Agenda and minutes

Venue: Virtual (MS Teams)

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

Media

Items
No. Item

30.

Minutes pdf icon PDF 238 KB

To confirm as a true record the Minutes of the meeting held on 18 November 2020.

Minutes:

RESOLVED:

 

That the minutes of the meeting held on 18 November 2020 be approved.

31.

Declarations of Interest

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

Minutes:

Councillor Lilley declared an interest in minute 35.1 as his wife was an employee of the Isle of Wight Council, he also declared an interest in minute 37.1 as he was the Chairman of the Voluntary Sector Forum.

 

Councillor Stewart declared an interest in minute 35.1 as he had a family member working at a school on the Island.

32.

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 5pm on Friday, 15 January 2021.

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Name

Subject

Comment

Mr G Wilks

What steps would the Isle of Wight Council take to ensure Island Roads adopted the Government’s Local Transport Note 120 and the Gear Change guidelines, to promote walking and cycling?

The Cabinet Member provided a written response (PQ 10/21)

Mr P Couselant

How many prospective partners remain involved in the Dinosaur Isle procurement process

The Cabinet Member provided a written response (PQ 11/21)

Mr B Blezzard

The upcoming local elections, would postal vote applications be sent out with council tax letters and what safety measures are proposed to protect the public and staff

The Cabinet Member provided a written response (PQ 12/21)

 

33.

Chairman's Official Announcements pdf icon PDF 398 KB

To receive the Chairman’s official announcements.

Minutes:

A written report had been circulated for information. The Chairman advised of an error contained within the report, he clarified that Island Roads had donated £73,000 in community grants.

34.

Leaders Update Report pdf icon PDF 483 KB

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

 

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

Minutes:

The Leader expressed his thanks to the Island community for their response to the pandemic.

 

A new Coastal community Strategy was being developed, this would encompass the Island’s holiday tourism offer to enhance beach safety and using government funding to protect our coastal community from flooding. The procurement process for Dinosaur Isle was in the final stages.

 

Questions were raised regarding the ferry companies’ operation, the Leader advised that government funding had been extended to include the ferry companies, dialogue was ongoing with these companies these conversations would continue.

 

The Leader advised that government had decided to change timetable for the fair funding review to 2023/24. It was acknowledged that there was a significant challenge in funding, reserves had helped in recent times, and keeping people safe had been a priority. A letter had been sent to government regarding the Island deal, the Island’s MP had asked a question in the House of Commons, and a meeting would be arranged.

 

A question was asked if now was the time to provide more focus on new small businesses and focus regeneration rather than the larger schemes which could take longer periods of time to achieve. The Leader advised that small business funding grant money had been successfully distributed as quickly as possible and the investment made in Venture Quays had proved successful in recent months.

 

The Leader informed members that an update on the current reserves the authority had would be contained within the budget report due to be considered next month.

 

RESOLVED:

 

THAT the Leaders update report be noted.

35.

Report of the Cabinet Member for Corporate Resources

35a

Pay Policy pdf icon PDF 335 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Cabinet Member for Corporate Resources presented the report to adopt the pay policy for the financial year 2021-2022 prior to its publication. A number of amendments since the previous pay policy had been agreed, these were outlined in the report and the policy attached.

 

Concern was raised during the debate regarding the difference in salary between the higher and lower paid staff within the authority and the duty to ensure people could achieve a reasonable way of life. The Cabinet Member suggested that if one went to any major business where the number of employees were such as the councils the spread would probably be the same and stated that the number of part time employees were not shown. A vote was taken and the result of which were as follows:

 

RESOLVED:

 

THAT the Pay Policy be adopted as drafted.

35b

Local Council Tax Support pdf icon PDF 378 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Cabinet Member for Corporate Resources presented the report on the Local Tax Support Scheme and outlined the proposed changes, 286 residents had responded to the consultation. There had been no increase in the amount of funding received by the authority. There was a hardship scheme available for residents to apply for.

 

The following amendment to the motion was presented by Cllr Garratt and duly seconded.

 

That Full Council agree the following:

   A local scheme that is the same as the existing scheme currently in place for 2020/21 and to bridge the level of funding gap currently estimated at £3.23 million, which will need to be met from reducing other council services.

 

   To implement a local scheme that varies certain elements of the existing scheme so that the CTS scheme continues to bring the working age CTS scheme in line with housing benefit and the pensionable age CTS scheme changes proposed by central government.

 

And agrees that:

 

   The Local Council Tax Reduction (Support) Scheme for 2021/2022 be adopted as set out from a combination of changes contained as option two and six of the report and the LCTS scheme policy as set out in Appendix 4 as follows:

 

(i)     To retain a LCTS scheme for working age council taxpayers that is deemed affordable.

(ii)    To maintain the current maximum support at 70 per cent.

(iii)    To remove the blanket protection given to applicants with certain benefits and other forms of income and to treat these the same as other working age applicants while still ignoring these benefits but allowing for a £50 income disregard from the calculation.

(iv)   To continue to ignore carer’s allowance in the calculation for those looking after a person who is ill or disabled.

(v)    To continue to provide the current level of earnings disregarded of £25.

(vi)   To continue to provide the current non-dependant deduction rate of £2 for each non-dependant in a household.

(vii)   Disregarding the housing element of Universal Credit to bring this in line with housing benefit cases which would treat both in the same way.

(viii)  Continue to provide an exceptional hardship fund that would require individual applications and take into account individual circumstances including the claimant’s income and essential outgoings to assist those that are deemed to be in ‘genuine hardship’ and receive additional assistance based on need.

 

     That given the overall additional cost of circa £28,000, the recommendations be referred back to Cabinet to determine if savings of an equivalent sum can be made

 

Following debate, a vote was taken on the amendment the result of which was that the amendment fell.

 

Following debate on the substantive motion, a vote was taken and it was:

 

RESOLVED:

 

THAT Council agreed to the following:

 

To implement a local scheme that varies certain elements of the existing scheme so that the CTS scheme continues to bring the working age CTS scheme in line with housing benefit and the pensionable age CTS scheme changes proposed by central government.

 

And  ...  view the full minutes text for item 35b

36.

Appointments to Committees pdf icon PDF 304 KB

To receive a report from the Monitoring Officer.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Cabinet Member for Corporate Resources advised that a revision to Appendix A had been circulated prior to the meeting. The report was to confirm and appoint members and substitutes to Committees.

 

The Monitoring Officer informed members that a Final Appendix A was also circulated replacing the revised version. Attached and forming part of these minutes.

 

It was felt important to have the right councillors with the right skills on the right committees and some concern was raised regarding the rules around allocating members especially to the Audit Committee.

 

RESOLVED:

 

      I.         THAT those nominated by the respective political groups to their allocated seats as contained in Final Appendix A be confirmed and appointed.

 

    II.         THAT any unallocated seats those named ungrouped councillors as contained in Final Appendix A be confirmed and appointed.

 

   III.         THAT named substitutes as contained in Final  Appendix A be confirmed and appointed.

37.

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

37a

By Councillor Michael Lilley

This Council recognises the huge commitment by residents Island-wide in volunteering to support the community and most vulnerable in 2020 during and throughout Covid-19.

 

In recognition of this important community involvement the Council will work Islandwide with Town and Parish Councils, voluntary sector and the 26 IW Covid-19 Community Response Hubs in establishing an IW 100 Citizens assembly to discuss the recovery and rebuilding of the Island post Covid-19. This assembly to be truly representative of the diverse Island Community representing age, gender, geography, diversity, disability and social-economic sections of our community.

 

Please note there will be minimal if any financial implication as there is existing funding through a community resilience network with a network of community resilience coordinators at Community Action IW (CAIW).

Minutes:

Cllr Lilley moved the following motion which was duly seconded:

 

“This Council recognises the huge commitment by residents Island-wide in volunteering to support the community and most vulnerable in 2020 during and through out Covid-19.

 

In recognition of this important community involvement the Council will work Islandwide with Town and Parish Councils, voluntary sector and the 26 IW Covid19 Community Response Hubs in establishing an IW 100 Citizens‘ assembly to discuss the recovery and rebuilding of the Island post Covid19. This assembly to be truly representative of the diverse Island community representing age, gender, geography, diversity, disability and social-economic sections of our community.”

 

Please note there will be minimal if any financial implications as there is existing funding through a community resilience network with a network of community resilience coordinators at Community Action IW (CAIW.

 

A vote was taken and the results were as follows:

 

RESOLVED:

 

THAT the motion fell.

38.

Member Question Time of the Leader (30 minutes)

A question must be submitted in writing or by electronic mail to Democratic Services no later than 5pm on Thursday, 14 January 2021.

Minutes:

Name

Subject

Comment

Cllr Gary Peace

Were the works carried out at St Mary’s described as a complete success and what were the next steps?

There had been a number of positive feedback regarding the new junction and St George’s was the next step and discussions were already taking place. A presentation to Newport and Carisbrooke Community Council would be made.

Cllr Ian Stephens

Will town and Parish Councils affected by the beach safety measures be awarded more money?

Discussions had taken place with local Town and Parish Councils regarding beach safety and costs were being looked at.

Cllr Ian Stephens

Coastal management and soil erosion what plans for the future

The Leader advised that he would get officers to provide the information

Cllr Julie Jones-Evans

New proposals for permitted development were very worrying. Schools, colleges, prisons and hospitals could increase in size by 25% this could be a problem on the Island.

The Leader advised he would provide a written response.

Cllr Reg Barry

How long before a major road (St Mary’s roundabout) is upgraded is it deemed a success or not?

Comments received have indicated residents were satisfied with the improvements.

Cllr Michael Lilley

With the new algorithm taking effect, when will we know the number of housing numbers for the Island?   

The Leader advised that the right houses in the right places were needed and would like to see every Islander with their own homes, this was work in progress.