MINUTES OF A
MEETING OF THE COUNCIL HELD AT COUNTY HALL, NEWPORT, ISLE OF WIGHT ON WEDNESDAY
11 DECEMBER 2002 COMMENCING AT 10.00 AM
Present :
Miss H L Humby (Chairman), Mr B
E Abraham, Mr J R Adams, Mr R R Barry,
Mr A C Bartlett, Mr J A Bowker, Mr B C Buckle,
Mrs T M Butchers, Mr A C Coburn,
Mr M J Cunningham, Mr J Effemey,
Mr J H Fleming, Mrs B E Foster,
Mr E Fox, Mr C M Gauntlett, Mr C R Hancock,
Mr P G Harris, Mr J F Howe, Mrs M A Jarman, Mr P D Joyce, Mr G S Kendall,
Mr D J Knowles, Mr C H Lillywhite,
Mr R G Mazillius, Mrs M J Miller,
Mr V J Morey, Mr M O Morgan Huws, Mr A J Mundy,
Mrs E Oulton, Mr K Pearson, Mr G P Price,
Mr H Rees, Mr R C Richards,
Mrs S A Smart, Mr R A Sutton,
Mr A A Taylor, Mr A F Tiltman,
Mr D G Williams
Apologies :
Mr C B W Chapman, Mrs B D Clough,
Mrs D Gardiner, Mrs B Lawson, Mrs M J Lloyd,
Mr A J Mellor, Mr I R Stephens,
Mrs J L Wareham,
Mr D Yates
Before the
meeting commenced the Council was entertained with Carols sung by Meadowbrook
Choir.
59. MINUTES
RESOLVED :
THAT the Minutes of the meeting held on 13 November 2002 be confirmed.
60.
DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
At 10.20 am Mr Cunningham, Mrs Butchers, Mr Kendal and Mr Mazillius
declared a personal (but not prejudicial) interest in Minute number 65(a)(ii)
(Local Authority Health Overview and Scrutiny) as members appointed by the
Council on the Isle of Wight Community Health Council.
61.
PUBLIC QUESTION TIME
Questions
were put to the Chairman as
follows :
Mr J Wortham asked an oral question
concerning the
future of Wight Leisure and the salary of the Managing Director – a full
written reply was promised.
62.
CHAIRMAN’S REPORT
The Chairman updated members on the success of her
recent Coffee Morning and that it had raised approximately £750 for her three
charities.
63.
MOTION SUBMITTED BY MR G
PRICE CC UNDER PROCEDURE RULE 11
The Council considered the following motion moved by Mr G Price :
“THAT
the constitution be amended so that when Executive members, Chairmen of Select
and Regulatory Committees wish to give a report to Council these be in writing
and submitted to Committee Services by 5pm on the 9th working day before the
meeting (not including the day of the meeting) and that Executive members,
Chairmen of Select and Regulatory Committees no longer give oral reports to the
meeting however all other members of the Council may submit a written question
on the content of the report - such question to be submitted in writing at
least 24 hours (not including weekends and bank holidays) before the
commencement of the meeting."
During
the debate members, whilst supporting the underlying point, felt that the
motion proposed was too prescriptive and that matters relating to the conduct
of the Council meeting needed to be considered all together rather than
piecemeal. It was noted that some initial discussions on this were already
underway.
Following the debate Mr G
Price withdrew his motion.
64.
EXECUTIVE
(a)
Recommendation From The
Executive
The Council
considered the recommendation from the Executive seeking to amend the Councils
Capital Programme for 2002/3 in order to fund the purchase of a parcel of land
that would secure access to housing and other development land at Pan, Newport.
At its meeting on 20 August 2002
the Executive had resolved 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 sale of
the land and it was unlikely that the offer made would remain open until the
next issue of the Forward Plan and therefore a decision was being requested
although the matter had not been included in the Council’s Forward Plan. The necessary consultations had been
undertaken to comply with the statutory requirements for considering this
matter in such circumstances. In moving the recommendation the Leader added the
following words to the 5th bullet point for the proposed terms of
the acquisition: “- equally if the Council does not acquire these options then
the Council can bar access to the adjoining Council land”.
Members
considered that the proposed purchase was required as it was fundamental for
the release of other land in the vicinity for social housing and other mixed
development. There was some concern
that the proposed purchase was proceeding without a detailed development plan
for the area although it was explained that the Unitary Development Plan (UDP)
did set out the various proposed zonings for the land in question. Any
development of this site, and the adjoining land, would be subject to Planning
Permission in the usual way.
RESOLVED :
THAT the Capital Programme for 2002/3 be amended in
order to fund the purchase as set out in the report and that bullet point 5 for
the proposed terms of the acquisition: “- equally if the Council does not
acquire these options then the Council can bar access to the adjoining Council
land”.
(b)
Executive - Reports Of
The Portfolio Holders
(i) The
Leader
The Leader updated members on
current issues, in particular the budget allocation by Government. During the
question session for the Leader it was moved, seconded and
RESOLVED :
THAT Procedure Rule 10(6) be
suspended for this meeting to allow an unlimited amount of time for the Leader
to be questioned on this matter.
(ii) Tourism and Leisure
The
Portfolio Holder updated members on current issues and acknowledged the
excellent work of the members of staff in the Tourism section who had been
operating without a Head of Tourism since the departure of Mr Tim Addison.
(iii) The Deputy Leader
The
Deputy Leader informed members that the Comprehensive Performance Assessment
results would be announced the following day (12 December) and that the
Executive would be considering a report at its next meeting about Risk
Management.
(iv)
Agenda 21 and
Countryside Matters
The Portfolio Holder was absent owing to illness and,
as a result, no report was given.
(v)
Economic Development,
UK and EU, Regional Issues
The Portfolio Holder updated members on the latest
position with regard to the NUTS classification and the impact for the Isle of
Wight.
(vi)
Education and
Lifelong Learning
In the absence of the Portfolio Holder the Leader updated
members on current issues.
(vii)
Fire, Emergency
Planning and Consumer Protection
The Portfolio Holder updated members on industrial
action by the FBU. Mrs D Gardiner submitted a question on some aspects of the
handling of the FBU strike. A copy of the question and answer given is
contained in the Members Question Register (MQ92/02).
(viii)
Resources
The Portfolio Holder updated members on the future
ability of the Council to raise more than 50% Council Tax on second homes.
(ix)
Social Services and
Housing
The Portfolio Holder with the aid of a written report
that was circulated updated members on current issues.
(x)
Transport
The Portfolio Holder updated members on the outcome of
the Local Transport Plan and Government approvals that had been given for
spending on various projects.
Mr C Hancock asked a question on the policy of
improving the flow of traffic into Newport in the morning. A copy of the
question and answer given is contained in the Members Question Register
(MQ93/02).
65.
SELECT AND REGULATORY COMMITTEES
(a) Reports by Chairman of Select Committees
(i)
Fire and Public Safety
Mrs D Gardiner asked five written questions relating
to the Chairman’s handling of requests for scrutiny of the action arising from
the FBU strike. A copy of the questions and answers given is contained in the
Members Question Register (MQ94/02).
(ii)
Co-ordinating Committee
(Mr
Cunningham, Mrs Butchers, Mr Kendal and Mr Mazillius declared a personal (but
not prejudicial) interest in this item as members appointed by the Council on
the Isle of Wight Community Health Council.)
The Council considered the following recommendation
from the Co-ordinating Committee as moved by Mr G Kendal CC and seconded by Mr
R Mazillius CC :
“THAT health scrutiny be
added to the remit of the Social Services, Housing and Benefits Select
Committee to be reviewed in May 2003.”
RESOLVED :
THAT health scrutiny be added to the remit of the Social Services, Housing and Benefits Select Committee to be reviewed in May 2003.
(iii)
Economic Development, Planning, Tourism and Leisure Services
The Chairman indicated that he had nothing to report.
(iv)
Education, Community Development and Lifelong Learning
The Chairman indicated that he had nothing to report.
(v)
Environment and
Transport
The Chairman advised that the Select Committee would
be scrutinising the Ryde Interchange proposals at a future meeting.
(vi)
Resources
The Chairman indicated that he had nothing to report.
(vii)
Social Services, Housing
and Benefits
The Chairman submitted a written report to members on
the work of the Select Committee.
(b)
Regulatory Committees
(i)
Development Control
Committee
No written
questions were received.
(ii)
Licensing Panel
No written
questions were received.
(iii) Regulatory Appeals
No written questions
were received.
The
meeting closed at 13:00 pm
CHAIRMAN