The Isle of Wight Council’s Cabinet has accepted a detailed business case for a combined authority and approved a full consultation on the plans.

With the Isle of Wight Festival opening its gates on Thursday 21st June, the council are getting the Floating Bridge to run at the times the old service used to - 5am, then into the wee hours.

There'll be a host of free activities and entertainment including tree climbing, children’s craft activities, guided walks, wildlife recording, story-telling, poetry reading, giant bubbles and much more.

A scheme on the Isle of Wight receives praise from other local authorities, after encouraging visitors to cycle while holidaying on the Island and continue when they get back home.

Congratulations to the Isle of Wight Council’s director of children’s services, Steve Crocker, who has been awarded an OBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours.

The Isle of Wight Festival traffic management plans have been approved and the road traffic plan now available for the public to view. See the map within the article.

The report suggests a combined fire authority with Hampshire would "improve levels of service, including in key preventative areas such as community and business safety initiatives". Cabinet members will be asked to approve the public consultation.

A memorandum of agreement has been formed between Enshi in Western China and the Isle of Wight. The partnership will focus on sharing knowledge, promoting collaboration between the two territories, and looking to develop a programme of exchange between businesses, students and organisations.

Volunteers "beavering away at grassroots level are the active lifeblood of our communities", says The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service Independent Committee chair, former broadcast journalist Sir Martyn Lewis.

With more than 400 people working at County Hall and many visitors to the building, this potentially life-saving equipment is a welcome addition.

Did you know that about 3.2 million people fall victim to scams each year and the average age of a scam victim is 75. The IWC are warning “don’t get stung” as part of National Scams Awareness Month (June).