Agenda and minutes

To confirm as a true record the Minutes of the meeting held on 22 February 2023.

RESOLVED:

THAT the minutes of the meeting held on 22 February 2023 be approved subject to the word Social to be changed to Stroke in the final paragraph of Minute 41.

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

Please note that the Monitoring Officer on 12 January 2022 granted all councillors a four year full dispensation under section 33 (2) of the Localism Act 2011 to remain in the meeting room and to speak and to vote on any report (including recommendations) of the Independent Remuneration Panel relating to any members’ allowance scheme proposed for the Isle of Wight Council, and to remain in the meeting room and to speak and vote on whether or not to make and approve (with or without any amendments) any members allowance scheme (including payments and allowances), notwithstanding the existence of any disclosable pecuniary interest(s). For clarity this dispensation is intended to be wide and covers any item of business relating to members’ allowance scheme and includes remaining, speaking and voting on any indexation provision linked to local authority staff pay, at national level or otherwise.

There were no declarations received at this stage.

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, 10 March 2023.

Mr B Hardy had submitted a writtenpublic question on behalf of the Youth Council (PQ-13-23).

To receive the Chairman’s official announcements.

The Chairman advised that she had attended various events over the last few week’s which included a ceremony for the new ArchDeacon in Ryde and a flag raising event to mark International Woman’s Day at County Hall. She had also attended a citizen ceremony held at Seaclose offices and had been invited to the Isle of Wight athletics club AGM and prize giving as the patron.

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 her report and advised that since her report was published The Living Well and Early Help services had won Gold at the 2023 Local Government Chronical Awards.

A question was asked regarding future delivery of social housing on the Island by the administration, the Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Digital Transformation, Housing, Homelessness and Poverty advised that conversations were being held with rental providers, he advised that a full written response would be provided.

Thanks were given to Steve Crocker and Brian Pope who were retiring soon, for the work they had undertaken for the Authority, Thanks were also given to Paul Thistlewood the Council’s Statutory Scrutiny Officer who was also retiring at the end of the month.

It was noted that International Women’s Day had been acknowledged by the authority and the Leader was asked how to encourage women into the roles, the Leader advised that she was pleased to see two young ladies from the Youth Council in the public gallery and hoped to inspire young people into democracy.

The Leader was asked if it would be practical to ringfence income generated by the council to fund anti-poverty initiatives.  The Leader asked if Cllr Garratt could email the Section 151 Officer.

The Leader introduced the report highlighting a decision that was made under the Special Urgency Provision.

RESOLVED

That this report be noted.

The Monitoring Officer advised Full Council that the Independent Remuneration Panel (IRP) had been consulted on the recommendations and these were in line with what the IRP had agreed.

It was noted that the scheme agreed the previous year had included an indexation provision which enabled changes in line with the National staff pay awards to be made. Negotiations for the 2023/24 pay award were ongoing and following any decision the IRP would be consulted.

Concern was raised regarding the current budget position and the level of increase in the previous year.

It was noted that the Monitoring Officer had granted on 12 January 2022 all councillors a four-year dispensation under Section 33 (2) of the Localism Act 2011 to take part and vote in respect of the Members’ Allowance Scheme and associated matters.

The recommendations were duly seconded and a vote was taken, the result of which was:

RESOLVED:

1.             THAT the Isle of Wight Council Members’ Allowance Scheme (‘the Scheme’) be approved to take effect on and from 1 April 2023, with the basic allowance for 2023/2024 being the existing amount for 2022/2023 of £8,832 plus an annual indexation amount for 2023/2024 (if any agreed nationally) under the terms of the Scheme.

THAT, before implementation of any adjustment to the 2023/2024 basic allowance amount and any adjustments for subsequent years up to and including 2025/2026, the Independent Remuneration Panel be consulted.

The Cabinet Member for Strategic Finance, Transformational Change and Corporate Resources presented the report seeking to use the authority’s discretion for War Disablement and War Widow’s pensions.

RESOLVED

THAT Full Council delegates future minor changes or reviews to this scheme to the Cabinet Member for Strategic Finance, Transformational Change and Corporate Resources in consultation with the Benefits Manager (Option C).

The Cabinet Member for Strategic Finance, Transformational Change and Corporate Resources introduced the item. He advised that the Levelling Up Bill was currently going through Parliament, noted that all conditions requested 12 months’ notice prior to implementation, and stated that the reports sets out the Council’s intention to implement.

Concern was raised that the item was potentially misleading, and the rationale for the figure being set at this stage was asked for. The following amendment was proposed and duly seconded. A vote was taken the result of which was:

RESOLVED

That Full Council declares its intention to implement and approve the additional council tax premiums, to be applied from 01 April 2024, or as soon thereafter as possible, subject to the legislation being in place with a figure to be determined for such premiums.

A motion to move to the next item of business was proposed and duly seconded, in accordance with the Council’s Constitution (Part 4B – Procedure Rules Governing how Full Council, Cabinet, Committees, Sub-Committees and Boards Operate section Rules of Debate) this was immediately put to the vote the result of which was:

RESOLVED

THAT the motion fell

Following debate on the substantive motion in accordance with the Council’s Constitution (Part 4B – Procedure Rules Governing how Full Council, Cabinet, Committees, Sub Committees and Boards Operate section Voting) a named vote was requested by four Councillors, a named vote was taken the result of which was:

For (19)

Cllrs P Brading, G Brodie, V Churchman, W Drew, S Ellis, S Hendry, A Garratt, J Nicholson, M Oliver, T Outlaw, G Peace, M Price, R Quigley, C Quirk, R Redrup, J Robertson, P Spink, N Stuart, I Ward

Against (12)

Cllrs D Andre, R Downer, P Fuller, C Jarman, J Jones-Evans, P Jordan, J Lever, M Lilley, K Lucioni, J Medland, L Peacey Wilcox, I Stephens

Abstain (1)

Cllr C Critchison

RESOLVED:

That Full Council declares its intention to implement and approve the additional council tax premiums, to be applied from 01 April 2024, or as soon thereafter as possible, subject to the legislation being in place with a figure to be determined for such premiums.

In light of eligibility of free school meals has risen by 63% over the last 4 years on Isle of Wight and eligibility of free school meals being an indicator of child poverty:

Isle of Wight Council resolves to reaffirm its motion of 16th January 2019, to reduce child poverty on the Isle of Wight over 5 years up to 2028, through  development of a specific child poverty reduction strategy with targets  and outcomes. 

Councillor M Lilley moved the following motion which was duly seconded:

In light of eligibility of free school meals has risen by 63% over the last 4 years on Isle of Wight and eligibility of free school meals being an indicator of child poverty:

Isle of Wight Council resolves to reaffirm its motion of 16th January 2019, to reduce child poverty on the Isle of Wight over 5 years up to 2028, through  development of a specific child poverty reduction strategy with targets  and outcomes. 

Following debate a vote was taken the results were as follows:

RESOLVED:

THAT the Isle of Wight Council resolves to reaffirm its motion of 16th January 2019, to reduce child poverty on the Isle of Wight over 5 years up to 2028, through  development of a specific child poverty reduction strategy with targets  and outcomes.

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, 9 March 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 Cabinet Member for Levelling up, Regeneration, Business Development and Tourism provided a written response. (MQ 03/23).