Agenda and minutes

Venue: Council Chamber, County Hall, Isle of WIght

Contact: Megan Tuckwell  Email: democratic.services@iow.gov.uk

Media

Items
No. Item

53.

Minutes pdf icon PDF 240 KB

To confirm as a true record the Minutes of the meeting held on 15 December 2021.

Minutes:

RESOLVED:

 

THAT the minutes of the meeting held on 15 December 2021 be confirmed.

 

54.

Declarations of Interest

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

Minutes:

Cllr John Medland declared an interest in minute item 59(e), Deployment of Electric Vehicle Charge Points in Council Car Parks, as he had been involved with the development of the policy on electric vehicle charging.  

 

Cllr Michael Lilley declared an interest in minute item 59(d), Supporting the UNESCO Biosphere, as a trustee director of Wight Community Energy.

 

Cameron Palin declared an interest in minute item 59(c), School Funding Formula and Budget Setting 2022/23, as an employee at a local authority-maintained school. 

 

55.

Public Question Time - 15 Minutes Maximum pdf icon PDF 10 KB

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 6 January 2022.

 

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Susan Jones of Newchurch submitted a written question related to the Draft Island Planning Strategy task and finish group. A written response was provided. (PQ 01/22)

 

56.

Progress Update pdf icon PDF 354 KB

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

Minutes:

The chairman presented the report which provided an overview of the progress against outcomes and recommendations from previous meetings. Discussion took place regarding the Isle of Wight Community Safety Partnership’s strategic plan aimed at reducing reoffending which was agreed for circulation on 9 November 2021. It was advised that the Community Safety Operations Manager had been followed up for a response.

 

Questions were raised regarding the timeframe of the Commercialisation Strategy and the Cabinet Member for Strategic Finance, Corporate Resources and Transformational Change confirmed that the strategy could be expected shortly.

 

RESOLVED:

 

THAT the progress report be noted.

 

57.

Commercial Property Acquisition Strategy/ Investment Strategy 2021/22 pdf icon PDF 322 KB

The Audit Committee at its meeting on 27 September 2021 requested that this committee should look at the financial impact on the councils’ revenue by having vacant units. This Committee had already identified its wish to include in its workplan an item to review the Investment Strategy 2021/22. This was;

 

·       To review the evaluations and predictions contained within the strategy to see if outcomes were realised.

·       To identify changes that should be incorporated within the 2022/23 strategy.

·       To assess the part played by the strategy within the Council’s overall medium term financial strategy

·       To demonstrate that the investment in commercial property off Island brings financial benefits to the Council’s overall budget

 

The Investment Strategy 2021-22 as approved by Full Council in February 2021 is attached, together with the report submitted to the Audit Committee in September 2021 and the minute from that meeting. The Committee is invited to identify the information required to enable this matter to be fully considered at the February 2022 meeting.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

It was noted that the Committee had previously identified its wish to review the Investment Strategy 2021/22, to review the evaluations and predictions within the strategy to see if outcomes were realised; to identify changes that should be incorporated within the 2022/23 strategy; to assess the part played by the strategy within the overall medium-term financial strategy; and to demonstrate that the investment in commercial property off-Island brought financial benefits to the Council’s overall budget.

Consideration was given to the item referred by the Audit Committee at its meeting on 27 September 2021, which recommended that this committee look into the financial impact on the councils’ revenue by having vacant units. Questions were raised regarding tenants, expected returns, the current portfolio, and the impact of managing commercial property acquisitions in-house, 

 

RESOLVED:

 

THAT the updates be noted.

 

58.

Budget Proposals 2022-23 pdf icon PDF 592 KB

To consider early indications from the Leader and the Cabinet Member for Strategic Finance, Transformational Change and Corporate Resources on the key issues faced by the Council in ensuring the delivery of a legal and balanced budget for 2022-23. This will discuss the Governments’ financial settlement for the Council, budget pressures for 2022-23, proposals for income generation, overspends in the current financial year and likely changes required to the Medium-Term Financial Strategy.

Minutes:

During the debate the following interests were declared :-

 

Cllr Michael Lilley declared an interest as the chair of the Isle of Wight Voluntary Sector Forum, the Mayor of Ryde, and as a member of Ryde Town Council.

 

Cllr Chris Jarman declared a pecuniary interest as a fundraiser for two principal Island voluntary sector charities and for two cancer charities on the Island and as a trustee of others.

 

The Deputy Leader and the Cabinet Member for Strategic Finance, Transformational Change and Corporate Resources were invited to provide an update on the key issues faced by the Council in ensuring the delivery of a legal and balanced budget for 2022-23.

 

A series of written questions had been submitted prior to the meeting and responses were provided (attached). Additional questions were raised regarding the budget consultation, debt repayments, work with the voluntary sector, collaboration with town and parish councils, and community assets. The Cabinet Member for Strategic Finance, Transformation Change and Corporate Resources agreed to look at the arrangements for meeting with the voluntary sector regarding the budget.

 

RESOLVED:

 

THAT the update regarding the budget proposals 2022-23 be noted.

 

59.

Items due to be considered by the Cabinet:

To review items due to be considered by the Cabinet at its meeting on 13 January 2022, 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:

59a

Name Change - Fairway Athletics Track

Minutes:

Consideration was given to the report which sought the Cabinet’s approval to agree to the request from Isle of Wight Athletics Club to change its name to the Ray Scovell Athletics Centre. Concerns were raised regarding consultation with the local councils, and it was confirmed that Lake Parish Council would be contacted ahead of the consideration by the Cabinet.

 

RESOLVED:

 

THAT the recommendations be noted.

 

59b

Newport Harbour – Supplementary Planning Document

Minutes:

Consideration was given to the report which sought the Cabinet’s approval to publish the draft Newport Harbour Masterplan Supplementary Planning Document for public consultation. Questions were raised regarding the proposed housing numbers on the park site, and it was clarified that the increase was in response to the urgent need for additional housing on the island, particularly family homes with gardens.

 

RESOLVED:

 

THAT the recommendations be noted.

 

59c

School Funding Formula and Budget Setting 2022/23

Minutes:

Consideration was given to the report which sought the Cabinet’s approval to the 2022/23 school funding formula and wider Dedicated Schools Grant budget allocations. No comments or questions were raised, and the report was noted.

 

RESOLVED:

 

THAT the recommendations be noted.

 

59d

Supporting the UNESCO Biosphere

Minutes:

Consideration was given to the report which sought the Cabinet’s approval to adopt the ‘Supporting the IW UNESCO Biosphere’ document and to create and support a Biosphere Steering Committee. Questions were raised regarding the membership of the steering group, how the principles in the document could be integrated into future developments, and the involvement of utility companies in relation to marine conservation zones.

 

RESOLVED:

 

THAT the recommendations be supported, and the delivery of actions associated with this matter be monitored by the Committee.

 

59e

Deployment of Electric Vehicle Charge Points in Council Car Parks

Minutes:

Consideration was given to the report which sought the Cabinet’s approval to install electric vehicle charge points in council car parks. It was noted that the Policy and Scrutiny Committee for Neighbourhoods and Regeneration had supported the recommendations at its meeting on 6 January 2022. It was suggested that town and parish councils should be consulted with in future regarding the placement of any additional charging points and that schools would be a good location for charging points.

 

RESOLVED:

 

THAT the recommendations be noted.

 

59f

Floating Bridge 6 - outcomes from Gateway 5 Review

Minutes:

Consideration was given to the report which sought the Cabinet’s approval to note the Gateway 5 Review, to implement the recommendations, and continue the mediation process. Discussion took place regarding the estimated timeframes for resolution and the progress with the mediation process.

 

RESOLVED:

 

THAT the recommendations be noted.

 

59g

Hackney and Private Hire Licensing Policy

Minutes:

Consideration was given to the report which sought the Cabinet’s approval to adopt the revised Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing Policy. No comments or questions were raised, and the report was noted.

 

RESOLVED:

 

THAT the recommendations be noted.

 

59h

Street Trading Policy

Minutes:

Consideration was given to the report which sought the Cabinet’s approval to adopt the draft Street Trading Policy. No comments or questions were raised, and the report was noted.

 

RESOLVED:

 

THAT the recommendations be noted.

 

59i

Development of Relocatable Homes

Minutes:

Consideration was given to the report which sought the Cabinet’s approval to build 20 two-bed relocatable modular homes, subject to the related capital bid being approved by Full Council in February 2022 and the required borrowing being approved. The Committee shared its comments in support of the proposals.

 

RESOLVED:

 

THAT the recommendations be fully supported, and the Policy and Scrutiny Committee for Neighbourhoods and Regeneration be requested to monitor progress and be asked to establish a task and finish group on affordable and social housing innovation.

 

59j

Amendments to the Covert Surveillance Policy

Minutes:

Consideration was given to the report which sought the Cabinet’s approval to note the recent Investigatory Powers Commissioners Office inspection and to agree the proposed amendments to the policy. No comments or questions were raised, and the report was noted.

 

RESOLVED:

 

THAT the recommendations be noted.

 

60.

Forward Plan

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 forward plan can be viewed here: https://iow.moderngov.co.uk/mgListPlans.aspx?RPId=145&RD=0&bcr=1

Minutes:

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. Discussion took place regarding the Armed Forces Covenant which was due to be considered by the Cabinet in March 2022.

 

RESOLVED:

 

THAT the forward plan be noted.

 

61.

Workplan pdf icon PDF 148 KB

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

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Consideration was given to the current workplan for 2021-22. No comments or questions were raised that this stage although it was suggested that there would be a need to consider issues relating to Cowes Floating Bridge once the mediation process had been completed.

 

RESOLVED:

 

THAT the workplan be noted.

 

62.

Members' Question Time

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 January 2022.

Minutes:

No written questions were received.

 

Cllr Chris Quirk asked an oral question in relation to access to Covid-19 business grant funding schemes. It was clarified that businesses would need to apply for the Omicron Hospitality Fund and the Additional Restrictions Grant and details on this would be available shortly.