As trailed earlier in the day, VentnorBlog now has a reporter sending reports back to HQ live from the Cabinet Meeting at County Hall so that you dear reader, can follow proceedings.
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This is a best effort coverage of the events of the meeting. It is not a transcription of everything that is said
[18:02:39] David Pugh, declares interest as an ex-pupil of Christ the King (CtK)
[18:03:02] Public question time extended
[18:03:34] ‘Older voices’ lobby group member speaking
[18:03:42] Concern is cuts
[18:04:12] Prob £1.5m pound cutbacks
[18:04:40] Can we find out which posts of 88 people will be cut?
[18:05:07] Second question – Bus service reduction in Binstead
[18:05:56] Why does the council not make more of reduced car journeys and the CO2 saved by free bus for over 60s?
[18:06:35] Cllr Abraham – Statutory restrictions cannot allow us to say what they are
[18:07:35] Cllr Hunter Henderson – Haylands + Binstead bus. IWC have no influence over the bus company due to law.
[18:08:13] CO2 reduction due to cars – it’s not possible to measure.
[18:09:34] Chris Welsford on behalf of Wendy Welsford – CtK: background on sixth form creation, better results.
[18:10:49] Cllr Wells – CtK following IWC will for all schools having 6th form. Need to take up results with diocese.
[18:11:56] Chris Wesford Q: Year 9 pupils not getting option to change school from CtK. How will IWC fix this?
[18:12:35] Cllr Wells: Voluntary aided, so question must go to diocese.
[18:14:07] James Pickett Q: CtK appear to be treated as a special case. How were their plans for expansion incorporated into IWC consultation?
[18:14:09] Cllr Wells: Once again, refer to diocese.
[18:15:23] Wendy Varley Q: CtK items on the table tonight are different to what has been published.
[18:16:17] Cllr Wells: date in Cabinet paper is wrong – sorry.
[18:17:06] Steve Stubbings: Unreasonable to give CtK Maths specialisation before other schools considered.
[18:18:01] Cllr Wells: Vol aided.
[18:18:59] Mr Miller: Representations on stat notice?
[18:19:18] Cllr Wells: Not required.
[18:19:41] Mr Winter: Is money still available for schools.
[18:20:45] Cllr Wells: Awaiting DCFS response on BSF in March. No indication of a change from Government.
[18:22:45] Mr Picket: Parents at Faith schools should have been included. No one I’ve asked at Faith schools has.
[18:23:27] Cllr Wells: I heard from someone this week that said they were very happy with the consultation.
[18:24:10] Mr Pugh: It went out in the local paper even if letter not given to parents. IWC happy with how it is.
[18:25:22] Wendy Varley: CtK is out of sync with all other Island schools. Decisions taken before you knew what other schools were to do.
[18:25:44] Cllr Wells: I disagree
[18:27:05] Mr Stubbings: Performance figures of ABK (maths) were so bad. How are they getting the only Math specialisation on the Island?
[18:28:06] Cllr Pugh: the school applied for it, didn’t they Cllr Wells?
[18:28:09] Cllr Wells: I think you’re over stating it.
[18:29:46] Mr Winter: Is today’s decision a final decision?
[18:30:13] We can expand using existing building
[18:30:28] Mr Winter: Is that a plan B?
[18:30:39] Cllr Wells: No
[18:31:13] (Lady): Why are music services being withdrawn?
[18:32:12] Cllr Wells: We’ve provided music service for years. Sat service will continue. School tuition – ‘we will encourage schools to fund it’
[18:32:33] (Lady again): Schools are refusing to fund it.
[18:32:50] Cllr Wells: Speak to the governing bodies
[18:35:05] Geoff: reading question of ex-head of Solent middle
[18:35:34] (Sorry missed it)
[18:36:03] Cllr Wells: Vol aided. Address it to them.
[18:36:55] Budget strategy – Cllr Abrahams
[18:38:14] £8 roads. £8 fire service modernisation. £0.5 CCTV + and some others.
[18:42:52] Poss reductions of 205 posts -this should have happened since 1995
[18:43:20] I have met with the unions leaders myself
[18:43:47] This year 3.5% rise has been put forward to us.
[18:44:36] Council will swallow the extra
[18:45:07] £4.86m of saving will be made – proposals. Full council meet in a couple of weeks.
[18:46:23] 3.9m for balances 9-10
[18:46:31] Increase 3.5% poll tax
[18:46:52] 31 March – capital projects
[18:47:17] (sorry missed quite a bit there)
[18:47:34] Cllr Pugh – this is the most thorough process we’ve been through in years
[18:48:38] Over 60 travel – very difficult to estimate costs. Still to continue pre-9:30 free travel
[18:50:58] Cllr Cousins: Adult social care services are a concern. Care calculator will enable us to do that. Mencap have asked the cabinet to be aware of the impact of reduced services
[18:54:15] Cllr Brown: Comment without a script
[18:54:40] It’s been a remarkable squeeze to get to this
[18:55:07] The quality of a budget is what happens when it hits the ground
[18:55:31] It’s been done in an extremely balanced way
[18:55:36] Cllr Wells: Youth service – a bit of publicity
[18:56:13] Are undertaking review of youth service. See how we can improve it. It’s been traditional up until now
[18:56:48] 16.25% – IW engagement with the youth. More like 25% in the rest of the UK
[18:57:04] Looking at how we can spend our money better
[18:57:30] £71/head spent on the Island. £56 average with the rest of the UK
[18:57:41] There will be pain, but more gain than pain
[18:57:55] We need to go to the youth with our ideas
[18:58:07] Youth clubs – some good, but lots bad.
[18:58:18] No decision to close youth clubs as yet
[18:58:34] Convinced it well be a better service once the changes have been made
[18:59:59] Cllr Lumley – There will be an alternative budget put forward by Labour
[19:01:14] Last year Labour poll tax would be lower, because we would have made efficiency savings.
[19:02:47] Cllr Pugh: Balances and reserves – we’ve made appropriate use of them, and will continue to use them
[19:03:58] Cllr Arnold: Youth service review. Please assure me, if youth clubs have to close, there may be more police needed if youth club closes. Has this been taken into consideration.
[19:04:35] Cllr Well: We don’t intend to take it away from where they’re needed. Rural areas – may be mobile use
[19:05:18] Not planning to put in extra police in areas
[19:06:22] Cllr Arnold: Mobile youth club. Doesn’t have enough space for pool or football.
[19:06:38] Will you assure us that you will consult all people affected?
[19:06:53] Cllr Wells: Yes
[19:09:54] Move to vote
[19:10:08] Passed.
[19:10:19] CtK now
[19:10:53] Cllr Wells – strange to see so many questions for this item, but not many for budget
[19:11:24] Lots of work gone into putting this together from all concerned.
[19:11:39] We have to approve the structure change
[19:12:21] Why I believe it’s important – offering choice to children of the Island many people don’t like faith schools
[19:13:17] Quote form parent – why shouldn’t we have the choice to provide faith based education to our children?
[19:13:56] Concerns that have been raised, have been dealt with by my answers. We have no reasons to refuse this – urge colleagues to be enthusiastic.
[19:14:58] Recommendation – grant all bodies to change to 11-19 school taking effect 1 Sept 2010
[19:16:01] Cllr Pugh – a significant choice for parents. A major step forward for the Island. Good that the two schools/faith coming together
[19:16:42] Cllr Abraham: Long over due. Member of the public should have the right to choose a faith school.
[19:17:06] Cllr Lumley: Lots of important questions were asked by the public at the start. Seeing Cllr Pugh and Wells exchange. I think you share a faith. Are all parents entirely happy about the bring the two faiths together? Can you assure there won’t be problems in the future?
[19:19:22] Appendix B – Two para (10 – 2 tier to 3). Diocese don’t appear to know about what the IWC is doing
[19:19:46] Cllr Pugh – We’re all aware of where we’re heading
[19:20:35] Cllr Wells – Parents were fully part of the process. ‘The vast majority of the parents’ were happy
[19:21:12] Cllr Brown: Primary reason is, I assume, for education first, not spirituality?
[19:21:40] I implore that their papers are proof read first
[19:21:51] Mildly ashamed on behalf of the IWC
[19:22:10] Not an Alpha rather closer to Gamma
[19:22:19] The papers are wrong
[19:22:34] Cllr Pugh I can’t disagree with that
[19:22:52] Vote – unanimously passed
[19:26:07] Cllr Cousins: £200k saving over the next year. Using private landlords for homelessness
[19:26:40] We’ll do everything we can to help Islanders save their homes.
[19:31:37] Cllr Abraham: Churches good for picking up people who are at the bottom of the pile.
[19:34:15] Cllr Brown – community concern about new people arriving who are not a good fit.
[19:35:13] Head of housing working hard on this. There will be difficulties, but this has been taken into account
[19:35:48] Everything that can reasonably done to minimise problems, is being done.
[19:37:37] Cllr Lumley – Very interesting report outlining where the Island is.
[19:43:48] (ending coverage now)
[19:50:08] Cllr Cousins – voted on and passed
[19:50:48] Cllr Wells – Forward plan – delegated decision on children and young people will be made
