Last night saw the Adult Social Care, Health and Housing Scrutiny Panel meet to hear an update on the Adult Social Care Transformation Programme, which has caused much concern in the Isle of Wight care profession recently.
We were unable to attend, but Jill Wareham told us this morning that it was, “an informative meeting but very one sided.”
Labour Cllr Geoff Lumley who has sat on the panel for the past year left the meeting far from happy with the outcome.
He commented on VB this morning that he’d resigned from the panel.
As a member of this ‘scrutiny panel’ – a misnomer if ever there was one – this meeting was frankly deeply frustrating for someone who wants to do real scrutiny of this Council leadership instead of cheerleading.
After a 75 minute presentation by 4 officers and the Cabinet member I was allowed two questions by the Tory Chairman, to which I got no real answers.
After a year of trying it out I have today stood down from the panel as a complete waste of my time. I also understand the only other opposition member, Ian Stephens, will also be standing down.
I will continue to treat the Cabinet meetings as the only places where I can ask tough questions – though no doubt that Outlet will be closed off next.
VB called Ian Stephens today to clarify. After congratulating him on his new role – Ian recently became the Chairman of the IW council – he told us that as he was already heavily involved in many other areas, including being Chair of the Audit committee, concluding, “Due to my new civic role – there may be a vacancy.”
