THE "CALL IN"PERIOD FOR THESE DECISIONS EXPIRES AT 5.00 PM ON THURSDAY, 31 JANUARY 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, 22 JANUARY 2002 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, Mr H Rees

Apologies :

Mrs B Lawson, Mrs J White

Also present non-voting :

Mr M J Cunningham, Miss H L Humby, Mr P D Joyce, Mr R G Mazillius, Mr V J Morey, Mr I R Stephens, Mr R A Sutton, Mr A A Taylor, Mr D G Williams

RESOLVED :

THAT the Minutes of the meeting of the Executive held on 15 January 2002 be confirmed.

122. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

There were no declarations declared at this stage.

123. PORTFOLIO HOLDER FOR RESOURCES

(a) Results of Council Budget Consultation 2001

Members received a presentation on the results of the budget consultation process. Members of the public had been consulted on the council's spending properties for the 2002/3 budget with the aim of raising awareness of the budget process and the difficult choices that would need to be made. The same questions had been used for the Council's budget consultation as before in order to track and compare the results with those of the previous year. The budget consultation process had consisted of analysing the completed questionnaires from the Island Futures roadshows and Wight Insight together with those from the citizen's panel. Members expressed disappointment with the low number of questionnaires returned. Members indicated that the reasoning behind the budget decisions would need to be communicated to residents of the Island as soon as practically possible. The importance of looking at the following year in the near future was noted. The Leader expressed thanks to all members of staff involved.

RESOLVED :

THAT the report be noted.

(b) Budget for 2002/3 and Forward Plan 2003/5

Members received a presentation on the impact of the proposed grant settlement on the Council's budget for 2002/3. Members were informed that the increase in the Council's SSA was 6.5% in total cash terms which amounted to �1.3 million more than the budget for 2001/2. There was no recognition of the costs involved of being an island in the settlement although the Council continued to benefit from the Area Cost Adjustment. The Government still reserved the right to cap increases where it decided excessive increases had been made. Members were aware of the issues that faced Social Services in that if these needs were met in full this would add an increase to the Council Tax of 13.25%. The Strategic Director for Finance and Information outlined the Directors proposals which aimed to keep spending on education at SSA levels, meet extra waste management costs (�1.1million) to produce savings to meet pressures including those of Social Services. The uncertainties of the final RSG settlement were noted as this figure would not be known until the end of January together with the uncertainties in relation to revaluation of the Pension Fund and inflation. Members were advised of the timetable for the budget process and the setting of Council Tax.

RESOLVED :

(i) THAT the education element of the Education and Community Development Services' budget should increase in line with the Education component of SSA

(ii) THAT the broad allocation of resources as set out in Appendix 2 attached to the report be approved for consulting Select Committees, subject to Members' views on the total amount of Social Services spending

(iii) THAT the individual Select Committees be asked to consider the proposals for revenue and capital as they effect their services at meetings in late January and early February

124. MEMBERS' QUESTION TIME

Questions were put to the Chairman as follows :

Mrs H Humby with regard to pollarding trees in Sandown. (MQ01/02)

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

Mr R A Sutton raised a question in relation to the issue of Hackney Carriage Licenses. Officers agreed to look into the matter.

CHAIRMAN