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.