Surgeries.
4:30-5pm, Tuesday 7th April, Cowes
Library, Beckford Road, Cowes.
1-1:30pm, Wednesday 15th April,
Little Gloster, Marsh Road, Gurnard.
3-3:30pm, Wednesday 22nd April,
Cowes Enterprise College, Crossfield Avenue, Cowes.
6-6:30pm, Thursday 30th April, The
Portland, Worsley Road, Gurnard.
Island
Roads Updates:
Road
Resurfacing
·
At
time of writing, Marsh Road is due
to be resurfaced and closed on Friday 1st May and again from 4th-
6th May. I’ve suggested that
this is moved back to April to take advantage of the closure of Pallance Road
lessening disruption for local residents.
·
Baring Road in the meantime, has
been programmed to be resurfaced the week commencing Monday 11th
May.
·
The
Grass Verge in Hilton Road has been restored to its former glory.
·
The
Church Road Pot Hole was patched again last month!
·
I continue to await a response from Drainage
Engineers on when future work will be carried out to resolve flooding issues in
Rew Street.
·
Flowerbeds
in Queens Road are due to be planted up from 1st May.
Planning.
·
A
Planning Application has been submitted to develop 11 dwellings on The Glen in Gurnard. This proposal is
as an alternative to the approved planning application from 2011 for 14 units o
sheltered housing on the same site. Last month a letterdrop took place to 80
households in Worsley Road and The Avenue, this was followed up by a
presentation at The Portland Inn. Many
thanks to Sue or allowing use of the pub!
·
A
presentation was made to Gurnard Parish Council on proposals to develop 11
dwellings adjacent to Dottens Farm
in Woodvale Road. A further meeting is due to take place at 6pm, 9th April at Cowes Town
Council’s Offices, Northwood House. As yet no planning application has been
submitted, In the meantime I’ve requested that prior to this occurring another
session is held with local residents.
·
Work
to restore the Cowes Hammerhead Crane has been delayed due to nesting Ravens(!)
·
I
attended a session with the Friends Of Frank James Hospital in East Cowes. On
site was Richard Manser from SafeSite, who has been a godsend to owners and
volunteers, in ensuring this important building has been kept secure.
·
A
new planning application has been received for a footway
linking Worsley Road to Gurnard Village Hall and the new development. This application follows
a proposal being rejected by many residents and users of
the Hall.
Community Toilets.
·
Contrary to popular belief, the IW Council are not seeking to close more public toilets on the
Island, rather they are looking at opportunities to work with business owners
to provide extra toilets for use within the Community Toilet Scheme. This scheme replicates others elsewhere, and
should it prove popular create greater choice for visitors and Island
Residents. A consultation is currently
underway until 17th April. To take part or for details, please
visit: https://www.iwight.com/Residents/Environment-Planning-and-Waste/Waste-and-Recycling/Public-Convenience-Cleansing/Consultation-Community-Toilet-Scheme
Gurnard
Playing Field and Orchard.
·
The
next meeting to progress action I hope will take place later this month. This
meeting will take place on site with representatives from the Green Gym and the
IW Orchards Group. In the meantime,
Gurnard Parish Council is seeking legal advice regarding the Council’s
liabilities signing the lease, whilst I have sought advice from the IW Council
concerning the level of Ragwort which is a disincentive for the grass on the
Playing Field being cut
Rights
Of Ways.
·
Following
ongoing discussions between landowners and Rights Of Way a previously eroded
section of the Coastal Path in Bembridge has reopened.
·
With
respect to the Gurnard Luck to Thorness section which has remained closed since
February 2014, Rights Of Way has issued the following update:
Dear Gurnard
Parish Council and Councillor Fuller
I
refer you to the positive negotiations with the landowners with regard to
opening a path across their land in order to bypass the closed public footpath
section which will lead to the reopening of the coastal public path from
Gurnard to Thorness.
I can
confirm that Rights of Way acted very quickly in preparing the necessary maps
and documentation and this was submitted to the landowners as soon as it was
checked by the Council's Legal Services department.
The
landowners have acknowledged receipt but as the documentation affects their
land they quite understandably wish to consider this and possibly obtain their
own independent advice before approval.
I can
provide the following information:
* The proposal includes a safe access
point to the beach.
* Rights of Way have cleared vegetation
for the whole route from Gurnard to Thorness as sections had become quite grown
in during the closed period.
* The Rights of Way department have surveyed
the proposed new path with a contractor and quotes have been obtained for the
necessary works which can start as soon as the formalities have been completed.
* We have also obtained quotes for
moving fencing inland on other sections CS17 which are affected by erosion and
the consent of one landowner has been obtained and the consent of the remaining
landowner will hopefully be forthcoming shortly.
·
Work within the Isle of Wight section of the
Coastal Access Act will commence in 2017/8.
Solent Forum.
I attended
the recent meeting of the Solent Forum held in Cowes, of note was the
following:
·
Marine Conservation Zones.
A number of
marine areas are being considered for Conservation Zones. The most important areas are being considered
in three tranches. Now at the second
tranche, the only zone that has been considered is the Needles MCZ. This area lies directly seaward (for 2-3
miles) of Colwell Bay, Totland Bay, Alum Bay and Scatchells Bay, and is
considered important due to the areas subtidal mixed sediments, Seagrass Beds,
Stalked Jellyfish and Peacock Tails.
Some concern
was raised as any designation could adversely impact upon the anchoring of Sea
Vessels and the impact this could have upon recreational pursuits in this area.
This consultation continues until Friday 24th April. For further information, please visit: https://consult.defra.gov.uk/marine/tranche2mczs/supporting_documents/The%20Needles%20rMCZ%20site%20summary.pdf
The final tranche of MCZ’s will be consulted
upon in the coming months. With the
Exception of the Needles MCZ, the Solent area has largely been let untouched-
However there are a number of areas locally that may be considered within this
tranche.
·
Surgewatch
In order to
better understand coastal flooding a database has been compiled of UK coastal
flood events. The ‘Surgewatch’ website captures information about storms, the
highest sea levels produced and the consequences to people. For further
information, please visit: http://www.surgewatch.org
Other Issues discussed:
·
Update on the Solent Gateway initiative for East
Cowes and Southampton.
·
Solent Renewable Energy Initiatives (inc. Navitus
Bay offshore Wind Farm and Perpetuus Tidal Energy Centre) and economic
opportunities associated for the Isle of Wight.
·
Concerns raised over flood prevention activities
for the Monktonmead Brook on Ryde Sands, and the impact that deposition of sand
is having.
·
Learning about the management and overview of
Tern foraging in the Solent. Concerns
were raised regarding water quality, colouration and the perceived impact that
dredging is having upon the Solent’s tern population.
Community
Wellbeing.
·
The IW Council in Partnership with the IWNHS Trust
was successful in its bid for Vanguard Funding which would support community
health and wellbeing projects within the Island. This was confirmed following receipt of
support from Cowes Town Council. It is likely this will provide around £10m
funding and build upon initiatives like ‘My Life, A Full Life’.
·
I am reliably informed that the WightCare Consultation is due to commence this month. All residents that use this service are in
the process of being notified, and Service Providers such
as Age UK will be offering support to clients should this be required. Please let me know I you require my support.
Also this month:
- · I attended my first meeting of the Cowes Firework Committee meeting. The Committee are seeking fundraising opportunities to assist this important event. This includes potentially issuing a commemorative drink container to be sold prior to and during Cowes Week. If you wish to contribute, this can be undertaken online by visiting the website: http://www.aamcowesweek.co.uk/web/code/php/main_c.php?map=cw15&ui=cw1&style=std&override=§ion=fireworks&page=fireworks
- · I’ve been approached by Fixed Link supporters. They have requested that I promote the debate which is currently underway. For further information please visit: https://www.facebook.com/IsleOfWightFixedLink
- · At Full Council, I supported the recommendation from the Independent Remuneration Panel to reduce Councillors Allowances by almost 2.6%. This is clearly controversial to a number of Isle of Wight Councillors, given that allowances have been frozen for seven years.
An alternative
proposal was put to request the Panel relook at Allowances (therefore
freezing allowances in the meantime!), however
this was narrowly rejected. From my
perspective understanding how the whole Council (esp. the Planning Department!)
are required to find significant savings within
the current economic climate, it is only fair that IW
Councillors also meaningfully contribute towards these savings.
- · Also at full Council I supported a motion calling on the Isle of Wight being ‘frack free’. Having been approached by several residents and no longer being a member of the Planning Committee, I was very pleased to support this motion. This was rejected following non-acceptance by the Chairman on his casting vote!
- · I attended a Corporate Parenting briefing. Because all IW Councillors are considered Corporate Parents and work closely with potentially vulnerable people, I have again suggested all Councillors as a matter of course are DBS (police) checked. Surprisingly, there are no statutory regulations in place to insure this happens.
- · I was in attendance at a very lively Environment and Transport Scrutiny Committee Meeting. The meeting was lively because the Agenda featured an item on Car Parking and the need for a Parking Strategy. The Committee raised a number of issues they wished consultants to investigate. Questions were raised, as to why consultants were being used and why the Strategy was not being undertaken ‘in-house’? The explanation provided was that with reduced number of staff now working or the IW Council, there was not the ability for officers to undertake this work themselves. This is likely to happen more frequently with ongoing staff reductions.
I attended Cowes’ Secondary
and Post 16 Education Consultation Meeting.
During the meeting to which 30-40 residents attended, concerns were
relayed about the potential loss and impact of Cowes Enterprise
College’s sixth form, whilst a number of
attendees raised concerns over merging schools in Newport and how this might
impact on children. The consultation continues until 30th April. For
further information, please visit the Council link below: http://www.iwight.com/azservices/documents/1842-Secondary-Consultation-document-February-2015.pdf
·
I attended the Appeal Hearing for the
Registration of Northwood Park as a Village Green. The application was rejected by
the IW Council as the legal definition was considered to be ‘of right’, rather than ‘as of right’. At the hearing it was made very clear by Janet
Allen on behalf the Trustees that there was no intention to develop within the
park, except for, in the longer term moving
the play area or reopening toilets.
·
Following giving Southern Vectis some input, I was invited to
the launch of the companies new no. 1 route and timetable. Despite the new route having bigger buses, I
still continue to receive complaints- now on the lack of space for wheelchairs and pushchairs and by occasions when drivers fail
to stop…
- · Further flood grants are being processed for local businesses. I remain optimistic that these are likely to be approved.
- · There is an ongoing issue within parts of Cowes and Northwood on abandoned vehicles, and who is responsible for removing vehicles on the highway that are not taxed. Thankfully, this does not seem to be a problem in our area. However, this continues to be monitored and should it become an issue, I will seek the advice of colleagues.
REPORT FROM THE EXECUTIVE MEMBER FOR PLANNING &
LICENSING TO FULL COUNCIL, 1st APRIL 2015.
PLANNING.
·
The
Planning Committee voted against officer recommendation in refusing the
proposal to develop the Blanchards site in Brighstone. Elsewhere the Committee approved schemes for
24 dwellings at Fleet Way, Shalfleet and for Broadway Crescent, Binstead.
·
A
Planning Training Event for Members took place with IW Councillors which
focused on Planning Appeals. Officers
reported that the Council’s success rate with Appeals stands currently at 61%
(The National Target is 70%). The next Planning Training Event will be
available to all members, and Paraish/ Town Councillors and will focus on
Section 106 Agreements.
·
Myself
and Cllr Baker-Smith met with staff at a Planning Team briefing last month, and
consultation is currently taking place on restructuring
·
As
from 1st April the Planning Department is introducing a new process in respect
of discharging conditions that are applied to planning permissions. This is currently administered on an informal
basis, however developers will be required to submit a formal application
including the relevant fee set by regulation. This provides an opportunity to
improve the efficiency of the existing process whilst placing the authority in
a stronger position in respect of fee generation.
·
A
planning application has been submitted by the retailer Aldi for a new store in
Lake on part of the Spithead Business Centre site. This was advertised on the 6 March 2014 and
the statutory consultation period expires on 27 March. Officers are currently involved in detailed
pre-application discussions relating to the proposed regeneration of Medina
Yard in Cowes and a planning application is expected during the month of April.
·
Understanding
members concerns with Planning Enforcement, I am investigating with officers
setting up a monthly Planning Enforcement ‘Drop-In’. This is an opportunity for IW Councillors and
Town Councillors to meet with myself and discuss local enforcement issues. I am intending to hold the first drop-in
session this month.
Planning Policy.
A second Isle of Wight neighbourhood
development plan has been endorsed in a public referendum which took place
within Brading.
The turnout was 21.44%, which is below the
national average of 32% for neighbourhood plans, but the yes vote of 85% is
about the national average (of 88% based on DCLG figures in February 2015).
This means that following the council’s
decision of 13 January and the positive outcome of the referendum, the Brading
Neighbourhood Development Plan will be ‘come into force from Monday 23 March.
Consultation has commenced on the Island
Plan’s SP2 Policy.
BUILDING CONTROL
01/02/15
- 28/02/15
Number
of inspections of Building works carried out 501
Number
of Building Control applications received 98
Number
of new dangerous structures responded to 1
Licensing
Licenced Premises Seminar
This covered
a number of topics for the licensed trade and presented an opportunity for
attendees to discuss issues with officers and myself.
Overall 49
premises were represented and general feedback was that the seminars were very
useful and positive. It is hoped that
further seminars will take place every 6-12 months depending on legislative
changes.
My grateful
thanks to members of this Council, who were invited to attend the evening
session!
Policies
The following
polices were approved at Executive on 24 March:
·
Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing
Policy - with an implementation date of 1 April 2015
·
Relevance of Convictions for Hackney Carriage
/ Private Hire Drivers and Pleasure Boatmen Policy – with an implementation
date of 1 April 2015
·
The Permissions for the Placing of Tables,
Chairs, and Other Objects with the exclusion of “A” Boards and “Planters” on
the Highway Policy - with an implementation date of 1 April 2015
With respect
to the A Boards and Planters concerns, given Newport Parish Council’s support
for better regulation, I am looking forward to meeting with Councillors this
week to explore alternative options within a more localised and fit for purpose context.
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