Three Motions Added To Next Week’s Full Council Agenda

The agenda for next week’s full council meeting has just been published.

Three motions by Isle of Wight councillors have been included on the agenda under Procedure Rule 10 of the Council’s Constitution.

Two motions have been included from Council leader, Cllr David Pugh as follow:

(a) By Councillor David Pugh … THAT Council

1. Notes that the Audit Committee is due to receive a draft Statement of Accounts at its meeting on 28 June 2012, showing that an overall net saving of £2.290m was achieved during the 2011/12 financial year.
2. Welcomes this healthy financial position, as it ensures that the Council is well prepared for future budgetary challenges – whilst giving some scope for further one-off initiatives in support of the corporate objective of Regeneration and the Economy.
3. Recalls that Council agreed on 21 January 2012 that resources were to be allocated to the local authority’s corporate priorities at the budget setting meeting on 29 February 2012, whilst allowing for the flexibility to make further investment during the course of the year as needs arose and resources allowed. Furthermore, it is noted that a commitment was given to look at the viability of ideas put forward in alternative budget proposals.
4. Agrees that a full budget review will be brought to Council on 19 September 2012, setting out the framework for the 2013/14 budget and beyond, in an updated Medium-Term Financial Strategy. This review will take into account the outcomes of the budget consultation exercise which is taking place in the near future.
5. Asks that a progress report on the various economic initiatives agreed by Council on 29 February 2012 is brought to Council on 19 September 2012 as part of this budget review.
6. Requests that, for the budget review on 19 September 2012, officers develop a series of further one-off initiatives (in line with the proposals set out in (a) and (b) below) in support of the corporate objective of Regeneration and the Economy, to complement existing commitments in this area. On 19 September 2012, Council will consider these costed plans alongside the outcomes of the budget consultation process.
   • (a) Further to the Council decision of 21 January 2012 to allocate £300,000 to a range of initiatives to help tackle youth unemployment and create new employment opportunities for young people, that the following additional initiative is developed:

     (i) Work with Job Centre Plus to facilitate and improve access for unemployed Islanders to identify suitable job opportunities, such as providing meeting space in libraries, children’s centres and other public access points.

   • (b) Further to the Cabinet decision of 3 April 2012 to establish a Destination Management Organisation (DMO) to develop the Island’s visitor economy, that the following proposals for tourism-related investment are developed:

     (i) Allocate capital investment for the supply of new beach huts in key locations, for a mixture of lease and rent;

     (ii) Invite business associations to put forward ideas for enhancing the public realm in their areas, which may include improved signage, information, street furniture de-cluttering – with a particular focus on points of entry to the Island;

     (iii) Maximise the benefits of the £4m government grant for Sustainable Transport Access to Tourism, particularly in terms of the upgrading of cycling and walking infrastructure and the provision of transport information to visitors;

     (iv) Commission the development and promotion of a prospectus (with the possibility of seed funding available), to hold a community-led “Celebrate Isle of Wight” weekend in 2013, at which the extensive range of local food and drink is enjoyed Islandwide, and this is promoted as part of the Island’s tourism offer through the Destination Management Organisation and supported by the Rural Community Council.

(b) By Councillor David Pugh
THAT Council agrees that the vacant seat on the Economy and Environment Scrutiny Panel is exchanged with one of the Conservative seats on the Children and Young People Scrutiny Panel, so that the former becomes a Conservative seat and the latter becomes a vacant seat. The resulting allocation of seats on these panels will be:

• Economy and Environment Scrutiny Panel: Conservatives 5; Liberal Democrats 1; Independents 1;
• Children and Young People Scrutiny Panel: Conservatives 4; Liberal Democrats 1; Independents 1; Vacant 1.

(c) By Councillor Lumley
In the light of the continuing and longstanding economic problems of the Island, including 3,000 plus unemployed of which 1,200 are young people, Council resolves to do everything that it can within the agreed budget and policy framework (and involving all interested parties) to secure ‘Assisted Area Status’, or similar, for the Isle of Wight.

Full council takes place at 6pm on Wednesday 20th June at County Hall.

Image: bloomsberries under CC BY 2.0