This month’s full council meeting (on Wednesday) looks likely to be one of particular interest to many of our readers.
As you may have previously heard, Cllr Patrick Joyce has put forward a motion for the council to abandon it’s current schools proposals.
“In view of the widespread public concern, and as the Isle of Wight Council has not received guidance from the Department for Children and Family Services on any issue of concern to be addressed by the Primary Capital Programme, by 31 January, Council resolves to abandon the current informal consultation on educational reorganisation. Council also instructs the Cabinet Member for Children and Young People to secure from officers a plan and consultation proposals for managing surplus school places that does not result in mass school closures and damage to the local communities.”
[As this is a motion that attempts to rescind a decision taken by Council in November 2007 it has been signed by the following members: Cllrs Joyce, Adams, Arnold, Bishop, Bowker, Chapman, Churchman, Foster, Gardiner, Humby, Knowles, Lumley, McRobert, Mosdell, Price and Swan.]
In addition, Cllr Gardiner is raising the issue of ferry fairs fares.
“In view of support offered by Island residents, business and organisations such as Parish and Town Councils, to the campaign for an investigation by the Office of Fair Trading into cross Solent ferry services, this Council resolves to offer its support to this campaign.”
We’ll be covering the meeting live from County Hall, so make sure that you check back Wednesday evening if you want to hear the latest. The council are anticipating a busy public gallery and have issued the following statement
[Hopefully the crowds won’t be as big as at the 1973 Polytechnic Uprising in Greece]Isle of Wight Council is advising any members of the public who are planning on attending this week’s meeting of the Full Council on Wednesday 20 February to arrive in plenty of time. Because of strict health and safety legislation, space will be limited. There will be seating in the public gallery, although some of these will be reserved for those who have submitted questions to be asked on the night. The remaining seats in the gallery will be allocated on a first-come first-served basis. The council is also making efforts to provide extra seating on the night.
