Agenda and minutes

To note any changes in membership of the Committee made in accordance with Part 4B paragraph 5 of the Constitution.

Cllr Richard Quigley gave his apologies, therefore the vice-chairman, Cllr Chris Quirk, took the chair. Cllr Claire Critchison was in attendance as a substitute for Cllr David Adams. Cllr John Medland was absent.

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

RESOLVED:

THAT the minutes of the meeting held on 8 September 2022 be confirmed as a true record.

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

Cllr Michael Lilley declared an interest in minute item 35, Responding to Climate Change and Enhancing the Biosphere, as trustee of Wight Community Energy.

Members of the public are invited to make representations to the Committee regarding its workplan. 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) in writing or by email to democratic.services@iow.gov.uk, no later than two clear working days before the start of the meeting. The deadline for written questions is Thursday, 6 October 2022.

No public questions were received.

To receive an update on the progress against the outcomes arising from previous meetings, and to provide an update on any outstanding actions.

The chairman presented the report which provided an overview of the progress against actions and outcomes from previous meetings.

Attention was drawn to the request by the committee at its meeting held in January 2022 for an item relating to Floating Bridge to be included in the workplan after the outcome of the mediation was known. It was agreed that the Cabinet Member for Transport and Infrastructure and the Director of Neighbourhoods would be contacted for an update.

Reference was made to the request by the committee at its meeting held in July 2022 to receive a report on the future structure of the Housing Team. It was agreed that the Chief Executive would be contacted for an update.

RESOLVED:

THAT the progress report be noted.

To identify any items contained within the Council’s forward plan which would benefit from early consideration by scrutiny, either before the Cabinet makes a decision or to monitor post-implementation, and should therefore be included in the Committee’s current work programme. The forward plan can be viewed online here.

The committee were invited to identify any item contained within the published forward plan that would benefit from early consideration within the committee’s own workplan or one of the policy and scrutiny committees. The adoption of the Newport Harbour Masterplan Supplementary Planning Document (due for decision in November 2022), the disposal of potential housing site(s) in East Cowes, and the disposal of council-owned employment land at Kingston Marine Park (due for decision in January 2023) were identified, and it was advised that the workplan would be updated accordingly.

RESOLVED:

THAT the forward plan be noted.

To note the content of the current work programme, to consider the inclusion of any additional items; and to approve the scope of the review of the Performance Management Framework. Members of the public are invited to submit in writing to the Committee possible items for inclusion in its workplan.

Consideration was given to the committee’s work programme for 2022-25. The Committee agreed the scoping document relating to the workplan item on the Council’s Performance Management Framework which would be discussed at the July 2023 meeting.

RESOLVED:

THAT the work programme be noted.

To consider a report on the lines of enquiry as agreed by the Committee at its meeting on 12 May 2022 (Workplan Topic Request Form FOIs.pdf (moderngov.co.uk).

Consideration was given to the report which outlined how the council managed its statutory duty for processing requests made under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and analysed the number of requests for information received and the council’s overall performance. Discussion took place regarding statutory obligations, general enquiries, business-as-usual comparative data, response times, resource implications, and request patterns. The Cabinet Member for Climate Change, Environment, Heritage, Human Resources and Legal and Democratic Services was requested to give consideration to the quarterly performance report showing data relating to the response times, and to look into supplying the data showing the numbers of Freedom of Information requests dealt with on a service basis.

RESOLVED:

THAT the report be noted.

To consider the refresh of the Procurement Strategy prior to its submission to Cabinet.

Consideration was given to the council’s revised Procurement Strategy 2022-2025 prior to its submission to Cabinet on 13 October 2022, and the Cabinet Member for Strategic Finance, Transformational Change and Corporate Resources presented the Strategy which set out the council’s procurement vision, aims and objectives over the next three years in relation to procurement and contract management activity. Comments were raised in relation to value for money, and following discussion the report was welcomed and endorsed.

RESOLVED:

THAT the strategy be supported.

To monitor the actions being taken regarding the delivery of the key activity identified in the Corporate Plan relating to responding to climate change and enhancing the biosphere.

The Cabinet Member for Climate Change, Environment, Heritage, Human Resources and Legal and Democratic Services presented the report which outlined the actions being taken regarding the delivery of the activities in the Corporate Plan relating to responding to climate change and enhancing the biosphere. Concerns were raised around the allocation of funds to upgrade the heating system and windows at County Hall, and the Cabinet Member was requested to provide a breakdown of the funding of the phase 3 works as contained in the report’s section on the public sector decarbonisation fund. Questions were raised regarding job creation, renewable energy, sustainability goals, plans to work with town, parish and community councils, battery storage, the development of the biosphere steering committee, and electric vehicle charging points. Attention was drawn to the strategies listed in paragraph 16 of the report, relating to Council projects currently contributing to the delivery of key activities, and whether these require inclusion in scrutiny workplans at an appropriate stage.

RESOLVED:

THAT the report be accepted.

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. To guarantee a reply, a question  must be submitted in writing or by electronic mail to democratic.services@iow.gov.uk no later than 5pm on Friday 7 October 2022.

No written questions were received.

Cllr Michael Lilley asked an oral question regarding the current legal position of the lease arrangements for the former Ryde Arena (ice rink). It was confirmed that a written response would be sought and be circulated to all members of the committee.