 be confirmed.

41.      DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

There were no declarations declared at this stage.

42.      PORTFOLIO FOR RESOURCES

           (a)       District Audit - Annual Audit Letter

Members were reminded that on the 29 January 2002 the District Auditor presented his Annual Letter to the Executive. This had made a number of recommendations and members now considered an action list together with target dates for completion. Members were keen to receive regular updates on progress of these targets.

RESOLVED :

THAT the target dates for completion of the recommendations made by the District Auditor in his Annual Letter be noted

           (b)       Building Maintenance Contracts

The Portfolio Holder for Resources informed the Executive that the Council‘s current building maintenance contracts had ended and required renewal. A tendering process had been undertaken and members gave consideration to tenders which had been received. The total value of the work was estimated to be approximately £650,000 per annum and had been set for three years so that partnering arrangements could be explored. The tendering process had been designed to achieved best value and quality for maintenance contracts within revenue budgets.

RESOLVED :

                      (i)        THAT three year term maintenance contracts be awarded to the contractors listed in Column B of the tender analysis form as attached as Appendix A to the minutes

                      (ii)       THAT partnering opportunities for future term maintenance contracts be explored

           (c)       Land fronting Downsview Chalet Site, Perowne Way, Sandown

(Mrs M A Jarman declared a personal interest in relation to her appointment by the Council to South Wight Housing Association)

Consideration was given to the sale for nil consideration of a strip of land fronting a housing development site at Sandown to South Wight Housing Association. The land was a partial ransom strip and had been independently assessed for the Housing Association by the valuation office at a value of £100,000 on the open market. It was pointed out that to forego the capital receipt would support the Housing Association in acquiring the site which would bring affordable housing to the area. In releasing the strip of land the Council would secure nomination rights and increase the Council’s rating performance when this years Housing Strategy was submitted to the DTLR. Members recognised the importance of providing affordable housing and were keen to support the scheme. Members were advised that a disposal to a Registered Housing Association was not required to be at best consideration.

RESOLVED :

THAT the land identified on the plan attached to the report be transferred for nil consideration to South Wight Housing Association, subject to the Association purchasing the necessary land and proceeding with the housing scheme.

43.      CASTLEHAVEN COMPULSORY PURCHASE ORDER

Members were reminded that formal approval had been given to proceed with coast protection works at Castlehaven, on condition that the Council acquired land at Puckaster Farm for an environmental mitigation package. Without this acquisition the works could not proceed and some 40 properties would remain at risk of slippage. It was confirmed that there were no anticipated capital resource implications arising from the acquisition for part of the farm as this would be met by grant assistance. However, the Council would bear the costs if a public inquiry were to be held.

RESOLVED :

           (i)        THAT the land shown edged pink on the plan dated March 2002 attached to the report, namely 7.96 hectares of pasture land being part of Puckaster Farm, Niton, be compulsorily purchased in order to provide environmental mitigation for the proposed coast protection works

           (ii)       THAT a right of way for access by the Council and its agents and invitees for all purposes over the land coloured blue on the plan attached to the report be compulsorily purchased

           (iii)       THAT a compulsory purchase order be made in respect of the land under s. 121 of the Local Government Act 1972, s.13 of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976 and the Acquisition of Land Act 1981.

44.      MEMBERS’ QUESTION TIME

Questions were put to the Chairman as follows :

Mr Bartlett asked a question in relation to an iron structure at Ventnor Botanical Gardens (MQ40/02)

Mr Joyce asked a question in relation to the Constitution (MQ41/02)

Mr Joyce asked a question in relation to the purchase of paintings authorised at the last meeting of the Executive (MQ42/02)

Mrs Wareham asked a question in relation to the proposed relocation of the Islands Customs and Excise Department (MQ43/02)

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

45.      FORWARD PLAN

In order to update the Executive, each Portfolio Holder gave an oral summary of the current work being undertaken within their remit. It was agreed that this exercise would be repeated once a month to keep the Executive briefed about all work being pursued within the portfolio holder’s area of responsibility and to identify items due to be reported in the near future to the Executive.

RESOLVED :

THAT the report be noted

CHAIRMAN

                                                                                          DAY TO DAY MAINTENANCE (2002-2005)

                                                                                                            TENDER ANALYSIS