THE “CALL IN”PERIOD FOR THESE DECISIONS EXPIRES AT 5.00 PM ON FRIDAY, 7 FEBRUARY 2003. 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 WEDNESDAY 29 JANUARY 2003 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 J R Adams, Mr A C Bartlett, Mr B C Buckle, Mrs T M Butchers, Mr C B W Chapman, Mr M J Cunningham, Mr A J Mundy, Mr A A Taylor

174. MINUTES

RESOLVED :

THAT the Minutes of the meeting of the Executive held on 15 January 2003 be confirmed subject to the amendment of Minute 171 (c) to read:

Local Government Finance Settlement and Budget 2003/4

The Portfolio Holder reminded members that the Government’s proposals on the Local Government Settlement for 2003/04 had been announced. These proposals represented a major shift in resources away from the South East of England that would result in a substantial loss of grant to the Council. There was some short-term protection to offset part of the loss for 2003/4. An outline of the grant distribution formula was given. It was pointed out to the Executive that the Island had lost the Area Cost Adjustment which under the former system had compensated all authorities in the South East for the higher cost of labour in the region which would in 2002/3 have been worth over £6 million of grant to the Island.

As a basis for discussion, the Directors had put forward proposals for a draft budget. It was noted that there were severe budget pressures on a number of key services, in particular education and social services. The implications that the grant distribution would have on the level of council tax were discussed. The draft budget proposals would have the effect of producing any Council Tax increase of 16.0% with a possible extra 1.8% if there was full passporting of funds to schools

RESOLVED :

(i) THAT the draft local government finance settlement announcement be noted

(ii) THAT the process set out in Appendix 7 attached to the report be endorsed

(iii) THAT the draft budget be presented to the Co-ordinating Committee for its comments

(iv) THAT the Secretary of State be notified of the intention in recommendation (i) to Council below

RESOLVED TO RECOMMEND TO BUDGET COUNCIL

(i) THAT the passporting of the Secretary of State’s recommended schools budget be approved

(ii) THAT the proposals from the Remuneration Panel to increase Member Allowances beyond the current formula should not be implemented

175. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

Mr D J Knowles declared a prejudicial interest in Minutes 178 as he was a proprietor of a registered care home with contracts with the Council.

176. SCHOOLS BUDGET FOR 2003-04

The Council was required to notify the Secretary of State for Education and Skills of its intended schools budget for 2003-04 by the end of January. The Executive were reminded that Secretary of State had advised that a minimum Schools Budget of £57,155,000 should be set. Members were advised that this amount was in excess of the allocated amount in the Revenue Support Grant proposals and therefore the Secretary of State was asking for more resources to be passed to schools than were provided in the Council’s Formula Spending Share. At its previous meeting the Executive had recommended to the Council, that the full amount suggested by the Secretary of State should be passported. Advice was given that the additional spending would equate to 1.8% on the Council Tax. The Strategic Director of Finance and information advised members that there had been a last minute change in the rules from the DfES governing the allocation to the Learning Skills Council

RESOLVED TO RECOMMEND TO BUDGET COUNCIL

THAT the Schools Budget be set of at least £57,155,001 for 2003-04 in addition to the Learning Skills Council allocation for the year

177. REPORT OF THE PORTFOLIO HOLDER FOR FIRE, EMERGENCY PLANNING AND CONSUMER PROTECTION

(a) Licensing Policy

The Portfolio Holder presented his report that set out procedure for reviewing, amending or making Licensing Policy. He informed members that the Government had signalled its intent to transfer liquor-licensing responsibilities from licensing justices to local licensing authorities. Policy development linked with these new responsibilities would be necessary. The Chairman of Licensing Panel supported the proposals.

RESOLVED :

THAT the procedure for reviewing, amending or making Licensing Policy be as follows:

(i) Officers would raise all licensing policy development proposals with the Licensing Panel Chairman, and then in writing with the Portfolio Holder for Fire, Emergency and Consumer Protection

(ii) The Portfolio Holder would advise the Chairman of the Fire and Public Safety Select Committee on all significant licensing policy development proposals before they were introduced

(iii) The Portfolio Holder would use delegated decision making powers to implement appropriate licensing policy changes that would be subject to normal reporting procedures

(iv) In the event of there being a significant licensing policy development proposal, the matter would be referred to the Licensing Panel for consideration. The Licensing Panel would be invited to make recommendations on those proposals to the Executive

(v) The Fire and Public Safety Select Committee would be advised on all licensing policy matters due to be presented to the Executive.

(vi) Officers would co-ordinate licensing policy development work to bring forward business items, wherever possible, “en bloc”

(b) Bereavement Services Issues

The Portfolio Holder informed the Executive that the Fire and Public Safety Select Committee had recently received a report from the Bereavement Services Task Group that identified a series of issues where the task group deemed policy decisions were necessary. The Select Committee carried out further work in key areas and these findings were presented to the Executive.

RESOLVED :

(i) THAT a cemetery extension in East Cowes be agreed in principle to measure approximately 100 metres x 45 metres at a maximum cost of £100,000 subject to approval of a capital bid to be used to level the site, construct paths, install necessary drainage, erect a boundary fence and plant a boundary fence

(ii) THAT officers be instructed to negotiate a legal agreement with Gatcombe Parochial Church Council in respect of a one-off grant of £6000, to be paid from the Bereavement Services budget subject to approval in the budget process, in order to partially fund infrastructure costs, subject to the grant being repaid in full if an application was made for closed churchyard status within 10 years.

(iii) THAT the provision of new Island cemeteries should not be funded for the foreseeable future.

(iv) THAT an annual budget of up to £10,000 be established from the Bereavement Services budget subject, to approval in the budget process, to enable continued funding of graveyard maintenance grants and that officers be authorised to reimburse up to 75% of graveyard maintenance costs to those specific bodies that have previously received grants

(v) THAT no action be taken in respect of setting up a Cremator Renewal Contingency Fund

(vi) THAT the hours of weekend opening at the Isle of Wight crematorium be increased and be from 12.00 noon – 4.00 pm with effect from 1 April 2003.

(vii) THAT proposed minor changes to the Council’s Cemeteries and Crematorium regulations be considered by the Portfolio Holder and if necessary be implemented using delegated decision making powers

178. CARE STANDARDS ACT – FOSTER CARE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

(Mr D J Knowles declared a prejudicial interest and left the room for the discussion of this item).

Consideration was given to the Council’s Fostering Service Statement of Purpose – Aims and Objectives, which was required under the Care Standards Act 2000. Members were informed that National Minimum Standards and Fostering Service Regulations had been published by the Secretary of State which required Local Authorities to “promote and safeguard the child/young persons physical, mental and emotional welfare” in Local Authority care through the provision of 27 standards.

RESOLVED :

THAT the summary requirements of the National Minimum Standards were noted and that the draft Statement of Purpose for the Isle of Wight Fostering Service as required by the Care Standards Act 2000 be approved

179. REPORT OF THE PORTFOLIO HOLDER FOR TRANSPORT

(a) Parking Policy

Members were reminded that an comprehensive Island-wide parking study was commissioned last year which examined public parking provision and usage and provided an overview of parking patterns in the major towns on the Island. A number of issues had been raised and following public consultation and consideration by the Select Committee, a number of recommendations concerning charging policy, hours of operation had been put forward. Members recognised the need for consistency and rationalisation relating to car park charges.

Appendix B, which related to the cost of All Island Tourist Tickets, for cars and coaches, was circulated to Members at the meeting. During the debate it was proposed and seconded that a 10% increase on existing charges be made on all Island Tourist tickets for cars and coaches

RESOLVED:

THAT the rationalisation of charges as set out in the report including Table A and Appendix B, as amended, by way of advertisement through Traffic Regulation Orders and other necessary consultations be approved

(b) Capital Programme – 2003/04

The proposed programme of capital highway maintenance and integrated transport schemes for 2003/04 was received. The 2003/04 local transport capital settlement for the Council was £5.495 million. Members noted that future settlements would be linked to the Council’s performance in achieving targets and objectives. The structure of the proposed capital programme for 2003/04 had been selected to ensure continued progress towards the Local Transport Plan objectives in order to safeguard future capital funding levels.

RESOLVED :

THAT the transport capital programme for 2003/04 as set out in the report be agreed as being those schemes which were intended to be carried out, provided, that sufficient resources were made available when the overall Council’s capital programme was approved.

180. RYDE MARINA BOWLS CLUB

Consideration was given to a request from Ryde Marina Bowls Club and Sport England to become the official applicant in a Sports Lottery Application that involved the development of the facilities on the Esplanade. Details of the grants, which had been awarded, were given. However, the tenders that had been received were higher than the total grant awarded. The request for the Council to take over the application from the Club was on the basis that the Council would be able to recover the VAT paid, thus making the project achievable within the level of funding that was available. An update was given in relation to the Executive decision in July 2002 where it was resolved to grant a lease to the bowls club of the buildings and the greens. Financial advice was received and the view was put forward that the Council, by becoming the applicant for the lottery application, would create a precedent. Concern was also expressed concerning the clawback conditions that would apply to the grant. Members were informed of the risks the Council was assuming in respect of the potential for any future grant clawback, cost overruns and delivery of the objectives of the project.

RESOLVED :

i) THAT the request of funding partners to become the applicant in this Sports Lottery application, and to submit amended Stage 2 papers to Sport England be accepted

ii) THAT the Bowls Club would accept all liabilities contained within the award conditions of Sport England and SRB and also any additional costs arising out of the building contract.

iii) THAT the Council maintain the two greens to an agreed minimum performance standard until such time as it is possible to transfer this responsibility to the Club under the terms previously agreed.

181. GREAT ACCESS TO GREAT SERVICES

Consideration was given to the above named report and its recommendations, which had arisen from extensive consultation within the Council and, as part of the Best Value project ‘Connecting with the Public’, with a wide range of people and bodies external to the Council. The report and its recommendations had been reviewed by an external consultant and were commended to the Council. Members were informed that there would be significant financial implications. The estimated costs of implementing electronic government were put at around £31 million over 10 years. The Programme Board, the subject of one of the report’s recommendations, would be given authority to commit expenditure only within the budget approved by the Council. Due to these costs, external advice would be taken before further investment was contemplated.

RESOLVED :

THAT recommendations (a) to (e) inclusive on Page 7 of the attached report, ‘Great Access to Great Services’ be agreed.

182. MEMBERS’ QUESTION TIME

Questions were put to the Chairman as follows :

Mr B Buckle asked a question in relation to the stock management policy of library books (MQ 5/03)

Mr J Effemey asked a question in relation to maintenance for closed churchyards (MQ 6/03)

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

CHAIRMAN