THE “CALL IN”PERIOD FOR THESE DECISIONS EXPIRES AT 5.00 PM ON THURSDAY, 12 DECEMBER 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, 3 DECEMBER 2002 COMMENCING AT 9.30 AM

 

Present :

 

Mrs S A Smart (Chairman), Mr R R Barry, Mr E Fox, Mr P G Harris, Mr D J Knowles, Mrs B Lawson, Mr R G Mazillius, Mr H Rees,           Mrs J L Wareham

 

Apologies :

 

Mrs M A Jarman

 

Also present non-voting :

 

Mr A C Bartlett, Mr B C Buckle, Mrs T M Butchers, Mr M J Cunningham, Mr J Effemey, Mrs D Gardiner, Mr A J Mundy, Mr R A Sutton

 

 

 


151.        MINUTES

 

RESOLVED :

 

THAT the Minutes of the meeting of the Executive held on 19 November 2002 be confirmed.

 

152.        DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

 

There were no declarations at this stage.

 

153.        PUBLIC QUESTION TIME

 

Questions were put to the Chairman as follows :

 

Mr J Odgen asked a question concerning to wind turbines (PQ98/02)

 

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

 

154.        REPORT OF THE PORTFOLIO HOLDER FOR AGENDA 21 AND COUNTRYSIDE MATTERS

 

(a)               Coast Protection Capital Programme – Consent Under the Coast Protection Act 1949

 

Approval was sought from the Executive for an application to be made to DEFRA for coast protection grant aid in support of a range of coast protection schemes and studies.  These additional schemes were detailed in the report which were eligible for grant aid and supplementary credit approval under the Coast Protection Act. 

 

The proposals identified in the report were in accordance with the recommendations contained in the Isle of Wight Coast SMP and in the emerging Strategy Studies.  Advice was given in the report that if the coast protection works were not undertaken, it could result in risks to life and property and a lack of preparedness for the impacts of coastal change in the short to medium term. 

 

The Executive also received an update on the current position in respect to the Shoreline Management Plan and Strategy Studies.

 

RESOLVED :

 

(i)                 THAT the progress with the coast protection capital programme be noted

 

(ii)               THAT the submission of applications for coast protection grant aid and for the following projects and studies be approved :

 

·        Isle of Wight shoreline management plan review

·        Islandwide environmental mitigation study

·         Steephill Cove coast protection scheme – Phase II

·        Ventnor Eastern Esplanade – Phase III (Eastern Esplanade to Wheeler’s Bay) preliminary studies

 

(iii)             THAT the variations to the Sandown Bay strategy study to include the Ventnor Undercliff frontage and the inclusion of a processes study for part of the Seaview frontage within the remit of the North-East Coastal Defence Strategy Study be noted

 

(iv)              THAT the award of coast protection grant aid for a five year strategic monitoring programme for the sum of £850,000 in total be noted

 

(b)               Urban Capacity and the Managed Release of Housing Sites – Adoption as Supplementary Planning Guidance (SPG)

 

Consideration was given to the response to the Consultation Draft Urban Capacity Study and the Consultation Draft Phasing Report: Managed Release of Housing Sites with a view to adoption of the reports as Supplementary Planning Guidance.  This had been undertaken to assess the potential for brownfield development and its impact upon the release of greenfield allocations. Formal consultation had taken place between July and September 2002.

           

RESOLVED :

 

THAT the Urban Capacity Study and the Phasing Reports as amended (following consultation), are adopted as Supplementary Planning Guidance.

 

(c)               A Renewable Energy Strategy For The Isle of Wight

 

In 1999 as part of its Climate Change Programme the UK government set a target of meeting 10% of UK electricity supply from renewable sources by the year 2010.  Since April 2001 a Renewable Energy Strategy for the Isle of Wight had been developed.  The Strategy had been considered by the Environment and Transport Select Committee and the Chairman addressed the Executive.

 

RESOLVED :

 

(i)                 THAT the Renewable Energy Strategy for the Isle of Wight be approved

 

(ii)               THAT a flexible approach to renewable energy be taken to incorporate emerging technology

 

(iii)              THAT a report be requested detailing the process of implementation of the Strategy early in the New Year

 

155.        URGENT BUSINESS – ACCESS TO HOUSING AND OTHER DEVELOPMENT LAND AT PAN, NEWPORT

 

The Chairman agreed to consideration of an urgent item of business as a decision was required prior to the next meeting. The Executive resolved on 20 August 2002 to enter into negotiations with the owners of the land. However, the principal landowner had now gone into receivership.  The Receivers were seeking a quick to sale the land and it was unlikely that the offer made would remain open until the next issue of the Forward Plan was published and a meeting of the Executive considered the issue at its first January meeting.

 

Members were reminded that the Council had authorised the development of a planning brief to bring forward the allocated housing and employment land at Pan for development.  The Executive considered varying the capital budget for 2002-03 in order to enable the purchase of land to facilitate access to the planned major development site at Pan, Newport.  The cost of the acquisition amounted to £750,000 for which there was no provision in the current capital programme.  The cost could be met from the Repairs and Renewals Fund, but this then would be fully committed. Alternative options for potential access were set out in the report.  The terms of the proposed acquisition were noted.

 

RESOLVED :

 

THAT approximately 4.16 acres of land off St Georges Way, Newport be acquired on the terms set out in this report subject to the Full Council agreeing to amend the capital budget for 2002/2003

 

RESOLVED TO RECOMMEND TO COUNCIL :

 

THAT the Capital Programme for 2002/3 be amended in order to fund the purchase as set out in the report.

 

156.        SUPPORTING PEOPLE CHARGING POLICY

 

Supporting People was a new policy and funding framework for providing housing related support services for vulnerable people.  A Supporting People Charging policy would be implemented with effect from April 2003 and was required to be submitted to the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister by 12 December 2002.  It was explained that the policy would be developed to run alongside the Council’s Fairer Charging Policy. Members were informed that Supporting People would be a major revenue budget for the Council although the grant would be paid to the Council net of an assumed income from charging service users for housing related support services.  A decision not to charge for Supporting People Services could be made but Commissioning Partners would have to identify alternative funding sources to meet the deficit. The Isle of Wight Supporting People Commissioning Body had agreed that those service users who are in a financial position to pay for the support services they receive should be charged.  Any receipts from charging for Supporting People services would be ring fenced for service provision.

 

RESOLVED :

 

THAT   the Supporting People Charging Policy be approved in principle but the right would be reserved to review it in light of the Councils Fairer Charging Policy with a view to ensuring that the total income would meet the assumed level of income from charging service users for housing related support services.

 

157.        FORMATION OF THE BRENDA JAMES TRUST FUND

 

Consideration was given to the establishment of a charitable trust in order to receive a bequest from Mrs. Brenda James to develop music in Island Schools.  The Solicitors, acting as trustees of the bequest, had been working with the Council’s School’s Music Service to identify the objectives that could be realised by using the bequest.  These were

 

·        Providing tuition in musical instruments

·        The provision of musical instruments and equipment

·        The payment of business and awards for music tuition and education

·        Assistance to enable pupils to receive music tuition

·        Subsidising musical events

 

The trust would receive a sum in the order of £60,000 from the Brenda James Bequest and it would seek to use this fund and the income derived from it to deliver the trust’s objects.  The only additional Council expenditure associated with this proposal would be officer time in administration. 

 

RESOLVED :

 

(i)                 THAT establishment of the Brenda James Trust Fund for the purposes set out in this report and the council being sole trustee (subject to registration by the Charity Commissioners) be agreed.

 

(ii)               THAT the management of the trust be specifically delegated to the Strategic Director of Education and Community Development (or a person nominated by him).

 

(iii)             THAT an advisory group including the Portfolio Holder for Education and Lifelong Learning be established, in order to make recommendations and that the Head of Music oversee the administration of the trust.

 

158.        REPORT OF THE PORTFOLIO HOLDER FOR TRANSPORT

 

(a)               Revised Policy for Residents Parking

 

The Portfolio Holder for Transport introduced the report on a new policy for residents parking following consideration of the matter by the Parking Task Group.  Members were advised that the present eligibility criteria for on street schemes had led to a number of anomalies and the need for standardization was recognised. A number of amendments were outlined. These included  changes in the days and times of operation and the introduction of zonal systems rather than individual schemes. Members were informed that the scheme should be self-financing and that the cost would be carefully monitored.  It was noted that the proposed scheme would need to be formally advertised.

 

RESOLVED :

 

                        THAT the new policy as outlined in the report be introduced.

 

(b)               Update on Park and Ride Schemes

 

 

Members were informed of the current position on the provision of Park and Ride facilities which were in the process of being developed in Cowes, Ryde, Sandown / Shanklin and Newport as well as a Coach Park and Ride Scheme.

 

RESOLVED :

 

THAT the report be noted.

 

159.        MEMBERS’ QUESTION TIME

 

Questions were put to the Chairman as follows :

 

Mr B Buckle asked a question relating to payments made to employees (MQ89/02)

 

Mr J Effemey asked a question concerning the involvement of Building Control in the development of sites (MQ90/02)

 

Mr J Effemey asked a question concerning a collapsed building in Cowes (MQ91/02)

 

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

 

 

 

 

CHAIRMAN