VB are reporting live from the Full Council meeting at County Hall.
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We will endeavour to report presentations and discussions as accurately as possible. Text surrounded by () signifies VB’s comments.
[18:00]
We’re off. Extra big press table! Lots of juicy questions on the list.
Chair asking for quiet during the meeting. Allow everyone a chance to speak.
Public Questions:
David Miller – Cllr Pugh: How’s it getting on with the £80m used to persuade us into School reorganisation?
Cllr Pugh: We are looking afresh for funding. Sandown has £250k. Cowes Pathfinder funding secure. “We’re availing ourselves of every
opportunity.”
[18:20] Update 2
Debra Wood: Many concerns raised at Whole Life Group – but weren’t minuted.
Cllr Mazillius: Not a verbatim record, but summary of the important issues. The items you raised will be noted and addressed.
(Mazillius was reading from his sheet very carefully)
Was agreed, without objections. It’s just not possible for us to take down all issues. “We take down The key points.”
Q: Jackie Hawkins: How can councillors vote while concerns outstanding? You say “We will carry out a 90 day consultation”. Is it possible that Westminster will NOT be relocated?
Cllr Mazillius: (didn’t really answer question)
Q: Hazel Wyld: Proper consultation needed. It hasn’t happened. Legal requirement for it. Want complete confidence that they have an opportunity to advise us of all issues.
[18:30] Update 3
(Thought: Is the extension of the consultation down to a realisation that it hasn’t been full up to now)
Q: Adrian Whitaker: What do the council plan to do for children with ADHD?
Cllr Pugh: There’s a paper on the way. Much debate Nationally about this too.
END OF QUESTIONS
Cllr Pugh: Placed-based budgets. All budgets (health, etc) for the area are brought into one budget. Don’t have the advantage of economies of scale on the Island (as other areas have)
It’s not all about IWC seizing all of the money.
Often people from different agencies visit people – we’d like to reduce this. Encourage the government to use the Island as a pilot
Cllr Lumley: I’m supporting this. It’s a good idea.
[18:40] Update 4
Cllr Sutton: I’ll support too. LGA has been arguing for years to stop
ring-fencing of budgets. This will see them go.
Cllr Barry: We also support, with some grave concerns – of money being wasted, as this council has over the last four years.
Cllr Welsford: I support it. It’s a no-brainer. Share concern with Cllr Barry.
Cllr Abraham: It’s great we’re all in agreement.
Cllr Pugh: Welcome Geoff’s support. We’ve supported things he’s put forward and we’re glad he’s now supporting us.
Vote: 34 For
Unanimous.
Item 5b Cllr Lumley: Motion to take a month to reflect on the major cuts going to be proposed later. I got involved with politics because of wanting to support the community. There’s some people on the Conservative side that wants to support the community (Cousins + Webster named)
Cuts of 25% is the wrong strategy. We should be trying to speak to the government ministers.
What happened at Vestas will be as nothing when compared with what will happen with 25% cuts.
[18:55] Update 5
Cllr Welsford: 2nd it. Int of Fiscal Studies agrees.
Cllr Reg Barry: It would be nice if IWC wasn’t the Island biggest employer – but it is. I think IW could put forward that it’s a special case to Westminster. Let’s get together and see if we can do something.
Cllr Jones-Evans: Address my comments to Lib Dem. Quoting Nick Clegg.
Cllr Gary Taylor: (Never heard him speak before) I feel sorry for Cllr Lumley. His gov created these debts. We need to act now.
(Lots of talking – all read from his piece of paper)
Cllr Wayne Whittle: I think Hampshire and IW are slightly different.
Cllr Sutton: Point of order.
Cllr Pugh: We’re not here to make decisions tonight – just start the process. Better to do it sooner rather than later. There’s lots of other local authorities – they’ll all be putting forward that they’re special cases.
[19:10] Update 6
Cllr Mazillius: IWC isn’t the largest employer.
Vote
13 For
22 Against
(Split down the middle of the room – Cons vs others)
Detailed recommendations of cuts
Cllr Pugh: This is starting the ball rolling. We’ll be restructuring IWC in 2011. Looking at revised recommendations. Performance monitoring and communications budget dropping by 30%.
Committed to those with ‘Critical needs’. Targeted help for ‘Substantial needs’
Cllr Pugh: Asking for a ten min extension. It’s been voted through.
[19:20] Update 7
(Referring to update sheet – Paper B – 5:58 last night)
Free home care for over 80s – now covered by Personal budgets. Means testing (on liquid assets, not property). £23k is the level
1c Adult care. Referring to Whole Life Working Group.
Similar to Schools – a range of options, now a recommendation. Formal consultation on preferred choice.
(Eluding to the Westminster House could stay open)
(Cllr Pugh losing his voice – calls of “good”)
Parking: Two additional permits only. One where you can park in car park 200yds from your home and tourist focused one (designated parking in one town only)
[19:40] Update 8
(Cllr Pugh stopping due to voice loss.)
Surrey will be the partner for Fire Control Centre
Cllr Howe: Decision made by council normally made by Cabinet. It’s the word Consultation that I have a problem with. People from Westminster House haven’t been consulted. Can the leader please explain what Consultation means to him (applause
from gallery).
Cllr Welsford: It’s not helpful to get the update from the Leader at 5:58 last night. Westminster House – opinions appear to have been ignored. We’ve spent more money on Eco-toilets than is needed to keep Westminster house open. Care Commission says WH is fine. Why doesn’t Cllr Mazillius?
Cllr Brown: Leisure facilities make a good contribution to health. We don’t have the money to spend, so we must prioritise. To when it will do the most urgent good. We are responsible to the people who `elected us.
Cllr Bacon: Westminster House – Many people aren’t sure what is being proposed? Press Release made people think that it was saved. Update from Cllr Pugh last night made us down-hearted.
Cllr Lumley: Point of order – we need an answer.
Chair – I’ve been told it’s not a point of order.
Cllr Mazillius:This decision will be made at the Feb Full Council meeting.
Thanks for that now-clear statement.
[19:59] Update 9
Cllr Reg Barry: It’s not right to “foist” those on the elderly at WH.
Cllr Whittall: I find it strange to vote on a budget, but then to have 90 day consultation on one of the items.
Cllr Wyatt-Millington: A heavy heart. We have to accept that there will be a hole in the budget come Oct. We have a duty to look after people – and look after the money.
Cllr Lumley: I was called a Liar earlier – I object to this. I’m not convinced that the budget is right. There’s a few items that I can raise. The Whole Life Group wasn’t properly filled – not representative. Change the WH text to ‘notes’ not ‘accepts’ – it’s more neutral
Cllr Ward: WH is an emotive subject. Every member of this side is concerned by it. I visited WH – staff there are great. I don’t want people to think that we follow along without concern.
Cllr Rodney Downer: Concerns for the respite care if moved to Gouldings. Transport costs to Freshwater too. These people can’t adapt to change (big applause from gallery)
Cllr Mazillius: It says 90 days – it’s pretty obvious it’s the Feb meeting. There have been issues over the running of WH. It has a first floor, but no lift.
Average occupancy over the year is 50% (‘not true’ from gallery)
£1,100 cost per person, per week. We need to make sure money is spent properly. WLG – Every member has the highest regard for the care of people. We have fed back to staff + we have fed back to users. Unless we take everyone on this journey, it’s not worth doing.
I’m convinced that we can provide a better service for our clients
[20:05] Update 10
Cllr Pugh: We do consult properly. For School’s reorganisation – we put forward a preferred option. Refute that we’re targeting the weakest. The Gouldings is a Day centre, yet it has beds.
Chairman saying if people won’t stop interrupting, they’ll have to be removed.
[20:14] Update 11
Voting on revised recommendations sent to councillors at 5.58pm Tuesday 21st September.
(a) Confirm the need to contain net revenue spend for the Council to the level agreed by Council on 24 February 2010.
Vote: 1a vote – 34 for. 0 Ag. 1 Abst
(b) Officers to undertake the necessary consultation and impact assessments on the proposals set out in paragraph 23 of the report i.e:
- Change the eligibility threshold (in line with FACS (Fair Access to Care Services) criteria) used to determine who the council provides adult social care services to so that those with the greatest needs are assured of support while those at greatest risk are also provided with targeted support in those areas in which they are most vulnerable. [Full year saving of £1.5m]
- Revise the council’s charging policy so that all people are assessed to contribute to the cost of the support that they receive on the same basis, irrespective of their age, disability or health condition. This would mean that people aged over 80 years would be assessed on the same basis as those aged under 80 years. [Full year saving of £1.25m]
- Revise the council’s charging policy so that all people are assessed to contribute on the basis of the overall value of their allocated personal budget rather than how they are choosing to spend it. This would mean that whether people use their personal budget for home care, day care, meals on wheels or any other support, they would be charged on an equitable basis. [Full year saving of £900k]
Vote: 1b vote 22 for. 13 Ag
(d) Officers undertake the necessary consultation and impact assessments on the proposed removal of the discretionary element of the concessionary fares scheme for post-16 transport and on the removal of discretionary travel subsidy for denominational school transport from September 2011, subject to the proposed Cabinet Member delegated decision authorising this consultation being agreed in the near future.
Vote: 1d vote 22 for. 13 Ag
(e) An in-principle decision is made to combine the Council’s fire control centre with that of another authority in order to deliver a cost effective service with the necessary resilience. Officers are tasked with progressing the necessary arrangements to implement this proposal, subject to a final Cabinet Member delegated decision.
Vote: 1e vote 22 for. 9 Ag. 4 Abst
(f) The leisure facilities improvement programme is reconfigured in order to deliver an effective programme at a revenue cost of £250k less than currently agreed. Improvement works to the Westridge facility to be completed as planned in order for it to be ready for the International Island Games in 2011.
Vote: 1f vote 30 for. 1 Ag. 3 Abst
(g) Introduce the following additional permit arrangements with effect from 1 January 2011:
“¢ A permit enabling residents to park in a single designated Isle of Wight Council car park within 200m of their home, at a cost of £150.
“¢ A town specific tourist permit allowing parking in a designated town only, at the same level of rates being applied during the 2010 summer season.
Any further possible changes to permit arrangements, the level of parking charges applied and locations in which charges are payable will be considered as part of the budget setting process in February 2011, taking into account the need to contain net revenue spend and to deliver a balanced budget, with a view to any such possible changes being implemented with full year effect from 1 April 2011.
Vote: 1g vote 29 for. 6 Abst
(c) Accept the recommendation of the “Whole Life Group” to relocate the current services provided at Westminster House to The Gouldings and The Adelaide as its preferred option. Officers are now asked to undertake a 90 day formal consultation with service users, carers, staff and other interested parties on this option.
Vote: 1c vote 20 for (2 left chamber). 13 Ag
2. That Council agrees to consider the necessary reports, results of consultations and final impact assessments flowing from the decisions at 1 (b) and (c) above at its budget setting Council meeting on 23 February 2011, in order to make any relevant budget decisions to enable the implementation of proposals with full year effect from 1 April 2011, or earlier as considered appropriate. Recommendations to the 23 February 2011 Council meeting, along with any required policy decisions with regard to future implementation, will be agreed at the Cabinet meeting on 8 February 2011.
Item 2 vote 20 for 11 Ag 2 Abst
[21:02] Update 12
Opposition proposed extension to allow other cabinet members to finish reports past 9pm.
Extension rejected. End of meeting.
