Surgeries.
4:30-5pm, Tuesday 7th July, Cowes Library,
Beckford Road, Cowes.
5:30-6pm, Tuesday 7th July, Sports Bar, IW Community Club, Park Road, Cowes.
3-3:30pm, Wednesday 15th July, Cowes
Enterprise College, Crossfield Ave., Cowes.
1-1:30pm, Wednesday 22nd July, Little Gloster,
Marsh Road, Gurnard
6-6:30pm, Thursday 30th July, The Portland,
Worsley Road, Gurnard.
4:30-5pm, Tuesday 4th August, Cowes Library,
Beckford Road, Cowes.
Redevelopment of the Former Reader’s Site,
Place Road.
An Information
Meeting will take place at 6:30pm,
Thursday 16th July at the IW Community Club, Park Road, Cowes,
where an update will be given on proposals to develop a retail outlet on the
Former Reader’s Site.
Resurfacing updates.
As I write
this month’s report, Southern Water is in the process of concluding
investigations relating to the water leak on the junction of Debourne Manor
Drive and Baring Road. Should everything
go to plan, resurfacing Baring Road
‘should’ start on Friday 10th July and will
last until Monday 19th July. I understand from residents that letters were
circulated in May, giving prior notice.
Elsewhere
resurfacing is also scheduled to take place in Queens Road (6-8th
July), Marsh Road (20-21st July) and Cockleton Lane (22nd July)
Following
last month’s report relating to Parklands
Avenue, Island Roads has assured me the road will now be monitored every
month (rather than 6 monthly), whilst the road will be re-surveyed in
September. In the meantime, I will ask the road is given high priority and
request residents keep reporting pot holes to Island Roads on 822440 once they
appear!
Planning Applications: Dottens Farm.
A Planning
Application has been received to develop 11 dwellings adjacent to Dottens Farm.
The planning
agent, has advised me that following the pre-consultation meeting the proposal
has been modified to reflect some issues raised by residents who attended. I anticipate the application will be
advertised late July, with fuller details in August’s report. As is usual, I
will ensure letters are circulated to those living nearby. Please visit paulfullercc.blogspot.com and
Twitter: PaulFullercc for updates.
New Roads.
In Gurnard, I
am advised the two new developments off Worsley Road (opposite Gurnard Village
Hall) and on the site of the Glen (opposite Londis) will be called Oaklands
View and Glen (initially Victoria) Place.
Given feedback received from local residents
and Gurnard Parish Council, I am very happy to support this.
Education Vote at Full Council: My thoughts.
As
yet, I have not decided what option I will be supporting, as for me there are several
unanswered questions.
Although
I fully recognise that Option 1 (no change) was the preferred option within the
consultation, it remains important this is affordable, sustainable and
reinforces the choices and outcomes which young people deserve. It is
also important that the final decision by the IW Council’s Executive minimises
further disruption.
With
respect to Option 1 (which, incidentally, I am leaning towards!), it is
important for me to have sight of the Island Innovation Trust's Business Case.
To be able to persuade and reinforce Councillors acceptance of this
option there is a real need for Hampshire County Council, the Department For
Education and the Education Funding Agency to support that IIT's proposals are
robust, evidence based and sound.
I
understand from officers that this clarification is being sought on several
elements of IIT's proposals, and should these can be quantified I reiterate, I
see no problem supporting Option 1.
Once
I have sight of the business case, (which as an aside, I hoped would have been
circulated sooner!) I will be in a better position to make a fully informed
decision on all options under consideration.
Bryan
Salter
Last month, I was sad to hear that former
Chairman of Gurnard Parish Council, Bryan Salter had passed away.
Bryan was a very patient and diplomatic Chairman
to the Parish Council, which he steadfastly undertook for seven years. I found Bryan’s friendship, support, advice
and total commitment to the village an inspiration and my thoughts and
condolences are with Marion and his family.
Thank you, Bryan!
REPORT FROM THE EXECUTIVE MEMBER FOR PLANNING AND
LICENSING
TO THE MEETING OF FULL COUNCIL ON WEDNESDAY, 8th JULY
2015.
Planning:
In June the planning committee approved
applications enabling valuable investment in tourism, housing and employment on
the Island, and in particular the positive regeneration of a derelict
brownfield site.
Members will be aware the planning service is
undergoing significant change as a result of the council's budget
strategy. There is a duty placed upon
the council to develop local planning policy and determine applications and
these critical roles will continue, but the way in which the service is
delivered will change. More information
on these changes will become available throughout July.
Due to the changes and restructuring taking
place within the Planning Department, charges for Pre-Application fees are now
likely to be introduced in September, after referral to Executive on 4th
August. For me, this continues to be of
priority. In the meantime, I ask that
members are sensitive to these changes that are now taking place.
Meetings have taken place with Town and
Parish Council's outlining to clerks and councillors how changes will affect
local councils. A briefing was held on
19th June and attended by over 40 representatives from the sector. In the
meantime, the Department will continue working with IWALC on partnership opportunities.
Licensing
Update:
The first two major events of the year, Old
Gaffers and Isle of Wight Festival have come and gone without any major
concerns.
Nearly 50,000 people attended this year's IW
Festival. In total there were 5 complaints regarding noise, which mostly
related to Thursday night. Generally the event was incident free both on and
outside the event.
The next couple of months will be an
extremely busy time for the licensing section with at least one large event
taking place each weekend from now through to Bestival at the beginning of
September, during which licensing applications, renewals and other routine
works will undoubtedly stretch the licensing's departments resources to their
limits. These events include:
28 June: Ship Wreck Isle, Apply Beach
4-5 July:
All at Sea Beach Festival, Shanklin Beach
12 July:
Ryde Slide
17-19 July:
The Mondo Mix, Calbourne Water Mill
17-19 July:
Rhythmtree, Three Gates Lane, Calbourne
23-27 July:
V-Dub Island, South Fairlee Farm, Newport
25-26 July:
Funtasia Los Altos Park, Sandown
1 -2 August: Chale Show, Military Road, Chale
8 - 9 August: Jack up the 80's, Garlic
Festival Site
8-15 August: Cowes Week
15-16 August: Garlic Festival, Newchurch
28-31 August: Scooter Rally, Ryde
10-14 September: Bestival
Building
Control:
Stats
01/06/15 - 30/06/15:
Number of inspections of Building works
carried out 602
Number of Building Control applications
received 97
Number of new dangerous structures responded
to 4
In addition, since my last report to Full Council:
·
Meetings
have taken place with the Federation of Small Businesses. The FSB have requested briefing notes are
made available to make it easier to understand the planning process and to provide
more accessible Executive Summaries for the Area Action Plans.
·
Planning
for the Future Meetings have taken place with Town/ Parish Councillor
representatives from the Medina Valley, Ryde and The Bay. All parties have agreed these meetings are
useful to monitor progress on the Area Action Plans, and will continue to take
place at County Hall. In the meantime,
timescales on the AAP’s have been circulated.
·
A
meeting has taken place to address Empty and Dilapidated Buildings and Sites.
With the support of officers and Cllr Lora Peacey-Wilcox positive outcomes have
been achieved.
·
A
meeting was arranged between Newport Parish Council and officers to address the
issue of A-Boards within the Town.
·
A
meeting took place on site, with the local member and the leader to discuss
concerns relayed by Robin Hill, over activities taking place nearby. This is a
current case and is being considered by the local planning authority.
·
Following
feedback from the Scrutiny Committee a Section 106 protocol has been put in
place so that members are made aware of applications which may be the subject
of a s106 agreement.
·
The
IW Council's Executive has agreed to formally adopt Godshill's Supplementary
Planning Document.
·
Grant
Funding has allowed the LPA to secure and make water tight the former Frank
James Hospital in East Cowes.
·
Conservation
work on Cowes’ Hammerhead Crane has commenced.
·
Work
continues on updating the IW Council's Planning Enforcement Policy. This is due to be considered by Executive on
4th August.
·
Work
continues on the introduction of pre application charges for planning
applications and a paper is due to be considered by the Executive on the 4th
August.
School
Drop Off and Collection.
·
Gurnard Primary School.
I continue to receive calls from parents and
concerned residents regarding traffic incidents immediately outside the school
at collection and drop off times. It has
been highlighted that a traffic order may be necessary in some locations,
however there was agreement to free up car parking further away (but within 5
minutes walk of the school gates) would be helpful.
As a consequence, a meeting was held with the
Isle of Wight Council to consider alternatives.
Further discussions are likely to take place in the coming months.
In the meantime, I have taken up increased enforcement
with Parking Services.
·
Cowes Primary School.
In Charles Road, requests have been made for
Access Protection Bars to safeguard vehicular entrances, which increasingly get
blocked by parents collecting and dropping children off. Could I please urge residents collecting
children to be mindful of where they park!
Gurnard
School Open Space Project.
Ragwort Day at the former Gurnard School,
Cockleton Lane was a resounding success with most plants now uprooted. Although, I managed one afternoon(!)- I’d
like to thank Martin and Jill Bilson, The Green Gym for loan of the Ragwort
pickers and Terry and June Butchers for their advice.
In the meantime paperwork remains with lawyers
who remain dotting the I’s and crossing T’s
Cowes
Enterprise College.
I received a complaint regarding the disturbance
caused by the chimes used prior to lessons from the College.
The Principal, John Peckham has contacted me
about this and advises that following the complaint -‘The volume should already have been reduced and we are purchasing an
additional component that will enable us to only use the external speakers of
our lesson change indicator when students are outside’
In the meantime, I am grateful to Mr Peckham,
for his positive response.
Also this month:
·
Congratulations
and respect to Gurnard Parish Council Chairman, Sean Harrison who was recently
made an MBE in recognition of his role as a Regional
and Service coordinator of the Firefighters Charity, which Sean has played
an important role for 25 years.
·
I was hoping for good news regarding the Gurnard-Thorness
Coastal Path, due to re-open at least in part at the end of this month. Negotiations have gone well with the
landowners, and I continue to keep everything crossed to see the new missing
link can be re-opened soon. This very much dependent upon the good will of
landowners.
·
I have requested No Through Road signage is
provided for Bay View Road.
·
An abandoned vehicle has been reported in
Parklands Avenue. This vehicle continues
to be monitored, with action taken which I hope will result in this cars
removal.
·
I have continued to work with the Isle of Wight
Community Club on the renewal of their lease with the Isle of Wight Council,
and potential to use the Club’s roof to generate Solar Power and thus create a
Revenue Source.
·
A meeting has taken place with the Gurnard Hall
Village Hall Association, the Parish Council and myself, in an attempt to
resolve ongoing issues between the Hall and the neighbouring development next
door. Of concern to the Association is
accessibility to mobility impaired hall users.
·
I’ve
received complaints regarding the misuse of disabled parking bays on Princes
Esplanade, Gurnard. Because of the
continued abuse by persistent individuals, I’ve requested a zero tolerance to
this is applied.
·
I
am pursing Planning Enforcement issues relating to unkempt gardens, blocked accesses
and trees.
·
A
visit was arranged with WightFibre last month.
I attended alongside Cllrs Peacey Wilcox and Spalding (Cowes Town
Council) and Cllr Riddet (Northwood Parish Council). In the meantime, the advertisement on the
cabinet box at the bottom of Church Road has agreed to be made less intrusive
to residents nearby!
·
A
new street name plate has been requested for Magdalen Crescent, Cowes.
·
New
bolts have been requested for the ladies toilets on Princes Green, Gurnard.
·
Work
is due to commence shortly on the new access to Gurnard Pre-School from Cow
Lane. Although the application was
approved in 2012, local residents have re-confirmed worries over the conflict
between traffic using the lane and children. I am meeting with residents to see
whether further action can be taken.
·
No
news yet on the Inspectors decision on Place Road. There are several residents awaiting this
decision, which was anticipated in late June.
Once I am aware this will be posted on my website and tweeted!
·
Three
Gurnard Families have responded to last month’s article concerning Housing
availability at Oakland’s View. For details
, please register on https://www.islandhomefinder.org.uk or
contact Southern Housing on 0845 612 0021.
·
I’ve
written in to support the campaign for Julia Margaret Cameron to be
commemorated on back notes.
·
Passenger
Charges will be reintroduced on the Cowes Floating Bridge from Monday 20th
July. A return journey will cost 40p,
and tickets are available from members of staff on the Bridge. Please note the cost for those Under 19 and
Concessionary Buss Pass Holders remain free.
