THE "CALL IN"PERIOD FOR THESE DECISIONS EXPIRES AT 4.30 PM ON TUESDAY, 5 JUNE 2001. 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 THURSDAY, 24 MAY 2001 COMMENCING AT 9.30 AM

Present :

Mrs S A Smart (Chairman), Mr R R Barry, Mrs T M Butchers, Mr M J Cunningham, Mr P G Harris, Mr A D Hollands, Miss H L Humby, Mr G S Kendall, Mr G A Nichols, Mr H Rees, Mr R A Sutton

Also Present (non voting) :

Mr B E Abraham, Mr A C Bartlett, Mr J Effemey, Mrs B Lawson, Mrs A Leigh, Mr V J Morey

RESOLVED :

THAT the minutes of the meeting held on 10 May 2001 be confirmed.

335. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

Interests were declared in the following matters :

Mr A D Hollands a pecuniary interest in Minute 338 - Dezoning and/or Deregulating Taxis.

Mr A D Hollands declared a pecuniary interest in Education and Social Services matters as a contractor for a number of transport contracts for those departments. It was accepted that this was a standing declaration.

336. REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR OF CORPORATE SERVICES

(a) Grievance Procedure

The Committee was advised that the Council's grievance procedure for employees had originally been drafted more than twenty years ago and it was now overdue for review.

Current arrangements for appeals was for a panel of three elected members and three union representatives. It was proposed that the panel would in future comprise three elected members only. After consultation with the unions some concern had been expressed at the proposed change. The Director outlined the reason behind this and other changes and after discussion it was :

RESOLVED :

THAT the revised grievance procedure, as attached to the Agenda, be approved.

(b) Ventnor Tennis Club, St Boniface Road, Ventnor

Members gave consideration to the grant of a 25 year lease to Ventnor Tennis Club for the continued use of the site in St Boniface Road, Ventnor. The Club would take on all responsibilities to apply and to use the facilities for tennis purposes only, on the basis of a non-assignable lease. The details and premium of the lease were to be worked out and brought back to a future meeting of the Executive.

Members felt that the Council should not incur any liabilities if the venture encountered operating difficulties and wanted to be assured that the whole site would be properly maintained and accessible. Precise details were yet to be worked out and providing the lease was sorted to the satisfaction of the Council then members agreed to the principle of the lease.

RESOLVED :

THAT a 25 year lease be granted subject to further details and the premium of the lease being acceptable to a future meeting of the Executive.

(c) Lease Renewal Ground Floor Charter House, St Thomas Square, Newport

The Director gave a brief outline of the history of the building and what its current use.

Members noted the date of expiration of leases for the other uses of the property and considered that any arrangement with the Trustees should coincide with this. The existing financial arrangements with regard to the rent payable by the Association and the receipt of a reciprocal grant was explained.

Consideration was given to new arrangements in respect of which it was agreed that any new lease should exclude security of tenure and that the rent should reflect market value but by way of an equivalent grant paid by the Council.

RESOLVED :

(i) THAT a new 6 year lease of the Charter House from August 2001 be agreed, on terms detailed in the report and at full market value.

(ii) THAT the rent is to be the appropriate market rent with the Council making an equivalent grant to the charity, the grant will be met centrally. In consequence the Social Services cash limit is to be adjusted to reflect the grant Social Services will no longer be paying.

(d) Nunnery Steps - Northwood Park

Members were reminded that the Nunnery Steps at Northwood Park had been closed to the public, on safety grounds. A structural survey had been carried out and works needed to be undertaken urgently to enable them to be reopened would cost in the region of �35,000.

It was anticipated that the repairs would take 6-8 weeks and could be completed in time for Cowes Week. The Director of Finance and Information advised members that the money would need to be taken from the �� m that had been withheld from the Capital Programme following storm damage.

RESOLVED :

THAT �35,000 be released from capital maintenance to allow urgent repairs to Nunnery Steps to proceed and that these be completed before the commencement of Cowes Week and the Americas Cup events.

337. IMPROVEMENT WORKS TO COWES PARADE

The Director of Environment Services presented his report on Improvement Works to Cowes Parade.

Members were told that improvement works to the value of �38,000 had been identified, of which only �6,000 could be borne by the existing maintenance budget. Members believed that a proper appraisal should be carried out on the whole area and that works beyond those funded from the existing maintenance budget should be considered alongside other bids in future.

RESOLVED :

THAT the works already in hand to the value of �6,000 be agreed.

338. OUTCOMES FROM A SELECT COMMITTEE INVESTIGATION INTO DEZONING AND/OR DEREGULATING TAXIS

(Mr A D Hollands declared a pecuniary interest in this item and left the room).

The Head of Select Committee Support presented the outcomes from the Fire and Public Safety Select Committee's report on an investigation into dezoning and/or deregulating taxis. An extensive consultation had been carried out and the taxi trade had been asked to form an Islandwide properly constituted Taxi Proprietor's Association. Members were told that the Select Committee had set a three month time limit after which they believed it would be appropriate to review progress with issues raised in their investigation.

RESOLVED :

(i) THAT deregulation be agreed in favour of suitably adapted vehicles for disabled use with a condition that the licence only relates to the vehicle in question and cannot be transferred to any other vehicle, other than a replacement suitably adapted vehicle.

(ii) THAT the Licensing Section be authorised to provide and maintain indicative maximum price information display signs for typical journey's at main taxi ranks, such signs to satisfy relevant legal requirements.

(iii) THAT no action be taken to deregulate taxis on the Isle of Wight at present, other than in (I) above.

339. MANAGEMENT LETTER WORKING PARTY

Members considered the recommendations made in the minutes of the Management Letter Working Party held on 4 and 25 April 2001.

RESOLVED :

THAT the minutes and relevant recommendations be noted.

340. MEMBERS' QUESTION TIME

Miss Humby asked if the traffic flow at the junction of Quay Street and High Street, Newport could be looked at.

Mr Kendall asked if the new traffic lights at Long Lane, Newport could have a facility whereby through traffic towards Ryde could continue.

The Chairman replied that the issues would be investigated.

CHAIRMAN