THE “CALL IN”PERIOD FOR THESE DECISIONS EXPIRES AT 5.00 PM ON THURSDAY, 5 SEPTEMBER 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, 27 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 A C Bartlett, Mr M J Cunningham

 

 

 


90.              MINUTES

 

RESOLVED :

 

THAT the Minutes of the meeting of the Executive held on 13 August 2002 be confirmed.

 

91.              DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

 

There were no declarations received at this stage.

 

92.              PUBLIC QUESTION TIME

 

Questions were put to the Chairman as follows :

 

Mr Mullins of 45 Fletchers Close, Bromley, Kent asked a question relating to Fairway Park, The Fairway, Lake (PQ80/02)

 

A copy of the question and reply given is contained in the Public Question Register.

 

93.              SUPPORTING PEOPLE INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

 

The Portfolio Holder informed members that with effect from the 1 April 2003 local authorities would be responsible for deciding on the needs and arranging for support for vulnerable adults in the community.

 

There was an urgent requirement to procure a new IT system to support the Supporting People programme.  The needs of the programme had been established and the project group had identified a system supplier and was satisfied that it would meet the requirements of the programme.  To meet the Government target for the new system it was required to be in place by October 2002 and a formal tendering exercise had been undertaken from which a preferred supplier, OLM, had been identified.

 

The Government would merge 3 sources of funds into one grant, which would be made available to finance this work over two years.  However the supplier would require the total amount in the first year. It was reported that the capital overspend in purchasing the system in 2002/03 could be contained within the overall capital programme but if further modifications were required and no further help was forthcoming from the Government, the extra costs would have to be met from the Supporting People Programme Grant.

 

RESOLVED :

 

            THAT the purchase of the new software system from OLM for the Supporting People Programme be agreed in accordance with the advice from the Project Team and the Head of Central IT.

 

94.              PORTFOLIO HOLDER FOR EDUCATION AND LIFELONG LEARNING

 

(a)        Transport To and From School for Children in Public Care (Amendment to Arrangements for Home to School and Specially Provided Transport)

 

Consideration was given to the proposal that the costs of transport to school be shared between the Education and Community Development and Social Services and Housing Directorates for children who were in public care and who fell outside the normal transport policy. Members were aware that research showed that children in public care often performed poorly in comparison with peers of similar ability and that stability of education was a key factor in improving their standards of attainment.  Children in the public care system frequently changed schools through no fault of their own which led to discontinuity of education.  The proposed arrangements would allow those in care to maintain their school placement and exercise choice over the school they wished to attend.

 

RESOLVED :

 

THAT the Directorates of Education and Community Development and Social Services and Housing, share the cost of Home to School Transport (Bus Pass only costs) on a 50:50 basis in order to reduce the need for a transfer of school unless this is considered appropriate.

 

(b)               Bid to Host the International Island Games 2007

 

Members considered supporting the Isle of Wight Island Games Association (IWIGA) bid to organise and stage the 2007 Inter Island Games on the Island.  A statement of intent to bid would need to be made by the middle of September 2002 with submission of a detailed bid to the International Islands Games Executive Committee by the end of this year.

 

Research from the organising committees of the last two Games indicated that the cost of such a process would be up to £30,000 excluding officer time. The IWIGA had highlighted the support needed from the Council if it was to proceed with any formal bid to the Island Games Executive. Mr D Ball, Chairman of the Isle of Wight Island Games Association, attended the Executive.

 

Members were advised that if the Council chose to support the bid then the Council would also be choosing to support the Games themselves.  Estimates received from the IWIGA would indicate that the cost of underwriting the Games could be in the order of £250,000, excluding official time and facility hire.  If the Island=s bid were successful then the organisation of the Games would be undertaken by a specially formed company on which the Council would have representation on the board. Advice was given that there was no budget provision in the Council’s base budget for this expenditure.

 

RESOLVED :

 

(i)                  THAT the Executive agree to support the Isle of Wight Island Games Association=s bid to host the 2007 International Island Games on the Isle of Wight

 

(ii)                THAT the bidding process be funded to a maximum of £30,000

 

(iii)               THAT the organisation of the International Island Games on the Isle of Wight be supported by a charitable company specially created for the purpose

 

(iv)              THAT the organisation of the International Island Games on the Isle of Wight be funded to a maximum of £250,000, subject to the production of a satisfactory business plan by not later than October 2003 and that payments be against the achievement of key milestones as determined by the business plan.

 

95.              EXTERNALISATION OF LEISURE SERVICES

 

Members received an update on the progress made in externalising the Council=s leisure services to a Not for Profit Distributing Body and consideration was given to a delay in the previously suggested target date for the transfer.  Although a business plan had been received, many questions still remained and issues were still being negotiated. Members were keen to conclude negotiations and the transfer as soon as possible.

 

RESOLVED :

 

(i)         THAT it be accepted that the transfer would not take place on 1 October 2002

 

(ii)        THAT a further report to be bought back to the Executive by the end of October 2002 and that negotiations with Wight Leisure Limited continue with a view to completion of the transfer by 31 December 2002

 

 

 

 

 

CHAIRMAN