Budget Proposals from the Independent Group of Isle of Wight Councillors

The Independent Group of Isle of Wight Councillors has put forward a detailed budget proposal allowing necessary savings to be achieved while reinstating services such as Libraries, Toilets and Lifeguards which are threatened by some of the budget proposals of the leading Conservative group. Funding for other areas, including a new residents parking permit at £150, have been identified.

The Leader of the Independent Group, Councillor Vanessa Churchman, said: “In presenting our budget proposals we recognise that it is obvious that cutbacks are necessary, both due to the cuts in funding from central government but in many cases due to the previous errors of the current ruling group which have constrained what can be done now. However, in constructing our budget we have looked to make sensible economies and avoid waste while overall acting in accordance with the wishes and priorities of the residents of the Isle of Wight rather than any narrow political agenda. We recognise the value of many of the public services currently provided by the Council, the need to try and help people retain their jobs in difficult economic times and the need for support to be given to groups and organisations who provide essential facilities and services to the community”.

The Budget proposals of the Independent Group reinstate the following services:

• Tourist Information Centres
• All Public Conveniences
• Lifeguard Service
• Cowes Chain Ferry
• Ventnor Botanical Gardens
• All Libraries
• Ryde Waterside Pool

Councillor Churchman said: “We have recognised the importance of these services and the expressed public wish for them to be retained and maintained, as well as the effect of many of these valuable services on the Island economy. These proposals will also allow us to save over 180 jobs.”

The Independent Group proposes savings of £21,439m over a full year which will come from:

•  Cutting management costs of £9m This will include a reduction of 5% in salaries to all Council employees above staff level Sc6 and all Elected Member allowances as well as the deletion of 38 senior management posts.
• Cutting Council communication and performance management costs by £1,250,000. 
• Reduction in Council business infrastructure of £4,424,000, including a reduction in the mileage allowance, energy savings, cutting back the refurbishment of County Hall and reducing investment in Leisure facilities.

The economies proposed by the Independent Group create extra funds which it is proposed are used to support other areas and services which the Group see as being important. The proposals for further funding include:

• Increased funding for welfare benefits information and advice (£100,000)
• Replacement of funding for the IOW Music Service withdrawn in 2010 (£50,000)
• Support for victims of domestic abuse (£228,000)
• New residents island wide parking permit costing £150
• The creation of a Community Bus Fund (£100,000)

Councillor Churchman said: “If accepted by Full Council these proposals will provide a lawful, balanced and achievable budget which will save services and serve the community.”

During the last month:

• I joined the Children & Young People Scrutiny Panel and attended the Economy & Environment Scrutiny Panel.

• Attended a UNISON Stop The Cuts meeting and joined other IW Councillors at the Save Cowes Library meeting.

• Listened to concerns expressed by Gurnard Pines about IW Council’s proposals to invest £6m in Leisure Centres.

• Visitors to my Surgeries increased to its highest level for one month (12!!);

• I took part in a phone-in at Vectis Radio.

• Attended Cowes Town Council; Northwood Parish Council and Gurnard Parish Council meetings

• Requested, at Full Council the IW Council gives recognition to Parish and Town Council on Scrutiny Panels.

• Heard representations at the Local Access Forum on the disposal of woodland at Parkhurst Forest, Brighstone Forest, Firestone Copse and Combley Great Wood.

• Attended a Cowes Area Neighbourhood Watch meeting.

• Discussed with Cowes High School students concerns over proposed charges on the Cowes Floating Bridge.

• Attended 2 school Governor Meetings.

• I was appointed Chairman of Gurnard Community Association and attended Gurnard’s Traffic Working Party.

Cross-Solent Gas Main Committee Update.

Air venting has been delayed and is scheduled to begin this week. This is likely to cause some distrurbance, and will occur during daylight hours. The second pipeline is being drilled at a rate of 100 - 150m per day and remains ahead of schedule. Due to Health and Safety Reasons it will be necessary to close Cockleton Lane for 7-10 days from 21st March.  I've asked that the contractors continue to ensure residents are kept fully informed about this, and in the meantime I applaud Rew Street residents for the patience so far.

The deadline for completion is 12th July, with the fields being reseeded and restored during this Autumn.

The next meeting is due to be held early March.  Due to the imminent closure of Cockleton Lane, I've asked that Gurnard Pines attends as well as a representative from Gurnard School.  If you have any complaints, let me know so that I can let the contractors know!

Highways Matters

Potholes have been filled in Ward Avenue, a street nameplate has been requested for Park Road following being uprooted, whilst another has been repaired in Guppy Close. I’ve requested that the blocked gully’s in Cockleton Lane are cleared following icy conditions, and asked that damage caused by pipeline vehicles to grass verges in Rew Street is made good.

I’ve passed on complaints of parked vehicles on pavements in Place Road, following concerns that double buggies and mobility scooters have been unable to pass safely when vehicle park on the entire pavement.

I continue to receive complaints about speeding traffic in Tuttons Hill, and in the short term I’ve asked the police to take enforcement action against speeding motorists. I have also asked for enforcement action to be taken against parents parking dangerously at school drop off and pick up times in Cockleton Lane.

Planning Application Update

I’ve met with residents concerning a revision to 55 Baring Road, whilst in Gurnard The Planning Committee approved a replacement dwelling at 79 Church Road, Gurnard. Also in Gurnard, I signed off the extension to 12 Shore Path.



The redevelopment of Solent Lawns, Shore Road has caused me no end of frustration. Planning Officers, Highways and the Police have been asked to take action against the contractor for leaving mud on the Highway whilst I am supporting a neighbour over the contractor levelling gardens, when the plans approved stipulated gardens should fall with the gradient.   At Egypt House, I’ve received complaints from residents of Pine Tree Close and Egypt Hill over builders lighting bonfires. Because of the impact this has had on residents of the Moorings, Environmental Health Officers visited the site and took action. I also sat on the Planning Committee that approved the Three Crowns application in Cowes High Street.




I understand a new planning application is pending for 69 Marsh Road following objections concerning the scale and visual impact the former application had. I met with a resident over plans to provide a Eco-Tourist facility in Rew Street, and hope that Gurnard Parish Council will enter into dialogue with him over his proposals.

Members Allowances

In light of staff job security, cuts to public services and in view that residents want Councillors to justify their allowances more,  I voted against the Independent Remuneration Panels recommendations to freeze Councillor’s Allowances at Full Council.

During the consultation with members I suggested that Cabinet Members should receive smaller allowances than present and that allowances ought to be means tested and provided only to Councillors who are out of pocket through their expenses. This, I believe would reduce costs, save money, and give a more diverse range of County Councillors.



A proposal made by the Panel was to provide a mobile phone to members unable to pick up an Orange signal. Rather than support this, I suggested Councillors had Mobiles/ Blackberries withdrawn. Unfortunately, I was only one of three Councillors not to support the Panels suggestions.

IW Council Cutbacks, in a nutshell and What You've Told Me! UPDATES POSTED

All Councillors have been inundated with appeals against cutbacks to local services, the most contentious of which I’ve listed below:

Libraries. (16 representations received)

The IW Council plans to close 9 out of 11 Libraries in the next two years unless volunteers can be found to take these on. I oppose these proposals, and are looking at alternatives including enhancing the Library Service, to have several Council services under one roof. 

UPDATE: Cabinet has since agreed to invest an additional £100k for next year, which will provide a stay of execution. I believe this is not what residents want and I will therfore continue to oppose the ruling administrations plans! 

Wightbus. (13 representations)

The Council plans to discontinue Wightbus after August 2011. After this date, I understand subsidies will remain in place to support some bus services. The IW Council are intending to bid for the Sustainable Transport Grant and in the meantime I am a member of the Cowes Area Council’s Working Party looking into options.

UPDATE: A very big thank you to Gurnard and Northwood Residents for signing Richard and Jacquie's petition asking the IW Council to think again about Wightbus' disposal. 

Southern Vectis has advised that to continue to run Service 32 would not be commercially viable, however if volunteers are used the bus service could continue.  The company has offered use of their vehicles between school times,  will train all volunteers to PCV level and considers there would be a mechanism to accept concessionary fares. All that the community needs to do is to find a pool of 6 volunteers to make this work. Please let me know if you are interested! 
   

Tourist Facilities (4 representations)

The IW Council are talking to ‘private companies’ about the transferral of Tourist Information Centres. There is also discussions about transferring Lifeguards to other agencies. Clearly any loss could result in some holiday areas losing any Blue Flag status, which in turn could adversely impact upon our Tourist Industry.

Cowes Floating Bridge. (4 representations)

Cowes Floating Bridge is due to be replaced in 3 years. The Council proposes to charge pedestrians and vehicle passengers from April. Despite receiving an assurance that students returning to and from school will travel at no cost, I feel charges are ill-conceived. At last weeks Economy & Environment Scrutiny Panel Cllr. Peacey-Wilcox and I felt that these charges required further investigation

UPDATE: Not only did Lora and I think this was ill-conceived, but so did the Cabinet at their meeting on Tuesday, so this has been subsequently abandoned..... Could the Library Service cuts be next? Watch this space  

Public Conveniences. (3 representations)

The IW are seeking to dispose of 32 out of its 67 toilets. An interest has been shown by Parish/ Town Councils and the Private Sector in taking these over.

Car Parking (2 representations)

At the Economy and Scrutiny Committee other Councillors seemed to agree with my suggestion to once more investigate the viability of offering residents a Parking Permit. Particularly, since the recession seems to be hitting Town Centres across the Island. Cllr Peacey Wilcox and I requested this was investigated further.

Adult Services (2 representations).

In the coming weeks, I am working with others to identify further savings in the Council’s budget to safeguard many of these services. If alternative savings I’ll be insuring that these are found.

SURGERIES for February and March

4:30-5:30pm, Tuesday 8th February,
 Sports Bar, IW Community Club, Park Road, Cowes.
 (COUNCIL CUTBACK SURGERY)

6-6:30pm, Tuesday 8th February,

Portland Inn, Worsley Road, Gurnard.

3:30-4pm, Wednesday 16th February,
6th Form Common Room, Cowes High School, Crossfield Avenue, Cowes.
 (Students only from 3pm-3:30pm)

11-11:30pm, Wednesday 23rd February,
 The Woodvale, Princes Esplanade, Gurnard.

5:30-6pm, Tuesday 1st March,

Sports Bar, Isle of Wight Community Club, Park Road, Cowes.

6-6:30pm, Tuesday 8th March,
 Portland Inn, Worsley Road, Gurnard.

11-11:30am, Wednesday 16th March,
The Woodvale, Princes Esplanade, Gurnard.

11-11:30am, Wednesday 23rd March,
Little Gloster, Marsh Road, Gurnard. (Subject to Confirmation)

3:30-4pm, Wednesday 30th March,

6th Form Common Room, Cowes High School, Crossfield Avenue, Cowes.

 (Students only from 3pm-3:30pm)

February Blogs due to be posted Friday!!

Apologies for no new information, so far this year!  I am still here! Both my postal and PC Mailbox has lately been bursting with correspondence associated with the Isle of Wight Council's proposed cutbacks.  On top of this I've been to what seems like endless meetings, and when I'm not responding to my mail, (or trying to arrange meetings!) I spend an unmeasurable time chasing matters up......  However, I am now almost on an even keel, and will begin writing my reports today.  Thank you for your patience and many thanks for visiting my blog!