Councillor Steve Hastings

Annual Report 2020

Councillor Steve Hastings  –  Central Wight Ward

What a busy year, having set our fourth successful budget after the previous Administration said it was no longer possible to do so. 

During this year I took over the Procurement and Waste Portfolio following the unfortunate illness of Cllr Michael Murwill, who I am pleased to report is making a good recovery.

I have introduced new strategies for Procurement, Waste Management and Commercialisation all of which have action plans to go with them. As I always say, a strategy without an action plan is a piece of paper!

I was pleased to be instrumental in the cross- party motion to Full Council with Cllr Lilley to declare a Climate Emergency on the Island, which was passed in Full Council.

Since then, via the Scrutiny of Neighbourhoods and Regeneration we have set up a Task and Finish Group to investigate what we can do as a Council and what we can influence such as our Procurement Strategy, to aim at being carbon neutral by 2030.

This has led to the production of our new Climate and Environment Strategy with of course an Action Plan to assist in achieving our goals.

I am pleased to report that the opening of our new Mechanical Treatment Plant was successful this year and we are on target to have our new Energy from Waste Plant open by this summer, which will give us heat and power for local buildings such as the Hospital and Prison.

Our Green Garden Waste subscriptions increased from 3000 to 7000 and we had a waiting list building up so we made the decision to purchase a new £180k truck so that we could add to our capacity and satisfy 10,000 subscriptions.

I have worked with officers to make sure that we could offer Direct Debit capability for this year’s subscriptions. 

Steve Hastings

May 2020