To invite Cabinet Members to provide a brief update on matters concerning their portfolio.
Minutes:
The Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Business Development had spent a busy few weeks familiarising herself with the detail of her new portfolio. She had been working with officers, Visit Isle of Wight and training providers to address the shortage of staff in the tourism and hospitality sector. In the short term, actions would be job fairs, free short courses for upskilling and the promotion of opportunities for older people. In the medium to longer term there was to be an Island Skills Plan coming to Cabinet for consideration shortly. Later in the week a bid was to be submitted to the Levelling Up Fund for a £7 million package of projects in the East Cowes area, including the improvement of marine-side infrastructure and to transform the public realm, including a harbour viewing platform at East Cowes Esplanade.
The Cabinet member for Children’s Services, Education and Skills reported on the decision to halt the closure of Chillerton and Rookley school and expressed disappointment that the news had been leaked to the media before parents could be informed. Work was taking place with staff to draw up a paper with a range of options to go out for prior consultation with parents, before coming to Cabinet. Due to the Queen’s Jubilee in 2022 the school term times for 2021/22 would have to be slightly amended, however this should not prejudice any arrangements that parents may already have made. The Cabinet Member had asked staff to revisit term dates for 2022/23 and this would be considered at the next meeting of Cabinet in July.
The Cabinet Member for Environment, Heritage and Waste Management reported that with regard to Dinosaur Isle, he and Councillor Jones-Evans were addressing the situation as a matter of urgency. With regard to waste, a fly tipping task and finish group had been mentioned prior to the election and this group would now be brought together to deal with fly tipping issues. Officers had been tasked with a programme to deal with litter in the island’s tourist areas this summer. He was conscious that litter would be an issue and wanted to do everything possible to minimise problems. The Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan would be coming forward for decisions on adoption fairly soon.
The Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care, Public Health and Housing Needs expressed thanks to The Director of Adult Social Care and her team for work in bringing him up to speed in recent weeks. The work done by carers in the voluntary sector and in-house throughout the pandemic was recognised. The Cabinet member issued a plea to people visiting the island to take a COVID test before arriving to avoid bringing the virus to the island.
Cllr Stephens would be assisting with the portfolio in taking on the social care housing element. The portfolio was too big for one person to do a really good job, and Cllr Stephens long experience as a Councillor was welcomed. It was still early days in the role and the Cabinet member would be taking a deep dive into the financial matters that affect public health, housing and social care, with support from Cllr Jarman and the ASC team. No big decisions would be made about anything at this point but the Cabinet Member gave an assurance that he would be as inclusive and transparent as possible.
The Cabinet Member for Infrastructure and Transport reported that a speed review was currently being undertaken on the island. No decisions would be made on specific 20mph zones until the strategic review was completed.
The Cabinet Member for Strategic Finance, Transformational Change and Resources acknowledged that the Council’s finances had been stressed for some time, with additional challenges brought by COVID. The past weeks had been spent familiarising himself with the council’s accounting and processes and questioning the existing financial plan and sources of revenue and debt. He had also been assisting other members with the financial aspect of their portfolios. There was a commitment to openness and transparency including the council’s financial status going forward. Key to successful regeneration on the island, wellness of residents and viability of businesses would be driving inbound incremental revenue and investments.