An Uncertain future for Local Services

A number of residents have been in touch worried about the loss of our local bus services.

Last week I received confirmation from the IW Council’s Cabinet Member that Service 32 is safe from cutbacks until 31st August 2011. After that date it seems very likely that Wightbus will be discontinued and although Wightbus will discontinue the service may be operated by another service provider.

At the moment the IW Council are unclear, what priority the Government is giving to subsidised bus services or what steps are being taken to review concessions. All we do know is that generally all none-core Council services are at risk from cutbacks. Until more is known, there is still some uncertainty for local authorities. Therefore Parish & Town Councils are unclear what shortfall they will be required to pick up and until more is known, it is difficult for me to advise residents exactly whereabouts savings will be identified.

In the weeks ahead I will endeavour to find out more, and will keep residents updated regularly through my blog and via the Cowes Beacon and Gurnard News.

£150 Parking Permit to be relaunched (with conditions!)

From today residents can purchase the newly relaunched Parking Permit.  Unlike it's £75 predecessor entitlement will only be for those residents living within 200m of certain car parks.  Please note Park Road Car Park is no longer operated by the IW Council, so cannot be used.  If you are entitled to this permit please note that it cannot be used until 1st January 2011.  Alternatively the £500 permit remains available for use in all Council Long Stay Car Parks.

Apologies for residents who expected a little more than this when the article appeared in October's Beacon. As far as I am concerned a conditional Permit is better than no permit and although I would prefer to see the £150 permit having no conditions, I hope Councillors will think again since revenue was not as it was anticipated.  (The Independent Group, predicted this when setting their budget earlier this year)

In the meantime, I have just been appointed to the Council's Economy, Environment and Transport Scrutiny Committee so hope to be much more hands on, on this in the coming months.

For further information please call 01983 821000 

Keep Warm, Keep Well

Stay warm and healthy this winter

Now the clocks have gone back and temperatures are falling, it's important to make sure you keep warm and avoid getting ill in the winter months.

The Department of Health has produced a guide called Keep Warm Keep Well. It gives useful tips on how to keep healthy and what grants and benefits are available to help with heating costs. Advice includes:

• taking up the offer of a seasonal flu jab

• ways to avoid catching colds

• how to eat healthily in the winter months

• turning off heating in rooms you don't use

• turning down heating slightly

• switching off gadgets, rather than leaving on standby

• using hot water bottles and electric blankets safely.

There's also information about to apply for financial help, such as Cold Weather Payments, the Winter Fuel Allowance and the Warm Front Scheme, which can award grants to insulate your home for free or give you a heating rebate.

For details, or to download a copy of Keep Warm Keep Well, visit the Department of Health at: www.dh.gov.uk.

ENERGETIC: Saving Families from Fuel Poverty (News from the Footprint Trust)

Forward thinking mums and dads could be in a windfall on their energy bills thanks to an initiative from the Footprint Trust.

Energetic is the name of a new initiative, which involved young families in saving money through sensible use of fuel. The Trust will be recruiting mums and dads to act as ‘Energetic Champions’ and will give free training to those involved. A short fun free training course will be held during the school day. Those trained will then be able to apply their new knowledge to their home and share their skills with neighbours, families and friends. The first 10 people to join up will get a free limited edition Energetic stylish orange T- shirt.

Mayfield Middle School in Ryde will be piloting an Energetic training event on Friday 21st January at 1.15pm. If your school would like to host one of these free events then please contact the Trust.

Gas and electricity bills were over £1,000 in 2009 - a 30% increase in five years, with household energy bills set to double over the next five years. The Energetic project will help young families use fuel more efficiency, and those taking part could easily knock around £100 to £400 off their energy bills in the next year.

The Energetic project also offers free home visits and a helpline – giving guidance on energy and water efficiency. More details are available by emailing ray@footprint-trust.co.uk or telephone 01983 822282. The Energetic project is funded by the ScottishPower Energy People Trust.

Clearing Your Debt, Information from Consumer Direct.

At Christmas more and more residents each year falling deeper and deeper into debt,  I have therefore collated the following information with agencies that can provide you with support:

Citizens Advice

For free advice on debt and a range of other matters, visit your nearest Citizens Advice Bureau. Look them up in your phone book or visit www.citizensadvice.org.uk For web-based information and advice go to www.adviceguide.org.uk

National Debtline

A free telephone helpline for people with debt problems. Call 0808 808 4000. Or visit www.nationaldebtline.co.uk to email for advice, use interactive budgeting tools and download information packs, fact sheets and sample letters.

Consumer Credit Counselling Service

For free money and budgeting advice, including free debt management plans, call 0800 138 1111 or visit www.cccs.co.uk

AdviceUK

A network of independent advice centres. To find your nearest agency call 0207 4074070 or visit www.adviceuk.org.uk

Payplan

For free advice on debt & budgeting including free debt management plans & IVAs call 0800 917 7823 or www.payplan.com

Community Legal Advice
For free legal advice phone 0845 345 4 345. if you qualify for legal aid or visit www.communitylegaladvice.org.uk

Youth Reorganisation Proposals: How much better, can it get for young people?

At my last surgery which I held at Cowes High School, I had a lengthy discussion with a University Student about the impact that Tuition Fees will have on youngsters entering Further Education..... I am of course worthy of this when our Government proposes to clear the National Debt within the next 4 years, so as not to impact upon the next generation of youngsters.  In theory, this is spot-on....but in practice will it work, ?- I really hope it does- for our youngsters sake.

In the meantime, the Council is feeding back from their consultation on Youth Service Reorganisation. Additional comments can be made until Monday 13th December. The original consultation highlighted from young people the need for Youth Clubs to be open on Fridays & Saturdays, during school holidays and that young people wanted more things to do and places to go in rural areas.

Adults considered that good youth work is required to keep youngsters off the streets, and that opportunities should be seized to develop knowledge, skills and experience to grow in confidence with the support of qualified experienced youth workers.

Proposals for the Cowes Area are as follows:

• Develop Provision on the new Secondary school site.

• Support the new Secondary school to deliver the Duke Of Edinburgh Award.

• Provide a full range of facilities over 5 evenings including Fridays & Saturdays, working in partnership with other agencies.

• Work with Cowes Youth Forum to develop a youth café.

• Deliver alternative education services.

• Current building to be declared surplus to requirements.

Initial observations that I have noted, is that many of these proposals focus away from 'physical activities' to 'education and work place activities'.  Next week, I'll be attending the Island's Youth Council, to listen to exactly what our future generation wants.... Actually, this will probably prove to be the most informative meeting I plan to attend in a long while! 

Your Opportunity to shape Tomorrow's World in Local Transport Plan

If a week is a long time in politics, what is 27 years? Will pensioners passes still be in use on our buses?; will we have 'new' trains by then, or at least trains that can carry mobility scooters?  Will the IW Council invest in Electric Cars; Or shall we all be zapping from A to B by Jet Packs?  If so, then don't look to the Local Transport Plan for answers. 

 

Rather than giving us an insight into the world of tomorrow, The IW Council are undertaking a consultation on its Transport Plan (which in essence, is a bidding document for Government Grants). The Plan has a number of objectives (or Transport Goals) These are:

Improve and maintain our highway assets.

Support Economic Growth.

Increase Accessibility.

Improve Quality Of Life.

Improve Road Safety and Health.

Respect the local environment.

The plan is available at all Libraries, County Hall or by viewing the following link: www.iwight.com/transport. The consultation lasts until 4th February 2011.

More Service Cuts Projected by the Isle Of Wight.

I became a Councillor to make a difference to my local community, however with the raft of further 'amputations', proposed by Central Government for Local Authorities, it becomes more and more difficult for even the most brilliant Councillors to make any positive or constructive changes beyond core services for the better for their communities.... Frustrating yes, but as Tony Blair once put it (or was it Alistair Campbell?)  Things can only get better.  But first The Council needs to contend with 2011.

As a result the IW Council will need to save £32m, over the next four years (£17m of this to front loaded next year). In the coming weeks Councillors (from all groups) will be balancing which services are reviewed. These are likely to include:

• Wightbus

• The Cowes Floating Bridge.

• Tourist Information Centres.

• Libraries.

• Rural Bus Services. (The Government anticipates bus companies WILL to do their bit, socially!)

• Staffing. (The Council will only be expected to carry out core services)

• Heritage Museum

• Public Toilets.

• The Sports Development Grant.

• Leisure Centres

• Consolidation of Care Contracts and Personal Budgets

• Combining Services currently undertaken within Children and Family Services.

In the coming weeks, the Government are looking to introduce the cornerstone of their Big Society Agenda- The Decentralisation and Localism Act. Ironically, this will empower local communities, and could ultimately give local Town and Parish Council’s greater responsibilities, such as taking on the roles currently undertaken by local authorities.



COUNCILLORS SURGERIES DECEMBER 2010 AND JANUARY 2011

5-5:30pm Tuesday 7th December, Sports Bar, IW Community Club, Park Road, Cowes.

6-6:30pm, Tuesday 14th December, Portland Inn, Worsley Road, Gurnard.

11-11:30am, Tuesday 21st December, The Woodvale, Princes Esplanade, Gurnard.

5-5:30pm Tuesday 4th January 2011, Sports Bar, IW Community Club, Park Road, Cowes.

6-6:30pm, Tuesday 11th January, Portland Inn, Worsley Road, Gurnard.

11-11:30am, Wednesday 19th January, The Woodvale, Princes Esplanade, Gurnard.

11:45-12 Noon, Wednesday 19th January, Little Gloster, Marsh Road, Gurnard.

3:30-4pm, Wednesday 26th January, Cowes High School, Crossfield Avenue, Cowes.

Gritting Routes in Cowes West and Gurnard

With the snow settling outside the Council has altered its Principal Gritting/Salting Routes to as follows:

Primary Gritting Route

Place Road and Park Road.

Secondary Gritting Route.

Tuttons Hill, Worsley Road, Shore Road, Woodvale Road, Baring Road, Ward Avenue and Crossfield Avenue.