Agenda and minutes

Venue: Virtual (MS Teams)

Contact: Marie Bartlett  Email: democratic.services@iow.gov.uk

Media

Items
No. Item

39.

Minutes pdf icon PDF 238 KB

To confirm as a true record the Minutes of the meeting held on 20 January 2021.

Minutes:

RESOLVED:

 

THAT the minutes of the meeting held on 20 January 2020 be approved.

40.

Declarations of Interest

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

Minutes:

There were no declarations at this stage.

41.

Public Question Time pdf icon PDF 10 KB

Questions must be delivered in writing or by electronic mail to Democratic Services at democratic.services@iow.gov.uk  no later than Friday, 19 February 2021.

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Name

Subject

Comment

Mr P Coueslant

How many bids for the lease at Brown’s Golf Course had been received and when will the successful bidder be chosen

The Leaser provided a written response (PQ13/21)

Mr M Locke

Will the one hour free parking be extended to the Moa Place car park for vaccine patients?

The Leader provided a written response (PQ 14/21)

Mr M Voller

What were the councils plans to implement 20mph zones more widely across the Island?

The Leader provided a written response (PO15/21)

Ms T Mikich

How is the IWC working with the local communities to implement the 20mph speed limit across the Island?

The Leader provided a written response (PQ 16/21)

 

42.

Chairman's Official Announcements pdf icon PDF 184 KB

To receive the Chairman’s official announcements.

Minutes:

A written report had been circulated for information. The Chairman referred to a report that had been circulated from the Youth Council Chairman.

43.

Leaders Update Report pdf icon PDF 243 KB

a)             To receive the Leader’s update report (5 minutes maximum).

 

b)             Members questions on the Leaders update report (15 minutes maximum).

Minutes:

The Leader thanked staff for all their hard work during this time, and outlined work undertaken since the last meeting, this included:

 

·       Continued response to Covid-19

·       Latest position on the Island deal

·       Regeneration of Newport Harbour and Revision Order approval

·       Involvement in adult learning for young people and apprenticeships

 

 

Questions were asked regarding regeneration in Newport, the leader highlighted a number of achievements regarding regeneration in Newport. Concern was raised regarding the number of food vouchers distributed across the Island. Concern was raised that there was only one contractor on the Island available to deliver the governments green deal, the Leader advised that the Cabinet member would look into this.

 

It was noted that the agreed motion in November 2020 for the introduction of mobile average speed cameras was included in the budget, the Leader advised that road safety was high priority, and understood that the motion had been supported by other councillors at the meeting. Mobile speed cameras included motorcycles and other road users.

 

RESOLVED:

 

THAT the Leaders update report be noted.

44.

Budget and Council Tax Setting 2021-2022 and Future Years Forecasts pdf icon PDF 823 KB

RECOMMENDATION

 

1.       It is recommended that the Council approve the following:

 

(a)           The revised Revenue Budget for the financial year 2020/21 and the Revenue Budget for the financial year 2021/22 as set out in the General Fund Summary (Appendix 1) which includes:

 

(i)   The establishment of a COVID-19 Fund estimated at £14.2m

(ii)  A Revenue Contribution to Capital of £2.0m

(iii)  A contribution to the Transformation Reserve of £1.0m.

 

(b)      Any variation arising from the Local Government Finance Settlement 2021/22 or any further savings made in 2020/21 arising at the year-end (after allowing for specific carry forward requests) be transferred to the COVID-19 Fund, Transformation Reserve, Revenue Reserve for Capital and General Reserves with the level of each transfer to be determined by the S.151 Officer.

 

(c)      That the level of Council Tax be increased by 1.99% for general purposes in accordance with the referendum threshold for 2021/22 announced by Government (as calculated in Appendix 2)

 

(d)      That the level of Council Tax be increased by a further 3.0% beyond the referendum threshold (as calculated in Appendix 2) to take advantage of the flexibility offered by Government to implement a "Social Care Precept"; and that in accordance with the conditions of that flexibility, the full amount of the associated sum generated of £2,558,500 is passported direct to Adult Social Care

 

(e)      That the amounts set out in Appendix 2 be now calculated by the Council for the financial year 2021/22 in accordance with Section 31 and Sections 34 to 36 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992

 

(f)       The S.151 Officer be given delegated authority to implement any variation to the overall level of Council Tax arising from the final notification of the Hampshire Police & Crime Commissioner, Hampshire & Isle of Wight Fire & Rescue Authority and Parish and Town Council precepts, and amend the calculations set out in Appendix 2 accordingly

 

(g)      The savings proposals for each Portfolio amounting, in total, to £3.5m for 2021/22 and continuing into future years as set out:

 

 

Portfolio

Controllable Budget

Savings Proposal

£

£

%

Adult Social Care, Public Health & Housing Needs*

52,885,965

1,567,000

3.0%

Children's Services, Education & Skills

25,799,771

481,000

1.9%

Community Safety & Digital Transformation

8,939,086

175,800

2.0%

Environment, Heritage & Waste Management

8,826,020

308,400

3.5%

Infrastructure & Transport**

11,637,618

101,000

0.9%

Leader & Strategic Partnerships

822,326

0

0.0%

Planning & Housing Renewal

2,410,804

8,500

0.4%

Regeneration & Business Development

5,146,580

137,500

2.7%

Resources

10,935,643

720,800

6.6%

Grand Total

127,403,813

3,500,000

2.7%

 

*Excludes the additional funding passported through to Adult Social Care of £4.4m (which if included would result in an overall increase of 5.4%) and the additional funding for Children's Services, Education & Skills of £1.6m (which if included would result in an overall increase of 4.4%)

 

** Excludes £19.4m of PFI grant funding, on a Gross expenditure basis the savings amounts to 0.3%

 

(h)      Directors be instructed to start planning how the Council will achieve the savings requirements of £9.0m for the 3 year period 2022/23 to 2024/25 and that this be incorporated into Service Business  ...  view the full agenda text for item 44.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

A 2021/22 budget and Council Tax setting report had been received from the Leader of the Council and the Deputy Leader. Amendments, from the Liberal Democrats, Cllr Geoff Brodie and the Island Independent Group had been submitted, they had been accepted by the Section 151 Officer as being legal and presenting a balanced budget.

 

The Leader and Deputy Leader spoke on the budget proposals recommended by Cabinet.

 

The proposers of the amendments spoke in turn on their budget proposals.

 

The Leaders of the other groups were asked if they would like to make comment on the budget proposals, however it was declined at this stage.

 

Other members of the council also made comment on the budget proposals.

 

The Leader, the other proposers of amendments and the other group leaders then summed up.

 

Adjournment

 

At the conclusion of the debate the chairman called for a brief adjournment.

 

Following the adjournment, the Leader moved the recommendation by Cabinet which was duly seconded.

 

An amendment to the proposal attached as Amendment 1 (and forming part of these minutes) was moved by Cllr Garratt and duly seconded.

 

A named vote was taken the results were as follows:

 

For: (10)

 

Cllrs Debbie Andre, Reg Barry, Rodney Downer, Paul Fuller, Andrew Garratt, John Howe, Michael Lilley, John Medland, Lora Peacey-Wilcox, Shirley Smart.

 

Against: (26)

 

Cllrs Barry Abraham, Paul Bertie, Michael Beston, Paul Brading, Geoff Brodie, George Cameron, Vanessa Churchman, Steve Hastings, Stephen Hendry, John Hobart, Richard Hollis, Stuart Hutchinson, John Kilpatrick, Clare Mosdell, Michael Murwill, John Nicholson, Tig Outlaw, Gary Peace, Graham Perks, Matthew Price, Chris Quirk, Ian Stephens, Dave Stewart, Brian Tyndall, Ian Ward, Wayne Whittle.

 

Abstained: (2)

 

Cllrs Julie Jones-Evans, Karl Love.

 

An amendment to the proposal attached as Amendment 2 (and forming part of these minutes) was moved by Cllr Geoff Brodie and duly seconded.

 

A named vote was taken the result of which was as follows:

 

For: (16)

 

Cllrs Debbie Andre, Reg Barry, Geoff Brodie, Rodney Downer, Andrew Garratt, John Howe, Julie Jones-Evans, Michael Lilley, Karl Love, John Medland, Michael Murwill, Lora Peacey-Wilcox, Graham Perks, Matthew Price, Shirley Smart, Ian Stephens.

 

Against: (21)

 

Cllrs Barry Abraham, Paul Bertie, Michael Beston, Paul Brading, George Cameron, Vanessa Churchman, Paul Fuller, Steve Hastings, Stephen Hendry, John Hobart, Richard Hollis, Stuart Hutchinson, Clare Mosdell, John Nicholson, Tig Outlaw, Gary Peace, Chris Quirk, Dave Stewart, Brian Tyndall, Ian Ward, Wayne Whittle.

 

Abstained: (1)

 

Cllr John Kilpatrick

 

An amendment to the proposal attached as Amendment 3 (and forming part of these minutes) was moved by Cllr Debbie Andre and duly seconded.

 

A named vote was taken the result of which was as follows:

 

For (11)

 

Cllrs Debbie Andre, Reg Barry, Rodney Downer, Paul Fuller, Andrew Garratt, John Howe, Michael Lilley, Karl Love, John Medland, Lora Peacey-Wilcox, Shirley Smart

 

Against: (26)

 

Cllrs Barry Abraham, Paul Bertie, Michael Beston, Paul Brading, Geoff Brodie, George Cameron, Vanessa Churchman, Steve Hastings, Stephen Hendry, John Hobart, Richard Hollis, Stuart Hutchinson, John Kilpatrick, Clare Mosdell, Michael Murwill, John Nicholson, Tig Outlaw, Gary Peace, Graham  ...  view the full minutes text for item 44.

45.

Report of the Monitoring Officer

45a

Independent Remuneration Panel - establishment and appointment of members and the Scheme of Members' Allowances for 2021/22 and its review. pdf icon PDF 486 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Leader introduced the report which advised that the council was required to establish an Independent Remuneration Panel (IRP), a recruitment exercise to appoint a new panel of independent members had been undertaken and thanks were given to the previous members for their years of service to their local community.

 

Clarification was provided that there had been no review by the IRP since the adoption of the fifteenth report (which was made in 2018), however the increases made had followed the officer pay settlement which had been agreed nationally.

 

RESOLVED:

 

THAT the Independent Remuneration Panel be established to undertake its statutory duties with a membership size of up to 4 persons.

 

THAT Jeanette Howells, Chris Mathews, Tracy Ringer and Aaron Wright be appointed to serve on that Panel for a term of office of five years each unless removed earlier upon good cause.

 

THAT the appointment of chairman of the IRP be left to members of the IRP to determine themselves.

 

THAT all the previous members of the IRP be thanked for their service to the local community.

 

THAT the Council notes and reaffirms that the Isle of Wight Council Members’ Allowance Scheme already approved on 19 September 2018 applies for the scheme year 2021/2022 as set out in Appendix 1 to this report.

 

THAT the allowances payable to members of the IRP remain unchanged at £301 for each year in which their statutory functions are exercised, with reasonable expenses being paid relating to their discharge of such functions.

46.

Motions Submitted under Part 4A, Procedure Rule 9 of the Council's Constitution

46a

By Councillor Dave Stewart

The fragility of the Isle of Wight’s economy, characterised by low paid and seasonal job opportunities, has been deeply exposed by the impact of the coronavirus pandemic from which it is likely to take many years to recover without significant external intervention and support.  However the Island does have a great strength in its people and communities whose will and determination to succeed is second to none.

 

Keeping the community safe has and remains an absolute priority.

 

The council recognises that it does not have the resources to fund the recovery itself but it does have a sound and robust, risk based approach to financial management and a growing strength in its regeneration activities, which will be essential in helping the Island to recover from the pandemic.

 

Economic recovery is essential to the Islands future

 

Therefore this council resolves to align its regeneration activities with the strength of the Isle of Wight’s local community to rebuild the Island’s fortunes, support its economic, social and environmental recovery and to work closely with government and the Local Enterprise Partnership to secure levelling up funding and support from the UK prosperity fund as part of the national recovery from the pandemic.

 

Minutes:

Councillor Stewart advised he proposed an alteration to his Motion, to include the mention of town, parish and community councils. The revised motion was moved and duly seconded:

 

The fragility of the Isle of Wight’s economy, characterised by low paid and seasonal job opportunities, has been deeply exposed by the impact of the coronavirus pandemic from which it is likely to take many years to recover without significant external intervention and support. However the Island does have a great strength in its people and communities whose will and determination to succeed is second to none.

 

Keeping the community safe has and remains an absolute priority. The council recognises that it does not have the resources to fund the recovery itself but it does have a sound and robust, risk based approach to financial management and a growing strength in its regeneration activities, which will be essential in helping the Island to recover from the pandemic.

 

Economic recovery is essential to the Islands future

 

Therefore this council resolves to align its regeneration activities with the strength of the Isle of Wight’s local community (including Town, Parish & Community Councils) to rebuild the Island’s fortunes, support its economic, social and environmental recovery and to work closely with government and the Local Enterprise Partnership to secure levelling up funding and support from the UK prosperity fund as part of the national recovery from the pandemic.

 

Cllr Brodie proposed the motion be amended as follows:

 

The fragility of the Isle of Wight’s economy, characterised by low paid and seasonal job opportunities, has been deeply exposed by the impact of 11 years of austerity-obsessed Conservative government, the past 4 years of a Conservative-lead Council and now the coronavirus pandemic from which it is likely to take many years to recover without significant external intervention and support.  However the Island does have a great strength in its people and communities whose will and determination to succeed is second to none.

 

Keeping the community safe has and remains an absolute priority.

 

The council recognises that it does not have the resources to fund the recovery itself Economic recovery is essential to the Islands future

 

Therefore this council resolves to align its regeneration activities with the strength of the Isle of Wight’s local community to rebuild the Island’s fortunes, support its economic, social and environmental recovery and to work closely with government and the Local Enterprise Partnership to secure a long-promised, but always delayed 'Island Deal', levelling up funding and support from the UK prosperity fund as part of the national recovery from the pandemic.

 

Cllr Stewart did not accept the amendment, a vote was taken, and the amendment fell.

 

A vote on the substantive motion was taken the result of which were as follows:

 

RESOLVED:

 

The fragility of the Isle of Wight’s economy, characterised by low paid and seasonal job opportunities, has been deeply exposed by the impact of the coronavirus pandemic from which it is likely to take many years to recover without significant external intervention and  ...  view the full minutes text for item 46a

47.

Member Question Time of the Leader

To receive a reply to a question asked during questions to the Leader, a question must be submitted in writing or by electronic mail to Democratic Services no later than 5pm on Thursday, 18 February 2021 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.

Minutes:

No written questions had been submitted.The Chairman advised that in accordance with the Councils Constitution Part 4A Paragraph 2 (Timing and business) the meeting could not proceed after four hours.

 

The meeting was closed