Isle of Wight Councillors Report, March 2024

  

Surgeries.

 

4:30-5pm, Monday 4^th March, Cowes Library, Beckford Road, Cowes.

10:30-11am, Thursday 7^th March, Gurnard Press and Bistro, Worsley Road, Gurnard.

5:30-6pm, Wednesday 13^th March, The Portland, Worsley Road, Gurnard.

10:30-11am, Wednesday 20^th March, Benches adj. to Watersedge Kiosk, Shore Road, Gurnard.

11-11:30am, Wednesday 20^th March, The Woodvale, Princes Esplanade, Gurnard.

5:30-6pm, Wednesday 27^th March, The Portland, Worsley Road, Gurnard.

10:30-11am, Thursday 28^th March, All Saints Church, Tuttons Hill, Gurnard.

11:30-12pm, Thursday 28^th March, Eegons, 85 High Street, Cowes.

5:30-6pm, Tuesday 2^nd April, Isle of Wight Community Club, Park Road, Cowes.

 

Planning Application and Alternative Natural Greenspace, Place Road Ref: 23/01430 FUL.

 

I have been notified that the outline Planning Application for land between Place Road and Cockleton Lane is due to be considered by the IW Council’s Planning Committee from 4pm, Tuesday 5^th March.  The recommendation being considered by the Committee is that the application is APPROVED.

 

With respect to the application, I’ve so far had success in my request for the Committee to consider the proposals, should officers be mindful of giving this their support. However, without the adoption of the Island Planning Strategy, the need for Island Affordable Housing and current Government Housing targets for the Island being set at 730 the fight against proposals will prove a challenge. That said myself, our local Councils and residents (who I am working alongside with) intend to do our very best to convince Planners to rethink proposals.

**Update: By 6 votes to 2, Outline for the (principle of) development, and details of the SANG was supported by Planning Committee on 5th March. To note, Planning Committee has requested that reserved matters are considered by them in the future. This will agree numbers of dwellings, layout and lanscaping**

 

Salty Siren Street Trading License Application, Princes Esplanade. Ref: 24/00055 STSTAN.

 

The application for the Street Licence for the Salty Siren (intending to sell Ice Cream, Coffee, Slushies etc) is to be heard by the Licensing Sub-Committee from 10:30am, Tuesday 12^th March.

 

Because of concerns raised by Solent Shores residents, Gurnard Parish Council have suggested that should the application be approved and public nuisance matters are resolved the preferred location should be closer to Egypt Esplanade rather than the first choice of the applicant. In addition, I have also requested for the vehicle to be taken away once trading finishes in the afternoon.  I’ll be attending to support addressing issues raised.

 

Double Yellow Lines Suggestions.

 

Requests for double yellow lines have been received for the following locations:

 

·         Lower Horn Hill, South of Permissive Coastal Path. ·         Junction with Glen Place, Worsley Road. ·         Outside and to north Gurnard Press, Worsley Road. ·         Junction with Westbrook Lane, Worsley Road.

·         Junction with Worsley Road, Church Road. ·         Worsley Road, South of Bus Stop. Opp. Portland Inn. ·         Junction with Albert Road, Solent View Road.

 

Amazingly despite requests none were received for Cowes. To note all above proposals will need to be considered by Island Roads on Health and Safety Grounds, before any formal public consultation takes place with residents.  From experience, most are rejected. However, it is noted that the Highway Code advises (i.e non-enforcable!) no  parking 10 metres from junctions..  

 

Sunnycott, Holiday Park, Rew Street.

 

I have written to the Planning Inspectorate who recently approved increasing the number of mobile homes being used at Sunnycott.  With respect to the Appeal there has been a number of factual aspects of the decision, which requires clarity and alteration.  On this, I continue to support residents.

 

Public Access to Planning.

 

A Planning Officer will now man the front desk at Seaclose, Newport from 2-5pm on Wednesday afternoons. Following feedback, this was actioned to raise the officers profile, and to assist residents with any Planning queries.

 

 

Flytipping.

 

Flytipping of garden waste in Cow Lane, Gurnard has been reported. This continues to be monitored, and action will be taken against those responsible.

 

Consultations.

 

·          Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS)

SuDS, helps manage surface water. They copy how rainwater drains in a natural landscape. A new draft supplementary planning document outlines the design principles required to deliver SuDS on the Isle of Wight. It provides advice on including SuDS within new development. For details visit: https://www.iow.gov.uk/consultations.  This consultation continues until 8^th March.

 

·         Health Contributions.

For some time now residents have asked for health provisions to be made by developers when considering new planning applications.  By creating a supplementary planning document will offer a mechanism to require developers to act accordingly. For details of the consultation which continues until Tuesday 2^nd April, please visit: https://www.iow.gov.uk/environment-and-planning/planning/local-plan/supplementary-planning-document-consultations/

 

Council Tax increase for Empty Homes (2024) and Second Homes (2025).

 

In line with the Levelling Up Act, Cabinet has taken the decision to implement Government Policy to claim increased (100%) Council Tax for owners of Empty Homes and Second Homes.

 

Government has advised Councils that Local Authorities only have an option to do this. However, for the Island there is little choice since requests are regularly made for extra Government funding through an Island Deal. 

 

When I undertook my consultation on this, I received 8 respondents opposed, compared to 17 in support.  Given that during my consultation a number of residents issues will mean that they will be made exempt and others have the ability to appeal should charges be levied, I was happy on balance to accept proposals.

 

Military Road.

 

I attended a public meeting held to discuss the future of the Military Road, following the ongoing landfalls that continue.  From my discussions with residents there is a view that funding should be found to repair (in the short term) and re-route the road slightly inland to mitigate against where the road is close to the cliff edge at Brook.

 

In recent weeks, a section of the coastal path at Afton Down has moved, also bringing the road closer to the cliff edge.  This continues to be monitored, and thankfully this section seems less perilous than the section at Brook and at locations where chines are beginning to form.

 

IW Pension Fund Committee. 

 

My ‘interest’ in the IW Pension Fund has stepped up this month.  As a result of no IW Councillor attending the Local IW Pension Board for almost a year, I have volunteered to join and subsequently have needed to resign my position on the IW Pension Fund Committee who are monitored by the Local Pension Board.  As a result, I will over the coming weeks be undertaking training to fulfil my position.

 

It is noted that the IW Council’s pension fund (and its investments) are worth over £700,000 and has 17,500 residents dependent upon the smooth running of its finances.

 

Island Planning Strategy.

 

Earlier this year, following the Exceptional Circumstance footnote (pressed for by our MP) for Islands in the Levelling Up Act, the IW Council was asked to approach expert Planning advice on what this meant for the Island and could this really be used as a tool to reduce housing numbers for the Isle of Wight?

 

From the consultants response, the answer received was not as positive as I had hoped, and subsequently factors such as the non-delivery of housing for most years may mean that the Governments Figure for housing might even exceed 730 is worrying using the parameters that are set… On this, some Councillors have advised they remain committed and are seeking a second opinion.

 

In the meantime, with support from others including Counsels advice, I remain committed to supporting ‘Special Circumstances’, for suppressing the housing figure to 453 given that our own methodology can be used, as it has been elsewhere successfully  

 

Cowes Foodbank.

 

This month the foodbank are seeking Long life milk, Tinned Spaghetti, Sponge/ Golden Syrup/ Ginger Cakes, Long life Fruit Juice and Coffee. For details please call 01983 292040 or visit:  https://isleofwight.foodbank.org.uk/

 

IW Council Budget.

 

Councillors are set to determine the IW Council Budget.  Proposals to not extend and freeze Car Parking (for this year) has been widely supported, as has proposals to invest in Affordable Housing. Key headlines are:

 

·         Additional spending of £6.3m in Adult Social Care to cover the National Living wage of 9.8%.

·         Additional spending of £5.0m in Children’s services

·         Creation of a £0.25m Community Capacity and Resilience Fund

·         A Council Tax increase of 5%.This includes 3% for Council Services (inflation peaked at 8.7%, currently 4%).

·         £2.1m for Schools Capital Maintenace

·         £1.8m for adaptations to disabled residents ‘homes to allow them to remain in their own homes.

·         £0.5m for structure and drainage works to replace Osborne Steps, Shanklin.

·         £0.4m for improvements at a facility providing support for older people to return home to live independenty.

·         £0.4m Improvement highway drainage to reduce flooding.

·         £0.4m To renew/ improve the Rights of Way network following recent storm damage.

·         £0.3m for extra Coastal Protection support

·         £0.2m for Place/ Town Initiatives Fund.    

 

Road Closures: Cockleton Lane, Gurnard.

 

Cockleton Lane is due to close for 17 weeks, whilst Southern Gas carries out work on the Island Gas Main in Cockleton Lane. The closure will between the junctions of Pallance Road and Hilton Road, with activities taking place from 8am-6pm weekdays and 8am-1pm if required on Saturday.

 

Phase 1 (Pallance Road to Gurnard Pines) will take place for 10 weeks, whilst Phase 2 (Gurnard Pines to Hilton Road) will take place for 7 weeks. I am advised that Gurnard Pines will be fully accessible throughout these periods.

 

Floating Bridge.

 

I attended a Corporate Scrutiny Committee meeting called to discuss the Floating Bridge,.key points raised included:

 

·          There was no data available for FB5.  Therefore comparisons could not be made on chain depth, or tidal issues or berthing.

·         FB6 is too large. This resulted in problems berthing and crossing as it is exposed to tides and winds. FB6 weighs 100 tonnes more than FB5 and its weight (being constructed of steel) is 30% more than an aluminium vessel.

·         The push boat required to help FB6 is expensive (+£600k per year)

·         Concerns were raised by the procurement being too specific concerning FB6’s size and materials.

·         On average there are 3.4 crossings per hour. Consultants suggested this needed to increase to 4-5 to be viable.

·         Although the vessel could continue to be modified, in the long term it would be cost effective to replace FB6. However, No certainty was given that a Push Boat would not be required.

 

Hedgehog Corner.

 

Good news. It is now official that in urban areas, hedgehog numbers are on the rise.  That said, numbers remain at a precarious level.  Particularly in the Countryside!

 

Although the hedgehog is in decline and receives some protection from the Wildlife and Countryside Act of 1981, it is not officially a threatened species. Thousands of hedgehogs die every year for a variety of reasons, most of them caused by humans. Here are some hazards faced by hedgehogs:

 

·         Road traffic; this is probably the biggest danger during the spring and summer. Since hedgehogs roll up when threatened with danger they are easily squashed by cars when trying to cross the road. As the numbers of cars increase, more and more hedgehogs are killed.

·         Habitat loss; The growth in intensive farming since the 1940s has removed many of the hedges, woods and small fields in which hedgehogs thrive.  The trend for tidy gardens and lots of decking and paving have also reduced the ‘messy’ habitats of mixed vegetation and fallen leaves that hedgehogs love.

·         Chemicals; the use of garden chemicals such as insecticides and slug pellets is a threat. They reduce the natural food available. Also, tiny quantities of chemicals are present in slugs, beetles etc. and as hedgehogs may eat hundreds of these every month they can soon accumulate enough poison to affect their health.

·         Drowning; if a hedgehog falls into a swimming pool or steep-sided pond, it often drowns because it cannot climb up the smooth sides. A strip of wire netting fixed to the side, or a pile of stones at the edge will let the hedgehog escape.

·         Cattle grids; hedgehogs often fall through these and cannot climb out so they starve to death. Ramps or tunnels are now usually built inside the pit to let the hedgehog escape.

·         Hibernation; more than half of all hedgehogs die during hibernation due to cold, fire, flood or someone wrecking their nest.

·         Garden machinery; always worth check long grass for hedgehogs before using a strimmer or a mower.  Hedgehogs can be seriously injured or killed accidentally by gardeners using these kinds of tools.

  

Report from the Cabinet Member for Planning, Coastal Protection and Flooding.

 

·          As referenced earlier in this report, as Cabinet Member I am overseeing Consultations for Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) and Health Contributions from Developer Contributions within Planning.

·          An IWALC Meeting was hosted to respond to Housing questions put local Parish Councils.

·          I have met with Ventnor residents impacted by recent coastal protection/ landslip concerns.

·          As referenced earlier, I met with residents at a public meeting facilitated by local Councillor Nick Stuart to discuss Military Road.

·          Meetings are taking place both with the MP and with Councillors to address the pursuance of the Exceptional Circumstances offer made by Government.

·          To address perceived blockages to the creation of local affordable housing, I hosted a meeting with Planners, Housing and Property Service Officers.   

·          With members of the Planning Committee I attended the most recent meeting of the Council’s Planning Workshop.  Items discussed included Nitrates Neutrality, Sustainable Drainage Systems (SUDS), The Health Contributions SPD and Social Housing.

·          I hosted a (very short) Coastal Councils meeting to discuss costal protection. The meeting took place to share feedback with local Councillors on action points following the large number of recent landslips across the Island.

·          I was asked to intervene in an incident concerning the removal of protected trees in Bembridge.

 

Report from Chairman of Gurnard Parish Council.

 

·         Following an extra hard push from the Parish Council (especially Clerk, Richard Shaul and Cllr Terry Nolan), the former Putting  area of Gurnard Green has now been formally adopted as having Village Green Status.

·         Gurnard Parish Councillors agreed to freeze the parish precept for a second year.  The reason for doing this is due to the fact Councillors believe that future projects can be funded without raising Tax further.   

·         A request has been made for bollards to be installed, due to the grass verge getting churned up by parents collecting and dropping off children at Gurnard Playgroup and Gurnard School.

·         The Tap located on the revetment adjacent to the Watersedge Kiosk has been repaired.

·         A request has been made to increase Tree Wardens, in light of ongoing concerns being expressed regarding the welfare of trees and woodland in Gurnard.

·         With Cllr Acton, I attended a meeting with residents hopeful of setting up a Community Agriculture Group.

 

Also this month In a nutshell.

 

·         I’ve off loaded all No Cold Caller stickers to Cowes Library. Since reporting Wightfibre to Trading Standards, I have received no feedback from residents complaining.

·         A big thank you to the developers at Place Road for trimming hedges and for replacing the Deauville Avenue street sign damaged following a traffic incident at the end of last year.

·         I have requested additional Tree Preservation Orders to protect Woodland and Trees

·         I have referred a residents complaint concerning Neighbourhood noise to Environmental Health. 

·         I look forward to attending (with a local resident) the Planning Office Front Desk to support a resident wishing to make a like for like planning application.

·         A Cowes resident was signposted for support who wished to raise an objection to a planning application.

·         I’ve been appointed to the IW Council’s Future Governance Committee, who are investigating the pros and cons of moving the local authority from a Cabinet system to a model that relies upon Committees to make decisions.  At a recent meeting I attended, a colleague expressed concern of some Councillors availability!

·         I’m supporting a Crossfield Avenue resident approached by a forceful Island Roads requesting shrubbery is cut back. In response, I’ve requested Island Roads speak to the resident, given the impact on the garden involved.

·         I attended a meeting with a resident supportive of doing what they can to reopen the Swimming Pool at Gurnard Pines.  In response to this the owner has been positive in offering assistance.

·         A request has been made to invite Visit Isle of Wight and Island Roads to join the IW Local Access Forum.

·         Support was given to a resident in contact with Planning Enforcement.