Before the commencement of the meeting, the Chairman
introduced Dr Marguerite Howick, the Extended Schools Consultant, to Council. Members were shown an extract from a DVD
depicting the recent Power FM Rock Challenge.
Following the presentation, Members were introduced to Harry Roberts and
Joshua Sheekey, pupils of Dover Park School, who presented the Council with a
plaque in recognition of their support for the event.
The Chairman also introduced Cllr Tim Gladdis, and
Cllr Geoff Banks the Chairman and Vice Chairman of the ORP Blyskawica
Society. Cllr Gladdis presented a framed
print to Council to mark the Society’s 65th anniversary.
15.
MINUTES
RESOLVED :
(i)
THAT the Minutes
of the meeting held on 18 April 2007 and 23 April 2007 be confirmed.
(ii)
THAT the Minutes
of the meeting held on 23 April 2007 be confirmed subject to the second
resolution under Minute 14 be amended to read:
“THAT
Option 2 be adopted with 6th Form provision
being delivered in a Trust Foundation under a single governing body, with
College separate, bringing together the current 5 high schools under one
leadership and governance (the Trust).”
16.
DECLARATIONS OF
INTEREST
There were no declarations received at this stage.
17.
PUBLIC QUESTION
TIME
Questions
were put to the Chairman as follows :
A written
question had been received from Mr Welch of Shanklin (PQ 13/07) regarding the
recruitment and funding for the Head of Music Service post. The Cabinet Member advised that funding had
been maintained and recruitment would proceed now that the Options
Consultations had concluded.
A written question
had been submitted by Mrs Welch of Shanklin (PQ 14/07) regarding the
Council’s policy on severance payments.
The Cabinet member informed Council that a revised Discretionary
Provisions Policy was formulated in 2005, but the Council’s Severance Policy
(March 2007) now complemented the original policy.
An oral question
was put by Mrs Rounsevell of Newport about a further consultation period
before the decision on creating a Revoking Byelaw for Hackney Carriages was
made. The Cabinet Member advised that
the decision had been taken in August 2006 and the creation of the Revoking
Byelaw only served to ratify this decision.
An oral question
was put by Mr Blezzard of Sandown regarding recent changes to the Town and
Parish Council’s representative on the Scrutiny Committee. The Cabinet Member advised that a written
response would be provided.
An oral question
was put by Mr Horn of Newport
regarding obstructions to taxi ranks and the licensing for Tuk-Tuk’s. The Cabinet
Member advised that this would be investigated and a written response would be
provided.
An oral question
was put by Mrs Wareham of Brighstone regarding the cost of appointing a
Director for the 2011 Island Games. The
Leader advised that the appointment reflected the importance of good management
for such a large event, which could impact on future inward investment for the Island.
18.
CHAIRMAN’S REPORT
The Chairman and
the Leader informed Council of the recent trip to the Isle
of Wight County in Virginia, USA
and showed Members a number of the gifts received, including an American flag,
which would be flown at County Hall on 4 July in recognition of the Friendship
Agreement.
19.
MOTION SUBMITTED
UNDER PROCEDURE RULE 11
A motion had been submitted by Cllr Alan Wells for
discussion, concerning a change of name for the Policy Commission for the
Economy, Tourism, Regeneration and Transport.
It was proposed and seconded that the Commission’s title should be
amended to the ‘Policy Commission for Business and Infrastructure’, which would
more accurately describe the work undertaken by the Commission.
RESOLVED:
THAT the Policy Commission for the Economy, Tourism, Regeneration
and Transport be renamed the ‘Policy Commission for Business and
Infrastructure’, to more accurately reflect the work of the Commission.
20.
SUBMISSION TO THE BOUNDARY
COMMITTEE
Members had received a copy of the Council’s draft
submission to the Boundary Committee which recommended a reduction from 48
wards to 40 wards on the Island. Detailed plans of the proposed new boundaries
had been made available on the Council’s website as well as in County Hall.
It was envisaged that as a result of the enhanced role of the Island’s Town and Parish Councils, greater community
participation would inform a more streamlined Council and enable more effective
local democracy.
RESOLVED:
THAT the Council submission to the Boundary Committee be for 40
single member electoral divisions and that the proposed submission and maps, as
available at: www.iwight.com/boundaryreview,
be approved.
21.
REVOKING BYELAW FOR HACKNEY
CARRIAGES
Members were asked to consider the creation of a
revoking byelaw to include all existing byelaws which encompassed the former
boroughs and Districts of the Isle of Wight. If approved, the new byelaw would ratify the
Council’s decision to de-zone the Island’s
hackney carriage trade, taken on 19 July 2006.
Members were advised that the new byelaw would need to
be advertised in accordance with the Local Government Act 1972 and the date of
effect would be agreed by the Secretary of State for Transport.
An amendment was proposed and seconded:
THAT the decision to revoke the byelaw be deferred to
enable further consultation.
Following
a debate on the amendment and the vote, the amendment was lost.
The debate returned to the substantive motion.
Under Procedure Rule 18(5) the following four Members
stood to ask for a named vote: Cllrs Deborah Gardiner, Geoff Lumley, John
Bowker and Henry Adams.
In favour:
Cllrs Andy Sutton, Barry Abraham, Wendy Arnold, George Brown, Ivan Bulwer,
William Burt, Brian Mosdell, Erica Oulton, Lady Pigot, David Pugh, Susan Scoccia,
Melanie Swan, Dawn Cousins, Mike Cunningham, John Effemey, Alan Wells,
Colin West, David Whittaker, Julian Whittaker, David Williams, Jilly Wood,
Jonathan Fitzgerald-Bond, Diana Tuson, Ian Ward, John Hobart, Tim Hunter-Henderson,
Patrick Joyce, Margaret Webster, Heather Humby and Arthur Taylor.
Against: None.
Abstentions:
Cllrs Charles Chapman, Charlie Hancock, Muriel Miller, Ian Stephens,
Deborah Gardiner, Geoff Lumley, Henry Adams and John Bowker.
RESOLVED:
(a)
THAT Council
formally make the draft revoking byelaw in respect of hackney carriages in the Isle of Wight area.
(b)
THAT the byelaw
be advertised in accordance with section 236 of the Local Government Act 1972 and
following the period of deposit be sent to the Secretary
of State for confirmation.
(c)
THAT the byelaw
would take effect on a date agreed by the Secretary of State for Transport.
22.
TO ESTABLISH AN
APPOINTMENTS PANEL FOR THE APPOINTMENT OF CHIEF FIRE OFFICER
Following the Council’s decision on 21 March 2007 that
the Fire and Rescue Service should remain part of the Isle of Wight Council, consideration
was given to establishing an Appointments Panel of five members to appoint to
the post of Chief Fire Officer. The
Appointments Panel would be time limited and politically proportionate, with
nominations being invited from the political groups.
RESOLVED:
THAT Council establish a politically proportionate
Chief Fire Officer Appointments Panel of five members, with the actual members
to be appointed by the Interim Director of Legal and Democratic Services in
accordance with the nominations from Group Leaders.
23.
CABINET
Reports Of
The Cabinet Members and the Chairman of Scrutiny
(i)
The Leader
A written report had been
circulated for information and the Leader also informed Council that he had
attended the Annual Civic Service at St
Thomas’s Church.
He also thanked the Cabinet Members for Resources and Environment and
Transport for managing Council business whilst other Members visited Virginia, USA.
(ii)
The Deputy Leader and Cabinet
Member for Schools Leadership and Governance
A brief update was provided by the Deputy Leader.
Cllr Gardiner asked if the Cabinet Member would support the activities
of the Local Schools Partnership. The
Cabinet Member concurred.
(iii)
Cabinet Member for Health,
Wellbeing and Supporting People
A
written report had been circulated, and the Cabinet Member also informed
Members of recent discussions between the Local Government Agency and the
Department of Health about services for older people. During this debate interest had been shown in
the Island’s free homecare initiative.
Cllr
Hancock asked for reassurance that discussions about funding for social care
and health would include the third sector and further asked for the Cabinet
Member’s views on funding awards in other parts of the country. The Cabinet Member advised that the Island had submitted a bid, without success, but discussions
had since been held with Government Ministers about the current funding system.
(iv)
Chairman of Scrutiny
Council was advised that a written report had been circulated by the
Chairman prior to the Council meeting.
Members were informed that changes had been made to the political
structure of Scrutiny Committee, which had caused concern.
Cllr Stephens asked why the Chairman’s report had not been available at
the Council meeting and was advised that the content had been deemed to be in
contravention of the Local Authority Code Practice on Publicity and that the
Council would be in breach of the Code by publishing it.
Cllr Gardiner also questioned issues of legality, following which the
Chairman requested that a written response be provided to the Chairman of
Scrutiny, copied to all Members and the media, by the Interim Director of Legal
and Democratic Services.
(v)
Cabinet Member
for Customers and Parish
Empowerment
A written report had been circulated and the Cabinet Member added that
visits to Kent and Brighton
and Hove had been planned in order to share information
about Customer Record Management systems (CRMs). In addition the Cabinet Member offered to
assist any Parish or Town Councils with obtaining Quality Status.
Cllr Hancock asked the Cabinet Member for responses to questions raised
in March 2007. The Cabinet Member gave
assurances that this would be dealt with immediately.
Cllr Stephens asked for clarification of one of the performance
measurements for the Call Centre and the Cabinet Member advised that calls were
timed from inception to response.
(vi)
Cabinet Member for Economy, Tourism,
Assets and Planning
A written report had been circulated.
Cllr Hancock asked if congratulations could be passed to the Isle of
Wight Economic Partnership’s Inward Investment Team who had secured another
boat builder for the Island. The Cabinet Member was pleased to concur.
Cllr Stephens asked about the future of Ryde Town Hall
and the Cabinet Member advised that a meeting had been arranged between senior
council officers and the Ryde Town Management Committee to discuss the issues.
Cllr Miller asked the Cabinet Member to ensure that major developers do
not publicly display plans prior to consideration by the Planning
Committee. The Cabinet Member advised
that the proposed new Pre-Planning Application Process would include a meeting between
Local Members, the applicant and planning officers, at the earliest possible
stage.
(vii)
Cabinet Member for Resources
A brief oral update report was provided.
There were no questions.
(viii)
Cabinet Member for Safer
Communities and Fire Modernisation
A written report had been circulated.
Cllr Miller asked how the Cabinet Member
envisaged enforcing the forthcoming smoking ban in public service
vehicles. The Cabinet Member advised he
would investigate and provide a written response.
Cllr Williams asked for clarification of the
result of the recent Fire Service Performance Assessment. The Cabinet Member advised that an appeal had
been lodged against the results of the inspection and the appeal decision was
imminent.
Cllr Sutton asked if the Cabinet Member
would agreed that congratulations were due to the Fire and Rescue Service staff
and that a letter of thanks should be forwarded to Fire Service staff and the
Fire Brigade Union about the results of the Direction of Travel appeal.
(ix)
Cabinet Member for Environment
and Transport
A written report had been
circulated.
Cllr Sutton asked if the Cabinet
Member was aware of the Biomass crops being grown in the West Wight and the
Cabinet Member advised that he would investigate further.
Cllr Hancock asked when the final
traffic plan for the Isle of Wight Festival would be available and also if
further thought had been given to the markings on the dual carriageway. The Cabinet Member informed Council that he
would investigate and provide a written response. Members were also advised that a complete
transport infrastructure plan for Newport
was currently under consideration.
Cllr Effemey asked if the number
of road accidents on the island had been affected by road surface materials
used in the past. The Cabinet Member
asked Cllr Effemey to put his question in writing and a written response would
be provided.
Cllr Burt asked about the current
availability of compost bins and the Cabinet Member requested that Cllr Burt
put his question in writing and a written response would be provided.
Cllr Cunningham asked if the
Cabinet Member was aware that Newport Town Management Committee was available
for discussions regarding a transport infrastructure plan for Newport.
The Cabinet Member advised that a meeting had been arranged.
Cllr Whittaker asked if the
Cabinet Member would meet with residents to discuss the possibility of a
one-way traffic system for Newport. The Cabinet Member advised that he would
discuss the matter with officers and provide a written response.
(x)
Cabinet Member for Children’s
Services
A written report had been
circulated.
Cllr Miller asked for a review of
Looked After Children regarding school exclusion and
changing schools. The Cabinet Member
agreed to investigate and report back to Council.
Cllr Gardiner asked how many
children were currently in the Council’s care, what the trend indicated and
what was being done to address the issue.
The Cabinet Member advised that a review was currently being undertaken
and an update would be provided for Council.
Cllr Hancock asked for
confirmation of the number of children under corporate care and reassurance
that children were taken into care as a last resort. The Cabinet Member agreed that this was a
vital responsibility and everything possible would be done to improve the
situation.
(xi)
Cabinet Member for Regeneration,
Leisure and Communications
A
written question had been received from Cllr Humby (MQ 02/07)about the possibility of using an Isle
of Wight flag at the Island Games in 2011. The Cabinet Member agreed to discuss this
further with Cllr Humby.
A
written report had been circulated.
Cllr Hancock asked if a
meeting could be arranged to include the Cabinet Member, the Interim Director
of Regeneration and Local Members to discuss the East
Cowes regeneration project.
The Cabinet Member agreed to arrange a meeting.
CHAIRMAN
