Agenda and minutes

To confirm as a true record the Minutes of the meeting held on 16 November 2022.

RESOLVED:

THAT the minutes of the meeting held on 16 November 2022 be approved.

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

Councillor P Fuller declared an interest in minute number 29(a) as the IWALC representative nominated for Planning Committee was known to him.

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 by delivery 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, Full Council is held on a Wednesday, therefore the deadline for written questions will be Friday, 13 January 2023.

Mr P Coueslant had submitted a written question (PQ-03-23)

Ms E Brothers asked what action was being taken with the Council and Partner agencies to tackle current and long term flooding, resulting in increasing levels of excess surface water and coastal erosion? The Cabinet Member for Climate Change, Environment, Heritage, Human Resources and Legal and Democratic Services advised that there were a number of projects moving forward with agencies such as Southern Water and the Environment Agency across the Island. He advised that staff had recently responded to a number of cliff falls to keep residents safe.

Ms E Brothers asked a supplementary question regarding the robustness of the flood strategy and if the Town, Parish and Community Councils would be involved and what support would be available. The Cabinet Member informed her that this was an evolving picture and was seeking to work with local communities on this issue.

Mr S Parks asked if the administration believed they were getting the budget allocation from central government that a Conservative run council would be provided with? The Cabinet Member for Strategic Finance, Transformational Change and Corporate Resources advised that there was no indication money was being withheld from central government on that basis.

To receive the Chairman’s official announcements.

The Chairman advised that she had attended a number of events leading up to Christmas, including a food security and waste conference and supporting warm spaces in Ventnor.

She had been invited to the installation of a new archdeacon which she had accepted and highlighted that a visit by a local Scout group for a civic visit had been arranged.

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

b)              Members questions on the Leader’s update report (15 minutes maximum).

The Leader introduced the report and welcomed Cllr Nick Stuart to the Chamber and gave her condolences to the family on the recent passing of the  former Councillor, Arthur Taylor.

A question was asked regarding the housing waiting list and how this would be turned into action in 2023. The Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Digital Transformational, Housing, Homelessness and Poverty advised that it was important to ensure procedures were correct, and work was ongoing and he was trying to get the best outcome for island residents.

The Leader was asked a question regarding waste and recycling, and she stated that she was passionate about recycling and provided figures of what had been achieved during the Christmas and New Year break. She thanked all staff involved in waste collection.

The Monitoring Officer advised that following the result of the by election held in November 2022 and the formation of the Liberal Democrat Group there was a requirement to review the proportionality. It was noted that if alternative arrangements were agreed by all Councillors present without an dissenting vote then the strict political balance requirements could be disapplied.

A proposal to agree alternative arrangements was put forward which was duly seconded A vote was taken, and the result of which was:

RESOLVED:

THAT alternative arrangements be agreed.

A proposal to approve revised appendix 1 (attached to and forming part of these minutes) setting out the appointments was made which was duly seconded, a vote was taken, and the result of which was:

RESOLVED:

THAT the revised appendix 1 be approved.

The Cabinet Member for Planning and Enforcement put a motion without notice for the following:

That under procedure rule Part 4B Section 20, the operation of Part 4B Section 8 be suspended to permit Full Council to reconsider the timescale granted in its decision of 16 November 2022 for the Cabinet to report back to Full Council. The proposal was duly seconded, a vote was taken, which met the requirements of at least one half of those in attendance agreeing, and the result of which was:

RESOLVED:

THAT the suspension of Part 4B Rule 8 be approved.

The Cabinet Member for Planning and Enforcement summarised the report, highlighting that government consultation may impact planning policies nationally which would then impact the draft Island Planning Strategy, therefore he requested a delay in the reconsideration of the Draft Island Planning Strategy for the government consultation responses to be fully reviewed and considered.

The recommendation was proposed and duly seconded.

A vote was taken, the result of which was:

RESOLVED:

THAT further to Part 1 of the Full Council’s resolution on 16 November 2022 on the draft Island Planning Strategy and in recognition of the potentially significant changes which have occurred since that resolution was passed (in the form of the Governments new NPPF prospectus consultation launched on 22 December 2022 and running until 2 March 2023) the time for reconsideration of the Draft Island Planning Strategy to be extended to no later than the end of June 2023 within which time period the Cabinet Leader may:

a)    submit a revision of the Draft Island Planning Strategy as amended by the Cabinet (the revised “Draft Island Planning Strategy”), with the Cabinet’s reasons for any amendments made to the Draft Island Planning Strategy, to the Full Council for the Full Council’s consideration; or

b)    inform the Full Council of any disagreement that the Cabinet has with any of the Full Council’s objections and the Cabinet’s reasons for any such disagreement; or

inform the Full Council of an alternative route for the Draft Island Planning Strategy that aligns with the revised National Planning Policy Framework due for publication in Spring 2023 and any other changes to legislation and national planning policy and guidance that may reasonably be expected to come into force.

The Cabinet Member for Climate Change, Environment, Heritage, Human Resources and Legal and Democratic Services introduced the report and proposed a motion to approve the recommendation, which was duly seconded.

A vote was taken the result of which was:

RESOLVED:

THAT the updated Pay Policy as drafted for the period 1 April 2023 – 31 March 2024 be approved.

The Cabinet Member for Strategic Finance, Transformational Change and Corporate Resources summarised the report and advised that this was an annual review and highlighted that there continued to be a hardship scheme available to those who needed it.

A motion was put forward to accept the recommendations as proposed in the report and was duly seconded.

An amendment to option one of those recommendations was proposed and duly seconded as follows:

Record their preference to increase the maximum level of support for working age cases to 70 per cent (from the current maximum level of 65 per cent) and therefore considered alongside (and part of) the Council's overall Budget for 2023/24

A vote was taken, the result of which was:

RESOLVED:

THAT the amendment be agreed

A vote was then taken on the recommendation subject to the amendment proposed and carried above. A vote was taken, the result of which was:

RESOLVED:

THAT Full Council record their preference to increase the maximum level of support for working age cases to 70 per cent (from the current maximum level of 65 per cent) and therefore considered alongside (and part of) the Council's overall Budget for 2023/24

THAT a local welfare payment disregard to mirror housing benefit regulations be added.

THAT any increase in welfare benefit payments due to crisis or emergency provision be disregarded.

To receive a reply to a question asked during Members’ Question Time to the Leader or Cabinet Member, a question must be submitted in writing or by electronic mail to Democratic Services no later than 5pm on Thursday, 12 January 2023. 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.

Cllr N Stuart submitted a written question, the Deputy Leader, Cabinet Member for Digital Transformation, Housing, Homelessness and Poverty provided a written response. (MQ 01/23).

Cllr Stuart asked a supplementary question requesting consideration be made to setting up a housing lead within the Council to work with colleagues and pick up on poor delivery. The Deputy Leader, Cabinet Member for Digital Transformation, Housing, Homelessness and Poverty advised that a housing manager had been appointed.

Cllr R Quigley asked for confirmation that the amendment in last years budget to increase spending on affordable housing but reduce the capital in the housing company stopped housing being built due to the new government regulations on no in year losses and the original amount would of protected the company from making in year losses is now insufficient to start building houses. The Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Digital Transformation, Housing, Homelessness and Poverty advised that when money was taken away there had been an impact, he further stated that it was not possible to seek five per cent profitability.

Cllr D Pitcher asked if the Local Planning Authority would be updating the minerals policy. The Cabinet Member for Planning and Enforcement advised that the aggregates assessment had been circulated and it would be updated following the decision on the Draft Island Planning Strategy.

Cllr Pitcher asked if it could be completed prior to the Draft Island Planning Strategy, the Cabinet Member advised he would raise with officers and provide a response.

Cllr P Spink asked for an update on the KMP development. The Leader advised that she would provide a written response.