IW Councillor's Report September 2022

 

Surgeries.

 5-6pm, Wednesday 31st  August, The Portland, Worsley Road, Gurnard. (Please note revised time)

10:30-11am; Thursday 1^st September, Gurnard Press, Worsley Road, Gurnard.

6-6:30pm; Monday 5^th September, Isle of Wight Community Club, Park Road, Cowes.

5:30-6pm. Wednesday 14^th September, The Portland, Worsley Road, Gurnard.

10:30-11am, Thursday 22^nd September, Coffee & Chat, All Saints Church, Tuttons Hill, Gurnard.

5:30-6pm. Wednesday 28^th September, The Portland, Worsley Road, Gurnard

4:30-5pm, Monday 3rd October, Cowes Library, Beckford Road, Cowes.

 

Parkhurst Forest: Poison Warning!

 

Calls have been received concerning walked in Parkhurst Forest being poisoned.  This follows incidents a couple of years ago, where a number of dogs fell ill, following being walked from Marks Corner.

 

Please be on your guard!  The police has been notified.

 

In the meantime, all instances should be reported direct to the police. In the meantime, please let me know if you or somebody that you experienced similar instances. 

 

Tour Of Britain Cycle Race.

 

The Final Stage of the Tour of Britain takes place on Sunday 11^th September.  This will mean that roads throughout the route will be closed for periods during the day.

 

Locally this will mean that roads in Cowes and Gurnard from 12:30 until 1:35pm with a rolling closure in place during the event.  The course follows a route from Rolls Hill, Rew Street, Marsh Road, Solent View Road, Shore Road, Princes Esplanade, Egypt Esplanade, Queens Road, Castle Hill, Baring Road and Place Road before heading on to Newport and the finale at the Needles around 2:20pm

 

For details of timings please visit: https://www.iow.gov.uk/council/OtherServices/Tour-of-Britain/Event

 

Planning: Gurnard Farm.

 

Proposals to develop north of Gurnard Farm at Lower Church Road was turned down by the Planning Inspectorate.

 

Jet Ski’s.

 

The anti-social use of jet-ski’s at Gurnard continues to be reported to the Marine Police, who continue to monitor waters frequented by bathers.  Please note a bye-law exists which prohibits all ‘personal watercraft’ being used faster than 8 knots and in depths of less than 2 metres.

 

Please report incidents to: https://www.hampshire.police.uk/ro/report/ocr/af/how-to-report-a-crime/

 

Following this year’s upturn in use of personal watercraft at Gurnard, this is an issue that further actions.

 

Coastal Protection Works, Marsh Cottage.

 

Work is due to commence this month to undertake work at Marsh Cottage (the house at the mouth of the Luck!).  I have been pre-warned of coastal protection works due to take place and have received confirmation from the IW Council that relevant licenses to undertake this work are in place. The owner has advised that this work is due to be completed before the weather changes in the Autumn.

 

Freedom of Information Requests.

 

I am happy sharing any aspect of my work and dealings I have. Unless confidential (which may not be disclosable under FOI requests), I am open, transparent and will share information or enquiry to anybody making a request directly.  This I do on a regular basis, and prevents the time and ordeal of taking matters up on any formal basis.

 

Helicopters.

 

Last month, low flying helicopters were reported to the Civil Aviation Authority. Since then, the issue seems resolved. Visit:  https://www.caa.co.uk/our-work/about-us/contact-us/   should you require further details.

 

Affordable Housing.

 

Assuming that this is because I am the Cabinet Member responsible for Planning and Enforcement, I continue to receive considerable calls concerning the availability of Affordable and Social Housing.

 

This category of housing remains a priority of the Island Planning Strategy which is due to be considered by Full Council on 20^th September.

 

Locally, I continue to hear concerns over the extent of properties being utilised as ‘holiday homes’ by their owners.  As yet there are no current legislation that discourages this. However, I understand that this is something being ‘looked into’ by government.  

 

Energy Price Increases.

 

For up to date support visit: https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/ and http://www.uswitch.com/ Tel:  0800 688 8557. Alternatively, talk to the Footprint Trust on 01983 822282 or email: info@footprint-trust.co.uk.

 

With the pending energy crisis, I continue to watch with interest preparations being made by Government and the next PM once appointed.  Until a plan is made moving forward, I am supportive of maintaining the price cap.

 

Energy Rebates.

 

I know there has been several calls to Revenue Services concerning letters that have been sent out concerning energy rebates.  These letters (which are genuine) have been sent out by Clare Massiter who is the IW Council’s Business Centre Manager…  If in doubt, please call the IW Council for confirmation.

 

Tayla Wright.

 

I met with the family of dancer, Tayla, who tragically passed away last year and would have celebrated her 15^th Birthday on 10^th September. This meeting followed feedback about discarded cellophane and plastics being left adjoining Tayla’s Bench, adjacent to the Beach Huts on Gurnard Seafront.

 

To celebrate Tayla’s life her family has set up a Go Fund Me site to support those affected.  For details visit:  https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-taylas-family-give-her-the-best-send-off

 

In the meantime, Tayla’s Family continues to monitor Tayla’s bench.

 

Pets.

 

If you need to leave pets at home when out please ensure that animals are left watered.  This follows several complaints of dogs barking (and other animals making noise) and getting stressed throughout the summer.

 

Not only can this be upsetting for the animals concerned, but also for neighbouring residents!

 

Drought Advice.

 

Despite recent rainfall, most of Southern England remains in drought status. I have been advised this is likely to remain in place until at least October.  In response to this, the following advice has been issued by the Red Cross:   

 

What can I do to save water during the drought?

 

·         Make sure your home is leak-free. Take a reading of your water metre. Wait 30 minutes without using any water and then take a second reading. If the reading increases, there’s a leak.

·         Take shorter showers and cut out baths

·         Only use dishwashers and washing machines on ‘light’ cycles

·         Repair dripping faucets by changing washers – one drop per second wastes 2,700 gallons per year.

·         Don’t pour water down the drain if there’s another use for it, like watering plants. This is called ‘grey water’ and it can also be collected when you take a shower, brush your teeth or run the tap in the kitchen.

·         Get a water butt. When it does rain, you’ll have a supply especially for your garden and car.

 

Highways Matters.

 

·         Now the Bird Nesting Season has ended, overgrown hedgerows can now be dealt with.  I have in recent weeks requested further action is taken to address overgrown hedges in Baring Road, Place Road and Tuttons Hill.

·         Repairs were requested to road surfaces in Rew Street and Baring Road in preparation for the Tour of Britain.

·         Temporary repairs were made to the seawall in Queens Road.

·         Concerns were raised over CCTV that appeared during Cowes Week on Cowes Parade. This was reported.

·         I have requested the Environment Officer to visit coastal defence work that resulted in clothing being damaged.

Local Council Tax Support Consultation 2023/24.

 

Each year the council must decide whether to change the local council tax support (LCTS) scheme for working age applicants in its area.

 

The changes will only affect working age claimants who currently receive LCTS or who may apply in the future.

 

The locally agreed changes we are consulting upon do not affect people of pension age. The LCTS rules for these claimants are set nationally by the government.

 

With this consultation we are seeking your views and suggestions to help us design the scheme for 2023/24. We would like the consultation to be as wide as possible and invite responses from all interested parties.

 

To take part visit:

https://www.iow.gov.uk/Residents/Benefits-Council-Tax-and-Business-Rates/Council-Tax-Services/Local-Council-Tax-Support1/Consultation-202324

Hedgehog Corner: Feeding Hedgehogs,

 

Supplementing a hedgehog’s natural diet by leaving food and fresh water is a great way to encourage local hogs into your garden.  If you’re thinking of feeding your local hogs, remember:

 

·         Leave out foods like tinned cat or dog food and crushed cat or dog biscuits.  If the hedgehog is very young- roughly apple sized- you’ll need to soak biscuits in water first.  You may also get great quality meaty hedgehog food from wildlife food suppliers!

·         Never feed hedgehogs milk or bread.  Milk can cause diarrhoea.  And bread isn’t very nutritious.

·         Check food & water bowls each day to top them up with fresh water and food, removing any food uneaten.

·         Always clean dishes. Do this outside every day using hot soapy water and rinse well.  This helps reduce the risk of spreading disease between different hedgehogs that might eat from the same dish.

 

Cabinet Report: Planning and Enforcement.

 

·         Work continues to get the Island Plan right before being considered by Full Council on 21^st September.  During the summer there has been ongoing dialogue between Councillors and Officers.  Key to these discussions are the potential risks of making changes, and how these changes could impact upon the soundness of the plan.

·         Posts were advertised to join the Planning Team. Following positive feedback there will be the appointment of a new Flood Defence Officer and a new Tree Officer to support the Tree Team.  Because of the national shortage of Planning Officers it continues to be a challenge to recruit staff to join the planning and enforcement teams.

·         Planning Training took place during the summer for both myself and members of the Planning Committee.  As a result, we had the opportunity to see approved sites and talk to those involved bringing these to fruition.

·         Following the recent Planning Peer Review, through a number of meetings held last month I am continuing my work with Officers and the Planning Chairman to address a number of short term initiatives which I hope will restore trust in Planning and Enforcement.

·         I am currently supporting local residents who have expressed two concerns over planning enforcement issues.  Both of which involves the potential of sites for holiday use.  

·         I have been appointed an officer from the Finance Department to support me with next year’s budget.

 

Gurnard Parish Council Chairman’s Report.

 

·         Both with my Councillor hat and Parish Council Chairman role, ongoing litter on Gurnard Green has been reported and cleaned by the Senad, the IW Council’s Environment Ofiicer.

·         Last month it was necessary to close the toilets on Gurnard Green, it is believed this was necessary following thunderstorms and the fuse box shorting after the event.

·         The Old School Meadow Working Party met to discuss health and safety matters.  For anybody using the open space, please leave the area as you find it.  If there are matters of concern please let Katie Riley the Parish Clerk know on 07305 013718, otherwise call me or any of Gurnard’s Parish Councillors.

·         Complaints have been received concerning cyclists travelling at speed in front of the beach huts.  Following this being reported, this continues to be monitored.

·         I have requested an update from the IW Council following the publication of the RNLI’s Beach Safety Audit, where it was intended the IW Council should implement an Action Plan for the Beach.  Items being considered will be the use of Personal Watercraft, Bathing Water cleanliness and water can be monitored in the long term.

·         I have been contacted concerning the recent appearance of concrete blocks.  According to some residents and officers this may be as a consequence of beach levels falling two metres since last winter…  

 

Also This Month:

 

·         Because of my workload for this month, I have now been excused from taking on jury service, which was intended for the fortnight commencing 5^th September. This means my availability for September has increased.

·         Concerns were raised last month over the lighting of fires on Gurnard Green and nearby woodland.  This has been investigated and signage improved.

·         Following complaints received during this summer, I continue to monitor toilets in Cowes and Gurnard.

·         I have been asked to support UKSA over their initiatives supporting young people to become safe seafarers!

·         I received feedback from residents concerning the implementation of traffic restrictions on Egypt Esplanade.

·         Tree works have taken place at Gurnard Pines.  Although permits were not required the arboriculturalist has been in dialogue with the IW Council’s Tree Team.    

·         Confusion over road diversion signage at Woodvale Road and Roundhouse (meaning Gurnard would have been totally bypassed by vehicular traffic) was reported and swiftly rectified.