Readers will remember that back in August, the Isle of Wight Cabinet approved a public consultation on the future of the Isle of Wight Music Service.
Surprisingly (some might use stronger terms), the council didn’t follow up the decision with one of their usual press releases alerting residents to the consultation.
However, if you happen to visit their Website and dig down into the Consultations section, you will find a link to an online questionnaire and details of who to write to in order to have your say on the proposals.
Residents are being invited to comment on the following three models:
Model 1: Restructure and streamlining of the current council music service to include a proposal of teaching a reduced range of musical instruments (likely to include guitar, keyboard, drums and violin). This model would not support for example woodwind tuition and may have an impact on the range of instrumentalists available for the youth orchestras and bands.
In addition the music service would retain a small core of staff that would provide a quality assurance role and offer advice and support to schools that may choose to commission other instrumental tuition.
Model 2: Music service to cease providing any direct instrumental tuition. Schools to provide the music service by buying in staff directly, with the local authority retaining core staff for quality assurance purposes (and to meet the requirements of the Music Education Grant) and to offer advice and support to schools who may choose to commission other instrumental tuition.
Model 3: Externalisation of the music service by partnership with another organisation (such as another music service) or be part of a new body (trust or community interest company), which might enable the council to secure Models 1 and 2 above or a variation on them.
How to have your say
Full details of the consultation can be found on the council’s Website. Residents have until no later than 20 September to have their say on the future of the Isle of Wight Music Service, doing so through the following methods:
- You can complete the questionnaire online
- You can fill in a paper version of the questionnaire, available at the Music Service office at the address below (telephone (01983) 556865, in libraries and help centres, schools and children’s centres.
- You can write with your thoughts by email to [email protected] or by post to Music Service Consultation, Downside Community and Learning Centre, Furrlongs, Newport, Isle of Wight PO30 2AX
The deadline for comments is no later than 30th September 2012.
Results of the survey will be presented to the Isle of Wight Cabinet at their November meeting, with a view to changes being implemented by April 2013.
Image: Brady Withers under CC BY 2.0
