VB are reporting live from the Cabinet meeting at County Hall.
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We will endeavour to report presentations and discussions as accurately as possible. Text surrounded by () signifies VB’s comments.
[18:15]
Q: Claire O’Mally: Fire Control Centre. Possible loss of life and property if changes are made.
A: Cllr Abrahams: Best interest of people.
Q: Mark Turner: Do you have example of when IW hasn’t been resilient?
A: Surrey will be good at it + improve resilience.
-End of Fire questions
Q: Jackie Hawkins: Section 106 money should be for community. Daft to spend it on traffic plans.
A: Cllr Giles: Strict guidance. It has to be relevant to the
development + fair and proportionate. Can be education + other things. Pan development will benefit. Road changes in Newport needed for future development.
Q: Mr Shake Shaft(?): Staplers Road junction. Please explain?
A: Passed through planning already.
–end of questions
[18:35] Update 1
Main Meeting
Medium Term budget review: Cllr Pugh, National Budget Deficit stuff
Impact on IWC could be £32m over four years (£22m new and £10m from before). Cuts might be front-loaded. Support those with the greatest need – as we have done to date.
Investment in education already had significant pay-offs – see the recent GCSE results.
Detailed plan in December – removal of posts “top to bottom”. Will do cuts sympathetically.
These are suggestions to Full Council.
A focus on 1 April 2011 for having these things in effect.
“Strong track record for responding to the views of some of the
Island.”
See the school reforms.
[18:42] Update 2
(Big groan from the gallery)
(BTW – Cllr George Brown isn’t here)
(Referring to page 11 for acceptance)
Carry out consultation around Para 23
Para 2 of recommendation. Pugh looking for seconder.
Cllr Mazillius – Adult social care – Overspend of £3.6m facing us. We can’t carry it over to next year.
Let us not forget that, “We are deal with people with a degree of vulnerability”. This council can hold it’s head up high. (Listed how much the IWC spends compared with average across the UK)
(Scotland been brought up again) “We will, for as long as possible, look after people in our care.”
Westminster House – old now. Not fit for service. Work group came down with the idea that The Gouldings would be better. The staff have looked at it and think the facilities are good.
(Shouting “Rubbish” from the gallery. “The staff are here and are not impressed!”)
(Still discontent from the gallery – “A better service!”)
[18:55] Update 3
Cllr Mazillius: I put it forward for acceptance (I think he said C).
Cllr Abraham: Fire control safety should merge with another one on the Island. Savings will come, but that’s not the main reason.
Recommend F – merge with another fire service.
Cllr Pugh: Location of mobile phones can identified by control centre. Currently £305+ to handle calls at the moment. £120-£160 cost per call, but with some up front costs. Saving of £300k/year
Cllr Abraham: Technology moving on a pace. “I have no doubt that, by the time this had been implemented, it will be in place”
“I believe this is the right direction.”
“Retaining control on the Island, means that it will be done to our standards.”
Cllr Cousins: Looking at B4 – items 27. Serious legal. Children’s placement could be pressured by a further £900k
“It’s a difficult thing to call at the moment.”
Cllr Pugh: Para 30. Post 16 transport – Seeking approval. Increase post 16 cost to £60/ term rather that £27.
2011 remove all post-16 transport subsidy. Denominational transport to be looked at too. IW College has also asked to be involved with this
[19:04] Update 4
Cllr Hunter Henderson: Reduce the number of publications we deliver – £80k saved. OneIsland will be cost neutral. Savings revised total £3m 2010
Cllr Giles: Parking will be £1m down. Many other local authorities have shown reduced income.
Parking Permits – Need to consider public feedback before making recommendation before Sept Full Council meeting. No recommendation tonight then.
Suggest that changes will be 1 Jan 2011 rather than 1 Dec 2010.
Wightbus future and Cowes floating bridge – discuss at December meeting.
Cllr Pugh: as Cllr Brown isn’t here. Option G on leisure.
[19:15] Update 5
Question from other Members
Cllr Lumley: I feel deeply depressed by what I’ve heard.
Want to get some clarification: There’s quite a number of staff from Westminster House who descent from this – you said it was unanimous.
(Massive cheer + clapping from the gallery)
Cllr Mazillius: I said the staff representative on the WholeLife service group were unanimous. The manager and dept manager on there.
“Those in ignorance may not understand what we’re trying to do.”
(Booing from gallery)
“Changes are rubbish,” shouted from the gallery, “Ask parents, ask service users, ask the staff!”
Cllr Cousins: I chaired group. Time to move forward.
Cllr Barry: Para 75 of report. Says budget balance, that wasn’t the cost. £6.5m – is it down to bad budgeting?
[19:25] Update 6
Cllr Pugh: Response to Coalition government. We can’t guess what to spend (), it’s down to the Island needs.
Cllr Barry: You aren’t being clear. Is it down to the government or the overspend by the council? “It might be your coalition government – it isn’t mine.”
Cllr Pugh: Continuing risks.
Cllr Barry: I’m just asking you to step away from the blame culture.
Cllr Pugh: 2005 District auditor comment on the size of the reserves and balance.
Cllr Downer: One of my residents, worried about transport to/from Freshwater.
Cllr Mazillius: The individual will be supported. DLA transport allowance can be used.
Cllr Knowles: Regional control is being used to shutdown fire control on the Island I think it’s shameful. The fire authority is flying due to the head of the fire service, not down to Cllr Abraham.
Cllr Abraham: I’d suggest he goes away and reads the paper.
[19:36] Update 7
Cllr Abraham: I’d suggest he goes away and reads the paper. The saving possible are considerable. We had a hard fight with the
government to retain on the IW.
Cllr Knowles: OneIsland Magazine will be cost neutral, you say. When will it be?
Cllr Hunter-Henderson: This financial year.
Cllr Knowles: You were brought in for major projects. Are there any of those left? Wouldn’t it save money if you stepped down.
Cllr Pugh: Much need for major projects.
Cllr Churchman: One Island magazine is taking away advertising away from Island businesses.
There are adequate publications on this Island
Parking permits – Our towns are dying.
Cllr Hunter-Henderson: One Island – Partners magazine. 80% of people in residents survey said they liked it.
Of adverts – We do not undercut other publications – we do not poach.
Some ad money from partners, other targeted sales.
(Laughter from gallery during this)
Cllr Churchman: Cannot compare Island to Mainland – wages are very different.
Vote: 6 in favour
(Laughter from gallery – guess because they all voted together)
[19:52] Update 8
Road works
Cllr Giles: Pedestrian area outside county hall is one possibility.
Other things might occur. Proper consultation with the Parish council.
Option 2 proposed – looking for seconder
Couple of comments from Cllr Cousins and Cllr Mazillius
Cllr Lumley: It says options were presented – “I refute this
completely.” I chaired the meeting.
Newport wasn’t designed to pedestrianise the High Street.
Cllr Giles: We haven’t made up my mind about closure. As to meeting – I wasn’t there.
Cllr Lumley: One cabinet member was there and directors. Surely, it’s better defer this decision.
Cllr Pugh: Report says four junctions need attention.
Cllr Giles: Look at map of 1611 – there weren’t cars then.
Cllr Mazillius: If the wording is wrong, we should latter correct.
Move to vote
Vote : 6 in favour
[19:58] Update 9
Waste plan
Reduction of waste needed. Same contract until 2015. “Contract unfavourable” to us.
Move to D8
Cllr Barry: will member review board for this be proportional to make up of council members. It’s too important not to have a balance.
Cllr Pugh: We’re not obliged to.
Vote: 6
Passed
Economy
We’re 38% with Island suppliers last year. 35% for first half of this year. Review of tendering and contract process is still underway. Looking at reducing carbon impact.
Vote: 5 for
(Cllr Mazillius didn’t vote personal interest)
End
Image: Lazlozian under CC BY-ND 2.0
