The full council met last night to vote through proposals as part of the second budget review.
We found it unusual for the items to be broken down as they were. Our experience is that budget cut proposals are usually voted on as a whole.
We’ll have more to come later specifically on Westminster House, but in the meantime, here’s how councillors voted on each individual item.
(a) Confirm the need to contain net revenue spend for the Council to the level agreed by Council on 24 February 2010.
Vote: 1a 34 For 0 Against. 1 Abstention
(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 22 For 13 Against
Westminster House
(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 20 For (2 left chamber) 13 Against
Post-16 travel
(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 22 For 13 Against
Fire control centre
(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 22 For 9 Against 4 Abstentions
Leisure facilities
(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 30 For 1 Against 3 Abst
Parking permits
(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 29 For 6 Abstention
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 – 20 For 11 Against 2 Abstention
