Agenda and minutes

To confirm as a true record the Minutes of the meeting held on 8 February 2022.

RESOLVED:

THAT the minutes of the meeting held on 8 February 2022 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 3 March 2022.

No public questions were received.

To receive an update on the progress against the actions and outcomes arising from previous meetings.

The chairman presented the report which provided an overview of the progress against outcomes and recommendations from previous meetings. Reference was made to the outstanding action relating to social value in the council’s procurement and commercialisation processes. It was advised that community wealth building was underway and outputs were likely to be seen in the upcoming months. No further comments or questions were made, and the report was noted.

RESOLVED:

THAT the progress report be noted.

To consider the forward plan and to identify any items 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 workplan.

The chairman explained that the Committee would take a more proactive approach to items on the Forward Plan so that any pre-decision scrutiny required can be done well in advance of any Cabinet decision being made. There would also be the ability for the Committee to undertake more post-decision scrutiny.

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. No items shown on the current Forward Plan were identified as requiring inclusion in the Committee’s workplan at this stage.

Discussion took place with regards to the Island Planning Strategy due to be adopted by the Cabinet and Full Council in April 2022. Reference was made to the recommendations of the committee’s Draft Island Planning Strategy Task and Finish Group, and it was requested that a full response to the recommendations be provided, to address each recommendation, whether they have been accepted or rejected (and if rejected, on what basis including details of any legal advice). The Cabinet Member for Planning and Community Engagement confirmed that responses would be provided, and the Chief Executive clarified the position in relation to access to information in accordance with the constitution.

RESOLVED:

THAT the forward plan be noted.

To consider the annual report on scrutiny activities during 2021-22.

The chairman presented the review of the scrutiny year for 2021/22 which highlighted the issues dealt with by scrutiny and demonstrated the role it played in the Council’s democratic process. No comments or questions were raised that this stage and the report was noted. It was suggested that arrangements would be made for an annual scrutiny report be provided to the Full Council.

RESOLVED:

THAT the report be noted.

To seek assurance that progress is being made, as per the Corporate Plan’s indication that the refresh of the Commercial Strategy, and approach towards securing investment and income generation opportunities, will be actioned by March 2022.

Assurance was sought that progress was being made, as per the Corporate Plan’s indication that the refresh of the Commercial Strategy (and the approach towards securing investment and income generation opportunities) would be actioned by March 2022.

The Cabinet Member for Strategic Finance, Corporate Resources and Transformational Change presented the report which provided an update on the current review of the Council’s commercial strategy. The committee were presented with an outline of the approach being taken to update the strategy for scrutiny’s review and comment.

Questions were raised relating to the issues with previous strategies, the net income to be achieved (and the barriers to achieving it), what skills were needed and what new areas have been identified. Discussion took place regarding the investment philosophy, returns on investment, and the approach to risk.

RESOLVED:

THAT the report 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 email to democratic.services@iow.gov.uk no later than 5pm on Friday 4 March 2022.

Cllr Warren Drew asked an oral question in relation to the accessibility of council information to those with sight disabilities. It was advised that the Council worked closely with a range of organisations to ensure that the needs of any person with a disability could access relevant information.

Cllr Richard Quigley asked an oral question in relation to whether refunds were provided for visitors parking permits bought in advance but no longer required. The Chief Executive advised that a written response would be provided.

Cllr Peter Spink asked an oral question in relation to whether the Council had received a response from the Government on the tilted balance. The Cabinet Member for Planning and Community Engagement advised that he was not aware of a response having been received.

Cllr Joe Robertson asked an oral question in relation to whether the future of Chillerton and Rookley Primary School should be looked at by the Committee, due to the delay in a decision being made. The Chairman advised that this was a matter for the Policy and Scrutiny Committee for Children’s Services, Education and Skills and had been raised at its meeting the previous week.