MINUTES OF A MEETING OF THE COUNCIL HELD AT COUNTY HALL, NEWPORT, ISLE OF WIGHT ON WEDNESDAY, 19 APRIL 2006 COMMENCING AT 6.00 PM
Present :
Cllrs John Effemey (Chairman), Barry Abraham, Henry
Adams, Wendy Arnold, Anne Bishop, John Bowker, George Brown, Ivan Bulwer,
William Burt, George Cameron, Charles Chapman, Vanessa Churchman, Dawn
Cousins, Mike Cunningham, Jonathan Fitzgerald-Bond, Barbara Foster,
Deborah Gardiner, Charles Hancock, John Hobart, Tim Hunter-Henderson, Patrick Joyce, Gill Kennett, David Knowles,
Geoff Lumley, Roger Mazillius, Win McRobert, Muriel Miller, Brian Mosdell,
Erica Oulton, Lora Peacey-Wilcox, Lady Pigot, David Pugh, Susan Scoccia, Ian
Stephens, Andy Sutton, Melanie Swan, Arthur Taylor, Diana Tuson, Ian Ward,
Margaret Webster, Alan Wells, Colin West, David Whittaker,
Julian Whittaker, David Williams Jilly Wood
Apologies :
Heather Humby, Garry Price
79.
MINUTES
RESOLVED :
THAT subject to the addition of Councillor
Fitzgerald-Bond in minute 78(b)(i), the Minutes of the meeting held on 15 March 2006 be confirmed.
80.
DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
Councillor Erica
Oulton declared a personal interest in agenda item 7, Paper D, as it referred
to Isle of Wight produced foods.
81.
PUBLIC QUESTION TIME
Questions
were put to the Chairman as follows :
Mr Reg Barry of
Seaview regarding the 106 Agreement for the proposed Tesco’s development in
Ryde. The Cabinet Member for
Environment, Transport and Planning provided a response. (PQ 08/06)
Mr Philip Cave
of Carisbrooke regarding the Council’s response to the new laws about litter on
the streets. The Local Member,
Councillor David Whittaker, represented Mr Cave in his absence. The Cabinet Member for Safer Communities
provided a response. (PQ 09/06)
Mr Bob Blezzard
of Sandown asked a question about the recent increase in coach parking charges
and the Cabinet Member for Economy, Regeneration, Tourism and Leisure provided
a response.
Mrs Mary Craven
from Fairlee asked a question regarding the licensing for the Island’s Rock
Festival in June 2006 and the Cabinet Secretary, Councillor David Pugh,
provided a response.
Mr Page from
Newport asked a question about coaches and other vehicles causing damage to our
roads and the Leader provided a response.
82.
CHAIRMAN’S REPORT
The Chairman
provided a report on the previous month’s activities, which included the
International Lion’s Banquet, a visit to the Smallbrook Stadium and the Under
12’s Football Tournament.
Members were
invited to join the Chairman for the Welcome event for visitors from Virginia,
USA on 26 April 2006.
Council was advised
that the Chairman’s Charity Launch at the Royal Yacht Squadron had raised just
under £3,000 for the Earl Mountbatten Hospice.
A total of 54
letters had been received from pupils of Trinity Church of England school
following their visit to County Hall on 17 March 2006.
The Chairman drew
Members’ attention to a written report which had been circulated by the Chairman
of the Scrutiny Committee, which detailed the proposed future work programme
for the Committee.
83.
APPOINTMENT OF CHIEF
EXECUTIVE
The Leader introduced the report, which detailed the
rigorous selection process for the appointment of the Chief Executive. The Members’ Panel had recommended that Mr J
Duckworth, currently of Westminster City Council, be appointed.
The recommendation was seconded by Councillor Deborah
Gardiner, who informed Council that Mr Duckworth had been an outstanding
candidate in a strong field of shortlisted applicants.
Members commented on the high salary being offered and
asked that in future all Members could be invited to meet with prospective
candidates for positions of a similar level.
RESOLVED:
THAT Mr J Duckworth be appointed as Chief Executive of the Isle of Wight Council.
84.
ESTABLISHMENT OF A
PARISH COUNCIL FOR CARISBROOKE
The Local Member, Councillor Barbara Foster,
introduced the report and paid tribute to the Electoral Services Officer and
supporting staff for their support and hard work. Council was asked to support the petition.
Councillor Muriel Miller seconded the proposal, adding
that in her opinion Carisbrooke should stand alone and not include the Newport
area.
An amendment was put forward by Councillor David Whittaker, proposing that the newly established Parish Council should also include eight other wards in the Newport area, which was seconded by Councillor Geoff Lumley.
Following
a vote the amended motion was carried.
The
Acting Chief Executive read out the amended substantive motion and following a
vote, it was
RESOLVED:
THAT whilst this Council
acknowledges the petition for the creation of a “Carisbrooke Parish Council”,
and recognises the efforts of the local member in raising the petition, the
Council is also aware that within the next few days a petition will be
submitted which seeks to collectively emparish the eight Isle of Wight Council
electoral wards within the Newport area, including that of Carisbrooke, but excluding
those areas that already form part of established Parish Councils.
This Council is wholly
supportive of the emparishment of the Isle of Wight, but recognises the
advantages to be gained by having a larger Parish Council for the Newport area,
and therefore regrets that, on this occasion, it cannot support the
emparishment of smaller fragmented areas, including the area contained within
the Carisbrooke petition.
85.
AGENDA 21 – THE
ISLAND’S STRATEGY FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT: AN UPDATE
The Cabinet Member for the Environment, Transport and
Planning introduced the report and advised Members that substantial changes in
policy had taken place. Council was
asked to support a reduction in ‘food miles’, the use of alternative fuels and
the establishment of an alternative energy centre. It was further proposed that the standard of energy conservation
on buildings should be raised and the Council’s energy consumption reduced.
The options presented in the report were seconded by
Councillor Mike Cunningham, who called for raised awareness of these issues
across the Island.
RESOLVED:
THAT the report be noted and a further update be
presented to Full Council in 12 month’s time.
86.
AIM HIGH CORPORATE
PLAN
The Leader introduced the report, explaining to Council that adoption of the Aim High Corporate Plan would underpin the Corporate Objectives and enable delivery of real outcomes for Island communities. The motion was seconded by Councillor David Whittaker.
Council heard from a number of Members with concerns about
the Council’s staff and the potential impact on the Island economy.
RESOLVED:
THAT Council adopt the Aim High Corporate Plan 2006-09
as the strategic framework governing the delivery of its services and the
provision of outcomes for he community.
87.
CABINET
(a)
Recommendations From The
Cabinet
A recommendation had been received from the Cabinet Member for Economy,
Regeneration, Tourism and Leisure regarding the adoption of the Adult and
Community Learning Plan.
Congratulations were offered to the Adult Learning Plan Manager and her
Team for their work on service improvements, which were focussed around the Aim
High Corporate Objectives.
The recommendation was seconded by Councillor David Whittaker.
RESOLVED:
THAT the Isle of Wight Adult and Community
Learning Plan for 2006-07 be approved.
(b)
Reports Of The Cabinet
Members
(i)
The Leader
The Leader presented his written
report, which provided an update on the Policy Commissions Workplans, recent visits
with staff, the Corporate Assessment/Joint Area Review, the appointment of the
Chief Executive and issues surrounding tourism on the Island.
In addition, the Leader praised
Brading Town Council on their achievements in delivering services to their community.
The Leader answered several
questions regarding his recently reported comments about coach holidays and
their contribution to the Island’s economy, advising Members that his comments
had been taken out of context.
(ii)
The Deputy Leader
The Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Children and School Results
advised Council that there were no updates on major issues. However, a Government announcement had been
received regarding the strategic role of the authority, which would result in
better direct support for, and collaboration between, the Island’s
schools.
The Cabinet Member answered a question regarding the provision of a
written statement for Members concerning actions being taken to improve
standards of education on the Island.
(iii)
Cabinet Member for Safer Communities
The Cabinet Member had provided a written
report for Council which included an update on the LGA Annual Fire Conference,
the recent Fire and Rescue Service Peer Review, the Council’s response to the
new litter laws, the Young People’s Strategy, the Coroner’s Service and
improvements in the Licensing regime.
The Cabinet Member received questions on the
increase in the licence for street furniture and contingency plans for Church
Litten if it needed to be closed. The
Cabinet Member would provide a written response for both questions.
(iv)
Cabinet
Member for Environment,
Transport and Planning
The Cabinet Member had provided a written
report and advised Council that the Island’s PFI bid could be widened to
include other services. A meeting had
also been held with representatives from Arriva, who might be interested in the
Island’s rail franchise.
The Cabinet Member answered questions
regarding contingency plans in the event of a failed PFI bid; problems of
traffic congestion currently being experienced on the main road between
Northwood and St Mary’s Hospital roundabout; and the planning policy of
ring-fencing hotel accommodation.
(v)
Cabinet Member for Economy, Regeneration, Tourism and Leisure
The Cabinet Member
had provided a written report, which included an update on Tourism and Leisure
advertising, exhibitions and press releases.
The Cabinet Member
was asked what policies were in place to protect sub post offices on the Island
and offered to provide a written response.
(vi)
Cabinet Member for Care, Health and Housing
The Cabinet Member updated Council on a
recent press release highlighting the record results in providing for
homelessness, secured funding for affordable housing and the Pan Project, which
was due to start in 2009.
In addition, Members were advised that
following a Strategic Housing Partnership meeting, it was proposed that a Young
Persons Housing Forum would be established.
Details of an Action Plan to move this forward would be circulated to
Members in due course.
The Cabinet Member highlighted that because
of the new Licensing Act, she had been unable to speak in her capacity as the
Local Member during the recent Licensing meeting for the Island’s Rock
Festival. However, a meeting had been
held with the Festival Organiser to discuss the issues impacting on the Fairlee
Ward.
The Cabinet Member answered a question
regarding the availability and extent of affordable housing at Pan.
(vii)
Cabinet Member for
Resources,
Auditing and Council Efficiency; Customer Champion
The Cabinet Member had provided a written report, which included an
update on the new CorVu performance management and the recent difficulties
within the Call Centre.
Other issues raised were Council Tax collections, which exceeded 98%
last year and the proposal for the provision of a new-build archive and record
storage facility on the Island.
The Chairman of the
Scrutiny Committee
At the Chairman’s invitation the Chairman of the Scrutiny Committee
addressed the Council, confirming that a regular report would be provided at
future Council meetings, supported by a verbal update and the opportunity for
Members to ask questions.
On behalf of the Council, the Chairman wished Councillor Lumley every
success with his first meeting of the Scrutiny Committee on 20 April 2006.
CHAIRMAN