Agenda item

To invite Cabinet Members to provide a brief update on matters concerning their portfolio.

The Cabinet Member for Children’s Services, Education and Skills reported that through the Winter Grants funding scheme the council was about to relaunch the Connect 4 Communities grants. The council had given out 10 grants previously totalling £56,600. A grant pot of £145,000 was available for small groups to apply for funding to help families and young children at this time.

800 laptops had been supplied in the summer term for vulnerable children. Another 780 laptops would be delivered imminently, to ensure that every child had access to IT to home educate. Parents could contact their child’s school for assistance.

The annual report was presented on the partnership with Hampshire Children’s Services which had been in place since 2013. A good deal of progress had been made. A further five years had been agreed from 2018. Hampshire were outstanding in all areas and were bringing their experience to the island. The council was working towards becoming outstanding with Hampshire’s help. Staff had worked well during the pandemic to ensure business as usual.

The report would be included in the next Quarterly Performance Management Report. Other members would then have the opportunity to ask questions.

The paper was noted and thanks expressed to colleagues by the chairman.

The Cabinet Member for Community Safety and Digital Transformation reported that Ventnor Town Council had asked him to pass on thanks to council officers for the transfer of gardens from IW Council to Ventnor TC.

It was hoped that the LeBlanc cycle race/food extravaganza which was to be held at the end of 2020 would now be held from 23 – 25 April 2021. Several famous cyclists would be attending.

Cowes Week would be 5G powered in 2021 with cameras on many boats. Spectators and fans could log on and become immersed. This fitted with the Digital Island Strategy and superfast fibre rollout which would put the island on the map with one of the fastest broadband in the world, enabling the council to push forward the digital agenda.

Environmental Health and police had issued the first COVID lockdown fines on 10 January against the operators of a gym in Ryde for operating outside COVID rules.

It was recognised that consideration should be given to those who cannot work at home such as certain tradespeople. There should be extra measures e.g. more lateral testing in place. The council would be looking into what could be done to support them.

The Cabinet Member for Business and Regeneration reported that the Regeneration team continued to move projects forward. Branstone Farm development was moving forward. Planning had been obtained and funding confirmed from the Local Enterprise Partnership and Homes England and was well underway.

A film company had filmed at the Barracks in summer. The council had enabled Rapanui to expand their business into the Albany building. The team had prepared a bid for the government’s Levelling Up fund. East Cowes volunteers had improved East Cowes Esplanade around the landslip area ready to provide better amenity and seating areas later in the year. This was a good community project in action.

There were four different business grants available, details of which were on the council’s website.

The Cabinet Member for Resources reported that staff in the Revenues department had been processing business loans and had received an email of thanks for their support and efficiency from an IW business.

The Cabinet Member for Environment, Heritage and Waste Management reported that he had recently taken on responsibility for beaches and had been looking at enforcement of rules around personal water craft. A coastal community forum had been established and would be meeting on 25 January. He had spoken to his counterpart in Bournemouth and would be sharing views. Consideration would be given to joining the LGA forum with the aim to get a uniform policy through other local authorities.

The Chairman extended an offer to interested people who deliver the seaside offer to visitors to become involved and looked forward to updates in the future.

The Cabinet Member for Planning and Housing reported that in order to increase transparency there was now more information being provided to the public around the receipt and spending of Section 106 payments which come from developers via Planning. These could help bring forward specific projects to mitigate the impacts of new developments. New software had been obtained which could provide information in real time to the public. Town and Parish Councils would be able to engage with the council over the collection and expenditure of these payments.

The Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care, Public Health & Housing Needs reported that demand on services was increasing due to COVID-19.. The workforce had been affected due to isolation and illness. Providers were struggling to maintain capacity and safe services and the council was working closely with all partners.

The NHS Trust had opened a vaccination hub to front line workforce including carers, council and private care workers, which would help to reduce workforce challenges. The Housing Needs service had continued to support rough sleepers. There had been none in the previous two weeks.

The Local Outreach and Reablement and Shared Lives services had received their first CQC inspections following registration and both had achieved a good result.

Following a lengthy procurement process three new locality home care providers had been appointed, which ould change the way the council commissioned support for people in their own homes from February 2021.

New strategies for dementia, carers and Learning Disabilities were in progress in consultation with key stakeholders. All three strategies would be launched in due course.

Congratulations were expressed to Laura Gaudion, Assistant Director for Commissioning being awarded the British Empire Medal and thanks given to all staff in the whole council for all they were doing at this time.

The Leader thanked his Cabinet team for their strong leadership throughout this time, and the media for publishing the latest information regarding the pandemic. News was awaited in terms of funding support for the island’s lifeline ferries. The Leader was preparing for a meeting with government, with the island’s MP and the Chief Executive regarding the Island Deal.

There was a good relationship with Town and Parish Councils at present and the Leader thanked them also for their determination to do the best for the island.