Agenda and minutes

To confirm as a true record the Minutes of the meeting held on 12 October 2021.

RESOLVED:

THAT the minutes of the meeting held on 12 October 2021 be confirmed.

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

No declarations were received at this stage.

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 electronic mail to Democratic Services at democratic.services@iow.gov.uk, no later than two clear working days before the start of the meeting. Normally, the Committee is held on a Tuesday and therefore the deadline for written questions will be Thursday 4 November 2021.

Sue Izzard of the Shanklin Hotel and Accommodation Association asked a verbal question in relation to the report to the Cabinet reviewing the options to identify investment proposals for the regeneration of Culver Parade tourism opportunity area. The chairman indicated that this would be discussed later in the meeting and the Cabinet Members indicated that they would provide a written response.

The chairman to give an update on the progress on the outcomes and recommendations arising from previous meetings.

The chairman presented the report which provided an overview of the progress against outcomes and recommendations from previous meetings. Attention was drawn to the update regarding the Draft Island Planning Strategy Task and Finish Group which was due to present its final report to the Committee at its meeting in December 2021. No comments or questions were raised at this stage.

RESOLVED:

THAT the progress report be noted.

The Chairman of the Isle of Wight Community Safety Partnership (CSP) presented the statutory annual strategic assessment which provided statistical analysis and information on crime for 2020-21.

Cllr Michael Lilley declared an interest as a trustee of the Isle of Wight Youth Trust.

Discussion took place regarding the steps taken to prevent reoffending. It was confirmed that details of the strategic plan aimed at reducing reoffending would be circulated to the Committee by the Community Safety Operations Manager. Questions were raised regarding the funding arrangements for the perpetrators programme in respect of domestic abuse cases delivered by the Hampton Trust. It was confirmed that details on this would be provided to the Committee following a review being undertaken by the Director of Adult Social Care.

Questions were raised regarding the data on drug offences, and it was suggested that the Partnership consider the inclusion of drug and alcohol-related crime as a priority, as this had been identified in a community survey as being within the top three priorities for the public.

Discussion took place regarding the work of the Partnership to engage with town and parish councils. In addition to engagement with the IW Association of Local Councils, it was suggested that the Partnership should ensure that all town and parish councils are provided with relevant information.

Concerns were raised regarding road safety and it was advised that the Road Safety Forum led by the Strategic Lead for Highways would be reinvigorated. In respect of the Island figures on childhood vulnerability being above the national average, it was suggested that the Policy and Scrutiny Committee for Children’s Services, Education and Skills be made aware of the local and national data.

RESOLVED:

THAT the Strategic Assessment 2020/21 be noted, and the committee confirms it is satisfied that the partnership is fulfilling its statutory duty.

To consider the proposed delivery of the elements contained within the Corporate Plan 2021-2025 relating to community protection. The Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Community Protection, Digital Transformation, Housing Provision and Housing Need is invited to give an overview of the activities proposed.

The Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Community Protection, Digital Transformation, Housing Provision and Housing Needs presented the extract from the revised Corporate Plan relating to community protection, and provided a verbal overview of the activities within this portfolio area.

RESOLVED:

THAT the community safety elements within the Corporate Plan were noted.

To review items due to be considered by the Cabinet at its meeting on 11 November 2021, and where appropriate, make comments or recommendations that the Committee believe should be considered prior to Cabinet making a decision. The items shown on the latest version of the forward plan at the time of publication of this agenda are:

The committee considered the report which provided a summary of progress against Corporate Plan activities for the period July to September 2021.

Questions were raised regarding the capital programme for the Floating Bridge and it was confirmed that the figure included the funding from the Solent Local Enterprise Partnership.

Questions were raised regarding the Nicholson Road, Ryde project, as referred to in the capital programme forecast. It was advised that a written response on the latest position would be provided by the Director for Regeneration.

Discussion took place regarding the capital budget for housing and the apparent savings in disabled facilities. It was confirmed that the delivery of works funded by the disabled facilities grant had been slowed due to Covid and would roll into the next financial year.

Questions were raised regarding the roll-out of the Council’s website component of the Digital Strategy. It was confirmed that a number of capital projects connected with ICT had been paused to enable a review to be undertaken of the Council’s future ICT requirements.

RESOLVED:

THAT the report be noted.

Consideration was given to the report which sought the Cabinet’s approval for grant awards to organisations offering holiday activity and food schemes to benefit eligible Free School Meal (FSM) children during the Winter 2021 school holidays, funded by the Department for Education’s holiday activity and food programme. No comments or questions were raised at this stage.

RESOLVED:

THAT the proposals be supported.

Consideration was given to the report which sought the Cabinet’s approval to market a number of Council sites for pop-up businesses for 2022, as a pilot scheme to inform a more comprehensive business case for the wider Council portfolio in 2023. The report and proposals were supported, and discussion took place regarding the wording of the recommendation to reflect engagement and consultation with the relevant town and parish councils.

RESOLVED:

THAT the proposals be supported, and the Cabinet be requested to amend the recommendation to state that the sites to be offered should be in consultation with the relevant town and parish councils.

Consideration was given to the report which sought the Cabinet’s approval to seek to secure an effective and sustainable long-term solution to the future of the dinosaur museum (including the collection and Museum Accreditation) either at the current or any alternative site. Cllr Ian Ward was invited to speak on behalf of Sandown Town Council and raised concerns regarding the report and the progress on regeneration activities in Sandown. The Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Business Development and Tourism, and the Cabinet Member for Environment, Heritage and Waste Management, offered to meet with Cllr Ward to clarify the issues raised. The Leader reassured that any proposed items could be discussed with the relevant Cabinet Members at any time and in advance of any report to Cabinet.

RESOLVED:

THAT the proposals be supported, and the matter be referred to the Policy and Scrutiny Committee for Neighbourhoods and Regenerationto assist in the development of proposals.

This item was not discussed as it was now due for consideration by the Cabinet in December 2021.

This item was not discussed as it was now due for consideration by the Cabinet in December 2021.

This item was not discussed as it was now due for consideration by the Cabinet in December 2021.

To identify any items contained within the published forward plan that would benefit from early consideration within the workplan for either this committee or one of the policy and scrutiny committees.

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 committee were reminded that that they could discuss any proposed item with the relevant Cabinet Member in advance of any submission of a report to Cabinet. No comments or questions were raised that this stage.

RESOLVED:

THAT the forward plan be noted.

To identify any amendments required to the committee’s future workplan.

Consideration was given to the workplan for 2021-22. The Committee were reminded that an additional meeting was scheduled for 15 December 2021 to consider the delivery of the Commercial Property Acquisition Strategy, the website component of the Council’s Digital Strategy, and the report of the Island Plan Task and Finish Group.

RESOLVED:

THAT the workplan be noted.

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 5 November 2021.

No written questions were received.