Agenda and minutes

The names of Councillor Claire Critchison and Councillor Chris Quirk were separately moved and seconded. Following the vote it was:

RESOLVED:

THAT Councillor Claire Critchison be elected as Chairman of the Council for the ensuing year.

Councillor Critchison formally declared her acceptance of office and took the chair.

Councillor Karl Love was nominated and duly seconded, there were no other nominations. Following the vote it was:

RESOLVED:

THAT Councillor Karl Love be elected as Vice Chairman of the Council for the ensuing year.

Councillor Love formally declared his acceptance of office.

To confirm as a true record the Minutes of the meeting held on 15 March 2023.

RESOLVED:

THAT the minutes of the meeting held on 15 March 2023 be approved.

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

There were no declarations received at this stage.

To receive the Chairman’s official announcements.

The Chairman advised that she had attended a range of events over the last year including citizenships, local charities and schools. In the last few months, she had attended coronation church services, the 250^th Ramblers gate opening and marshalled for Walk the Wight. A primary school had visited County Hall to learn about the Council, Lieutenancy and voting process.

The Chairman thanked Councillor Lilley for all the help and support he had given her in his role as Vice Chairman for the last year.

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

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

c)             To note the Annual reports of individual Councillors.

The Leader congratulated the Chairman and Vice Chairman for their appointments. She advised that there would be a restructure of the Cabinet which would be circulated as soon as it was available.

A question was raised regarding the Island Deal and how this was being pursued, the Leader advised that she would continue to fight for more funding for the Island.

The Leader was asked to give thanks to the team at 1leisure for the work being carried out supporting island residents to turn their health around, the Leader thanked the team for all the work they had undertaken and acknowledged that she understood how it was changing lives.

A question was raised regarding the community wealth building initiative and hoped that any restructure threads through the community wealth building, the Leader thanked Cllr Quigley for all his work and once the restructure was completed she would keep this in mind.

The Leader was asked how many affordable and low cost rental homes had been delivered in the last four months and how many they expect to be delivered in the next 12 months. She stated that a written response would be provided.

Councillors asked for information regarding development projects within the next year for island residents, and were advised that it took time to bring projects forward. A further question was asked regarding working with Vectis Housing Association to provide housing, The Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Digital Transformation, Housing, Homelessness and Poverty advised that conversations were ongoing with Vectis Housing Association.

The Leader advised that the Cabinet was not bringing the Draft Island Planning Strategy forward at this time. Changes to National Planning Policy and transitional arrangements had not been confirmed and published by the Government. Once this had been done and the implications understood on local plan making, the Cabinet would report to Full Council how it proposes to progress with the draft local plan.

19 July 2023

20 September 2023

15 November 2023

17 January 2024

28 February 2024 (Budget)

20 March 2024

15 May 2024 (Annual)

RESOLVED:

THAT the following dates be approved:

19 July 2023

20 September 2023

15 November 2023

17 January 2024

28 February 2024 (Budget)

20 March 2024

15 May 2024 (Annual)

Following the publication of the Revised appendix one further nominations had been received and a further updated version was circulated to Councillors at the meeting (attached to and forming part of these minutes).

The following nominations for Chairman of Committees were put forward and duly seconded without being contested and appointments duly

RESOLVED:

Audit Committee – Councillor A Garratt

Appeals Committee – Councillor I Dore

Corporate Scrutiny – Councillor J Robertson

Harbour Committee – Councillor P Jordan

Investigating and Disciplinary Committee – Councillor D Andre

Licensing Committee – Councillor G Peace

IW Pension Fund Committee – Councillor C Jarman

Planning Committee – Councillor W Drew

Councillor R Quigley and Councillor S Ellis were separately moved and seconded for the position of Chairman for Policy and Scrutiny Committee for Children’s Services, Education and Skills following a vote it was:

RESOLVED:

THAT Councillor R Quigley be appointed Chairman for Policy and Scrutiny Committee for Children’s Services, Education and Skills.

Councillor M Lilley and Councillor J Nicholson were separately moved and seconded for the position of Chairman for Policy and Scrutiny Committee for Health and Social Care. The vote was tied and in accordance with Part 4B, section 10 (Voting) the Chairman used her casting vote and it was:

RESOLVED:

THAT Councillor M Lilley be appointed Chairman for Policy and Scrutiny Committee for Health and Social Care.

Councillor N Stuart and Councillor M Beston were separately moved and seconded for the position of Chairman for Policy and Scrutiny for Neighbourhoods and Regeneration, following a vote it was:

RESOLVED:

THAT Councillor N Stuart be appointed Chairman for Policy and Scrutiny for Neighbourhoods and Regeneration.

The following nominations for Vice Chairman of Committees were made and duly seconded following a vote it was:

RESOLVED:

THAT the following be appointed to the role of Vice Chairman for the following Committees:

RESOLVED:

Appeals Committee – Councillor J Bacon

Appointments and Employment Committee – Councillor J Robertson

Audit Committee – Councillor V Churchman

Corporate Scrutiny Committee – Councillor P Spink

Harbour Committee – Councillor G Peace

Investigating and Disciplinary Committee – Councillor W Drew

Licensing Committee – Councillor I Ward

IW Pension Fund Committee – Councillor V Churchman

Planning Committee – Councillor C Quirk

Policy and Scrutiny Committee for Children’s Services, Education and Skills – Councillor S Ellis

Policy and Scrutiny Committee for Health and Social Care – Councillor J Nicholson

Policy and Scrutiny Committee for Neighbourhoods and Regeneration – Councillor J Lever

RESOLVED:

1.             THAT the existing committees be reappointed with no changes to their size or terms of reference except that the Audit Committee shall be renamed the Audit and Governance Committee.

2.             THAT the political proportionality review and arrangements be formally approved, with the membership of the Harbour Committee being seven elected councillors, two of which should be Cabinet portfolio members.

3.             THAT the appointments set out in Appendix 1 (as amended) be approved.

4.             THAT the Director of Corporate Services be granted delegated authority to declare any vacancy in the office of councillor under  ...  view the full minutes text for item 8a

Councillor M Lilley advised that he would step down from the Pension Board. Council agreed to provide nominations to a future meeting of Council.

A vote was taken, and the result of which was:

RESOLVED:

1.             THAT the council appointments as set out in the Appendix 1 to this report (as revised) be approved.

2.             THAT the appointments made or to be made by the Leader of the Cabinet in respect of executive appointments as listed in Appendix 2 to this report (as revised) be noted.

THAT nominations for representatives for external organisations (who make the appointments) as contained in Appendix 3 to this report (as revised) be agreed in so far as those organisations are relevant to the exercise of council functions.

Full Council agrees to establish a politically proportionate 'Future Governance Working Group' to make recommendations to Full Council January 2024 regarding moving to a Committee system of governance (including the future Committee structure, decision-making powers, etc.). The intention being to recommend for approval a formal resolution to that meeting to bring about such a change in governance with effect on and from the Annual Council 2024.

The Future Governance Working Group shall consist of ten councillors, namely any 4 councillors from the Alliance Group, any 4 councillors from the Conservative Group, any 1 councillor from the Liberal Democrat Group, and any 1 non-aligned councillor, plus staff support.

Its terms of reference are to develop a new Committee system of governance for the Isle of Wight Council and to make recommendations for its implementation to Full Council.

In so doing, the Future Governance Working Group shall, amongst other things, consider how other local authorities have made a transition back to the Committee system of governance model and what lessons can be learnt from that experience, and shall consider examples of best practice, to inform those recommendations.

Councillor Brodie moved the following amended motion:

Full Council agrees to establish a politically proportionate 'Future Governance Working Group' to make recommendations to Full Council January 2024 regarding moving to a Committee system of governance (including the future Committee structure, decision-making powers, etc.). The intention being to recommend for approval a formal resolution to that meeting to bring about such a change in governance with effect on and from the Annual Council 2024.

 The Future Governance Working Group shall consist of ten councillors, namely any 3 councillors from the Alliance Group, any 4 councillors from the Conservative Group, any 1 councillor from the Empowering Islanders Group, any 1 councillor from the Liberal Democrat Group, and any 1 non-aligned councillor, plus staff support.

 Its terms of reference are to develop a new Committee system of governance for the Isle of Wight Council and to make recommendations for its implementation to Full Council.

In so doing, the Future Governance Working Group shall, amongst other things, consider how other local authorities have made a transition back to the Committee system of governance model and what lessons can be learnt from that experience, and shall consider examples of best practice, to inform those recommendations.

The Chairman advised that under Part 4A Procedure Rule 10 of the Council’s Constitution, she had determined that as the subject matter would have financial implications it would be considered further and referred without discussion to the Cabinet.

RESOLVED:

THAT the motion be referred to Cabinet.

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, 11 May 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 P Brading submitted a written question. The Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Digital Transformation, Housing, Homeless and Poverty provided a written response. (MQ 04/23).

Cllr V Churchman asked how the Authority were addressing developer commitment to building affordable houses on the island, The Cabinet Member for Planning and Enforcement advised that affordable homes were a corporate priority, government had recognised the importance of building affordable homes for local people.

Cllr P Spink asked for confirmation that Planning Committee members were entitled to vote against officer recommendations provided it is based on material planning considerations, that the possibility of an appeal was not a material planning consideration and that any form of action should not be taken against the councillor concerned. The Cabinet Member for Planning and Enforcement agreed to provide a written response.

Cllr C Mosdell asked when the speeding review feedback would be available. The Cabinet Member for Infrastructure, Highways PFI and Transport advised that it was due after the summer

Cllr C Mosdell asked a supplementary question for the list of hot spot sites to be provided so that town, parish and community councils could ensure specific roads had been included. The Cabinet Member advised that the information would not be provided.

Cllr G Brodie asked if the Cabinet Member would agree that the problems experienced by Planning Authority over the last two years had almost disappeared with the formation of the new group and membership of the committee. The Cabinet Member responded that he was not sure.

Cllr V Churchman asked if the appointed councillors to the Parking And Traffic Outside of London (PATROL) had attended any meetings in the last two years. They both advised that they had been unable to attend any. Cllr Churchman advised that she would be happy to attend on their behalf. The Cabinet Member for Infrastructure, Highways PFI and Transport was happy for her to attend on his behalf.

Cllr A Garratt asked if the Cabinet Member could confirm if there was a list of hotspots for the speeding review. The Cabinet Member advised that there was no list to provide. A supplementary question was asked to go back to officers to request such a list. The Cabinet Member advised there was no list in process of a review and collating data into a report.

Cllr M Price asked if the town, parish and community councils could be provided with the roads or areas that had been assessed to ensure areas had not been missed. The Cabinet Member for Infrastructure, Highways PFI and Transport advised much of the review had been carried out under the scope set out before the review commenced.

Cllr I Ward asked the Cabinet member if he recalled when they worked together to develop housing policy to build more housing it was met with opposition, and one cannot build what one does not have planning permission for. The Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Digital Transformation, Housing, Homeless and Poverty agreed. The Cabinet Member for  ...  view the full minutes text for item 11.