During public question time at Monday night’s Ventnor Town Council (VTC) meeting, several members of the audience expressed their concern at the lack of information coming out of the VTC with regard to the future of the Winter Gardens.
Concerns were also raised about the press and public exclusion at the end of the meeting, whilst the VTC discussed the negotiations between the VTC and IWC over the Winter Gardens (WG).
This followed news reported by VB last month about the Isle of Wight council’s decision to review the WG and possibly dispose of it.
Ventnor Mayor, Debby Robinson told the public that the item would be addressed during Item 7 of the agenda.
Item 7
Cllr Robinson started by saying that the VTC have been experiencing great frustration in their dealings with the IWC.
She explained to members of the public that the IWC own the building and VTC have a license to operate it.
Why new management agreement?
Some months ago, the IWC presented the VTC with a new management agreement, doing away with the old.
The town clerk and councillors could find nothing wrong with the old agreement and therefore expressed a desire to remain on that one.
The Mayor went on to say that the VTC have been chasing and waiting for meetings with IWC officers for sometime, adding to the frustration of the situation.
Substantial funds outstanding
She also reported that the IWC have still not paid £23,000 of the management fee due to the VTC in this financial year, putting the VTC’s finances in a difficult position.
It’s understood that the management fee is usually paid in two parts in April and October.
Cllr Robinson told VB that IWC senior officer, John Metcalfe assured the VTC that this year’s fee was not in danger, when they met with him earlier in the year.
Committed to transparency
Moving onto the subject of the closed meeting, Cllr Robinson stated that the VTC are committed to open transparency and any closed meetings are only held to protect commercial confidentiality.
She made it clear that despite rumours circulating, there were no secret deals being formulated.
Finishing, she said that when negotiation does occur between the VTC and IWC, that the VTC would have the town’s needs in mind.
Council comment
We contacted the IWC an hour and a half before publishing for a comment, but at time of publishing had received no response.
Will will update this article once we hear back.
