Surgeries.
4:30-5pm, Tuesday 5th January, Cowes Library,
Beckford Road, Cowes.
5:30-6pm, Tuesday 5th January, Sports Bar, IW
Community Club, Park Road, Cowes.
6-6:30pm, Thursday 14th January, The Woodvale,
Princes Esplanade, Gurnard.
3-3:30pm, Wednesday 20th January, Cowes
Enterprise College, Crossfield Avenue, Cowes.
6-6:30pm, Thursday 28th January, The Portland,
Worsley Road, Gurnard.
4:30-5pm, Tuesday 2nd February, Cowes Library,
Beckford Road, Cowes.
5:30-6pm, Tuesday 2nd February, Sports Bar, IW
Community Club, Park Road, Cowes.
Medina Valley Area Action Plan.
Public consultation on this local
area action plan ended last month. Issues which I flagged up as Local
Councillor, include:
·
Removing the settlement boundary from Gurnard.
·
Safeguarding the Jordan Valley Green Gap, as a means to protect both the
Cowes and Gurnard communities from settlement coalescence.
·
Requesting protection of other green spaces from development These
include:
°
Dormers Copse and Land
south of Princes Esplanade, Gurnard and Egypt Esplanade, Cowes,
°
The Luck Valley bounded by
Pallance Road, Cockleton Lane, Marsh Road and Rew Street, Gurnard,
°
Cowes Golf Club, Crossfield
Avenue Cowes.
°
Westwood Park, Reynolds
Close, Cowes,
°
Sports Field, Isle of Wight Community Club, Park Road, Cowes.
°
The Green, Crossfield
Avenue, Cowes.
°
Mornington Wood and Mornington Green, Mornington Road, Cowes.
°
Land adjacent and north of Blackberry Lane, Cowes.
°
Grass verges/ open space within & opp. Magdalen Crescent, Crossfield
Avenue, and west of Churchill Road, Cowes.
·
Retention of land for Employment use at:
°
BAE Systems, Northwood.
°
Medina Yard, Cowes. (ensuring
deep water and water frontage is maintained for marine and maritime industries)
·
Supporting the Medina Estuary is designated
as a Local Enterprise Zone.
·
Supporting the creation of small scale
development, prioritising the local need for 1 and 2 property units.
Isle of Wight Council Budget 2016/7.
Last month I
attended briefings linked to next year’s Budget, and how the reduced funding
from Government continues to impact directly upon how our Council continues to deliver
services.
The future
of the New Homes Bonus grant, Governments Financial settlement, the impact of
the living wage, the increasing costs of Adult Social Care and the scope to
which local authorities can raise Council Tax is being analysed. These issues
will have an impact on next year’s precept, which is predicted to increase to
its maximum level (3.99%)
There is no
doubt the IW Council does not want to reduce the number or level of services it
provides, however it can and is argued that Government has a mandate to ensure Local
Authorities and the Public sector closely monitors expenditure.
From the
briefings, I attended it was made very clear that the savings are finite, and
unless new ways can be found to operate (for example, devolution), some
authorities including the Isle of Wight included will fail to fulfil its
statutory duties beyond 2017. Again with devolution proposals, these are not
being welcomed or embraced by all Councils or members- However it is highlighted
that this is being promoted by Government, and therefore it is important for
Council’s to be at the table to help to shape options moving forward.
In the
meantime, the Chief Executive, the MP and Council Leader, Jonathan Bacon is
meeting with the Local Government Minister to underline our Island’s unique
case.
In one of
the briefings which I attended with Parish and Town Councils, it was made very
clear for all Council’s to work together to ensure those services considered
most important are safeguarded. From my perspective, local councils do want to
do more to assist, and I’m working with colleagues to ensure this can be
pursued in a less bureaucratic way.
Gritting/ Salting.
So far this winter, there has not
been a need to grit or salt roads to the extent that this has occurred in the
past years. However, should conditions
change the gritting routes are:
In
Cowes
(West) these are: Place Road, Park Road, Ward Avenue, Baring Road and
Crossfield Avenue.
In
Gurnard
these are: Woodvale Road, Shore Road, Worsley Road and Tuttons Hill.
If you’re concerned Gritting/ Salting does
not take place, please let me know!
Alternatively, Island Roads can be contacted 24 hrs a day, 7 days a week
on 01983 822440.
Road
Works.
First the Good news! I’ve been advised that
following perseverance and support, Island Roads have moved forward their
resurfacing schedule for Parklands
Avenue from 2017 to September 2016. In recent months, there has been an
increase in the number of inspections from six months to monthly, given
concerns expressed.
Last month, I also requested that the gully drainage
and ponding which currently applies to Parklands Avenue is investigated and
remedial action taken.
Elsewhere, I’ve received calls from residents
concerning roadworks being undertaken by utility companies. Initially this was raised as an issue
concerning the closure of Three Gates
Road, however similar issues have also been reflected following the closure
of Worsley Road and Shore Road at the same time in Gurnard.
This issue has also been discussed by Town
Councillors in Cowes.
I’ve taken this matter up with Island Roads,
and with Cllr John Nicholson who has taken a lead on this, will be addressing
issues concerning the New Roads and Street Works Act 1991 with our MP. Of concern to us both is how we consider this
piece of legislation can be opened up to abuse by Utility Companies undertaking
‘Emergency works’, and how this impacts upon newly resurfaced roads as well as
of course the communities that are affected.
Also within Worsley
Road, I was asked to intervene before Christmas when it was perceived by
residents that the quality of work fell below standards on infilling utility
works for the new Glen Place development.
Medina Yard.
Last month Cllr Lora
Peacey-Wilcox, and I met with businesses and was shown around Medina Yard.
Subsequently, a
meeting was arranged and took place between businesses, the local member, Executive
Members, and key officers to provide an insight as to the challenges being
faced. From my point of view, it is important for the IW Council to understand
the needs of businesses to ensure they receive both support and assistance.
In the media, I received
some criticism for not opening up the meeting to more Councillors. However, in
this instance, I considered it important for me that businesses had the
opportunity to be frank and open with Council leaders, and any views related
were in no way diluted.
Volunteer Drivers: Support Needed!
There is a current
shortage of volunteer drivers from Cowes and Gurnard, and the Optio Voluntary
Car Service are seeking new drivers to support less mobile residents accessing
transport to attend medical appointments at St. Mary’s Hospital and Cowes
Medical Centre, which is given priority.
If you (or
somebody that you know) might be interested in volunteering for this rewarding
and valuable service, please call Optio on 01983 522226, who can tell you more!
Also last month:
·
Action was requested and
reminders chased up to repair the street light in Winding Way. This caused concern, as the request to
replace the LED bulbs took weeks, rather than days.
·
Following last month’s
article on debt, I have received positive feedback from residents.
·
Bonfires continue to cause major
concern. Last month, it was necessary to
request intervention from Environmental Health and action taken which has (so far) resulted in no further bonfires being lit.
·
Work seems to be commencing
on the Range store, in Place Road.
Subsequently, residents have approached me concerning this, and to what
extent Planning conditions relate to this development.
·
I am currently in
discussions regarding Fracking, and how the issuing of local licenses could
impact upon our Island.
· A complaint has been
received regarding the residential use of holiday accommodation at Gurnard
Pines.
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