Last night saw the first Full Council meeting of 2011 take place at County Hall.
There was a strong presence in the public gallery, with the meeting lasting three hours.
For those who didn’t follow our live Tweets and Facebook coverage of last night’s full council meeting, we’ve compiled a roundup of the updates below.
Details of agenda and relevant papers are available on the coucil website.
We weren’t able to provide live coverage via this site as we were once again split between two meetings. Our report from also well- attended, Ventnor Town Council meeting, will follow soon on VB.
- Missed the start of the full council meeting – sorry. Updates from now on.
- Still Public Questions. David Pugh on his feet – Saying Local councils don’t have raise precept
- Tania Ribell: Cuts hit Culture, Environment, the weak and elderly. Are we all in this together?
- Pugh: Cuts don’t hit the weak and vulnerable
- Q: Not maintaining cycle routes. A: Government is releasing a Local sustainable transport fund. We will bid for it, for cycle paths
- Geoff Lumley: Saying new members of the public here, saying Chamber procedure should be exchanged. Applause from gallery
- Cllr Jonathan Bacon:With cuts, there should be a clear procedure to deal with people wanting to take over IWC services,inc money details
- Bacon: Some people have a view that the IW council doesn’t care about public services
- Bacon: Different groups in the same area are being given different and contrary information about taking over services
- Cllr Pugh: We’ve been doing a lot of work with local councils. Parish councils largely see the difficulty of the situation we’re in
- Pugh:Rather than draw up a strategy as suggested,I think we should continue dealing with town and parish councils as we are.It’s working
- Pugh: Does Cllr Bacon accept this amendment? (Summary of Cllr Bacon – No. I wouldn’t have put forward my proposal otherwise)
- Cllr Sutton (2nd-ing):Freshwater council has had all of the info that it’s asked for about taking over library.Couldn’t have been better
- Cllr Stewart (Con): I think it should be about getting on with our ideas, not creating a strategy
- Cllr Brown (Con): It’s important that we have info quickly and accurately. Let’s have action, not protocols
- (BTW, just started putting the party of the councillors in brackets. Hope it’s helpful)
- Cllr Welsford (Ind): My experience is that info from council isn’t too hand. Takes a while. When we do get it, it’s good
- Welsford: It’s an indication of a lack of financial control at the council, that this info isn’t straight to hand
- (Copy of Private Eye is being held up by an opposition councillor in the chamber. Waved at Pugh)
- Geoff Lumley (Lab): IWC are forcing local council to introduce a Stealth Tax. We don’t want to see double tax
- Cllr Humby(Ind):2k signatures gathered from Sandown resident against Sandown library closure. It’s the 3rd busiest library on the Island
- Cllr Bacon (Ind): (Summing up) It’s not my motion any more (after Cllr Pugh changes). It should be a statement of principle
- Vote: 24 for (all Cons). 13 against. 1 abstention. Bacon’s proposal defeated. Amendment stands, so things will continue as they are
- Question on cost on IWC of Prison libraries. Cllr Pugh: They use IWC resources, but all monies are reimbursed by the Dept of Justice)
- _Next Item. Cllr Pugh (Con):(Outlines his Proposal) The savings requirement is real. All alternative budgets should take account for this
- Cllr Ian Ward (Con): I have grave concerns over the cuts. The £9m figure is there. I now accept the £17 figure is right
- Cllr Bacon (ind):Motion as it stands is rather pointless. It states the obvious. Perhaps we should also add that the Pope is a Catholic?
- Bacon:It’s rather patronising.Would like to remove a bit, + add,”should best reflect the priorities of the people of the Isle of Wight.”
- Bacon: This council needs to represent the voters of the Island, not personal and political agendas. Long applause from audience
- Go to vote: 34 For. Against. 1 Abst. Passed
- Pugh: “I’m going to shock you and accept the changes.”
- Geoff Lumley (Lab): This is a shambles! We’ve not had a debate tonight. It’s just being rail-roaded. Officers should provide guidance
- Lumley: We have to have confidence in the democratic process of this chamber. I have been gagged by this council
- Davina Fiore (IWC legal): The procedure has been followed correctly
- _Next Item: Cllr Pugh (Con): Suggested changes to IWC scrutiny procedures, including main panel to 10 members, down from 12
- Cllr Fuller (Ind): I have real problems with scrutiny panels. Majority of them are made up of the ruling group, so ineffectual
- Fuller: Need community involvement to analyse what the council is doing
- Cllr Howe (Lib): When will we look at what Ofstead said. They have given us good recommendations for improving IWC scrutiny process
- Cllr Reg Barry (Lib Dem): Will you reduce the number of people required to call-in a decision?
- Cllr Pugh (In reply): Public can attend and contribute at the start of scrutiny meetings. Officer don’t recommend changes to call-in
- Pugh: On make up of committees – IWC has a Conservative majority, so it’s proportional that it should be the same on scrutiny panels
- Votes: For 26. 7 Against. 4 Abs. Changes have been passed
- _Next Item: Julie Jones Evans (Con: Newport) voted head of audit committee
- _Next, Member allowance scheme. Prof ?? (Head of ind. Remuneration panel). 3 recommendations. Main- No changes to member allowances
- Cllr Knowles (LD): How much did this report cost to produce? A: We don’t have that figure, but we’ll get it to you
- Cllr Lumley (Lab): Back in 70s, councillors had to present a prove loss of earnings. Now members get paid even if they don’t need it
- Vote: 31 For. 3 against. 3 Abs (I think) Either way, it passed. IRC recommendations accepted
- Cllr Howe (L D): Update on Westminster House please. Cllr Mazillius: Responses still coming in. Hope to report soon
- Cllr Whittle (Ind): Told in 2010 Lifeguard budget cut from £120k to £40k. Remaining £40k has now been withdrawn. Why?
- Cllr Brown (Con): Decision on 7 Dec.2010 by Cabinet. As it stands, it’s up to local town councils to pay for it
- Whittle: Could some money be found, like £5k for each town? Something to get them started?
- Brown: It could be, but the money will have to be taken from somewhere else
- Cllr Humby: Would IWC pay for CRB checks if volunteers have to take over the libraries?
- Cllr Brown: I think it’s a small amount, but all small amounts of money added together build to a large amount
- Welsford: Hammer blow to Ventnor with all closures. Would you please reconsider them? Without funding it will be impossible
- Brown: (summary) Decisions haven’t fully been made yet
- (There’s been a few more Q+As. Meeting over now)
