Agenda and minutes

Venue: Council Chamber, County Hall, Newport, Isle of WIght

Contact: Sarah MacDonald  Email: democratic.services@iow.gov.uk

Media

Items
No. Item

33.

Minutes pdf icon PDF 215 KB

To confirm as a true record the Minutes of the meeting held on 6 January 2022.

Minutes:

RESOLVED:

 

That the minutes of the meeting held on 6 January 2022 be approved.

 

34.

Declarations of Interest

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

Minutes:

There were no declarations of interest.

35.

Public Question Time - 15 Minutes Maximum

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. Therefore the deadline for written questions will be Friday 29 April 2022.

 

Members of the public are invited to make representations to the Committee regarding its workplan, either in writing at any time or at a meeting under this item.

 

Minutes:

No public questions were received.

36.

Progress on outcomes and recommendations from previous meetings pdf icon PDF 335 KB

The Chairman to give an update on progress with outcomes and recommendations from previous meetings.

 

Minutes:

Actions taken since the previous meeting were noted.

 

The Committee requested an update on the Digital Strategy as it related to the whole Island. The Committee also requested an update on electric vehicle charging points. The Cabinet Member for Highways PFI, Transport and Infrastructure explained that there had been a delay in installation following a change of provider. The programme of works would be circulated following the meeting.

 

 

The Bus Service Improvement Plan and Housing Strategy progress update would be moved to the October meeting.

 

RESOLVED

 

Updates on both the digital strategy and the installation of electric vehicle charging points would be put onto the agenda to be considered at the next meeting in July.

 

37.

Solent Local Enterprise Partnership pdf icon PDF 4 MB

To consider how the Solent Freeport status would be beneficial to the Island and also to discuss how the work of the LEP assists the Council in the delivery of its Regeneration Strategy.

 

Minutes:

Anne-Marie Mountifield from the Solent Local Enterprise Partnership gave an overview of the freeport proposal for the Solent area. There had been 30 expressions of interest in becoming a freeport which had been shortflisted to eight in March 2021. The freeport status would encourage trade and investment, create jobs and provide import and export opportunities and improve economic prosperity. The island already had many innovative businesses, particularly in composite and marine manufacturing which would be built on. There would be certain tax reliefs and an ability to retain rates collected in each area for reinvestment. An explanation was given as to how the sites for development were chosen for the proposal.

 

Following questions from the Committee it was explained that the estimated new jobs figure of 16,000 quoted for the Solent area would rise due to new businesses coming along. The next stage was the delivery phase which would be on a more local level. The island was already a significant player in leading world class industries and some exceptionally unique natural assets which would place the island in a strong position.

 

In relation to governance, there would be a Board, membership of which was prescribed by government, with several committees under it from across the area, including an Investment Committee to decide on allocation of funds. The Board would have at least four independent directors. There were strict rules to be followed around declarations of interest. Although the IW would not have a representative on the Board, it would have a voice through the Committees and already had a seat on the SLEP board.

 

Initial feedback on the business case was expected in June, with a final decision by the end of August or beginning of September.

 

Freeport status would also bring an advantage to Southampton’s bid for City of Culture status.

 

RESOLVED:

 

To note the benefits to the Island from the Solent Freeport status and its role within the Council’s regeneration strategy.

 

38.

Regeneration Projects pdf icon PDF 150 KB

To monitor progress with key regeneration projects including proposed improvements to the pedestrian environment and public realm in Newport as part of the Heritage Action Zone programme.

 

Minutes:

The list of current projects and milestones was considered, and updates were given. Levelling Up Round 2 was currently being worked on, with sites being identified and bids being drawn up with priorities for transport schemes being encouraged. An Investment Plan was to be presented to the Cabinet in June. Funds for junction works for Nicholson Road were needed before the rest of the site could be unlocked for development. Branstone Farm had been the subject of a delay due to availability of materials, highways payments being negotiated and some other complications. The Committee would be updated in due course.

 

Heads of terms were to be agreed for Shanklin Spa site, before a consultation would be undertaken and planning permission applied for. The Cabinet member for Regeneration, Tourism and Business Development would confirm the latest position at the Members’ Board the following week.

 

The Camp Hill project to improve the estate and release it for housing was progressing well, with improvement to lighting on council owned land. A review of the prison service was awaited in order to find out whether they would dispose of the land.

 

The Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Tourism and Business Development had visited the Innovation Wight centre at Northwood, which was due to open in June/July 2022. Although there had been some supply chain issues it would provide a good co-working space.

 

RESOLVED:

 

Progress with achieving key milestones in the delivery of regeneration projects be noted.

 

39.

Planning Services Review

The Corporate Plan indicates that it is the Council’s intention to complete a brief for a peer review of the Planning Service by April 2022 so to identify areas of best practice and for improvement against comparator authorities, and then implement an action plan in response to the recommendations of any review. The committee wishes to consider the scope of the proposed review.

 

Minutes:

A peer-review of the planning service was due to take place during the week commencing 16 May 2022, which would include the work of the Planning Committee. Concern was expressed that there was no experienced member of the planning committee from the Conservative group with experience who had been asked to take part in the review. Cllr Quirk’s interest in taking part was noted.

 

Following receipt of the peer review report and its recommendations, it was intended to implement an action plan to set out how the Council would achieve the recommendations

 

RESOLVED :

 

The Cabinet Member for Planning and Community Engagement be advised that the Committee supported the view that besides the Leader of the Conservative Group, Cllr Joe Robertson, being invited to provide evidence, it would also be appropriate for a Conservative councillor who has experience of serving on the Planning Committee to also be involved in the review

 

The Policy and Scrutiny Committee request that the findings of the review and any supporting action plan be submitted to a future meeting

40.

Local Transport Plan

The Cabinet Member for Highways PFI, Transport and Infrastructure to outline the proposals to complete a Local Transport Plan (LTP) 4 by April 2022 based on the need for long term sustainable transport options as indicated in the Corporate Plan and how this links in with it.

 

Minutes:

The plan was being drawn up for the next 15 years. Hampshire County Council were assisting in a consultant capacity. The plan was on target. Stakeholder workshops were to be held in the summer of 2022 with a draft plan being presented to Cabinet at the end of the summer, followed by consultation in the autumn and a final draft completed by winter 2022, for a decision by Full Council in early 2023.

 

RESOLVED :

 

The main phases for the development of the Local Transport Plan 4 were noted and accepted as realistic and consideration of the draft be included within the Committee’s workplan

41.

Use of Glyphosate weedkiller on highways

To consider the use of Glyphosate weedkiller on public highways on the Island.

 

Minutes:

Rob Gillespie from Island Roads explained that the use of weedkiller was contained in the Highways PFI contract. Other methods of removal had been trialled but had not met the standards set out in the contract. Manual removal had proved to be very time consuming and too costly and could make the weed problem worse. The use of quad bikes for carrying out spraying was explained. Other local authorities had been approached but the only ones not using the same method were inner-city authorities. Alternative methods including chemical-free alternatives would continue to be sought for the future. Records of the use of weedkiller and trials of alternatives were kept for 10 years and would be provided to the Committee.

 

RESOLVED :

 

The paper produced by Island Roads on a survey of the approach taken by other highway authorities, and the options available, be circulated to the Committee.

 

42.

Committee's Work Plan pdf icon PDF 293 KB

To consider the workplan and identify any additional topics for inclusion based upon the Forward Plan and the Corporate Plan.

 

Minutes:

The Committee considered its future workplan and discussed a number of issues that it believed would be beneficial to include;

 

RESOLVED :

 

An item be included on the agenda for the 7 July 2022 meeting relating to the outcome of the bid by Southampton to be the City of Culture and how this will link in with the development of the Council’s own Cultural and Heritage Strategies.

 

A report be sought on the programme of works to deliver the following elements of the Council’s agreed budget :-

 

a)    £500,000 to restore and improve access paths to Island beaches, and to restore andimprove footpaths, bridlewaysand rights ofway;

b)    £500,000 for planting trees and restoring hedgerows on Council-owned land not suitablefor housing.

 

43.

Members' Question Time pdf icon PDF 22 KB

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 3 May 2022. 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.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Cllr Steve Hastings had summited two written questions (MQ 11-22) regarding the opening date for the Energy Recovery Facility, and the number of subscribers to the Green Garden Waste Scheme and any effect from the recent rise in prices. A response was provided.