127.
MINUTES
RESOLVED :
THAT the Minutes of the meeting of the Executive held on 2 April 2004 be confirmed.
128.
DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
Interests
were declared in the following matters:
All
members of the Executive declared a personal interest in Minute 131 – as the
proposed decision would affect the members scheme of allowances when
implemented. Mr G S Kendall declared a
further personal interest as his wife was employed by the Council. Mrs S A Smart declared a further personal
interest as her daughter was employed by the Council.
Mr
C Hancock declared a personal interest in Minute 131 – as his wife was an
occupational therapist employed by the Council.
Mrs
T M Butchers declared a personal and prejudicial interest in Minute 130 (a) and
130 (b) as a member of her family was a firefighter.
129.
PUBLIC QUESTION TIME
Questions
were put to the Chairman as follows :
Mr
P Cave asked a question relating to Integrated Travel Plan (PQ20/04).
Copies
of the questions and replies given are contained in the Public Question
Register.
An
oral question was asked regarding the Isle of Wight Accommodation Guide.
130.
REPORT OF THE PORTFOLIO HOLDER FOR
FIRE, EMERGENCY PLANNING AND CONSUMER PROTECTION
(a)
Fire Authority Integrated Risk
Management Plan – Consultation Analysis and Amended Plan
Consideration was given to the implementation of the revised Plan following consultation. Members were aware of the potential budgetary implications and believed that before a firm commitment for further funding was given, a review should be commissioned to investigate the matter further.
During a debate a written question was submitted from Mr M Deacon regarding the consultation process, following which an amendment was proposed and seconded that the review should include consultation with employee representatives as the extent of planned involvement of these representatives had not been made explicit in the recommendations.
RESOLVED :
(i)
THAT the revised FAIRMaP be
approved following consultation
(ii)
THAT a review be commissioned of
the Appendices F - J, and associated budget implications, to be conducted with
the Best Value Unit to include engagement with the FBU and other employee
representatives and to make recommendations to the Executive on 16 June 2004
(b)
National Mutual Aid Agreement and Incident Response Unit (IRU) Terms
and Conditions
The Portfolio Holder
introduced the report on a formal mutual aid
agreement. The proposed decision had
not appeared on the April Forward Plan and could not wait until the publication of the May
Forward Plan due to the tight timetable set by the Office of the Deputy Prime
Minister. The Agreement provided a framework through which fire authorities
could jointly agree to provide mutual reinforcement on a national scale in the
event of a major incident. It was intended to complement and extend current
local arrangements, ensuring that Fire and Rescue Services had access to
appropriate resources should a major incident occur in their area.
Members were advised costs would be contained within
existing budgets except for the initial and ongoing IRU training, which
amounted to £16,531. A bid for this
money was contained within the previous report on the Fire Authority Integrated
Risk Management.
RESOLVED :
(i)
THAT the formal mutual aid
agreement be approved
(ii)
THAT the cost apportionment of
Annex B (attached to the report) to the IRU Terms and Conditions of use report
at an ongoing cost of £16,531
131.
INTEGRATED TRAVEL PLANS (WORKPLACE
TRAVEL PLAN)
(During the debate Mrs D Gardiner declared a personal interest as she was employed by UNISON).
The Portfolio Holder presented his report containing proposals for car park demand management and for the development of an integrated workplace travel plan by the Council. He outlined to the Executive the current interest in transport issues, which had arisen largely as a result of increasing dependency on the car and traffic congestion.
Advice was received that failure to address issues and meet the targets set out in the Local Transport Plan would have a detrimental effect on future levels of funding from Government as funding would be dependent on achieving targets in the LTP. The report gave details of consultation that had been undertaken and was still on going with UNISON. A response from UNSION had been circulated to members of the Executive.
Members discussed a range of alternatives including public transport, car sharing, flexible and home working and the possibility of running a mini bus to transport staff to and from work.
The Executive considered the issues relating to an integrated workplace travel plan including the need to balance change to deliver progress with the effect that the proposals, including charges for parking permits for members and staff may have on employee relations. During the debate an amendment was moved and seconded to reduce ambiguity in the existing recommendation in order to support negotiations. The Executive wished to take immediate steps to avoid compounding the existing problems and to ensure that new permits were only issued to new staff appointed who required provision of a car as part of their duties. Members recognised the importance of engaging with 3rd parties to identify solutions and that a full range of alternative public transport options should be explored for workplace travel.
RESOLVED :
(i) THAT the Executive authorise officers and the Portfolio Holders for Resources and Transport to enter into formal negotiations with staff and appropriate trade unions on an integrated workplace travel plan for adoption by the Isle of Wight Council. A report to come back to the Executive as soon as possible
(ii) THAT no new car park permits be issued from the 5 May 2004 for staff appointed to posts which do not require provision of a car as part of their duties
(iii) THAT further discussions will be held with other public transport providers to improve or extend existing services for workforce travel
132.
SCHOOLS ORGANISATION
(During the debate Mrs S A Smart, Mr R R Barry, Mrs T M Butchers,
Mr J H Fleming, Mr E Fox, Mr P G Harris, Mr G S Kendall, Mr D J Knowles and Mrs J L Wareham declared a personal
interest as Governors appointed by the Council to a number of LEA schools on
the Island).
Mrs J L Wareham declared a further personal interest as a member of the Learning
Schools Council and Governor of the Isle of Wight College.
(Mr R G Mazillius declared a personal interest as a LEA appointed
schools governor and a further personal interest as a member of his family was
a Director of ERMC Ltd, which was involved with school capital building works).
Consideration was given to the consultation process that should apply to the organisation of the school system on the Isle of Wight. The Portfolio Holder reminded members that a previous Executive decision had supported an advocated collaboration between post 16 providers, which would be reviewed after a year’s trial.
Members discussed the importance of consultation with all sectors of the community in terms of informing the wider community of the proposed changes and to provide necessary feedback. An amendment proposed and seconded to include the Chamber of Commerce, Town and Parish Councils and community partnerships in the list of stakeholders who would be consulted on the changes.
RESOLVED :
(i) THAT option 17 in the report be agreed, with a time limit that allowed for preferred options to be presented to the Executive in October 2004
(ii) THAT the time limit in Appendix 5 attached to the report be adopted
133.
CHANGES TO THE CURRENT FORWARD PLAN
The Portfolio for Education and Community Development wished that Schools Organisation be added to the Forward Plan for October.
The Portfolio Holder for Transport questioned the date in the current Forward Plan for Parking Places Order 2004.
134.
MEMBERS’ QUESTION TIME
Questions
were put to the Chairman as follows :
Mr
Buckle asked a question relating to Intergrated Travel Plans (MQ16/04).Copies
of the questions and replies given are contained in the Members' Question
Register.
Mr
P Joyce asked an oral question relating to the Select Committee Role concerning
Prestwood Grange Farm. Advice was given
that the Select Committee set their own agenda and was able to discuss the
Council policy relating to this issue if they wished. However, whether or not a Discontinuance Order should be served
was a quasi-judicial matter and therefore was not in the remit of the Select
Committee process.
CHAIRMAN