Thanks to Evelyn for her report from the Ventnor Town Council. In her own words, Ed
The meeting started with a question from the public about the delay to the work of rebuilding the Winter Gardens.
Finance in place for Winter Gardens
The Mayor, Councillor Stubbings, explained he had heard from senior officers of the Isle of Wight Council that a ‘full schedule of works’ was due to be received in several days. The Mayor stated that he felt encouraged to hear this and was aware that the finance was in place.
Finance news from the Town Clerk covered the completion of the reconciliation of bank accounts to the 31st of May showing an overspend of £54. The Councillors agreed this was a healthy situation.
New councillors
The vacancies on the Council are now filled by Chris Welsford for St Lawrence and Ed Gouge for Ventnor West.
A team of five Councillors formed the interview group who arrived at this unanimous decision further approved by VTC with one abstention.
Community Right to Bid
The Public Buildings Working Group, chaired by Cllr Jason Mack, has a considerable amount of work to do. The ‘Use of Community Right to Bid’ is being applied to Rew Valley Sports Centre, The Coastal Centre and the Town’s car parks.
Meetings with the officers of the Isle of Wight Council are planned and full details are on the VTC’s Website.
Ventnor and Undercliff Heritage Partnership
The Mayor announced how encouraged he was by a voluntary group coming forward with ideas and projects to improve facilities in the Town.
He was referring to the newly formed Ventnor and Undercliff Heritage Partnership, a group of five volunteers who are planning a multimedia heritage trail around Ventnor.
They are seeking funding from the Heritage Lottery and are looking for positive support from the town and from the Council. There will be survey forms around the town and on the Ventnor and Undercliff Heritage Partnership Website, along with further information.
The project was ‘enthusiastically endorsed’ by the Mayor and Councillors.
Other community activities
The Timebank/library project on Thursdays (9-5) to help jobseekers continues to be very successful. Volunteers provide informal advice with supported access to computers.
For more information see the Ventnor Town Council Website.
