PAPER D
MINUTES OF A MEETING OF THE EXECUTIVE HELD AT COUNTY HALL, NEWPORT, ISLE OF WIGHT ON TUESDAY, 15 JANUARY 2002 COMMENCING AT 9.30 AM
Present :
Mr P G Harris (Chairman), Mr R R Barry, Mr J A Bowker, Mr E Fox, Mrs M A Jarman, Mrs B Lawson, Mr H Rees
Apologies :
Mr M O Morgan Huws, Mrs S A Smart , Mrs J White
Also present non-voting :
Mr J H Fleming, Mr P D Joyce, Mr R G Mazillius, Mrs M J Miller, Mr R A Sutton, Mr A A Taylor, Mr A F Tiltman
114. ELECTION OF CHAIRMAN FOR THE DAY
Due to the absence of the Chairman, it was necessary to elect a Chairman for the day.
RESOLVED :
THAT Mr P G Harris be elected Chairman for the day.
115. MINUTES
RESOLVED :
THAT the Minutes of the meeting of the Executive held on 18 December 2001 be confirmed.
116. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
There were no declarations received at this stage.
117. URGENT BUSINESS - SENIOR MANAGEMENT STRUCTURE
The Chairman agreed to an urgent item of business as a decision was required prior to the next meeting. A report for the establishment of a second tier post of Head of Select Committee Support was circulated to members. The Liaison Committee believed that insufficient emphasis in the new management structure had been placed on the support to the democratic process and, in particular, the support to Select Committees. The creation of an additional post was considered, with a remit to provide dedicated support and advice to Members of the Council’s Select Committees including overview responsibility for the Council’s Best Value process . The postholder would report directly to the Head of Paid Service. The Executive supported the concept of an additional post but considered the details needed to be looked at in depth including the remit for the Council’s Best Value process.
RESOLVED :
THAT the report be referred to the Resources Select Committee and the decision to establish a new role and remit be deferred to a subsequent meeting of the Executive after considering the views of the Resources Select Committee.
118. PORTFOLIO HOLDER FOR RESOURCES
a. Land at Heathfield Road, Freshwater
The Portfolio Holder informed members that residential planning consent had been granted for land at Heathfield Road, Freshwater. The site was jointly owned by Kenwood Turned Products (KTP) and the Council. Members’ approval was sought to declare the Council’s land surplus, and in conjunction with KTP, to offer the land on the open market for sale by auction or private treaty. The planning consent was conditional in that the capital receipt generated through the sale of the land should be reinvested into new buildings and infrastructure at the factory, owned by KTP. Members supported this concept being incorporated into any contract for sale. The District Valuer had provided a valuation report and had advised upon the Council’s proportion of future capital generated. The local member addressed the Executive.
RESOLVED :
i. THAT the District Valuer’s Valuation and advice be concurred with.
ii. THAT the Council’s land be declared surplus.
iii. THAT in conjunction with Kenwood Turned Products the property be offered for sale in the open market by tender or auction.
iv. THAT the Portfolio Holder and the Property Services Manager be authorised to accept the most financially favourable offer.
b. Disposal of Surplus Properties (Land At Dodnor Lane Newport, Park Lodge Ventnor, 2 Grove Road Sandown)
The Strategic Director of Corporate and Environment Services advised members further consultation was required and it was therefore necessary to withdraw the report and resubmit it at a later stage.
RESOLVED :
THAT the report be withdrawn.
c. Proposed New Hovertravel Terminal - Ryde Esplanade
The Portfolio Holder indicated that further negotiations were required and therefore it was necessary to defer the item for the time being.
RESOLVED :
THAT the report be deferred.
d. Council Tax Base 2002/3
Members were advised that it was necessary to set the Council Tax base for the 2002/03 financial year . This would form the basis of calculating individual Council Tax requirements for the next financial year. It was a statutory requirement to set the Tax Base by no later than 31 January 2002 and that the Police Authority be notified of it by that date.
RESOLVED TO RECOMMEND TO COUNCIL :
i. THAT the report for the calculation of the Council’s Tax Base, for the whole and parts of the area, be approved.
ii. THAT the amounts of the Tax Base for the financial year 2002/03 be as detailed in Appendix B as attached to the report.
119. DRAFT SOCIAL INCLUSION STRATEGY 2001-2005
The Portfolio Holder reminded members of the importance of having a Social Inclusion Strategy and the willingness of outside agencies to be become involved and make a commitment to it. The draft Strategy had been supported by the Education, Community Development and Lifelong Learning Select Committee at its meeting on 10 December 2001.
RESOLVED TO RECOMMEND TO COUNCIL :
THAT the Social Inclusion Strategy 2001-2005 be adopted by the Council and that the Leader of the Council be authorised to endorse the Strategy on behalf of the Council.
120. PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT POLICY FOR CENTRALLY EMPLOYED TEACHERS
Members were advised that Local Education Authorities were required to have arrangements in place which ensured that the performance of all centrally employed teachers were reviewed annually. Schools were already required to have such arrangements which ensured that the performance of teachers, which they employed under Local Management of Schools, were reviewed each year.
RESOLVED :
THAT the Performance Management Policy For Centrally Employed Teachers be approved.
CHAIRMAN
MINUTES OF A MEETING OF THE EXECUTIVE HELD AT COUNTY HALL, NEWPORT, ISLE OF WIGHT ON TUESDAY, 22 JANUARY 2002 COMMENCING AT 9.30 AM
Present :
Mrs S A Smart (Chairman), Mr R R Barry, Mr J A Bowker, Mr E Fox, Mr P G Harris, Mrs M A Jarman, Mr H Rees
Apologies :
Mrs B Lawson, Mrs J White
Also present non-voting :
Mr M J Cunningham, Miss H L Humby, Mr P D Joyce, Mr R G Mazillius, Mr V J Morey, Mr I R Stephens, Mr R A Sutton, Mr A A Taylor, Mr D G Williams
121. MINUTES
RESOLVED :
THAT the Minutes of the meeting of the Executive held on 15 January 2002 be confirmed.
122. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
There were no declarations declared at this stage.
123. PORTFOLIO HOLDER FOR RESOURCES
a. Results of Council Budget Consultation 2001
Members received a presentation on the results of the budget consultation process. Members of the public had been consulted on the council’s spending properties for the 2002/3 budget with the aim of raising awareness of the budget process and the difficult choices that would need to be made. The same questions had been used for the Council’s budget consultation as before in order to track and compare the results with those of the previous year. The budget consultation process had consisted of analysing the completed questionnaires from the Island Futures roadshows and Wight Insight together with those from the citizen’s panel. Members expressed disappointment with the low number of questionnaires returned. Members indicated that the reasoning behind the budget decisions would need to be communicated to residents of the Island as soon as practically possible. The importance of looking at the following year in the near future was noted. The Leader expressed thanks to all members of staff involved.
RESOLVED :
THAT the report be noted.
b. Budget for 2002/3 and Forward Plan 2003/5
Members received a presentation on the impact of the proposed grant settlement on the Council’s budget for 2002/3. Members were informed that the increase in the Council’s SSA was 6.5% in total cash terms which amounted to £1.3 million more than the budget for 2001/2. There was no recognition of the costs involved of being an island in the settlement although the Council continued to benefit from the Area Cost Adjustment. The Government still reserved the right to cap increases where it decided excessive increases had been made. Members were aware of the issues that faced Social Services in that if these needs were met in full this would add an increase to the Council Tax of 13.25%. The Strategic Director for Finance and Information outlined the Directors proposals which aimed to keep spending on education at SSA levels, meet extra waste management costs (£1.1million) to produce savings to meet pressures including those of Social Services. The uncertainties of the final RSG settlement were noted as this figure would not be known until the end of January together with the uncertainties in relation to revaluation of the Pension Fund and inflation. Members were advised of the timetable for the budget process and the setting of Council Tax.
RESOLVED :
i. THAT the education element of the Education and Community Development Services’ budget should increase in line with the Education component of SSA
ii. THAT the broad allocation of resources as set out in Appendix 2 attached to the report be approved for consulting Select Committees, subject to Members’ views on the total amount of Social Services spending
iii. THAT the individual Select Committees be asked to consider the proposals for revenue and capital as they effect their services at meetings in late January and early February
124. MEMBERS’ QUESTION TIME
Questions were put to the Chairman as follows :
Mrs H Humby with regard to pollarding trees in Sandown. (MQ01/02)
Copies of the questions and replies given are contained in the Members' Question Register.
Mr R A Sutton raised a question in relation to the issue of Hackney Carriage Licenses. Officers agreed to look into the matter.
CHAIRMAN
MINUTES OF A MEETING OF THE EXECUTIVE HELD AT COUNTY HALL, NEWPORT, ISLE OF WIGHT ON TUESDAY, 29 JANUARY 2002 COMMENCING AT 9.30 AM
Present :
Mr P G Harris (Chairman), Mr R R Barry, Mr J A Bowker, Mr E Fox, Mrs M A Jarman, Mr H Rees
Apologies :
Mrs S A Smart, Mrs B Lawson, Mrs J White
Also present non-voting :
Mr A C Bartlett, Mr M J Cunningham, Mr J H Fleming, Mr R G Mazillius, Mr A J Mundy, Mr I R Stephens, Mr R A Sutton, Mr A A Taylor, Mr D G Williams
125. ELECTION OF CHAIRMAN FOR THE DAY
Due to the absence of the Chairman, it was necessary to elect a Chairman for the day.
RESOLVED :
THAT Mr P G Harris be elected Chairman for the day.
126. MINUTES
RESOLVED :
THAT the Minutes of the meeting of the Executive held on 22 January 2002 be confirmed.
127. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
There were no declarations received at this stage.
128. URGENT BUSINESS - HACKNEY CARRIAGES: DEFINITION OF A SUITABLY ADAPTED VEHICLE FOR DISABLED USE
The Chairman agreed to consideration of an item of urgent business as a decision was required prior to the next meeting. A question was raised at the last meeting of the Executive in relation to the definition of a Suitably Adapted Vehicle for disabled use. The Executive resolved on 18 December 2001 that the aim of the Council would be that within 7 years all the taxis licensed on the Isle of Wight would be Wheelchair Accessible Vehicles and that any new or replacement vehicle would also be a Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle. Members had now expressed concern that the wording of the resolution was not what they had intended.
RESOLVED :
THAT the Portfolio Holder for Transport be given delegated authority, in consultation with the Strategic Director for Finance and Information, to agree a new definition for a ‘Suitably Adapted Vehicle for Disabled Use’ and to determine, in consultation with the trade, the implementation of this new definition.
129. THE ANNUAL AUDIT LETTER
The District Auditor presented his annual audit letter to the Council which summarised the results of the audit for 2000/2001 and which also made a number of recommendations. He informed Members of the importance of continuous service improvement through Best Value and Public Service Agreements. He also explained the concept of Comprehensive Performance Assessment as set out in the recent White Paper and the way in which the council would be assessed and judged in the future. Members noted that the audit letter pre-dated the management re-structuring which took place in the summer of 2001.
The District Auditor outlined his key messages. These included the need for a more strategic approach and focus on what mattered, the further development of a performance management framework, the scrutiny of service plans and performance data and the need to adopt a medium term financial strategy. The need to have clear plans along with scrutiny and review processes were stressed. Factors that would be critical to the Council’s success included the requirement for effective Best Value Reviews with the emphasis placed on challenge and the need to learn corporate lessons from completed inspections. The importance of the recent Government White Paper were highlighted.
Members agreed that performance management needed to become an even greater part of the Council’s culture and noted the importance of community plans and local strategic partnerships.
RESOLVED :
THAT the District Auditor be thanked for his report and the report be noted.
130. THE LEADER OF THE COUNCIL
a. Government White Paper, Strong Local Leadership - Quality Public Services
The Strategic Director of Corporate and Environment Services presented his report outlining the main recommendations of the recent government White Paper. The Paper outlined clear priorities and performance standard for local authorities to achieve. Members were advised that the first comprehensive performance assessment of the whole authority was aimed to be competed in the autumn this year and discussions were taking place with the District Auditor regarding what the assessment would entail.
RESOLVED :
THAT the report be noted.
b. Fishbourne Quay Development Brief
Members were advised that Fishbourne Quay was currently used as a boat building yard. The owners of the boatyard wished to invest and improve their facilities to secure future orders for work and proposed some residential development on the site to raise the capital needed. The site however was for employment purposes and council policy as set out in the UDP was for such areas to be retained and protected. The Council had received a modified planning application and members were informed that approval of this application would not prejudice that objective. Consideration was given to a draft development brief which had been prepared as a way forward for the entire site and it was hoped that it could form the basis of future development proposals for the site if adopted as Supplementary Planning Guidance. In order for that to happen a public consultation exercise was required.
RESOLVED :
i. THAT the draft development brief as attached to the report, be agreed as a basis for public consultation with land owners, neighbours and other interested parties.
ii. THAT the results of consultation be reported back to the Executive in due course.
131. PROPOSED HEALTH CENTRE, COWES HIGH SCHOOL, CROSSFIELD AVENUE, COWES
Consideration was given to the result of discussions with the proposed developer for a new Health Centre on land fronting Crossfield Avenue, Cowes. The site was currently owned by the Council as part of Cowes High School. The aim was to provide a new Doctors Surgery/Health Centre which would be leased to the Doctors to replace the present Cowes Health Centre at Consort Road. Consent needed to be obtained from the Secretary of State for Education. Members were informed that Cowes High School lacked proper arrangements for hard play areas, vehicular access and safe school bus parking and it was proposed the purchaser of the land would address this by creating two new replacement parking areas, a new pedestrian entrance, and a new school bus parking layby. Estimates to the cost of these works were currently put at in excess of £200,000, if undertaken by the Council. Members were advised that the purchaser was a special purchaser and the value of the land to him was between £100,000 to £110,000.
RESOLVED :
THAT the Council grant Charles Higgins Limited a Conditional Contract to acquire some 3,793 square metres of land from the Council at Cowes High School, Crossfield Avenue, Cowes on the terms and conditions set out in this report.
132. LAND ADJACENT AVENUES DAY CENTRE, FRESHWATER
Members were advised that there had long been a need for accommodation in the West Wight for move-on accommodation for people recovering from low level mental health problems. This had also been recognised in the Council’s housing strategy. South Wight Housing Association were seeking to provide some the properties in response to these needs and strategies. The land adjacent the Avenues Day Centre at Freshwater, was in Council ownership and was currently unused. As the proposed site would be close to the Avenues Day Centre, staff from the Centre would be able to provide support as part of their normal function. The scheme would enable people to move on from other housing stock. The total scheme cost was estimated at £205,000, and the Association had £187,000 capital funding from the Housing Corporation for 2001/02, subject to the building works starting by the end of February 2002. A transfer of land at a nominal sum would also help improve the Council’s Housing rating with DTLR/GOSE and thereby increase the chance of future allocations. Members were advised that as the use of the site would be restricted to supported move-on accommodation or social housing to let, the site had no open market value.
RESOLVED :
THAT approximately 170 square metres of land adjacent Avenue Day Centre, Freshwater be declared as surplus to requirements and subject to planning permission being granted and implementation of the sheltered housing development, the land would be transferred to South Wight Housing Association at a nominal £1 (One Pound) to be used for supported move-on accommodation or social housing to let with appropriate restrictive covenants being imposed to restrict usage to this purpose.
CHAIRMAN