About Me

INDEPENDENT ISLE OF WIGHT COUNCILLOR FOR COWES WEST & GURNARD (Since 2009) Timeline: 1993 Green Candidate for IWCC Election (Ryde NE); 1994 Green Party European Elections Candidate (Wight & Hampshire South); 1995-2001 Independent IW Councillor (Ryde NE); 2001-2005 and 2011- Cowes Town Councillor; 2005-2009 and 2012- Gurnard Parish Councillor; 2008- Northwood Parish Councillor; from 2009 Independent IW Councillor (Cowes West & Gurnard). I've served as a Justice of the Peace since 2001. INDEPENDENT? I'm fully Independent was an Executive/ Cabinet member until 2017 and from 2021. As an Independent I robustly defend putting the needs of communities first. I have no political activists, sponsors or businesses shadowing me and therefore my loyalty to represent Gurnard & Cowes is absolute. I aspire to be a hard working, transparent, effective and enthusiastic Ward Councillor. Please contact me to meet at your convenience, or visit my surgeries listed below. Thank you for visiting my website!

Thursday, 20 June 2019

Updated Register of Interests: June 2019


REGISTER OF INTERESTS


 ISLE OF WIGHT/ COWES TOWN/ NORTHWOOD PARISH/ GURNARD PARISH COUNCIL


ISLE OF WIGHT/ COWES TOWN/ NORTHWOOD PARISH/ GURNARD PARISH COUNCIL                                         requires all Members to complete this register within 28 days of their election.  If your circumstances change you are required, within 28 days of the change, to submit written notification of the change to the Monitoring Officer.


Name of Member…PAUL FULLER

I set out below my interests and those I am aware of relating to my spouse /partner under the various headings.

Disclosable Pecuniary Interests:

These are interests that are required to be declared by the Localism Act 2011 and the Relevant Authorities (Disclosable Pecuniary Interests) Regulations 2012.  These declarations relate to you AND any interests you are aware of relating to your spouse or civil partner or a person you live with as husband and wife or as if you were civil partners

Please put “None” where appropriate.

  
Category of Interest
Your Interests
Interests of your spouse/partner
Employment, office, trade, profession or vocation carried on for profit or gain.

This includes any firm or company in which you, or your spouse, or your partner are a business partner or director.





ISLE OF WIGHT COUNCILLOR

(FOR COWES WEST AND GURNARD)
KAREN FULLER (WIFE)

SELF EMPLOYED AND CONTRACTED CLEANER AND PROPRIETER AND OCCASIONAL STREET TRADER FOR KAREN’S CRAFTS.

KAREN IS SELF-EMPLOYED TO WORK FOR NORTHWOOD WOMEN’S INSTITUTE AND VARIOUS OTHER BODIES/ ORGANISATIONS.
Sponsorship

Any payment or provision of any other financial benefit (other than from ISLE OF WIGHT/ COWES TOWN/ NORTHWOOD PARISH/ GURNARD PARISH  COUNCIL made or provided in respect of any expenses incurred by you or your spouse or partner in carrying out duties as a member or towards the election expenses of you or your spouse or partner. This includes any payment or financial benefit from a trade union within the meaning of the Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992.

PRIOR TO SERVING AS AN ISLE OF WIGHT COUNCILLOR IN 2009, THE GROUP STANDARDS NOT TIERS ENDORSED MY CANDIDATURE IN AN ADVERT FOR THE ISLE OF WIGHT COUNTY PRESS.
NONE.
Contracts

Any contract which is made between  ISLE OF WIGHT/ COWES TOWN/ NORTHWOOD PARISH/ GURNARD PARISH  COUNCIL and either:

a)    you; your spouse; or your partner; or
b) firm in which either you or your spouse or partner is a business partner; or
c) a body corporate of which you or your spouse or partner is a director; or
d) a body in which you or your spouse or partner has a beneficial interest (that is a firm in which you or your spouse/partner is a business partner or a corporate body in which you or your spouse/partner is a director or an industrial and prudent society where you or your spouse or partner are a member of the management committee or a corporate body in which you or your spouse/partner have a beneficial interest in its securities  

(a) under which goods or services are to be provided or works are to be executed; and

(b) which has not been fully discharged.

NONE.
NONE.
Land

Any beneficial interest in land which is within the Isle of Wight, excluding an easement, servitude, interest or right in or over land which does not carry with it a right for you or your spouse or partner alone or jointly with another to occupy the land or to receive income.

Please give address or description sufficient to identify the location.

45 OXFORD STREET, NORTHWOOD, COWES, ISLE OF WIGHT PO31 8PT.

I HAVE CLOSE FAMILY MEMBERS WITH PROPERTY ASSETS AT:

19 CORONATION AVENUE NORTHWOOD, COWES.
(Parent)

4 GRAYSWOOD CLOSE, SANDOWN, ISLE OF WIGHT.
(Parent)

10 CLIFFORD STREET, NEWPORT, ISLE OF WIGHT
(Parent)

45 OXFORD STREET, NORTHWOOD, COWES, ISLE OF WIGHT PO31 8PT.

Licences

Any licence (alone or jointly with others) to occupy land in the Isle of Wight for a month or longer.

Please give address or description sufficient to identify the location.

NONE.
NONE.
Corporate tenancies

Any tenancy where (to your  knowledge) the landlord is the Isle of Wight Council and the tenant is a body in which you or your spouse or partner, has a beneficial interest.

Please give address or description sufficient to identify the location.
NONE.
NONE.
Securities

Any beneficial interest in securities (shares, debentures, debenture stock, loan stock, bonds, units of a collective investment scheme within the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 and other securities of any description other than money deposited with a building society) of a body where that body (to your knowledge) has a place of business or land in the Isle of Wight; and either
(i) the total nominal value of the securities exceeds £25,000 or one hundredth of the total issued share capital of that body; or
(ii) if the share capital of that body is of more than one class, the total nominal value of the shares of any one class in which the relevant person has a beneficial interest exceeds one hundredth of the total issued share capital of that class.
NONE.
NONE.

ADDITIONAL INTERESTS AGREED BY  ISLE OF WIGHT/ COWES TOWN/ NORTHWOOD PARISH/ GURNARD PARISH  COUNCIL TO BE INCLUDED IN THE MEMBERS REGISTER OF INTERESTS

Only your interests are required for these; not those of your spouse/partner.

I am a member of or hold a position of general control or management in the following bodies to which I have been appointed or nominated by the authority as its representative:
COWES, NORTHWOOD & GURNARD COMMUNITY BUS FORUM (Northwood Parish Council and Gurnard Parish Council Representative); ISLE OF WIGHT FOOTPRINT TRUST LTD (Director/ Trustee and Chairman); THE FRIENDS OF NORTHWOOD CEMETERY (Member); ISLE OF WIGHT ANTI POVERTY GROUP (Nominated by the Footprint Trust)
I AM VICE CHAIRMAN OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT LOCAL ACCESS FORUM (Nominated by the Isle of Wight Council in 2009, 2013 and 2017), AREA OF OUTSTANDING NATURAL BEAUTY MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE (Member as nominated by the Isle of Wight Council in 2009, 2013 and 2017), SOLENT FORUM (Nominated by the Isle of Wight Council in 2013 and 2017),  
I am a member of or hold a position of general control or management in the following:
Public authorities or bodies exercising functions of a public nature:
NORTHWOOD PARISH COUNCIL, NORTHWOOD PARISH COUNCIL’S TRAFFIC & TRANSPORT ISSUES WORKING PARTY (Deputy), ISLE OF WIGHT ASSOCIATION OF LOCAL COUNCILS (Parish Council Representative, Deputy) NORTHWOOD WI HALL WORKING PARTY
COWES TOWN COUNCIL, Member of Councils PROJECT COMMITTEE; FINANCE, STAFFING & ACQUISITIONS COMMITTEE; HIGHWAYS PFI DISTRICT ONE, TOWN COUNCIL LIAISON GROUP (Town Council Representative), Member Champion Plastic- Free Cowes and member of Isle of Wight Council Community Plastic/ Environmental Forum; COWES MOBILITY FORUM (Deputy), COMMUNITY WASTE FORUM (Deputy)
GURNARD PARISH COUNCIL, Member of the FINANCIAL WORKING GROUP; PERSONNEL WORKING GROUP and representative on the ISLE OF WIGHT LOCAL COUNCIL SESSIONS.  
I AM VICE CHAIRMAN OF GURNARD PARISH COUNCIL. Within the Council, I have a special responsibility of Highways & Transport Issues. ISLE OF WIGHT ASSOCIATION OF LOCAL COUNCILS (Parish Council Representative),
AS ISLE OF WIGHT COUNCILLOR.  I AM A MEMBER OF THE IW COUNCIL’S LICENSING COMMITTEE, AUDIT COMMITTEE, APPEALS COMMITTEE AND ISLE OF WIGHT PENSIONS FUND COMMITTEE  
I AM ALSO A JUSTICE OF THE PEACE, A MEMBER OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT BENCH SERVING THE YOUTH PANEL AND DOMESTIC ABUSE PANEL.
a.    company, industrial and provident society, charity, or body directed to charitable purposes;
NONE.  I WISH TO PLACE ON RECORD THAT I AM NOT A FREEMASON, OR MEMBER OF ANY LIKE ORGANISATION.
b.    body whose principal purposes include the influence of public opinion or policy;
NONE.  I HAVE NOT BEEN A PAID UP MEMBER OF ANY POLITICAL PARTY SINCE LEAVING THE GREEN PARTY IN 1994.
c.    trade union or professional association.
NONE.


Date:                 UPDATED 20TH JUNE 2019.                          Signed:

RECEIVED:


Date:                                                                                          Signed:                                              

(Monitoring Officer or their representative)

Tuesday, 28 May 2019

IW Councillors Report June 2019


Surgeries.

4:30-5pm, Tuesday 4th June, Cowes Library, 12-14 Beckford Road, Cowes.
5:30-6pm, Tuesday 4th June, Sports Bar, Isle of Wight Community Club, Park Road, Cowes.
10:30-11am, Friday 7th June, Gurnard Press, Worsley Road, Gurnard.
1-1:30pm, Wednesday 12th June, The Woodvale, Princes Esplanade, Gurnard.
3-3:30pm, Tuesday 18th June, Cowes Enterprise College, Crossfield Avenue, Cowes.
6-6:6:30pm, Wednesday 26th June, The Portland, Worsley Road, Gurnard.
10:30-11:30am, Thursday 27th June, Coffee & Chat, All Saints Church, Tuttons Hill, Gurnard.

Parking.

·         Worsley Road.
Early last month I received a flurry of complaints concerning bad parking in and adjoining Worsley Road.

One of the suggestions put is to request double yellow lines to fully restrict parking.  In response, this needs evidence to back up that a health and safety issue exists with proposals supported by residents.  As Ward Councillor I am tasked to provide sufficient evidence to reinforce any request.

On the plus side, a restriction would limit parking/ waiting times, improve pedestrian safety and help the throughput of wider vehicles using Worsley Road. On the negative side, this will mean more vehicles parking on adjacent roads, limiting the ability and availability of parking spaces.

This was delayed due to the Bucklers View planning application, which may affect feedback to the survey.

·         Parking Permits.
Cowes Town Council are working alongside the IW Council to expand parking zones in the town where there is a lack of parking in town for residents.  Local Councillor, Cllr. Peacey-Wilcox is leading on this on behalf of residents of Pelham Road, Bridge Road and Thetis Road.

Another issue of concern is the introduction of charges off street in car parks after 6pm from this month. This was   delayed by the IW Council who originally considered introducing proposals from April.

·         Cowes Traffic Order.
I am told that the Cowes Traffic Order remains on course.  In the last month alongside Gurnard Cllrs Smith, Wood and the Head Teacher we met with Parking Services Officers outside Gurnard School.

In response, parking services have targeted anti-social parking whilst a number of residents have through me requested action taken against parents who have obstructed driveway accesses.

Because of (16) objections to the order (mainly from a proposal in Belle Vue Road!!) this continues to be delayed.  I have again highlighted that the order as advertised for Baring Road/ Woodvale Road and Parklands Road/ Park Road is implemented in full as advertised.

·         Parklands Avenue: Former Turning Circle.
A parking ticket was issued to a motorist who had parked their car ‘a considerable distance away from the kerb’ on the turning circle in Parklands Avenue.  Under legislation where a vehicle obstructs the thoroughfare of traffic a ticket can and will be issued.  However, in this instance no obstruction was attributed and following intervention this was challenged and the motorist was recompensed.

Parking:  Can you help?

To improve parking provision, do you have off-road parking that you would be prepared to enter an arrangement with neighbours or residents/ commuters to park?  If so, please let me know!

Grass Cutting and Hedgerows.

The cutting of verges in Gurnard last month took place following me receiving complaints from residents.  In addition, I have requested action to cut back verges on the Crossfield Estate and vegetation in Newport Road and Nodes Road.

This is an issue I will be taking up with Highways with the onset of future savings- Please see later within my report!

Highway Updates.

Carriageway resurfacing due to take place this summer is listed below.  Please note these dates/ timescales can slip!

Date
Carriageway
05/07/19 – 06/07/19
Terminus Road/High Street/Carvel Lane
12/07/19
Gurnard Heights
15/07/19 – 16/07/19
Moorgreen Road
15/07/19 -  18/07/19
Bellevue Road
19/07/19
Victoria Road
22/07/19 – 31/07/19
Crossfield Avenue
11/09/19 – 13/09/19
Worsley Road

In addition, minor repairs to the delineated carriageways in Pine Tree Close and Magdalen Crescent.

Elsewhere, I have requested that cleansing and repairs takes place to the bus shelter in Carvel Lane, Cowes and cleansing takes place to the entrance of Fountain Yard as well as to the Blackberry Lane footpath to Edinburgh Close.

Island Roads Meeting.

I have arranged to meet with Island Roads to discuss ongoing items with officers and Councillors from Cowes, Gurnard and Northwood Parish Councillors.  This meeting will take place on Monday 24th June.  Please let me know of any questions you wish me to raise before Monday 17th June.

Issues to be discussed include updates on carriageway resurfacing and arrangements for Cowes Week/ Sail GP Event.

PFI Savings.

Please let me know of instances of overflowing litter bins.

Following contacting the IW Council, it was highlighted that the issues concerning overfilled bins not being emptied was due, in part to the hot weather during the Easter Holiday. Since then, bins continue to be monitored.  In addition, the Environment Officer will be discussing concerns with Gurnard Parish Council this month.

Last month the IW Council Leader (in response to find savings within the PFI contract) has suggested smarter emptying of bins. At the Town/Parish Forum it was suggested that there would be fewer bins where they weren’t needed, but larger bins where they were.  However, Cllr Stewart again made it very clear that seafront bin capacity would not be affected.     

Other areas which the IW Council are investigating is reducing cuts of grass verges and dimming/ trimming street lighting. According to the leader the cutting of grass verges on the Island exceeds the ‘statutory minimum’ required(!) In addition to the proposed savings, the IW Council (like many other authorities) will no longer actively man CCTV coverage.  However, consideration is taking place to monitor CCTV during busy periods by local town and Parish Councils.

Planning Applications.

·         Bucklers View.
The long awaited proposal to extend Bucklers View by an additional 13 sheltered housing units was advertised last month.  The deadline for comments is Monday 3rd June.  A letterdrop and a drop-in for residents took place during May.

·         Woodvale Road.
In addition to the above, an application was also received to considerably extend a bungalow in Woodvale Road.  In response, I have received concerns and am offering support to neighbours.

Trees.

Work has taken place on the removal of a large sycamore tree, within the church yard, Church Road, Cowes.  This tree according to the IW Council’s tree officer had extensive decay to the tree’s base.   

Oak Trees adjacent to Woodvale House, Woodvale Road are have their crown raised to 5 metres and cleaned, whist a TPO’d sycamore tree will be removed (due to decay at the base) and replaced within 2 years.

Fourteen trees (Oaks, Holm Oaks, Sycamores and Monterey Pines) are to be cut back or removed and replaced at The Hawkins, Egypt Esplanade.   Also, a sycamore tree at Egypt Copse is also due to be removed and replaced.

In Place Road, BAE systems have confirmed that trees on the grass verge will not be removed.  However, some of the trees/ shrubs on the junction from Three Gates Road will be cut back to improve site lines.  Elsewhere, in Place Road I have requested clarification of 4x Horse Chestnuts planted in close proximity of each other at The Range.

Street Clutter

Please let me know of any unnecessary street furniture/ signs that are in place.  I am in the process of working alongside Island Roads to ensure that inappropriate signs are removed from the highway.

An example of this are school signs for Gurnard Primary School that has not been (as yet) taken away by Island Roads.

Neighbourhood Watch/ Police Request.

Every year, once the warm weather and sunshine appears, I receive requests from the police to let residents know to leave sheds and household doors locked as opportunistic burglaries can and do happen!  

In the past few months there has also been cold callers attempting to sell their services across the Island.  I have requested an updated supply of ‘No Cold Calling’ stickers from Environmental Health and once these are received, I will circulate these to residents who have requested theirs.  Please note (sadly!) the No Cold Calling initiative does not apply to religious or political canvassers. 

The Police reported their priorities are Non-Dwelling burglaries, Drug related crime and prevention of knife crime.  It was reported that £6.7k was seized in respect to drug related crime in the Cowes area.

Please note Cowes is a safe and generally crime free, with crimes reported falling from 1300 to 600 in the last 5 years.

European Elections.

Following last month’s European Elections the following MEP’s were elected to serve the South East England constituency of the European Union

Candidates Elected
Political Party
Share of vote
(SE region)
Share of vote
(Isle of Wight)
Nigel Farage, Alexandra Phillips, Robert Rowland, Belinda Claire De Camborne Lucy
Brexit Party
36%
47%
Catherine Bearder, Antony Hook, Judith Bunting
Liberal Democrat
26%
16%
Alex Philips
Green
14%
17%
Daniel Hannan
Conservative
10%
9%
John Howarth
Labour
7%
6%

Change UK
4%
2%

UKIP
3%
4%

Despite the overwhelming frustration of not exiting the European Union, it was reassuring to see the depth of interest that these elections when I met with voters on election day!  It will be interesting to see how the big political parties respond!

Also this month:

·         I ended my term of office as Mayor of Cowes.  My grateful thanks and appreciation to Cowes’ clerks, and to deputy Cllr. Lora Peacey-Wilcox who has taken over.  Cllr Paul Bertie will now serve as Deputy Mayor.
·         I have made representations to the IW Council over the availability of parking for volunteers.
·         Work has commenced on the repairs to the Watch House Shelter on Cowes Parade.
·         Advice and support has been provided to a resident wishing to dispose of hazardous waste.
·         I have received feedback from the water regulator concerning charges imposed on Gurnard Pines residents.  In the meantime, I await with interest feedback from OFGEN.  
·         Flytipping of Garden Waste in Cow Lane has been reported to Island Roads/ The IWC Environment Officer. 
 ·         Planning Enforcement has been requested on a property in Worsley Road.  In addition action is pending following action taken in Oaklands View.
·         I have been appointed as Deputy Leader of the Isle of Wight Group of Independent Councillors.
·         Police have reported that surveillance continues on the beach between Gurnard Marsh and Sailing Club following historical reports of anti-social behaviour from gatherings.
·         At Full Council concerns were expressed in diluting the role of the IW Association of Local Councils within Scrutiny.  It was noted by most Councillors that proposals to do this was not welcomed, particularly at a time when the Corporate Scrutiny Committee were monitoring the impact of Town and Parish Councils.  Concerns (which I supported) were also expressed about debating petitions.
·         Northwood Parish Council has shared a letter received from the Minister for Housing and Planning concerning the IW Council’s Housing numbers.  In light of this, I continue to challenge the housing numbers pitched at 641 new homes per annum.
·         In light of advice, a list is being created to highlight what local priorities residents would like to see funded through Section 106 contributions from developments.  On this, please let me know your thoughts!
·         Volunteers are needed to drive the local community buses.  If you are interested please let me know!
·         Cowes Primary School are seeking two new School Governors.  Again, please let me know if you are interested.
·         I enjoyed the latest meeting of the IW Council’s Audit Committee.  Items being considered included proposals for investment at Nicholson Road, Ryde; Health and Safety Risks within the IW Council’s Estate and Brexit…
·         At Cowes’ Parking Strategy meeting, I share concerns that more parking permits are being issued than there are spaces available. This is something that Cowes Councillors will take up with the IW Council.
·         At the recent Town and Parish Council seminar, it was reported that following a lack of investment by Housing Associations in new homes, the IW Council are considering forming their own housing provider to invest in low cost energy efficient modular housing.  This is something I look forward to discussing further with officers.
·     Two meetings are taking place with officers concerning the forthcoming consultation on the English Coastal Path.