If you require support please call me on 01983 289595 (24 hrs) or 07
935 090 835 (mobile),
email paulfulleriw@gmail.com,or write to me at: 74 Wyatts Lane, Cowes.
email paulfulleriw@gmail.com,or write to me at: 74 Wyatts Lane, Cowes.
Please note that I will be free throughout the
Christmas and New Year Holiday period for this year!
Surgeries.
12-12:30pm, Thursday 30th November, Eegon’s,
72 High Street, Cowes.
10:30-11:30am, Friday 1st
December, Gurnard Press, Worsley Road, Gurnard.
4:30-5pm, Tuesday 5th December, Cowes Library,
Beckford Road, Cowes.
5:30-6pm, Tuesday 5th December, Sports Bar,
Isle of Wight Community Club, Park Road, Cowes.
10:30-11:30am, Friday 8th
December, Gurnard Press, Worsley Road, Gurnard.
6-6:30pm, Wednesday 13th
December, The Portland, Worsley Road, Gurnard.
12-12:30pm, Thursday 14th December, Eegon’s,
72 High Street, Cowes.
10:30-11:30am, Thursday 4th
January, Gurnard Press, Worsley Road, Gurnard.
Parklands Avenue.
Work continues to complete the longstanding
resurfacing and resconstruction of Parklands Avenue. Since my last report, acknowledging the
disruption caused, Island Roads have agreed to complete resurfacing the entire
road, and will shortly commence the section between the former roundabout and
the Crossfield Avenue junction.
Island Roads anticipate this work will
conclude on 2nd December…
Cowes Post Office Update.
Following the Post Offices relocation to Mill
Hill Road and in light of ongoing pressure, I’m advised consideration has been
reignited to locate a counter service in the centre of town.
The Post Office advise: ‘interested parties will need to formally
apply for the service and successfully pass our recruitment process. Once
this has been completed we would then be in a position to confirm details of a
proposal. If you are aware of any interest locally then please feel free to
signpost any potential applicants to register their details on our website’: https://runapostoffice.co.uk/home/result/show/high-street-cowes-area-post-office-po31-7
In the meantime, I am supporting an
application made by Dave Parkman who opened up the Central Convenience Store
in the High Street last month.
Seafront Railing Repairs.
The railings between Cowes and Gurnard
seafront are in the process of being made safe.
Because of the cost and limited funds these repairs are only taking
place on the sections that are most needy.
Please note, where metalwork has been replaced with rope, this is only
as a temporary measure.
Blackberry Lane.
Following site meetings and ongoing dialogue
between myself and the landowner (The IW Council), I am advised the edge of the
pavement will be painted. I have also
requested that lighting is improved, and update is given on the future of the
crossing point between both sides of Park Road.
Fireworks.
If you plan on having Fireworks during the
Christmas and New Year period, please let your neighbours know!!
Last month, I was inundated by telephone
calls before 11pm from pet owners upset by events taking place. Please note, such events causes considerable
distress to pets and their owners.
One event which took place, was a private
function to celebrate Diwali at Cowes Enterprise College. Following complaints being received from
neighbours, the College has prohibited future events using fireworks.
Bonfires.
I continue to receive complaints from
residents in Baring Road regarding neighbours bonfires. Please note, if you are planning to burn your
garden waste let your neighbours know first, and be aware of conditions
particularly in valleys and dips, where smoke can linger on calm days.
For details please visit: http://paulfullercc.blogspot.co.uk/2014/11/iw-councillors-report-november-2014.html
Planning
Applications.
·
Place Road. The application for 93 dwellings remains
pending. Once I know more, I will let residents know!
·
Watersedge Cafe,
Shore Road.
Following an event held for residents last month, the application to upgrade
the Watersedge Café is also pending.
Father Christmas!!
Father
Christmas will be on the Cowes Carnival Float when visiting Cowes this
month. One of his elves has reported
that he will be at Aldi’s between 10am-4pm,
on Saturday 9th and Sunday 10th
December. Between 10:30am and 3pm on Saturday 16th December (weather permitting) Father
Christmas will be in Cowes along the side of Corries Cabin. (I can barely contain my excitement!) Father
Christmas will be there with snow, toys, whilst for £2.00, there is an
opportunity to have your photo taken and tell Santa what you want for
Christmas!!
Locally,
the Float is scheduled to visit Lower Church Road, Solent View Road, Worsley
Road, Church Road, The Avenue, Woodvale Road, Place Road and Place Side between
6-8:30pm, Wednesday 13th
December, and Crossfield Avenue, Parklands Avenue, Magdalen Crescent,
Churchill Road, Charles Road, Park Road, Victoria Road and Stephenson Road 6-8:30pm, Friday 22nd December.
In recent
years Cowes Carnival has received over 5500 letters to Father Christmas. Every letter receives a personal reply hand
delivered by Christmas Eve. Please
ensure child’s name and address is written on the letter so no child is left
disappointed by not receiving a reply.
Parking.
I have
been asked to take action following parental parking blocking driveways and
obscuring sight lines on the Crossfield Avenue Estate. If you are collecting children from any of
our local schools, please can I ask that residents are mindful of where they
park.
Last
Christmas Eve, I received a lot of complaints concerning parking in
Gurnard. Please can anybody parking
nearby to the Portland Inn, Bucklers View and All Saints Church be mindful of
where they leave their car as last year residents from Church Road, Hilton Road
and Worsley Road had driveways obstructed!
Heat or Eat? Support
from The Footprint Trust.
The Footprint Trust offers free
home visits to look for ways in which to reduce fuel and water costs. In some
cases The Footprint Trust can provide new cookers, fridges and washing machines
to those in greatest need. The Trust, and advice offered can save households
£100’s. For details please visit: http://www.footprint-trust.co.uk/projects.html or call 01983
822282.
Winter Gritting Routes (Cowes West and Gurnard).
In
preparation for frost and snow fall during this winter, please see this year’s
winter gritting routes:
Primary Gritting Route: Place Road, Park Road.
Secondary Gritting Route: Tuttons Hill, Worsley Road, Shore Road, Woodvale
Road, Baring Road, Ward Avenue, Crossfield Avenue.
Gurnard Parish
Council.
The Parish Council still need Councillors. Contact Sue Waters gurnardparishcouncil@gmail.com
for details.
Full
Council.
Dogs on
Beaches
Questions were submitted regarding extending the
period for dogs being banned from beaches.
Hersey
Nature Reserve
During Questions, residents also aired
concerns by proposals to extend Sea View Yacht Club to accommodate boats onto
the Alan Hersey Nature Reserve. From the
response provided by the Cabinet Member, I understand no decision has been
taken until the environmental, ecological and other planning considerations
have been considered. On this subject, I
am opposed to these proposals.
Dark
Skies.
I supported proposals which could give the
Isle of Wight (particularly, our Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty) dark sky
status. This was largely supported by
Full Council.
DBS
Checks for Isle of Wight Councillors.
I supported proposals to ensure all IW
Councillors receive police checks.
As far as I am concerned, as corporate
parents and given contact I have supporting vulnerable residents and attending schools
a DBS check should be essential for IW Councillors. In my opinion, given historic incidents it is important
the IW Council demonstrates Councillors can be trusted when coming into contact
with others.
I was disappointed to be only one of only 9
councillors to support this motion!!
Trinity Landing.
A maintenance agreement has been made with
the Royal London Yacht Club for 50 years. The purpose for this is to ensure a
connection from the landing stage to the clubs newly constructed floating
pontoon.
This arrangement provides responsibility to
the RYLC to maintain and keep clean at all times. Although access is restricted, the public
access is available via the RYLC.
In light of this recent change (which I was
not aware of!), I’ve requested signage to be located advising the public of the
RYLC’s contact point.
Dog
Mess.
Northwood
Recreation Ground.
Both Cllr. John Nicholson and I have made
representations to Island Roads regarding overfilled dog bins in the Rec. Subsequently, Island Roads has agreed to
empty bins in accordance with the summer schedule (three times weekly, rather
than twice). This continues to be monitored by John, myself, Island Roads and
our Environment Officer, Sam.
Local
Issues.
Dog mess continues to be a problem throughout
the ward since the clocks were turned back last month. Please report incidents to Island Roads,
please call 01983 822440 (24 hr helpline) or email: info@islandroads.com. If there is a persistent problem let me know,
and I can and will chase this up!
Isle
of Wight Council Consultations.
Have Your Say On Waste and Recycling.
The annual residents recycling and waste
survey is now open and will run to Friday
15th December 2017 and is an opportunity for householders to put
forward suggestions for future improvements or ideas on how the Island can
reduce our waste and recycle more. For details please visit: https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/IOW_waste_survey_2017
Isle of Wight School
Holidays Consultation.
The IW Council wishes to investigate the
patterns of term and holiday dates within the school year to ensure they best
support learning and outcomes for children, as well as best supporting our
education and wider communities in how they organise their home and work life
calenders.
Suggestions look into the possibility of
reducing the summer holiday, but extending the October and February Half Term
holiday. For details please visit: https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/school_holidays. This consultation continues
until 12th January 2018.
Learning
Disability Consultation.
A new Learning Disability
Strategy is being developed by the IW Council and partners. ‘Living well on the Isle
of Wight’ is a plan to support adults with a learning
disability. It is being developed with the Clinical Commissioning
Group and NHS Trust, with the help and support of the IW Learning Disability
Partnership Group. For details visit: https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/learning_disability_strategy. This
consultation continues until 12th
January 2018.
Mayoral
Report.
On Remembrance Sunday it was an honour to lay
the wreath and pay tribute to those involved in conflicts by remembering the
role and sacrifices our town and residents has given. Following the event in Cowes, as ward
Councillor I joined Gurnard Parish Council Chairman, Cllr Harrison and a very
full All Saints Church in Gurnard.
With the lovely Rev Poppe I attended a Remembrance
commemoration at Cowes Primary School, and returned to an event at the school
the following week to celebrate National Roast Dinner Day.
In addition, last month Cowes’ Christmas
lights were switched on by Alan Titchmarsh, and I attended a very moving
adaptation to commemorate the Blyskawica Bombing during the blitz at Lanes End
Primary School. The Hidden Heroes event,
and similar events held at Gurnard Primary, Northwood Primary and Cowes Primary
Schools was supported by the IW Literary Festival, Cowes Town Council and the ORP Blyskawica Society.
Myself and Deputy Mayor, Cllr. Lora
Peacey-Wilcox undertook an appraisal for the Town Clerk and discussed options
with the Finance and Acquisitions Committee in setting next year’s
precept. This follows discussion and
consideration of maintaining and improving public services and facilities, with
the precept being considered by Cowes Town Council at its December
Meeting. Both Lora and I attended the
opening of the Morris Barton MUGA in East Cowes following a kind invitation
from East Cowes Mayor, Cllr Peter Lloyd.
I would like to place on record my thanks to
town councillor colleagues for their ongoing enthusiastic support!
Cowes
Medical Centre Update: Who do you go to for help?
As a member of Cowes Medical Centre’s
Patients Forum, a number of residents have contacted me concerning the current
shortage of doctors. This continues to
be a national problem, and not just focussed locally on the Isle of Wight. In response, the very hardworking team at the
Medical Centre have adapted to these pressures, with patient advisors
(previously Receptionists) signposting residents to the most appropriate person
to help with care. In addition, the
Medical Centre will shortly be circulating a new booklet to residents in our
area. In the meantime, this guidance below features in the booklet signposting
residents to the correct person:
·
Common ailments including: cough,
cold, vomiting, eye infections, teething, migraine, hayfever, insect bites and
stings, ear ache, fever athete’s foot.
Contact your pharmacy first
for advice.
·
Less complex medical
needs including:
urine infection, rash, in-growing toe nails, stomach aches & pains,
fainting, throat infections, chest infections.
See an Advanced Nurse
Practitioner. Tel: 01983 295251
·
Children who are unwell. See the paediatric specialist Advanced Nurse Practitioner Tel: 01983 295251
·
Health & Long
Term Conditions Monitoring including: blood pressure, height, weight, asthma,
diabetes, smears, birth control etc. See a Practice
Nurse or Health Care Assistant. Tel: 01983 295251
·
Wounds & Ear
Syringing
including: suture removal, dressings, leg ulcer clinics, ear syringing. See a Practice Nurse or Health Care Assistant
in our treatment room. Tel: 01983 295251.
·
Immunisations &
Travel
injections: See a Practice Nurse or Health Care Assistant. Tel: 01983 295251.
·
Medication changes
and reviews:
Speak to our Prescription Clerks who
will help, or can direct you to the appropriate person if needed. Tel: 01983
295251.
·
House bound patients including: most
blood samples, wound dressing, ear syringing, dopplers. Contact District Nurse Team. Tel: 01983 534323
(Part of the Hospital Trust)
·
Administration &
Process
including: Results, sick notes, referral status updates, blood forms, copy
records, letters, new patients registrations. Speak to Patients Advisors first.
·
Mouth, Gum &
Dental
problems including: referrals/ pain relief. Contact your Dentist first then call NHS
111.
·
On
discharge from Hospital make sure
you have been given your results, urgent prescriptions, sick note etc before
you leave. Contact St Mary’s on 01983 524081.
·
Practical Support including: mobility
concerns, respite care for carer and patient. Contact: Adult Social Care. Tel: 01983
814980 or Age UK Care Navigator Tel:
01983 525282.
·
Mental Health including: Assessments,
low mood, anxiety and bereavement. See a Locum
or GP Tel: 01983 295251, or visit
bigwhitewall.com (16-24 year olds)
·
Prescription Requests: Must be in writing,
or on-line via your patient record. Ask
a Patient Advisor about registering for on-line services.
Also this month.
Lloyds Bank contacted me concerning their
preference to relocate their mobile bank to St Mary’s Road Car Park. In
response, the IW Council has highlighted that parking in the Town Centre is at
a premium, and unlike Fort Street Car Park in Sandown, there is limited
capacity for the Bank to relocate. In
the meantime, I will monitor the situation and if appropriate offer support.
A new bin has been requested on the footway
linking Cross Street to Terminus Road.
This follows the original disappearing prior to Marks & Spencers
being refitted.
I attended a site visit with Sue the Parish
Clerk for Gurnard and officers from Island Roads. The purpose of the meeting was to look into
improving access for the mobility impaired. Disabled parking (on Princes
Esplanade and Queens Road), access to Gurnard Green from the sea wall and access
to/from the bus stop in Egypt Hill were all issues highlighted in recent
audits.
I attended a site visit with residents who
highlighted to me hazards for pedestrians crossing the Roundhouse junction from/to
Place Road.
I attended two events linked with
Regeneration in the last few weeks, the first was to the IW Association of
Local Councils and the other was a workshop for the Cowes Area. One of the issues that I have picked up is
that the west side of the Medina and the east side are being treated as
separate regeneration areas. This has
resulted in Newport being split in half, and Cowes and East Cowes being separated
despite what both towns have in common.
Following concerns raised with respect to the
ethicacy of some of investments within the IW Council’s Pensions Scheme, I have
forwarded concerns expressed. In
summary, I am reassured that questions raised will be considered by a review
due to take place next year. The full
response features below:
The Isle of Wight Council, is administering authority for the Isle of
Wight Pension Fund, part of the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS).
At 31 March 2017, there were over 15,000 members of the pension fund
(currently employed, formerly employed but not retired, and retired). Those
15,000 members come from 30 separate island employers, in addition to the
Council.
The Council invests the contributions from employees and the employer,
which make up the total employees' pension entitlement, on behalf of its
members. They are not investments of and for the Council, rather they are
investments of the members in order to provide for their future pension.
The primary objective of the Fund is to provide pension and lump sum
benefits for members on their retirement and/or benefits on death, before or
after retirement, for their dependants, on a defined benefits basis. Pensions
and benefits will be met by contributions, asset returns and income.
The Pension Fund has a fiduciary duty is to ensure it has sufficient
funds available to pay pensions. In light of that obligation, and in order to
maximise investment return, the Fund has a diverse range of investments and
does not restrict investment managers from choosing certain stocks including
oil/gas/coal companies as well as renewable energy opportunities.
In the year ended 31 March 2017, over £20 million was paid out in
pension benefits.
As at 31 March 2017, the Pension Fund had a total investment asset
portfolio of £559.6 million, which is invested through four investment
managers, in accordance with its published Investment Strategy Statement. The
total amount invested in fossil fuels was approximately £27 million (4.8% of
the fund)
At 30 September 2017, total assets were £574.2 million, of which fossil
fuels were approximately £26 million (4.5%)
The Fund’s current Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) policy,
included within the Investment Strategy Statement, is to delegate to Investment
Managers to act within their own published ESG guidelines. This is monitored
periodically by the pension fund committee.
The Committee’s work plan for the next 12 months includes a review of
its Environmental, Social and Governance policy, including a comparison against
the UK Stewardship Code and draft guidance on Responsible Investment from the
National LGPS Scheme Advisory Board.
My very best wishes to all residents for a joyful
and peaceful Christmas and New Year!
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