To invite Cabinet Members to provide a brief update on matters concerning their portfolio.
Minutes:
The Cabinet Member for Children’s Services, Education and Corporate Functions gave some clarification on a query which had been earlier raised by Cllr Jarman in relation to the minute regarding the Local Council Tax Support Scheme. He also reported that he had attended an event to mark the ending of the partnership with Hampshire County Council and to celebrate the good things that had come from the partnership. The new Director of Children’s Services was in attendance and would be taking up his post from 1 February 2024.
The Cabinet Member for Economy, Regeneration, Culture and Leisure reported that there had been a successful bid to augment the budget for ‘The Department’ in Ryde. A bid was also to be made shortly to Historic England for the Newport Guildhall.
The Bay Place Plan had launched on Monday 8 January and the event had been well attended.
Solent Cultural Strategy consultation had taken place in December at the Quay Arts, which had also been well attended.
The Cabinet Member for Regulatory Services, Community Protection and ICT reported that she had just returned from attending the launch of the Violence Reduction Partnership which sets out the obligations the partners have to deal with violent crimes and exploitation, particularly in the under 25s. Th partnership would be re-launched when the new Service Director for Communities was in post and a further update would be given at that time.
Cowes Police station would be reopening shortly.
The Cabinet Member for Planning, Coastal Protection and Flooding reported that many comments had been made regarding the lack of medical infrastructure on the island when considering housing developments, and confirmed that a draft Health Contributions Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) was being prepared which would seek contributions for developments of over 20 units, and it was hoped that these may help to extend current GP practices.
A draft Sustainable Drainage Systems SPD to prevent water from entering the sewerage system was also being worked on with expert consultants and the Environment Agency.
Three LCWIPs would be coming to Cabinet in May for consideration.
A Statement of Community Involvement would be published in the near future to address how the council engages with the public as highlighted as an issue in the recent planning peer review.
The draft Island Planning Strategy (DIPS) had been further delayed as a result of changes to the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) and the Newport Harbour Masterplan had therefore been further delayed pending the outcome of the decision on the DIPS.
The Cabinet Member for Housing and Finance reported that he was still working with officers to provide a balanced budget. He had spent a day at the Dementia Hub in Cowes and had been very impressed with all that was taking place there.
The Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and Public Health reported that she had visited the Adelaide re-enablement centre and had spoken to staff and residents and had also visited the Alcohol and Drug Service and had been impressed by the work going on. A programme of planned visits had been prepared including to the Gouldings which had recently been refurbished.
The Leader and Cabinet Member for Infrastructure, Highways PFI and Transport reported that he had also been impressed by a recent visit to the Gouldings.
Some grant funding of £14-£15 million had been received to be rolled out over approximately two years for the West Wight Greenway.
Grant funding had also been received for some safety schemes in the Arreton and Blackwater areas, and £600,000 -£700,000 for active travel in Ryde. The Leader expressed his huge disappointment that the Island Deal had not been forthcoming in the recent government settlement and that the council had hoped to be £400,000 better off but were in fact the same amount worse off.