THE “CALL IN”PERIOD FOR THESE DECISIONS EXPIRES AT 5.00 PM ON THURSDAY, 8 AUGUST 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, 30 JULY 2002 COMMENCING AT 9.30 AM

 

Present :

 

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

 

Apologies :

 

Mrs M A Jarman, Mr D J Knowles

 

Also present non-voting :

 

Mr J A Bowker, Mr M J Cunningham, Mr J F Howe, Mr A J Mundy, Mr G P Price, Mr A A Taylor

 

 

 


69.              MINUTES

 

RESOLVED :

 

THAT the Minutes of the meeting of the Executive held on 16 July 2002 be confirmed subject to the additional wording to be added to Minute 66 – Rural Bus Subsidy Grant

 

“The portfolio holder confirmed that he had negotiated with Southern Vectis that the £5,000 which they had agreed to give Nettlestone and Seaview Parish Council in order to provide a bus service between Nettlestone and St Helens would instead be given to the Council to provide that service by using the Wightbus fleet”.

 

70.              DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

 

There were no declarations received at this stage.

 

71.              URGENT BUSINESS UNDERCLIFF DRIVE, CONSTRUCTION OF NEW ROAD THROUGH BEAUCHAMP

 

The Chairman agreed to consideration to a matter relating to the construction a temporary link road at Beauchamp, Undercliff Drive that required a decision prior to the next meeting. In order to expedite the commencement of construction, a variation of Standing Orders were required which would allow the contract to be awarded to an approved Council contractor rather than going through the normal tendering process.

 

Members were reminded that in March 2001 approximately 100 metres of the Undercliff Drive at Beauchamp had been lost as part of a landslip.  The Council had received an additional award of £950,000 as part of the Local Transport Plan settlement for 2002/03 for the construction of a temporary link road.  Extensive consultations had been undertaken with English Nature to resolve their objections to the scheme and subject to another visit to the site by the Council Ecology Officer, it was likely they would withdrawn their objection to  planning permission which had been granted on 16 July 2002.  Members were informed that the cost of the construction of the temporary link road was likely to be in the area of £400,000.

 

RESOLVED :

 

THAT variation of Standing Order 2.8 be approved and that the contract be awarded to an approved Council contractor through negotiation with Head of Engineering Services and 3 elected Members to include the Portfolio Holder for Transport, the Chairman of the Environment and Transport Select Committee and a Member from the Opposition groups overseeing the selection and negotiating process.

 

72.              REVIEW OF PROGRESS OF THE 2000/01 BEST VALUE REVIEW IMPROVEMENT PLANS

 

Members reviewed the progress of the Year 1 2000/01 Best Value Improvement Plans.  The report summarised progress to date, listed areas where action had been deferred, or where there was a lack of resource, or items which had not yet been actioned together with reasons why action had not taken place.

 

RESOLVED :

 

THAT the current progress on the Improvement Plans 2000/01 be noted

 

73.              PROPOSED LEASE TO RYDE MARINA BOWLS CLUB (PHASE I), RYDE ESPLANADE

 

Consideration was given to support grant funding towards the development of a new bowls club facility through the grant of a long lease to the Club and on on-going maintenance subsidy for the Club to take on this liability.  An independent valuation of the value of the lease had been assessed to be £20,000.  The Council had been asked to make a grant of this sum towards the scheme.

 

The proposal was to provide a new Clubhouses funded partly from the Sports Lottery, the Club’s own funds and a grant from the Council.  Details were given of the cost of the building and the second stage of the development that would include the Harbour Masters office.  Details as to the bid and action plan to be submitted to the Sports Lottery and the Club’s contribution to the project were reported together with details of the proposed lease and obligations that the Club would undertake.  Advice was given that the public would be allowed access to the greens for the duration of the lease.

 

RESOLVED :

 

(i)                              THAT the lease on the terms proposed in the report, as amended, be granted

 

(ii)                            THAT a grant of ,20,000 to the value of the lease premium be made, together with the revenue grant set out in the report, subject to the Club securing all funds to build the new pavilion

 

(iii)                           THAT to subject to Ryde Marina Bowls Club being successful with phase I of this scheme then phase II would be put forward as a bid for capital allocation in the next financial year

 

74.              FAIRWAY PARK, THE FAIRWAY, LAKE PARISH, ISLE OF WIGHT

 

The Council had endeavoured to acquire this property on several occasions both by agreement and at auction but without success.  Lake Parish Council were committed to acquiring the site to provide a public recreation ground for residents of the area and the development of sport.

 

Members were advised if Lake Parish Council was unsuccessful in negotiating an acquisition by agreement, they would request the Council to purchase the site compulsorily on their behalf and had asked the Council to underwrite these potential costs

 

RESOLVED :

 

            THAT if requested to do so by Lake Parish Council, the Council would obtain Counsel’s opinion and the Executive would consider that opinion, and if satisfactory, would proceed to support the Parish with compulsory purchase procedures

 

PROVISIONAL ACCOUNTS

 

The Portfolio Holder introduced the report that set out the Council’s revenue and financial results for the financial year to 31 March 2002.  The Executive were required to agree to the figures before the statutory Statement of Accounts could be drawn for consideration at a later date.  Details were also given of the final revenue results and the capital spending details. The report detailed the over spend in Engineering Services most of which related to Highways. 

 

RESOLVED :

 

(i)                  THAT the revenue accounts and capital accounts be agreed as presented, subject to any late adjustments, as a basis for the formal Statement of Accounts

 

(ii)                THAT the Engineering overspend for 2001-02 be written off

 

 

75.              BUDGET MONITOR

 

Members were provided with an overview of the current year’s revenue spending to the end of June together with a full list of capital projects and spend.  Members were informed that revenue spending to date had been largely in line with budget expectation.  Areas of potential difficulty were highlighted.  Capital spending against budget on a scheme by scheme basis was given.  Members considered the frequency of future monitoring reports that would come before the Executive.

 

RESOLVED :

 

(i)                  THAT the budget monitor be noted

 

(ii)                THAT the frequency of future monitoring reports be set quarterly, with more frequent updates if appropriate

 

76.              REVIEW OF THE REVENUE GRANT DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM AND THE GOVERNMENT’S EXPENDITURE PLANS TO 2005/06

 

Members were informed that on 8 July 2002 the Government had published its paper setting out options for the reform of the Revenue Grant Distribution System as part of the programme outlined in the White Paper on Local Government.  Generally the proposal concerned the transfer of resources from the South East to the North and to inner urban areas.  The Government had published options for 12 expenditure blocks in particular service areas and in respect of cross cutting issues.  One feature was a fundamental review of the Area Cost Adjustment System that in the worst case would produce a considerable loss of grants to this authority.  Details were given of options relating to the individual blocks.  Members were concerned that the unique situation of the Island would not be fully acknowledged if representations were made together with nearby authorities.

 

Members were advised that on the 15 July 2002 the Chancellor had published his expenditure plans for the period until 2005-06 and the main points of the report together with the implications for the broad totals of local government expenditure were provided.

 

RESOLVED :

 

(i)         THAT the following process be adopted in respect of the Review of the Revenue Grant Distribution

 

(a)               To make a case for the costs of being an Island authority based on the current Price Waterhouse Coopers study which is nearing completion

 

(b)               Continue our alliance with the other South East authorities to press for retention of the present Area Cost Adjustment benefits

 

(c)               That the MP be invited to support the Councils submission on the formula following detailed examination and a meeting to be set up to carry this forward

 

(ii)           THAT the Government’s spending plans be noted and to take their implications into account in the budget process

 

77.              COUNCIL TAX CONSULATION GUIDELINES

 

The Portfolio Holder informed members that the Government had published in June a set of guidelines designed to help local authorities consult on Council Tax and budget issues.  This provided useful information that could be used to develop and enhance the Councils process in the future.

 

RESOLVED :

 

THAT the report be noted and used to guide the further development of the Council’s budget and Council Tax consultation process

 

 

78.              MEDIUM TERM FINANCIAL PLAN 2003/4 TO 2005/6

 

(The Chairman vacated the Chair for this item)

 

In February 2002 as part of the budget process, members received a forecast of spending commitments and resources for the next two years.  Members were now brought up to date on recent developments, including the Public Expenditure Review which showed, together with the latest round of corporate and service planning, how these could impact on the Council’s finances over the next three years and on Council Tax levels in particular.

 

RESOLVED :

 

(i)                  THAT the annual budget/planning cycle set up in Appendix A attached to the report   be agreed as a future framework, and that the planning process moves into line with it as soon as is practicable

 

(ii)                THAT the Executive endorsed the proposed work programme in respect of the medium term budget

 

(iii)               THAT the Executive will continue to offer whatever further advice and guidance they deem appropriate

 

(iv)              THAT the Directors be requested to report back to the Executive with an illustration of the effect of a single figure increase of council tax if the same level of resources were to continue

 

79.              DATA PROTECTION POLICY

 

(The Chairman resumed the Chair)

 

Consideration was given to a new Data Protection Policy for the Council.  The Data Protection Act 1998 had come into force on 24 October 2001 and now applied to some paper records as well as records held on computer.

 

RESOLVED TO RECOMMEND TO COUNCIL :

 

                        THAT the policy be adopted and be brought to the attention of all staff and councillors

 

80.              THE LOCAL EDUCATION AUTHORITY REPRENSATIVE ON ISLE OF WIGHT COLLEGE CORPORATATION

 

Members were reminded that Cllr Mr P Harris had been nominated to serve on the Isle of Wight College Corporation as the LEA Representative and had been elected to serve a two year term which came to an end on 26 July 2002.  The Executive considered the election of a new representative

.

RESOLVED :

 

THAT Cllr Mrs J Wareham be elected to serve on the Isle of Wight College Corporation and that the Clerk to the Corporation be informed of the decision.

 

81.              MEMBERS’ QUESTION TIME

 

A qquestion was put to the Chairman as follows :

 

Mr M Cunningham asked a question regarding live debate by a private broadcasting radio station  (MQ 59/02)

 

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CHAIRMAN