ASSURANCES FOR FURRLONGS

A good week for Pan. At Full Council on Wednesday in response to my questioning I received assurances from the Tory Cabinet member for transport that the proposed new junction at the bottom of Furrlongs (opening up Furrlongs to more traffic) will not be included in the Local Transport Plan if it is against the wishes of a majority of local residents. I thanked him for this and I have to say that I am increasingly reassured with the measured way in which this cabinet member deals with his portfolio.

Later in the week I attended a Pan Urban Extension Steering Group with three Cabinet members and key senior officers, chaired by the said cabinet member, Cllr Ian Ward. This Group is reviewing the Masterplan for the Pan development which will take place over the next ten years. There will be nothing definitive to report until the new year, but I have assurances that there will be full consultation with Pan residents about the final outcome of this review.

More good news for Pan. I helped to appoint a new Headteacher for Downside Middle School, who I believe will be excellent for both the children and the community. He is Peter Shaw, currently a Head in Wrexham, but who was Deputy Head (and Acting Head for his last 6 months) at Medina High School prior to 2002. As I am now a governor at Medina and Barton, Mr Shaw's appointment should greatly facilitate the strengthening of relationships between these three schools and others in the Medina cluster.

Less good news for Council staff. The Cabinet on Tuesday appointed a 'change agent' for their strategic partnering agenda. They are PA Consulting, who have a very bad history on the Island, as they helped devastate jobs and services at the old Medina Borough Council in the early 80s. I am told they are a very different company now, but we will see.

At Full Council after the Leader had been extolling the strategic partnering model he had been to see in Suffolk (introduced by a very new Labour administration), I reminded him of the verdict Suffolk voters gave that Council last May - Labour lost - and asked him if he feared a similar outcome for his group in 2009 ! He laughed it off - but I believe my question will come back to haunt the local Tories.........

I met with the Community Support Officers on Tuesday and I am impressed with their keenness. As an aside, the drinking problem on the recreation ground is less problematic now (probably due to the weather) and even the litter is being cleared on a regular basis. I had to point out to fellow councillors that of course these new posts are funded by Government money, as the Tories seem keen to claim the credit. I appreciated the County Press using my comment on the appointments rather than one from the cabinet member for safer communities, who has had absolutely nothing to do with these appointments.

Finally I went along to the Island Plan meeting on Thursday. The planning officers are suggesting six options for future housing and employment development on the IW and are seeking public comments on these by 11 November. Personally I favour future development based on Option 3 - basically Newport and Cowes (as now) together with Ryde - the so-called North East Triangle. However, people should try to look at these options and send their views in. Details can be found at: http://www.iwight.com/living%5Fhere/planning/Planning%5FPolicy/Island%5FPlan/Core%5FStrategy/

As anticipated it has been a busy week, all accomplished with the most appalling tooth abcess ! Thankfully the antibiotics are now kicking in.

Now off to do my monthly surgery. In Birmingham four days next week for a Social Services Conference with three Conservative council colleagues from my Policy Commission. wish me luck......