Agenda and minutes

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

Cllr Rodney Downer was in attendance as a substitute for Cllr David Adams. Apologies were received from Cllr Warren Drew. Cameron Palin (IWALC) was absent. It was advised that Cllr Peter Spink had stepped down from the committee.

To confirm as a true record the Minutes of the meeting held on 7 March 2023.

RESOLVED:

THAT the minutes of the meeting held on 7 March 2023 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 85, Isle of Wight Community Safety Partnership Annual Report 2021-22, as a trustee of the Isle of Wight Youth Trust.

Cllr Chris Quirk declared an interestin minute item 83(a), the Forward Plan, as the chairman of the Shanklin Theatre and Community Trust.

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 Wednesday 3 May 2023.

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. It was noted that the Cabinet had not yet responded to the request made by members of the committee in March 2023 to view the confidential Floating Bridge settlement.

An update was requested with regards to the reduction of child poverty. It was confirmed that a strategy was being developed and would be reviewed by the Policy and Scrutiny Committee for Children’s Services, Education and Skills in due course.

An update was sought with regards to the progress with the review of the council’s leisure centres. It was confirmed that the review was in the data-gathering stage and was scheduled to be completed by Autumn 2023.

The Cabinet Member for Planning and Enforcement was asked to provide a verbal update on the timescales for the Island Planning Strategy ahead of the meeting of Cabinet on 11 May 2023 and confirmed that the aim was to bring the document back by September 2023. Cllr Peter Spink was in attendance and asked that responses be provided to earlier questions.

RESOLVED:

THAT the progress report be noted.

Consideration was given to the progress update on the outstanding policies as requested by the committee at the last meeting. The committee received a copy of the refreshed Policy Framework, staff guidance, and policy template, and were invited to make comments. Questions were raised in relation to the application of the policies relating to financial and resource management and the medium-term financial strategy.

RESOLVED:

THAT the update on the outstanding policies, the refreshed draft Policy Framework, staff guidance, and policy template 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 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. Discussion took place regarding the Isle of Wight Cultural Strategy due for consideration by the Cabinet in June 2023, and concerns were raised over the consultation process (particularly as it related to Shanklin Theatre and Community Trust). It was confirmed that the matter had been looked into and would be further investigated.

RESOLVED:

THAT the forward plan be noted.

To note the content of the current work programme, and to approve the scope of identified items relating to Carbon Offsetting, Cyber Security, and Scams and Fraud Prevention.

Consideration was given to the committee’s work programme, and the scoping documents relating to Carbon Offsetting, Cyber Security, and Scams and Fraud Prevention. No comments or questions were raised, and the documents were approved.

RESOLVED:

THAT the future agenda item scoping documents in relation to Carbon Offsetting, Cyber Security, and Scams and Fraud Prevention, be approved.

To consider a report on the Council’s approach to consultations and engagement as well as how feedback and outcomes are fed back to the public.

Consideration was given to the report which provided information on the council’s approach to consultations and engagement, as well as how feedback and outcomes were fed back to the public. Questions were raised in relation to community outreach, particularly as it related to collaboration with town, parish, and community councils, grassroots groups, geographic communities, and communities of interest. Discussion took place regarding benchmarking measures and the ways in which effective engagement could be assessed. Questions were raised around the mechanisms in place to advise consultees of the outcomes once a final decision has been taken.

RESOLVED:

THAT the report be noted.

To consider the annual report of the partnership in accordance with the Committee’s statutory function to review or scrutinise decisions made, or other action taken, in connection with the discharge by the responsible authorities of their crime and disorder functions.

The Chairman of the Isle of Wight Community Safety Partnership (CSP) presented the annual strategic assessment which provided statistical analysis and information on crime for 2021-22. Questions were raised in relation to road safety, particularly in relation to comparative data gathering and the demographics of offenders for collisions, impaired driving, and speeding. Discussion took place regarding the prevention of violent crimes and youth offending. Questions were raised regarding the data which indicated a rise in domestic abuse, serious sexual offences, and hate crimes. It was advised that these areas were historically under-reported, and the increase was likely due to victims being more confident in reporting incidents. It was suggested that the committee look into perpetrator programmes in detail at a future meeting. The committee noted the importance of future funding for youth services and interventions.

RESOLVED:

THAT the Strategic Assessment 2021/22 and the updated Strategic Plan 2023-2025 be noted, and the committee confirmed it was satisfied that the partnership was fulfilling its statutory duty.

To consider the provision of timescales and process for review with clarity on member engagement.

The Monitoring Officer provided a verbal update on the process for the review of the council’s constitution which included the timescales for completion and the process for councillor engagement and involvement. It was advised that the draft would be produced and subsequently reviewed by all councillors for input before final presentation and adoption by the Full Council. It was to be drafted in line with recently published guidance on redrafting constitutions, call in’s, and schemes of delegation; and would be written in plain English where possible and aligned with the law. It was agreed that minor amendments and important technical clarifications should be separately considered, so as to not be unnecessarily delayed by the few matters within the constitution which were likely to be more contentious and require a longer timescale.

RESOLVED:

THAT the verbal update be noted.

The Chairman to report on the outcomes from the informal briefing held on 22 March 2023.

The Vice-chairman reported on the outcomes from the informal briefing held on 22 March 2023, where members of the committee received information following the investigations into flooding at Bembridge, Binstead and Monktonmead. Arising from the informal briefing, a series of recommendations had been proposed. Concerns were raised regarding the rationalisation of the roll-out of the Southern Water scheme to install free slow-drain water butts in eligible homes to reduce storm overflows.

RESOLVED:

i)               THAT the committee endorses the recommendations arising from the informal meeting held on 22 March 2023:

-       The Cabinet Member for Planning and Enforcement be asked to ensure that once the Government have released consultation information, a design code should be created and put forward as soon as possible as a Supplementary Planning Document to include sustainable drainage requirements for all new builds whilst the Island Planning Strategy continues to be discussed.

-       The Cabinet Member for Planning and Enforcement be asked to ensure that Local Flood Groups be created as part of place plans.

-       The Cabinet Member for Climate Change, Environment, Heritage, Human Resources and Legal and Democratic Services be asked to ensure that a greater level of communication is put out to the public about what they can do to help slow and reduce the flow of storm waters.

ii)              THAT Southern Water be asked to speed up the roll out of it’s scheme to install free slow-drain water butts in eligible homes to reduce storm overflows (particularly for the affected communities in Bembridge and Ryde Monktonmead).

THAT an informal meeting be arranged between the committee, Southern Water, and the Environment Agency.

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 Thursday 4 May 2023.

Cllr Michael Lilley asked an oral question in relation to housing needs; whether the council was working with Vectis housing association to access funding which could assist in the delivery of rented social housing. It was advised that the question would be forwarded to the Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Digital Transformation, Housing, Homelessness and Poverty for a response.