To: ALL MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL

You are hereby summoned to attend a MEETING of the COUNCIL to be held on WEDNESDAY, 18 JANUARY 2006 in the COUNCIL CHAMBER, COUNTY HALL, NEWPORT, ISLE OF WIGHT commencing at 6.00 pm for the transaction of the business set out in the agenda below.

The business to be conducted (at agenda item 8) is likely to lead to an amendment that includes a proposal to disapply the requirement for political proportionality in appointing committees (contained within Section 17 of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989). Any such proposal can only be passed if no member votes against it.

AGENDA

PRAYERS

1. To approve as a correct record and to sign the Minutes of the meeting of the Council held on 23 November 2005.

2. To receive any declarations of interest.

3. To deal with any questions from members of the public.

Questions may be asked without notice but to guarantee a full reply at the meeting, the question must be delivered in writing or by electronic mail to Committee Services no later than 5.00 pm on Monday, 16 January 2006.

4. Chairman’s report, official announcements, communications and correspondence for the Council.

5. BUSINESS DEFERRED FROM THE EXTRAORDINARY MEETING DUE TO BE HELD ON 9 JANUARY 2006

Motion submitted by Cllrs Geoff Lumley, David Knowles, Ian Stephens, Deborah Gardiner, Muriel Miller and Henry Adams:

“This Council believes that decisions about the future provision and leadership of services should always be made in an open, transparent and accountable manner. Without such decision-making the public who we are elected to serve will have good reason to have little confidence in their Council.

We note with concern that this has not been the case with regard to the contracting with Mouchel Parkman/Outcomes UK to provide leadership of the Children’s Services Directorate from 1 January 2006.”

6. MOTION SUBMITTED UNDER PROCEDURE RULE 11:

By Cllrs George Brown and Roger Mazillius

“That Full Council congratulates Cllr Alan Wells on the decision of an Appeals Tribunal hearing by the Adjudication Panel for England on 6th January 2006, which dismissed the finding of the local Standards Committee in September 2005, that had found him guilty of breaching paragraph 4 of the Code of Conduct, as a member of Cowes Town Council.

Further to the Ethical Audit report from the Standards Committee presented to Full Council in November 2005, this meeting believes that the outcome of the most recent hearing is to be welcomed as it reflects the high standards expected of all elected members of the Isle of Wight Council.

This meeting believes that the commitment to "challenging and supporting town and parish councils - and to driving up good governance standards including ethics and probity", as resolved at the November 2005 meeting, can be best fulfilled by the Standards Committee ensuring their meetings are conducted in line with all the necessary procedures and protocols, thus giving the appropriate reassurances to all those involved.

This Council would welcome the Standard Committee's consideration of any issues arising out of the September hearing, including those raised by participants, to ensure best practice and full confidence in any future hearings conducted by the Committee.”

7. NEW STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT ARRANGEMENTS

Following the retirement of the Council’s Chief Executive, Mike Fisher, the Council is invited to consider the following:

i. That John Lawson (currently an Assistant Chief Executive) be appointed as interim Chief Executive and Head of Paid Service for a period of 6 months, or until a permanent Chief Executive is recruited and appointed by Council.

ii. That John Metcalfe (currently Associate Director of Cultural and Leisure Services) be appointed as interim Assistant Chief Executive whilst John Lawson is interim Chief Executive.

8. RECOMMENDATION FROM THE SCRUTINY COMMITTEE

To consider the recommendation made by the Scrutiny Committee at the meeting held on 22 December 2005:

“THAT the scheme made under Section 115 of the Local Government Act 2000 be amended to enable the Town and Parish Council representative the same voting rights as the other two co-opted Members.”

9. CABINET :

(a) To consider the following matter as recommended by the Cabinet at its meeting on 21 December 2005:

“Full Council notes with concern the performance reported in the Annual Performance Assessment for Children’s Services for 2005 over the past year and resolves to develop new delivery structures and plans which;

i. Recognises the distinct but inter-dependent range of services within Children’s Services;

ii. Prioritise improvements in school attainment;

iii. Maintains progress in outcomes for all users of Children Services;

iv. Where necessary to create capacity and to allow effective and efficient use of resources, to renegotiate timescales for delivery of structural change in Children’s Services.”

Members will be aware that a report was submitted to Cabinet on 21 December 2005 and is available on the website: http://www.iwight.com/council/committees/cabinet/21-12-05/Paper%20B.pdf.

In addition, a copy of the Annual Performance Assessment for Children’s Services can be accessed from a link within the Cabinet report.

(b) Cabinet Members to give an update on major issues and to answer written and oral questions on budget or policy :

(i) The Leader (Cllr Andy Sutton)

(ii) Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Children (Cllr Pat Joyce)

(iii) Cabinet Member for Care, Health and Housing (Cllr Dawn Cousins)

(iv) Cabinet Member for Resources, Audit, an Efficient Council and Customer Champion (Cllr Jilly Wood)

(v) Cabinet Member for Safer Communities (Cllr Barry Abraham)

(vi) Cabinet Member for Environment, Transport and Planning (Cllr Ian Ward)

(vii) Cabinet Member for the Island Economy, Regeneration, Tourism and Leisure (Cllr Tim Hunter-Henderson)

To guarantee a full reply Members must submit a question in writing or by electronic mail to Committee Services no later than 5.00 pm on Tuesday, 17 January 2006. A further period of 10 Minutes will be allowed for oral questions to each Cabinet Member.

10. QUESTION TO THE POLICE AUTHORITY MEMBER

A written question under Procedure Rule 10.9 has been submitted by Cllr David Williams:

“Please could the Police Authority Member update the Council on the proposed changes to the Police Authority arrangements?"

JOHN LAWSON

Assistant Chief Executive