Agenda and minutes

Venue: Virtual (MS Teams)

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

Media

Items
No. Item

10.

To elect a Chairman of the Council for the ensuing year.

Minutes:

The Vice Chairman took the chair for this item.

 

The names of Councillor George Cameron and Councillor Shirley Smart were separately moved and seconded. However, Councillor Smart declined to accept the nomination. Following the vote, it was

 

RESOLVED:

 

THAT Councillor George Cameron be elected Chairman for the ensuing year.

 

Councillor Cameron thanked Members for their support and appointed Archdeacon Peter Leonard as the Chairman’s Chaplain and Sue Morgan as Consort.

11.

To elect a Vice Chairman of the Council for the ensuing year.

Minutes:

Councillor Shirley Smart was proposed and seconded as Vice Chairman of the Council. There were no further nominations. Following the vote, it was:

 

RESOLVED:

 

THAT Councillor Shirley Smart be elected Vice Chairman for the ensuing Council year.

12.

Minutes pdf icon PDF 240 KB

To confirm as a true record the Minutes of the meeting held on

 

Minutes:

RESOLVED:

 

THAT the minutes of the meeting held on 15 July 2020 be approved.

13.

Declarations of Interest

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

 

Minutes:

Councillor Michael Lilley declared a non-pecuniary interest in minute number 19 as he was a director/trustee of Wight Community Energy social enterprise.

14.

Chairman's Official Announcements pdf icon PDF 289 KB

To receive the Chairman’s official announcements

Minutes:

A written report had been circulated for information. The Chairman advised that there was an error contained in his report the Archdeacon would represent him as chaplain.

 

RESOLVED:

 

THAT the Chairman’s official announcements be noted.

15.

Leaders Annual Report pdf icon PDF 6 MB

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

 

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

Minutes:

The Leader presented the annual report for 2019/20 the report reflected the achievements made in the last year and ambitions for the year ahead, which included keeping people safe during this time. The achievements in each Cabinet Member’s portfolio were also included in the report.

 

Questions were raised requesting the report cover all aspects of council business, including matters that had not gone well, the report also contained a number of acronyms, the Leader advised that he would be happy to work with others to improve the layout of the report. Members had concerns regarding the number of telephone calls being made to the contact centre had fallen during the last few months, it was advised by the Cabinet Member that people were using online services more.

 

Current consultation on the planning White paper, concerning issues arising, and asked what the Cabinet member was doing regarding some of the proposals included. The Leader advised that regular meetings had taken place with Planning officers and the MP regarding this issue.

 

The Leader advised that a covid-19 Recovery Plan was now in place outlining key areas such as wellbeing and economic recovery, Venture Quays had now been acquired and investment in new employment was being sought. Major events were being progressed which would provide employment for residents. The Isle help one stop shop based in County Hall reception was due to be expanded. Many residents needed face to face contact and the Leader was asked when it would be available. The Leader advised that Covid-19 had not gone away and as such it would be provided as soon as possible given the current restrictions.

16.

Appointments, Allowances and Proportionality Issues pdf icon PDF 312 KB

To consider the report of the Monitoring Officer.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Chairman asked for agreement to suspend Procedure Rule 15, to allow members to speak more than once on matters contained within the report. A vote was taken the result of which was as follows:

 

RESOLVED:

 

THAT Procedure Rule 15 be suspended for this item.

 

Members considered the report of the Monitoring Officer which included Committee proportionality, members allowances and member absences that exceeded six months.

 

Appointments to External Bodies and Political Proportionality

 

The Chairman proposed acceptance of the proposed appointments to External Bodies and political proportionality which was duly seconded.

 

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

 

RESOLVED:

 

      I.         THAT Council agreed to make the appointments contained in Appendix B of the Monitoring Officers report.

 

    II.         THAT Council agreed the representation of different political groups on committees and sub committees contained in the revised Appendix C of the Monitoring Officers report.

 

Member’s Allowance Scheme

 

There was some discussion regarding the proposed 2.75% increase some members felt it was inappropriate to accept the increase given the current circumstances. It was noted that members had a choice if they accepted an allowance for the work they did as a councillor and that there was a need to attract people to stand as a councillor. Work as a councillor had not stopped during the pandemic.

 

An amendment to the proposal was moved and duly seconded.

 

THAT the members allowances for 2020/21 be frozen and the 2.75% not be applied to member allowances.

 

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

 

RESOLVED:

 

THAT the amendment fell.

 

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

 

RESOLVED:

 

THAT the Member’s Allowance Scheme for the years 2019/20 and 2020/21 contained in Appendix D of the Monitoring Officers report be adopted.

 

Approval of member absences that exceed six months

 

Concerns were raised about automatically extending the period of absence if a Councillor is unable to attend meetings. Members felt this should be reviewed on a case by case basis as it could set a precedent.

 

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

 

RESOLVED:

 

THAT the recommendation in the Monitoring Officers report, not be adopted.

 

Appointment of Chairman to Committees and Sub Committees

 

The Leader had provided a list of proposed appointments to Committees and sub committees which had been circulated to all members, he proposed that the list be voted on en bloc with the exception of the appointment of the Corporate Scrutiny Chairman, this was duly seconded.

 

The following alternative nominations were made and duly seconded:

 

Audit Committee – Councillor Reg Barry

Policy and Scrutiny Committee for Children’s Services, Education and Skills – Councillor Debbie Andre

Policy and Scrutiny Committee for Adult Social Care and Health – Councillor Michael Lilley

Policy and Scrutiny Committee for Neighbourhoods and regeneration – Councillor John Medland.

 

Councillors, Andre, Lilley and Medland duly declined the nominations.

 

A vote was taken to appoint Chairmen en bloc with the exception of Audit Committee and  ...  view the full minutes text for item 16.

17.

External Organisations Member Annual Reports pdf icon PDF 1 MB

To receive an annual report from Councillors nominated to represent the Isle of Wight Council on External Organisations.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Chairman advised that there were a number of reports received after the agenda was published (attached to and forming part of these minutes), outstanding reports would be collected and published in due course.

 

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

 

RESOLVED:

 

THAT the External Organisation Annual reports be noted

18.

To approve the following programme of ordinary Council meetings for the ensuing year

·       18 November 2020

·       20 January 2021

·       24 February 2021 (Budget Council)

·       26 May 2021

Minutes:

The proposed dates for future Council meetings, as listed on the agenda were considered and following the vote it was:

 

RESOLVED:

 

THAT the following dates be approved with a 5.00pm start

 

·       18 November 2020

·       20 January 2021

·       24 February 2021 (Budget Council)

·       26 May 2021 (Annual Council)

19.

Motions Submitted under Procedure Rule 11 of the Council's Constitution

i)               By Councillor Michael Lilley

 

                                 i.         Acknowledges the efforts that this council has made to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and promote renewable energy;

 

                                ii.         Further recognises

 

·       That very large financial setup and running costs involved in selling locally generated renewable electricity to local customers result in it being impossible for local renewable electricity generators to do so,

·       That making these financial costs proportionate to the scale of a renewable electricity supplier’s operation would enable and empower new local businesses, or councils, to be providers of locally generated renewable electricity directly to local customers, and

·       That revenues received by new local renewable electricity providers could be used to help improve the local economy, local services and facilities and to reduce local greenhouse gas emissions;

 

                               iii.         Accordingly resolves to support the Local Electricity Bill, supported by 187 MPs which, if made law, would establish a Right to Local Supply which would promote local renewable electricity supply companies and co-operatives by making the setup and running costs of selling renewable electricity to local customers proportionate to the size and the size of the supply operation; and

 

                              iv.         Further resolves to

 

·       Inform the local media of this decision,

·       Write to local MPs, asking them to support the Bill, and

·       Write to the organisers of the campaign for the Bill, Power for People, (at 8 Delancey Passage Camden, London NW1 7NN or info@powerforpeole.org.uk) expressing its support.

 

ii)              By Councillor John Medland

 

It has been estimated that as much as 40% of public service spending is on interventions that could have been avoided by prioritising a preventative approach to early years development.

 

The Wave Trust is an independent organisation whose 70/30 campaign seeks to bring about a 70 per cent reduction in child maltreatment by the year 2030. It proposes a preventative and integrated approach.

 

This strategy has been endorsed by members from across the Chamber and our Member of Parliament and has already been successfully applied in cities on the Mainland.

 

This council agrees to promote training in identifying childhood trauma and to use the learning and research on adverse childhood experience to inform change in practice.

 

Council commits to exploring the Wave Trust’s 70/30 approach to see what value this might add to the Council’s existing activities to prioritise children’s early years and give every child the best possible start in life.

 

Council will commission Early Years leaders and relevant partners to carry out a feasibility study of this approach for a local pilot project.     

 

iii)            By Councillor Julie Jones-Evans

 

This Council will put the wellbeing of residents at the heart of placemaking in our towns and villages.

Minutes:

By Councillor Michael Lilley

 

Cllr Lilley moved the following motion which was duly seconded:

 

      I.         Acknowledges the efforts that this council has made to reduce green house gas emissions and promote renewable energy;

    II.         Further recognises

 

·       That very large financial setup and running costs involved in selling locally generated renewable electricity to local customers result in it being impossible for local renewable electricity generators to do so,

·       That making these financial costs proportionate to the scale of a renewable electricity suppliers operation would enable and empower new local businesses, or councils to be providers of locally generated renewable electricity directly to local customers, and

·       That revenues received by new local renewable electricity providers could be used to help improve the local economy, local services and facilities and to reduce local greenhouse gas emissions;

 

   III.         Accordingly resolves to support the Local Electricity Bill, supported by 187 MPs which, if made law,  would establish a Right to Local Supply which would promote local renewable electricity supply companies and co-operatives by making the setup and running costs of selling renewable electricity to local customers proportionate to the size and the size of the supply operation; and

  IV.         Further resolves to

·       Inform the local media of this decision,

·       Write to local MPs, asking them to support the Bill, and

·       Write to the organisers of the campaign for the Bill, Power for the People, (at 8 Delancey Passage Camden, London, NW1 7NN or info@powerforpeople.org.uk) expressing support.

 

A vote was taken and the results were as follows:

 

RESOLVED:

 

THAT the motion fell

 

By Councillor John Medland

 

Councillor Medland moved the following motion which was duly seconded.

 

It has been estimated that as much as 40% of public service spending is on interventions that could have been avoided by prioritising a preventative approach to early years development.

 

The Wave Trust is an independent organisation whose 70/30 campaign seeks to bring about a 70 per cent reduction in child maltreatment by the year 2030. It proposes a preventative and integrated approach.

 

This strategy has been endorsed by members from across the Chamber and our Member of Parliament and has already been successfully applied in cities on the Mainland.

 

This council agrees to promote training in identifying childhood trauma and to use the learning and research on adverse childhood experience to inform change in practice.

 

Council commits to exploring the Wave Trust’s 70/30 approach to see what value this might add to the Council’s existing activities to prioritise children’s early years and give every child the best possible start in life.

 

Council will commission Early Years leaders and relevant partners to carry out a feasibility study of this approach for a local pilot project.

 

Councillor Paul Brading proposed the motion be amended as follows:

 

THAT this council, through the oversight of the Cabinet Member for Children’s Services Education and Skills, and the Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care, Public Health and Housing Needs, continues developing their relationship with the Wave Trust and their 70/30 approach, recognising the value  ...  view the full minutes text for item 19.

20.

Member Question Time of the Leader (30 minutes)

A question must be submitted by electronic mail to Democratic Services no later than 5pm on Thursday, 10 September 2020.