Agenda, decisions and minutes

To confirm as a true record the Minutes of the meeting held on 14 September 2023.

RESOLVED:

THAT the minutes of the meeting held on 14 September 2023 be approved.

RESOLVED:

THAT the minutes of the meeting held on 14 September 2023 be approved.

To invite Members to declare any interest they might have in the matters on the agenda.

There were no declarations of interest.

Questions may be asked without notice but to guarantee a full reply at the meeting, a question must be put including the name and address of the questioner by delivery in writing or by electronic mail to Democratic Services at democratic.services@iow.gov.uk, no later than two clear working days before the start of the meeting. The deadline for written questions will be Monday 9 October 2023.

A written question was received from Simon Richards (PQ 39-23) in relation to the matter of surplus school places in the Island’s primary schools. The question and the Cabinet Member’s written response were read out by the Leader.

The Chairman reported that he had met with group leaders to investigate a proposal for cross-chamber working. Support to the Cabinet was sought from the other groups for the areas of Housing, Adult Social Care, Children’s Services and the Budget/Finance. The proposal had been well received by those present and the new Conservative group leader would discuss them with the group. The Chairman indicated that he would move forward with the proposal and hoped that the Conservative group would join in due course.

That Cabinet notes the Housing Strategy 2020-2025 Action Plan Progress Report 2023 contained at Appendix 1 to this report.

The Cabinet Member gave an update on progress to date and highlighted the six strategic priorities. Affordable housing had been the focus and had proved challenging in the current economic climate. Although the target number of units had been achieved, the number on the housing register had still increased and cross-chamber assistance to address the issue would be welcomed. Going forward, the aim would be to increase the percentage of completed homes that were affordable and assist the most vulnerable out of bed and breakfast and temporary accommodation.

RESOLVED:

That Cabinet notes the Housing Strategy 2020-2025 Action Plan Progress Report 2023 contained at Appendix 1 to the report.

To invite Cabinet Members to provide a brief update on matters concerning their portfolio.

The Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and Public Health reported that as part of her new portfolio she had met with the ASC and PH teams and would bring some of her experience from her previous Children’s Services portfolio to her new role. She was committed to helping the teams find short and long-term solutions to current issues being faced.

The Gouldings care home had been refurbished for 26 residents and should re-open at the beginning of November.

The Cabinet Member for Planning and Enforcement reported that there was a lot of coastal protection work currently underway. He had attended a meeting of the Solent Forum where water quality was one of the issues discussed.

The Cabinet Member for Regulatory Services, Community Protection and ICT reported that she had attended a meeting with the Fire Authority, an information session for members regarding scams which members could pass on to their residents, and a night out with the police rapid response team. She was also working with stakeholders on a reset of the Community Safety Partnership, and was working with the police to investigate the reintroduction of manned CCTV on the Island.

The Cabinet Member for Children’s Services and Corporate Functions reported that he was familiarising himself with his new portfolio. Meetings were being set up as of the following week and it was hoped to engage with stakeholders across the education spectrum as the issue of surplus school places was high on the list of cabinet priorities.

The Cabinet Member for Housing and Finance reported that he was looking forward to cross-chamber working and using the skills of councillors from other parties to address the challenges being faced. He would report on achievements as they were completed.

The Leader and Cabinet Member for Transport and Infrastructure, Highways PFI and Transport Strategy, Strategic oversight and External Partnerships reported that the visit to the Islands Forum by the Chief Executive and Cabinet Member for Children’s Services and Corporate Functions had been virtual, as due to cancellation of flights as a result of bad weather.  Connectivity was one of the matters discussed.

The message was still being put across to the government regarding fair funding for the Island and evidence of the Island’s case for an Island deal was continuing to be submitted.

Cabinet Members to identify decisions which need to be amended, added or to be removed from the Forward Plan.

The items on the Forward Plan were noted.

To guarantee a reply to a question, a question  must be submitted in writing or by electronic mail to democratic.services@iow.gov.uk no later than 5pm on Tuesday 10 October 2023. A question may be asked at the meeting without prior notice but in these circumstances there is no guarantee that a full reply will be given at the meeting.

Councillor Jarman referred to a response that had been received by Cllr Spink to an earlier question at Corporate Scrutiny regarding

how the proposed Housing Affordability SPD would deliver housing affordable to residents on or below the average island wage. The response to Cllr Spink had been that the Housing Affordability SPD would not achieve that result.

Cllr Jarman therefore asked how the administration proposed to ensure the delivery of homes that islanders on an average wage or below can afford?

The Cabinet Member for Housing and Finance provided a response that he would review the formula used by officers to define ‘affordability’ and would arrange a session with the Director of Finance, the Housing Manager and Director of Adult Social Care and Housing Needs as soon as possible.

The Cabinet Member for Planning commented that dialogue with developers was important to make homes affordable, whilst accepting that the cost of house building had increased. The policy would be sharpened and included within the Island Plan.

Following a previous question by Cllr Jarman to the Audit and Governance Committee, the details of debt held by each Island school was circulated to members of that Committee. It identified the debt that would transfer to the IWC upon school closures. Cllr Jarman therefore asked what financial provision the administration had made for that potential liability?

The Cabinet Member for Housing and Finance responded that he had arranged a meeting with the Director of Finance and S.151 officer and would then provide a response.

It was noted that a school’s debt would only transfer to the council if and when it was closed. There were detailed processes regarding how a school should manage its debt, and a discussion would be held with the Director of Children’s Services to ensure this was being monitored.