Cllr. Geoff Lumley

CLOSED FOR BUSINESS

2011-05-21T09:41:00.001+01:00

I apologise to anyone who misses my blog, but I have been under considerable pressure over the last few months and have been unable to motivate myself to keep it going.

It may return in the future, but for now my blog is closed for business.

GAGGED AGAIN

2011-01-21T15:18:00.005Z

First Full Council of this year of years, when the Tory-lead coalition Government - with their loyal Tory friends at County Hall - will do so much damage to our Island through an entirely and unnecessarily rushed public services cuts programme.

And we saw a massive row, doggedly initiated and pursued by me, over the way in which a Tory leadership motion supportive of the destructive cuts programme was railroaded through. In a unique interpretation of our Constitution and the general rules of debate by officers an amendment to the motion from independent Cllr Bacon was accepted by the leadership, put to the vote, agreed (with I believe only Reg Barry (LD) and I against) - and then debate was stopped, with very few (including me) having yet said a word (though I had indicated my wish to speak), and certainly none against.............

We were told when I protested that the substantive motion still needed to be debated, that once a motion is successfully amended that means the substantive motion is also agreed. That is the first I (or many others) have ever heard that interpretation in 35 years of public debating. I have since checked the Constitution and will be taking this illegal and unconstitutional decision further. A total and utter disgrace that fills with me zero confidence in the constitutional advice issued to the Council Chairman.

Other items discussed were:- a motion from Cllr Bacon that tried to improve the relationship between the IW Council and town and parish councils - defeated by Tory councillors; overwhelming agreement to the Independent Remuneration Panel's recommendations on councillor allowances for a 0% increase; some tinkering with the entirely irrelevant scrutiny arrangements for this Council.

At the start of the meeting the IW Stop the Cuts Alliance (which I entirely support) were present in good numbers to ask public questions, but the 15 minutes allowed for such questions was strictly adhered to on this occasion allowing just one written question and three oral questions to be dealt with.

Meeting finished after 3 hours leaving me with a very bad taste in my mouth..........

MERRY XMAS AND A PEACEFUL NEW YEAR

2010-12-23T19:11:00.002Z

To all my readers and ward residents - my very best wishes for an enjoyable Christmas and hopes for a peaceful new year.

A SHORT EVENING

2010-11-18T17:18:00.007Z

The latest Full Council prompts me to my blog for what seems now to be a monthly post. I must try harder ! Just so much on....

Anyway as I said Full Council last night. As I had decided to give myself my first break for 18 months from submitting a Motion the agenda was very brief. An uncontentious change to financial standing orders and then questions of Cabinet members. These were taken full advantage of primarily by the usual suspects - myself, Barry, Howe, Welsford....

From my questions we learnt that the Council leadership strongly opposes domestic violence whilst not being prepared to properly support the IW Womens Refuge - hypocrites ! I also secured commitments for maximum HR support for Council staff who end up being made redundant in the next few months. And councillors may get the opportunity to ask NHS Trust people why the IW volunteered to be a pilot for issuing contraceptives for 13 year olds.

We then finished at 7.25pm and we all headed home - no free Xmas drink/buffet with the Chairman this year for the rest of them. Recognition of hard times........

AS THE AXE FALLS, CALM BEFORE THE STORM ?

2010-10-22T09:39:00.006+01:00

Another 4 weeks passes by and we were back at Full Council on Wednesday evening. An evening that will probably go down in history as the end of the day when the Tory/Liberal coalition government agreed to wreck our economy and destroy the decent society we have aspired to since 1940.

So in that context our Council meeting was pretty small beer as everyone gets their heads around what government has proposed for local government over the next 4 years.

We started off with a minutes silence on the death that day of Canon Jim Buckett - a wonderful man even if we did not share a belief . Next was my motion on the Council's 'One Island' magazine, where I wanted to reduce its publication to twice per year rather than 10. The Tories really threw the kitchen sink at me to defeat this motion, demonstrating as ever how much they seem to fear me.......At the end my motion was defeated with 8 votes in favour (me, the 3 LibDems present and 4 Independents) and all the Tories and 2 Independents against.

Independent Wayne Whittle was then elected as the third Chairman of the Overview & Scrutiny Committee of this Council in just 16 months after Jonathan Bacon's resignation. Good luck to him, but I'm afraid luck won't help him get this Council to allow proper scrutiny.

Next was a leadership proposal to move meeting times for Scrutiny Committee/Panels to 5pm rather than 6pm. On this I was entirely isolated with everyone in favour of effectively making it difficult for most people to observe these meetings and me against. C'est la difference.

We then all agreed a new Corporate Parenting Policy for looked after children. Everyone was on their best behaviour and no one mentioned the elephant in the room....our record as a Council as corporate parents hasn't been good enough to date.

And that was about it. Questions to Cabinet members took up the last hour or so, but it all felt a bit flat. The calm before the storm as people begin to realise what the public service cuts really mean to them ???????

A DAWNING REALISATION LEADS TO UNITED OPPOSITION

2010-09-23T14:09:00.003+01:00

Apologies to all of you who keep an eye on this blog, but as you can probably guess I took a break from blogging over the summer. However, I have decided to take up the reins again as I know a lot of you like things like the following..........a Full Council report:

Last night was Full Council and it was a meeting that saw the firming up of the opposition to all that this Tory Council is willingly doing at the behest of the Coalition Government. We have had leading local LibDems (Barry, Wareham, Smart) expressing the view in recent weeks that this is not their coalition and that they are not happy with what the national LibDem leadership are doing in the coalition. And that unhappiness is leading to a more united opposition at County Hall. Last night on just about every major vote myself, the independent group and the four LibDems voted together against Tory cuts. Long may it continue........

After a consensus on a Leadership motion regarding 'place-based budgets' for local communities - basically all public money for local government, NHS, Police, etc in one pot - it was time for a motion from me seeking to defer the latest round of proposed Council cuts to services for one month, whilst real and strenuous efforts were made to lobby government for more favourable treatment for the IW. Despite my pleas about the special nature of the Island's economy and population, my motion was lost as usual with the 22 Tories present all against and all 13 opposition members in favour. Groundhog day...........

We then moved onto a debate about the latest round of proposed Council cuts to services. The Leader accused my of lying when I blamed the national deficit largely on the incompetence of the banks rather than any profligacy of the last government, to which I asked the Chairman to ensure that debate will not be degenerating to the level of personal insult when there are clear and well-founded disagreements over how we got a deficit and how it should be dealt with. Personally I do not consider that the deficit needs to be cleared in just 4 years, and neither do many other economic experts. Others disagree. That's polemic - not truth and lies.

Each aspect of the proposed cuts was then voted on individually with the votes on further rationing and charging for services to vulnerable people, accepting the closure of Westminster House (subject to consultation), and transfer of fire control services to a mainland authority, all being voted through with all the Tories present in favour, and the opposition all against (bar fire control where there were 4 abstentions).

We then went into the questions to Cabinet members section, the 'holding to account' part of the agenda, but this was curtailed at 9pm when all Tories voted to end the meeting then, and all opposition councillors voted to extend the meeting to conclude the business. No surprise there then.

So the political dividing lines are being quite clearly marked now as local Tories gleefully pursue a coalition cuts agenda, but local LibDems show recognition of how damaging those cuts will be.

Just a pity that they urged people to vote for their candidate at the General Election to keep the Tories out.......

TWO FACES OF LOCAL LIB DEMS

2010-07-22T14:37:00.002+01:00

Full Council last night was disrupted by a gentleman who seems to be making it his mission to challenge the legality of Council meetings; he was at Cabinet last week doing the same. I don't think he is correct in his argument, but it certainly makes for a rough ride at meetings. Especially when combined with justifiably annoyed young people, campaigning against proposed Tory cuts to their Student Rider. The combination proved to be combustible as the public gallery was cleared for 15 minutes and the police had to have a stern word with said gentleman......

By the time I got onto my anti-VAT increase motion I felt quite low key. Of course I argued my case that it unfairly penalises pensioners and the low paid far more than the better-off, then received support from numerous independents, and then listened to Cabinet members - though not backbench Tories - blame everything since the 'fall of man' on the last Labour government ! As expected my motion was lost by 23 votes (all 21 Tories present and 2 independents) to 7 (myself and 6 independents), with 5 abstentions - one independent and all four LibDems. No surprise there then as their 'Tory VAT bombshell' from prior to the general election becomes settled LibDem policy. Vote Liberal, get the Tories..........don't forget Islanders........

We then moved onto the Tory proposals for starting to cut back the budget for this year and the next 4 years. The Student Rider abolition is one facet of these savage and draconian cuts, but they are also targeting vulnerable people, young people in need, bus users, and various other groups. All part of the new ConDem governments determination to unnecessarily reduce the national budget deficit in just 5 years, putting our entire economy at risk.

As usual it seems these days, all of this is my fault as the Council leadership try to decide who is the bigger bogey man on the island - me or Southern Vectis.

After the debate a named vote approved the Cabinet cuts proposals, including abolition of the Student Rider, by 20 votes to 11:- all 20 Tories still present in favour, all opposition councillors still present against - including this time the 2 LibDems still in the room. Strange - but welcome......

Meeting then concluded at 10pm after 4 roller-coaster hours.

CROCODILES OF THE COALITION........

2010-07-15T15:51:00.003+01:00

At Cabinet on Tuesday night I watched the local Tories thoroughly enjoying themselves as they prepare to deliver savage cuts to local jobs and local public services on behalf of the unelected Coalition Government.

Lots of deep regret and sighing at what they will have to do over the next 4 years, but frankly it felt to me like they were enjoying themselves. Tories - and some in the Lib Dems, like Clegg - have always wanted an excuse to reduce the public sector, and this government is more intent on that policy than even the dreaded Thatcher and her ilk. So much for voting Liberal to keep the Tories out..........what we have got is Conservatism with knobs on ! There is no doubt that there has to be some level of cuts to start to address the national budget deficit (as the last government detailed), but I get the feeling that much of what will happen under this unelected government is almost gratuitous in its savagery.

At the meeting the Lib Dem group leader was invited by one Tory Cabinet member to sign his group up to the Tory Council cuts agenda, but sadly the said gentleman failed to seize the opportunity to distance himself and his local party from the Coalition Government. Hm......

So now we have a Cabinet paper going to Full Council next week that will commence the the four-year nightmare. Of course I will oppose it and would expect some of the independents to do the same. And hopefully the 4 Lib Dems ?

AWAITING THE AXE..............

2010-07-07T11:47:00.002+01:00

At the IW Council Cabinet next week will begin the local process of planning for the savage and draconian cuts to public services demanded by the new Conservative-Liberal coalition government. A government elected by no one and without a popular mandate for the sorts of cuts to our services we will see over the next 5 years.

That is my view in response to the published Budget Review paper going to the Council Cabinet on Tuesday next week:

http://www.iwight.com/council/committees/cabinet/13-7-10/Paper%20C.pdf

I accept that of course the national deficit needs to be reduced and the last Labour government had a strategy to reduce the deficit significantly over the next 5 years. However, the Con-Dem coalition government is determined to clear the deficit entirely - run up by shoring up the failing banking sector - within just 5 years, with cuts in public services of at least 25% if not more. Cuts at a level that were not mentioned in either of their election manifestos.

25% cuts would translate for the IW Council (according to their review) to at least £5.5million of cuts, probably more, in each of the next 4 budget years. Inevitably hurting vulnerable people the most, as we have already seen this year, and slashing Council jobs at a time when we need people in employment to kickstart the local economy.

The Review paper going to next week's Cabinet further identifies:

1. Further budget pressures THIS year - before the government axe fully falls - of £6.5million, especially in Adult Care services and Children's Services, and in the failure to identify £3m of savings budgeted for this year prior to the General Election.

2. £2.19m of early cutbacks by the new government on specific grants this year - including £470k for road safety schemes.

3. The increase in VAT to 20% as having 'limited impact on local authorities' - who unlike low-paid local people can claim it back.

As the only political councillor at County Hall currently openly opposing this coalition government I am appalled to imagine what is likely to happen locally over the next 5 years of cutting public services. I believe many Islanders will feel the same and I am hopeful that many will come together in the weeks and months ahead to campaign locally and nationally against these cuts.

LIB DEM BETRAYALS, continued...........

2010-06-22T21:38:00.004+01:00

George Osborne today said his top priority is cutting the deficit. But in order to get the deficit down, you need to keep economic growth up and you need to keep unemployment down. You don’t get borrowing down by pulling the plug on support for business, throwing people out of work and stifling economic growth.

The Chancellor delivered a budget that will throw people out of work, hold back economic growth and damage the public services we all rely on – and increased VAT from 17.5% to 20%, so that higher prices will be paid in the shops by everyone, from pensioners to the unemployed

The Tories’ cuts are unfair to families and older people: cuts to the disability living allowance, cuts to help for the jobless, cuts to tax credits, cutting back free school meals, and cuts to Child Benefit, which they have frozen for the next three years.

What the country needed was a Budget to support economic growth, protect jobs and cut the deficit fairly. Instead the Tories gave us a reckless Budget that pulls the rug out from under the recovery.

And they couldn’t have done it without the support of the Lib Dems, who have let down everyone who voted for them in the election just a few weeks ago.

COALITION GOVERNMENT ! WHAT COALITION ?

2010-06-19T11:13:00.006+01:00

Full Council last Wednesday. Many absences - 10 - 25% of the Council. Kicked off with loads of questions about Northwood House, which the Council appear to have decided to withdraw from entirely.

My Motion seeking for a 3rd time to get the Council to reduce its carbon emissions by 10%, thus saving up to £410k, to then be used on services for vulnerable people, was then discussed. I tried to tell the Tories that contrary to their recent local Members Newsletter there isn't a Tory government and that the national Tory leadership have signed up to some decent things in the Con-Dem Coalition - like a 10% reduction in carbon emissions. But they don't like to listen to me !!! Because they really don't want to know.......

Instead they claim they are making ‘planned and sensible’ carbon reductions (Cllr Giles, Tory), presumably unlike the coalition Con-Dem government in which his party has signed up to 10%. And they ‘can’t save any more’ on emissions (again Cllr Giles). Welcome to my world, where Cameron & Clegg’s cosiness is ignored at local level.

So, once again I was defeated by 18 (all Tory) votes to 8 (me, the 3 LibDems present, and 4 independents), with 3 abstentions (including 2 brave Tories - Webster and Wyatt-Millington).

One thing is increasingly clear - local LibDems are not comfortable with the coalition there leadership has signed up to, just as local Tories are just going to ignore it's more 'progressive' elements...........

After that we had the Standards Committee Annual Report, which only I did not support, as I have little faith in the local process. And then agreement of a new scheme to deal with Petitions - a legacy of the last government.

Finally I asked a question of the Council Leader about whether he could guarantee that Years 6, 7 & 8 in Middle Schools from September will get the full breadth of the curriculum delivered to them. He gave that guarantee...........

DO THEY REALLY THINK WE ARE THAT DAFT ?

2010-06-09T12:15:00.002+01:00

A wonderful letter in The Guardian today,

"Let me just make sure I've got this right. First of all, a bunch of bankers lose unimaginable amounts of our money by making bets on a bunch of dodgy mortgages. Eventually the banks realise the bets are based on worthless assets, and that technically they are bankrupt.

The government bails them out with billions of pounds, transferring the debt to the public sector. The bankers, full of gratitude, pay themselves multimillion-pound bonuses which they invest in such a way as to pay as little tax as possible.

We express our anger by voting out the government and replacing it with a new one, which promptly blames the debt on the profligate spending of its predecessor, and tells us that the only solution is to cut public services. Civil servants lose their jobs, unemployment rises, libraries are closed, support services for the very poor, the dispossessed and the desperate disappear. Those who caused this mess in the first place get away with it, and are probably already planning the next disaster.

Are we really that gullible?

Matt Nicholson, Bristol"

Says it all really.

AT LAST, ELECTIONS OVER !

2010-05-31T11:34:00.003+01:00

Another week passes before I get around to posting again. All these elections get in the way. Hopefully we will now have a break for at least a couple of months.....

I was very disappointed that we couldn't manage to squeeze the LibDems enough in the Ryde South by-election to get Deborah Gardiner back on the IW Council. Still it was a good performance and we saw the LD drop from first to 3rd as the Tories secured another group member. Onwards on my own for a little longer......

Yesterday's and today's national media are increasingly sickening as they all bemoan the loss of the LibDem expenses fiddler who had to resign from the Cabinet after just 18 days. The holier than thou attitude of Clegg prior to the election (where his party came third) is now clearly to be seen as total hypocrisy. When the expenses scandal first arose the Liberals weren't really looked at that closely. Now they will be and I anticipate further revelations.

Finally elections to Newport Parish Council saw my partner Mary re-elected to join me and two other Labour supporters as a continuing influential bloc in all Newport matters. I won't be Chair from 14 June due to standing orders restrictions to a two-year term, but I am sure we will have a responsible successor. Not one who would fritter money on palatial parish offices......

WAKE UP LIB DEMS

2010-05-20T14:38:00.005+01:00

Nearly a month since my last post and so much has happened on the political scene that I almost don't know where to start.......

My summary would be: the best candidate by far to be our Island MP came third (badly effected by the national scene) and once again tactical voting to keep a Tory out here FAILED, as it always will in these post-Steve Ross days. We then saw the venal instincts of national LibDems crawling their way into a Tory coalition, to leave many decent local Liberals (there are a good many) highly embarrassed and probably seething with anger. Early indications were that the new national ConDem coalition wouldn't last, but their anti-democratic instincts suggest that they will implement a device to prevent the coalition falling before its 5 years are up. In the meantime Labour nationally will adapt to opposition, evaluate where it is politically and elect a new leader. Personally I hope John McDonnell MP will be a candidate, to ensure a wide-ranging discussion of where the Labour Party needs to be over the next 5 years.

Of course from my position this Libservative alliance is going to prove highly entertaining as I seize the vast opportunities for mockery. The evidence of last night's Annual Council suggests that the local Liberals haven't quite got it yet - that their party is now in government with the Tories and Labour are the ONLY political opposition.

Annual Council last night was the usual parade of the self-appointed great and good, with my close colleague Ian Stephens being elected as the new Council Chairman. Good for him. The only disturbance of a brief 45 minute meeting was my longstanding refusal to support Tories as Scrutiny Panel chairs - majority-group lead scrutiny is just cheerleading - and the 2 Liberals present supported me, with the Independents supporting the Tories. Maybe the LibDems will soon see sense and come over to Labour rather than stick with a badly tainted brand.

I then cleared off home and left the rest to the annual beanfeast on the taxpayer....................

WATCHING PAINT DRY

2010-04-24T15:31:00.004+01:00

Three days later and I can just about bother to write a very brief personal viewpoint of this month's Full Council.

Sadly, what appears to be a deliberate strategy of emasculating Council meetings over the last two years, came to its natural conclusion with a meeting that was so sterile and tedious it was entirely pointless.

Thanks to a ridiculously narrow interpretation of guidelines for Council's during election periods we were unable to discuss anything potentially controversial.

Of course the Council Leader tried to interpret the rules to his advantage, but I had to slap that down rapidly. One rule for all, not just for me !

An old observer of Council meetings said to me afterwards how changed it was from the days pre-2005, when Council meetings prior to a General Election were 'pretty fiery affairs'. Sadly I can't say who it was.

What happened in 2005 ? Well the Tories were elected of course..........

BOUND & GAGGED

2010-04-17T13:28:00.004+01:00

Three weeks since I last posted. Longest gap ever, but I had a week or so away prior to Easter and have since been concentrating on the general election campaign.

On a personal level I was re-elected unopposed again with Tony Coburn to represent 'Newport East' on Newport Parish Council from June for a further 3 years. Pity really as I like elections, even taking account the work involved.......However, I will no longer be Parish Chair from 14 June as I am limited to a two year term.

This week was very illuminating in showing us what Cameron Tories are really like. There has been coverage in the local media, but briefly I was stopped from asking questions by the Tory Council Leader at Cabinet on Tuesday, and then had my Motion to next week's Full Council blocked by Council officers on very spurious grounds.

To be fair at Cabinet I managed to get my questions about the changes to refuse collections answered later in the meeting, but it was the very first time I have ever been blocked. And as the only opposition member at the meeting that is a very worrying development.

On my Motion seeking to re-direct the Council's massive media spending to future free school meals pilots for primary school children, should they be available. Well I was told that because the current pilots are mentioned in the Labour Party Election Manifesto officers could not allow the debate to take place, even though there are no policy commitments. When I complained I was told they would not change their mind and that the Tories had had a motion on proposed National Insurance increases blocked as well.

Frankly I see no correlation between the two . One is shamelessly and opportunistically about a clear Tory election commitment, the other is related to controversial Council expenditure being re-allocated to a possible continuing pilot in the future.....I would happily have debated both issues, but it seems officers run this Council at election time. Interestingly the first I knew they would not budge on my complaint was when I got a call from the CP................not hard to guess which part of the Council tipped them off. Nothing better to do, but tittle-tattle to journos.

Anyway as EVERYTHING on the Full Council agenda for next week is bound to be mentioned in a party manifesto somewhere I think I will turn up bound and gagged. In other words, a bit like a Tory backbench councillor...........

ROTWEILER SAYS NO TO MAYORS !

2010-03-27T20:40:00.002Z

The last week or so I have been reflecting on the depths to which the IW Council leadership will sink, but have refrained from commenting here whilst others comment elsewhere.

One thing that made me laugh to night was the suggestion on another blog that we should look at having a Mayor for the Island again and that I would be a good candidate...............

As a reminder, I organised the successful 'No Mayor' campaign back in 2005 and I have not changed my views one iota. Just because we have a rubbish Council Leader doesn't mean that we wouldn't get a rubbish Mayor. And the latter are a lot harder to shift during their term of office than a Council Leader.

So any future referendum for a Mayor will be met by the same implacable opposition.

NO RE-ASSURANCES FOR CARE USERS, JUST WAFFLE

2010-03-17T19:41:00.003Z

Full Council tonight - many apologies and hardly any public - I could see just two. And a very thin agenda that was all over after just over an hour. And no press other than the CP.......

Basically it was an opportunity for opposition councillors to hold Cabinet members to account in a little more depth and for one Tory to do their usual brown-nosing. The latter as ever seized their opportunity, but I'm not sure all the former took full advantage.

I went along with two areas to question: the absence of effective scrutiny after 9 months of this Council - the newish Independent Chair of Scrutiny agreed with me, as much of this is now the responsibility of Scrutiny Panel Chairs, who are loyal, payroll Tories. However, he will be making further endeavours to get his overarching Committee operating effectively......I wish him the best of luck.

Secondly with 2 questions for Cllr Cousins - but she was away doing far more important national business to trouble herself with the mayhem around her adult care portfolio on the Council. So the Leader covered for. I asked him to give some reassurance to care users and providers that from the 'dogs breakfast' they are making of social care personalisation they would prioritise getting it right. Some 10,000 words of waffle later I had to ask him again, but I got nowhere other than an invitation to join his Members on personalisation awareness sessions......

I also asked the Leader for some words of reassurance to my residents over the appointment of you know who as the Pan development contractors as it hasn't really gone down very well, but he preferred to lie (doesn't he always ?) that the 7 year funding of PNP is to be curtailed after the next and penultimate financial year. Yes the funding would be subject to a re-elected Labour government's comprehensive spending review with a probable positive outcome, but if the unbearable happens (a T**y government) it has about as much chance of surviving as a fish out of water.

Finally my most amusing moment was a question of Cllr Giles from the Tory for Newport Central asking when the parking review would be taking place as many of her residents are in 'dire straits' after the car park permit was abolished. But she voted FOR its abolition !!!

ARE THE TORIES TOO ASHAMED ?

2010-03-14T12:04:00.003Z

I went along to the Riverside Centre stakeholders meeting yesterday morning. Concern within social care providers, like the Riverside, about the Council budget cuts and the rushed transition to personalisation remains unabated.

Of course this could have been an opportunity for Tory Councillors to reassure providers - and service users - that they have got it all wrong and that there aren't cuts at all, as they have been claiming.

But out of the 22 current members of the Tory group at County Hall, not one was able to answer the invitation. In particular the Council Leader and the relevant Cabinet member. In contrast obviously I was there, as were three Liberals and three Independents. Unlike the Tories we have nothing to be ashamed of......

SO IT'S BARRATTS.............

2010-03-13T09:03:00.006Z

The Council last night announced that the new Pan developer will be Barratts, who will have to get started by the end of this month if £11m of government money for affordable housing isn't to be lost. Any start is likely to be fairly symbolic, with the real start sometime in late June/early July.

So the Island will have 254 new social housing homes by March 2015, which is to be welcomed.

Not sure about these developers though, which I am sure will lead to many groans of disappointment.......

Can I just stress that I had no involvement in the appointment, which was recommended to the 2 Tory Councillor decision-makers (Cllrs Bingham & Cousins) by a panel of 2 senior Council officers, a senior officer of Medina Housing Association's parent body, and the manager of PNP. That's not to say that the decision was not the right one - I just don't want to be associated with it !!!

CONSERVATIVE CONTEMPT

2010-03-12T08:18:00.002Z

You might see a tiny piece in the CP today that tells us that former Tory Council Leader Andy Sutton is not to be expelled from the Tory Party after his standards board suspension. So when he returns to County Hall in August no doubt he wil be welcomed back into the ruling Tory group with open arms.

Just one word describes the Tory Party attitude to Council Tax payers - contempt.

JUST NOT ELVIS

2010-03-11T21:18:00.005Z

I attended the Adult Social Care, Health & Housing Scrutiny Panel tonight. A rare event - two members of the public at a Scrutiny Panel, but they left soon after the Chair announced that the personalisation agenda item was not to be dealt with tonight (see my previous post). But they didn't leave until after I had made my very strong objections to this decision and the general demise of proper scrutiny on this Council.

Clearly the Tories are getting increasingly sensitive on the personalisation matter and the appalling way it is being implemented financially, with the Cabinet member (Cousins) now trying to suggest that I was one of those who did not understand the subject as I hadn't ever attended any of her informal policy briefings. I prefer not to listen to Tory distortions as I have a quite clear understanding, thank you.......She even tried to drag up my previous unhappiness about some of the Pan development consultations !!! Bonkers...

As for the rest of the meeting. Well this just isn't scrutiny as I know it and understand it. Presentations, consultations and performance review of old-hat data is frankly a complete waste of my time. And that of the other panel members. Its just insulting.

I will continue to attend to point this out to the panel chair at every meeting, but its like saying 'Elvis was rubbish' at an Elvis Presley convention.......

DID THEY KNOW WHAT THEY WERE DOING ?

2010-03-09T07:50:00.004Z

After the Council Budget debate it was clear that many Conservative councillors had absolutely no idea what personalisation of social care means as they voted through particularly savage cuts to voluntary sector services for vulnerable people. So I was relieved to see that the subject was on the Adult Social Care, Health & Housing Scrutiny Panel's agenda for this Thursday. I thought it would be an opportunity for some light to be shed for their benefit.

Sadly though I was told yesterday that councillors will instead have a training session on this subject, and the matter will no longer be considered in public at this stage. I have challenged this, but the Panel Chair has confirmed the decision.

What is most worrying is that the ruling Tory group based much of its Budget cuts on the personalisation agenda when quite clearly very few of them have any idea what it involves. Its enough to make carers weep with disbelief.

WANTED: A LEADER WITH VISION........

2010-03-08T14:42:00.006Z

With all the continuing concerns about the Council Leader I was giving some thought as to who would replace him if he did the decent thing and resigned. And to be frank it is clear that he is pretty much the strongest in a jar of Tory tadpoles. Looking at the rest of his Cabinet it is clear that the most the best of them (Bingham, Cousins) can offer is a similar level of 'bureaucratic' leadership rather than the political vision and strategic thinking the Island really requires.

Casting my mind back it is clear that IW Council leaders of the last 30 years have been a fairly uninspiring lot when it comes to vision and strategic thinking. Morris B (1983-98) was the ultimate machine politician who delivered 4 successive Liberal Council victories before standing down. I suppose you can't ask much more of political leadership ! Marc M-H (1998-2000) hardly stuck around long enough to make a difference - and the Council was hung and consequently paralysed. Shirley S (2000-05) nearly harmed herself holding together the Island First egos, whilst they bled the Council Tax payer dry.

To be honest the one leader in my opinion who had any political vision and any idea of strategy was Sutton (2005-07), but he lost sight of where he was supposed to be going as soon as the trappings of office had settled on his shoulders.

So all in all if Pugh were to go eventually his replacement won't have a lot to live up to........

AND THEN THERE WERE - (gulp) - FIFTEEN !!!

2010-02-26T12:36:00.009Z

So the Tories did their worst......

The Budget setting Full Council on Wednesday was long (4 hours), occasionally impassioned and ultimately heartless as the Tory budget proposals were eventually agreed by 19 votes to 14 with 1 Tory abstention - with the Chair not voting, 2 councillors suspended, 1 absent and 2 leaving before the final vote - all the Named Votes are detailed at the end of this post. Well done Bill Wyatt-Millington for having a conscience and abstaining.

The Budget amendment I had proposed with the assistance of some of the independent group went down by 20 votes to 15, which was a unity of all opposition councillors for the first time since the Tories were first elected back in 2005. The Liberal amendment lost by 20 votes to 10, with 5 independents preferring not to support it. I did.

The acting Chair decided to be entirely undemocratic and to deny me the concluding full 'right of reply' on my amendment, despite the fact that such rights of reply have been allowed at every Budget meeting that I have ever been part of or witnessed. They really must fear me - probably with good cause as Tory debating skills leave a lot to be desired.

Now it is the job of all opposition and Tory backbench councillors - all 33 of us who are on the margins of this Council - to make sure this cruel budget does not hurt vulnerable people as much as we fear and the Cabinet denies.

One last point - one Tory backbencher congratulated me on my contribution to the Budget debate when I bumped into them yesterday. He then asked me where I got all the information to propose an alternative as the likes of him weren't party to budget considerations..........

‘Named Votes’ were as follows:

LUMLEY/STEPHENS ALTERNATIVE BUDGET:

In favour – Lumley, Stephens, Bacon, Churchman, Downer, Dyer, Fuller, Humby, Welsford, Whittle, Barry, Howe, Knowles, Richards, Whittaker(A).(15) Joyce suspended

Against – All Tories – Pugh, Abraham, Bingham, Brown, Bulwer, Cameron, Cousins, Dixcey, Giles, Hobart, Hollis, Hunter-Henderson, Jones-Evans, Scoccia, Ward, Webster, White, Williams, Wyatt-Millington – and Whittaker(D).(20) – Taylor excluded due to prejudicial interest, Mazillius in Chair not voting, Peacey-Wilcox sent apologies, Sutton suspended

(Those in BOLD contributed to the debate)

LOST 15 votes to 20

***

LIBERAL DEMOCRAT AMENDMENT:

In favour – Barry, Howe, Knowles, Richards, Lumley, Bacon, Churchman, Fuller, Welsford, Whittaker(A). (10)

Against – same Tories and Whittaker(D). (20)

Abstained – Downer, Dyer, Humby, Stephens, Whittle (5)

LOST 10 votes to 20

***

CONSERVATIVE REVISED BUDGET PROPOSAL:

In favour – same Tories, except Wyatt-Millington. (19) – Taylor now voting, Whittaker(D) had left.

Against – Lumley, Stephens, Bacon, Churchman, Downer, Dyer, Fuller, Humby, Welsford, Whittle, Barry, Howe, Knowles, Richards. (14) – Whittaker (A) had left.

Abstained – Wyatt-Millington (Tory-Chale, Niton & Whitwell) (1)

APPROVED 19 votes to 14

***

Please save these for 2013……..

HALLELUJAH !

2010-02-16T19:57:00.005Z

At last, after five barren years, the local Liberals have entered the debate about the Council budget with some serious proposals. So next week we will have two amendments to the Tory proposals where there have always been one, from me.

And there is some good stuff in their budget. Some overlaps with ours (eg. reductions in media and communications, reduction in carbon emissions by 10%), some of it is plain daft (eg. returning the senior management structure to what it was in 2005 within just one year), and some of it entirely fails to hit the spot.

Missing the spot are the absence of any support for Westminster House; the failure to loosen the straightjacket that will be put on the vulnerable people who don't use Supporting People services, but need other social services; the failure to retain music lesson subsidies for children of the less well-off; and the failure to recognise that the care 'personalisation' agenda is really going to hit some care providers in the next year.

Nonetheless, I will be inclined to vote for their amendment once ours has fallen. However, I bet they won't do the same to ours.

What would be good would be if we could find common ground and have an amendment on the night that all opposition members (15) can get behind. And maybe then, just maybe, 5 Tories might remember that supporting the Council Leader isn't as important as supporting vulnerable people.........

THE BUDGET CHOICE.......

2010-02-15T14:46:00.006Z

Press Release:

LABOUR COUNCILLOR WORKS WITH INDEPENDENTS TO DELIVER ALTERNATIVE BUDGET

The Isle of Wight's Labour Councillor, Geoff Lumley has today published the 'Alternative Budget' for Full Council that he now traditionally proposes each year in response to the Conservative budget proposals. For the last three years he has been the sole councillor to do this and he has secured increasing levels of support at each step.

This year Cllr Lumley, in the unfortunate absence of a Labour colleague, has worked with members of the Council's Independent group to produce an alternative budget. The proposal will be seconded by Cllr Ian Stephens, Vice Chairman of the Council. Cllr Lumley also hopes to get support for the proposals from other independent councillors, many of whom have made suggestions for the alternative budget.

The Alternative Budget, although still proposing a 2.5% increase in Council Tax next year, seeks to lessen the effects of some of the savage £11million cuts proposed by the Conservative leadership at County Hall by instead reducing spend on: -

areas that bring little benefit to Islanders, such as media communications and performance measurement;
excessive carbon emissions;
wasted energy usage for some street lighting;
over ambitious capital programmes that are never delivered;
services duplication in the ENO scheme, whilst replacing it with a better-focused community warden scheme;
loss-making harbour and leisure operations;
over-provision for so-called 'doubtful debts';

and makes a novel suggestion that high-earning Council managers set a 'we are all in this together' austerity example by giving up 15% of all earnings above £90,000 pa - potentially raising more than £150k.

In return for these nearly £3 million of efficiencies, the Alternative Budget proposes for example:-

keeping Westminster House open;
putting £1million back into Supporting People, which with the £1.9m still to be properly used for this service rather than other services restores the Cabinet proposed cut entirely;
reversing over £0.5million of the cuts to budgets for vulnerable and homeless people;
cushioning the Council's withdrawl from care facilities like Haylands Farm, Osel and the Riverside and Medina Centres;
reducing the residents car park permit increase to £50 pa less than the leadership proposes, with pensioners still entitled to a £50 permit;
reinstating the youth music service subsidy;
recognising that financial support to unions cannot credibly be cut;
reinstating a budget for public realm works;
and restoring capacity to the Highways service.

Cllr Lumley said, "Although I was intending to do this Alternative Budget on my own I am pleased that a number of independent councillors, and particularly Ian Stephens were keen to be involved. Ian has been a real support. Consequently we have a proposal that addresses a very wide range of spending areas. This is a budget alternative that addresses climate change issues more robustly, as well as redirecting bureaucratic expenditure towards services for vulnerable people. That is what many Islanders want and I hope that this alternative will command wide support in the community if not the Council Chamber. I would have liked to do more, but the mess the Council's finances are in after the last 5 years will take some time to tackle. "

END

ABSENCE OF JUDGEMENT

2010-02-06T09:35:00.004Z

I had been getting back into blogging, when the storms hit........

The Council demand that Mark Chiverton (prospective Labour parliamentary candidate for the Island) either resign his candidacy or resign his job at the Council came like a bolt from the blue - much like some of the budget cuts the Tories are proposing (more separately).

Anyone who reads Island blogs or online news will know most of this sorry tale. Suffice to say that Mark is a truthful person and in this case there is no sensible reason for even a serial liar to lie. Additionally I have seen the emails and heard subsequent witness evidence.

What is beyond doubt is the entire absence of judgment displayed by either or both of the Council's Leader and the Chief Executive when they decided to go down this particular undemocratic road. Its not as if this Council can afford much more bad publicity.

This matter isn't going to go away...................................

COUNCIL BUDGET BLACKHOLE

2010-01-26T21:35:00.005Z

Press Release:

"How on earth has the current IW Council budget blackhole doubled in just 4 months ? From £3.5 million in December, to £6.5 million in April. And why are the leadership no longer taking successful 'management action .....to reduce spend in identified pressure areas' ?" (Sources: Cabinet report 8.12.09, 'Update on the Overall Financial Position').

These are important questions being asked by Labour's Cllr Geoff Lumley in the light of a presentation to be made to the largely toothless, majority-controlled Overview & Scrutiny Committee next Monday.

See http://www.iwight.com/council/committees/Overview & Scrutiny Committee/1-2-10/agenda.pdf

Cllr Lumley who although presenting the only opposition budgets for the last three years is not a member of this committee. However, in his preparations for an alternative budget this year he has been staggered to learn that the Council leadership appears to be abandoning attempts to balance this year's Budget.

Cllr Lumley said, "At the December Cabinet, meeting we were told that although there were in year financial pressures they would, as you would expect, manage them through to a balance. The presentation on Monday tells us that they expect this years overspend to amount to £6.5m next year, suggesting to me that Council finances are out of control.

£3.5 million of this overspend is related to Adult Social Care and Learning Disabilities Services, which were projected to overspend by just £1.2 million in December. This is a three-fold increase in less than a quarter. And in a Kafka-esque move later on in the Scrutiny presentation the Council leadership propose to cut back Adult Care Services next year by - yes, you guessed it, £3.5 million. It beggars belief."

"Quite frankly I expected more of a political leadership so keen to sell itself as financially competent. This is gross mis-management of the Council's finances and the people to suffer will be those who can ill-afford it. If they aren't up to the job perhaps they should step aside and let others who could do the job ?"

SUTTON VERDICT

2010-01-22T17:40:00.001Z

I don't know about IW Councillors from other groups, but I feel pretty insulted by the Standards Tribunal recommendation that all councillors require training on

"enabling Councillors to recognise when they have personal and prejudicial interests and on the interaction between Members and Officers of the Council"

just because he was too stupid to see that what he was doing back in 2007 was plain wrong.

WHEN WILL THEIR HANDWASHING STOP ?

2010-01-20T14:46:00.003Z

So at last night's Cabinet the Council decided to opt out of Ryde and Shanklin theatres, just like they opted out of providing any secondary schools last September. They call it withdrawing to just their 'core business'. I shudder to think what will be sloughed off next. Where will they stop washing their hands of local services ?

I reminded them of the traditions of the radical Tory of 100 years ago, Joseph Chamberlain - though I confess to confusing him at the meeting with his less meritorious eldest son Austen - who was a towering figure of the early days of local government in Birmingham before making a national name for himself as a Cabinet minister. Not for him core business and philistinism, but local government that "paved, assized, marketed, gas & watered and improved".

The Deputy Leader got my point, with a reference to Joseph's other political son - Neville - but I don't think the rest did as they persist with their Thatcherite/Cameronite dogma.

THOUGHTS ON THE GOING OF SUTTON

2010-01-15T16:05:00.005Z

The CP accurately reports today that Wednesday’s Isle of Wight Council meeting heard from current deputy leader Cllr George Brown that the former Council leader (Andy Sutton) was told to stand down in September 2007 because a majority of his Cabinet refused to serve under him and his deputy, Cllr Patrick Joyce.

As Brown made his statement Sutton and Dawn Cousins (who has been on the Cabinet since 2005) both looked to me to be very irritated at what Brown was saying.

Interesting that after Sutton stood down with Joyce and Melanie Swan back in September 2007, Ian Ward and Jilly Wood were both sacked from the Cabinet by the new leader. I make that 5 out of 10 members of the then Cabinet – and with Cousins, whose expertise makes her pretty much unsackable by anyone ????? You can do the maths…..

I suspect Sutton's resignation was more to do with the Tory Group as a whole and a minority of ambitious Cabinet members.

LATEST LIBERAL INEPTITUDE: NOT USING THEIR VOTES

2010-01-14T15:10:00.003Z

First meeting of 2010 for the Full Council last night.

Main issue was the independent remuneration panel's Member Allowances recommendations for the duration of this Council. In line with my proposal last June at the start of this Council, the leadership recommended complete acceptance of the recommendations, which maintained the basic allowance at its current level and tinkered with special responsibility allowances - some gaining, some losing. I expressed my support for that acceptance.

The 'Independent' group proposed an amendment that further reduced some of the responsibility allowances and did not backdate the changes to last June. This was lost with the Tories, me and 4 Independents against, the other Independents in favour, and the Liberals abstaining. I opposed as I do not think councillors should do anything but accept the independent panel recommendations. Complete acceptance was then agreed with the Tories, me and a few Independents in favour, one Independent against, and a few Independents and the Liberals abstaining. From beginning to end we received no indication of what the Liberals currently think about independently determined allowances.......

The meeting then overwhelmingly agreed my motion that Cabinet member written reports be made available 24 hours ahead of Full Council to improve accountability and scrutiny. The Liberals abstained again..........

Cllr Jonathon Bacon (Independent) was then overwhelmingly elected as the latest Scrutiny Committee chair. Wonder how long he will last ? The Liberals abstained yet again.......

Meeting concluded with the usual questions of Cabinet members and I secured a promise of a full written report on how the Council thinks it can secure a new developer for the Pan development without £11m government 'kickstart' funding, when the previous agreed developer pulled out one year ago due to the absence of such infrastructure funding.

AFTER MORE THAN TWO YEARS......

2010-01-10T11:23:00.004Z

Thought I better get back to blogging this new year, though the temptation to hibernate has been very strong this week.........

So after two and a half years the national Standards Board has imposed a two-month suspension and a training requirement on former Council deputy leader Patrick Joyce over his involvement in the Craven Court planning application. What a waste of public money this is proving to be and a clear case of institutional 'bullying' by this Board of those accused. Remember one of the original accused actually died during the 'investigation'.

What is an irony is that the training requirement on Cllr Joyce is regarding bullying. Just this month I am one of 8 councillors who had a training course in 'Dignity at Work' - including bullying - cancelled due to lack of interest from the other 32 councillors. Not one Cabinet member had put their name forward and only one committee/panel chair. And staff still tell me privately that bullying at work is a major issue in this Council.

MERRY XMAS AND A PEACEFUL NEW YEAR

2009-12-20T10:43:00.000Z

To all my readers - my very best wishes for an enjoyable Christmas and hopes for a peaceful new year.

PAN - WIN SOME, LOSE SOME.......

2009-12-18T15:47:00.004Z

After the planning approval for the Pan development on Tuesday, the following day I learnt that the IW Council's latest bid for 'kickstart' funding to help progress the actual building works had failed.

This funding would be used to fund infrastructure costs like roads that the previous selected developers, Miller Homes, balked at when it came to the crunch last February. These works were then costed at £11m.

The Government set up 'kickstart funding' of £1 billion back in the spring Budget to assist stalled housing development schemes like Pan during the economic recession. In Round 1 £360m was allocated to successful bidders. The IW Council had bid for Pan, but failed this round.

The latest Round 2 has allocated £550m to further successful bidders. Again the IW Council has failed.

I'm not sure where this leaves the Council's plans now. They were expressing bravado that they could manage without the funding, but that now needs to be lived up to. The responsible Cabinet member is so far not responding to my query.

Most importantly, questions need to be asked why the Council are failing these bidding rounds ?

See http://www.homesandcommunities.co.uk/hca-announces-shortlist-round-2-kickstart.htm

GAGGED - AS PAN IS PUSHED FORWARD

2009-12-15T21:00:00.008Z

Went along to the Planning Q&A session tonight on the Pan development planning application - you can't dignify it with the term 'committee' given the total absence of any debate about the merits of the Pan planning application.

I made my short submission for deferment after the Newport Parish Council's similar submission. We then had to endure having practically every point we made entirely ignored, whilst the Planning Officers responded to numerous questions on minor matters and lead the councillors towards what was always an inevitable decision. Much of what was said was inaccurate, misleading or plain wrong - but I was unable to say so in this part of the meeting. I was effectively gagged from the rest of the proceedings.

The proposal to agree the approval was moved by a Newport Tory, who is also a Newport Parish councillor, and was agreed by 11 votes (including 3 of the 4 Newport Tories present) to one (the other Newport Tory present, Roger Dixcey). Very sadly all four non-Tories on the committee, including the two LibDems voted for approval.

And so the development will move to commencement without addressing matters that could easily have been addressed with a little more time.....

SLOW THE PAN PLANNING RUSH

2009-12-13T16:16:00.003Z

The following is a press release I issued last week that got good coverage across the Island's media:

"Local IW Councillor for Newport East, Geoff Lumley, is slamming the breakneck speed with which the Pan development planning application is to go to Planning Committee for approval. The planning application by the IW Council to its own Planning Committee will be heard on 15 December, just 3 months after submission. Major applications by private developers usually take far longer, as many planning agents will no doubt note. Cllr Lumley claims that the rush is forcing both him as the local Member and Newport Parish Council to oppose the application due to the absence of meaningful consultation.

Cllr Lumley said, "This application was drawn up by the IW Council in consultation with a small number of local residents. I was deliberately kept out of that process. Once the application was submitted in mid-September I received a large number of calls and comments from other local residents about aspects of the application that they were unhappy about and that they wished me to pursue. These concerns were also picked up by Newport Parish Council who made an extensive objection to the details of the application with my full support and involvement in mid-October. When neither I nor the Parish Council had heard anything further, I asked the Council last month if they would be responding to any of those concerns - and was told no. Additionally at no point have the Manchester-based planning consultants the Council is using for this application (Urban Vision) ever contacted me about the concerns I passed onto the Council's planning office in early November."

"These concerns specifically relate to the absence of a road link between old and new Pan, hardly conducive to integration; the closer proximity of the development to existing homes than originally indicated; and a number of traffic issues for the entire Newport area."

Cllr Lumley concluded by saying, "This is deeply concerning for me. I understand and entirely support the need for more rented, affordable housing on the Island and want to support this application. However, without some changes that I consider easily addressed, I am compelled to oppose it. The emphasis with this application seems to be get it through committee as fast as possible and sod the concerns of local people and the local councillor. A little less rush and I am sure all concerned would be on board. ""

NO ACCOUNT HELD

2009-12-13T15:55:00.003Z

I went along to observe the Overview & Scrutiny Committee last Thursday for the first time in a couple years and found it even worse than it was then. Two main concerns out of many:

1. The way an independent opposition councillor, Chris Welsford, was interrogated by the current Tory Committee Chair over the basis of his entirely legitimate concerns about mobile phone masts on Council buildings. Surely it is for the Cabinet decision-maker to be defending their decision? Scrutiny shouldn’t be about being a cheer-leader for the Cabinet….......

Of course we then had the inevitable rejection of the ‘Call In’ as the Tories exerted their majority on the committee by 6 votes to 5 on the Chair's casting vote. Majority-controlled scrutiny is frankly a joke, which is why I resigned as the Chair of this committee back in May 2007 at the time they removed opposition control. Ironically if the previous independent Chair of this committee had still been been in post (see 25.11.09 post) the 'Call In' would have succeeded due to a Tory absence........

2. Perfectly sensible concerns about the narrowness and unresponsiveness of decision-making in this Council – mainly by Cabinet members, rather than Full Council – were expressed by another independent councillor. However, there was no sense from the Committee Chair that this was a real issue for him. Its something I have been banging on about for the last year or so, but without the advocacy skills of Cllr Bacon.

So with little contribution to the Scrutiny function from the Tory majority on this committee, except their votes, I think we can forget any meaningful 'holding to account' of the Cabinet on this Council.

HIDE THEIR HEADS IN SHAME

2009-12-04T21:28:00.004Z

Back on October 31 2006 I wrote here,

IF NOT WELLOW, THEN WHERE ?

After enduring 13 "I'm all in favour of renewable energy, but......"s last evening, I wonder where exactly the Development Control Committee members would approve of wind turbines ? Otherwise they are just trotting out mealy-mouthed platitudes. Given that just about all other suitable spots are in AONB areas, this was the best bet. Still they will all be dead when future generations have to pay the cost.

Last night we heard the same from 6 Tory councillors (2 of them also guilty in 2006 - Bulwer and Scoccia) about the Cheverton Down application, though thankfully the Liberals (and independents) have now seen sense.

If these six lived another 50 years they would hide there heads in shame. But of course they are unlikely to be here...........which is the whole point.

NO SCRUTINY ROW AT FULL COUNCIL

2009-11-25T20:33:00.008Z

Full Council tonight - by the way I sit in the empty red chair to the left in this old photo.

Very thin agenda with just the Corporate Plan as a substantive item - something I asked to be transferred to Full Council rather than Cabinet last month.

However, as its basically the 2009 Tory election manifesto - school reorganisation (bad), highways PFI delivery (good), service transformation (not sure yet), social care personalisation (good), economic development measures (mixed), local affordable housing (not enough), fire service modernisation (good) - there was no doubt as to it being agreed;

which it was with 25 in favour (all Tories and some independents), 3 against - me and the 2 Liberals present out of their group of 5 (and neither said anything on the Plan), and 4 abstentions (all independents).

The anticipated row over the Scrutiny Chair didn't emerge as Cllr Churchman did the right thing and resigned before the meeting. So the Tories weren't able to throw her out, which would have undermined the principle of an Opposition Chair.

I received a re-assurance that she will be replaced at January Council by someone nominated from the Opposition ranks again, though I made it clear again that I am not interested if the committee is to continue without an Opposition majority - see my resignation reasons from this post back in April/May 2007. No doubt someone else will emerge from the Independent group.

After that it was questions to Cabinet members - the vitally important bit where they are accountable to the Council in public. I asked a question of the Leader about cost cutting in Council support for the Remembrance Sunday and Armistice Day ceremonies in Newport this year - basically denied; and about the proposed Newport 'pole-dancing' club being located near a school - was taken into account when approved.........

And an early finish at 7.30pm.

NB Still loads of Tory councillors rarely, if ever, speaking in debates !

JUST NOT LISTENING

2009-11-22T20:02:00.003Z

The long-delayed Pan development planning application was finally submitted in mid-September and the IW Council is now galloping towards determining its own application at a Planning Committee meeting now probably in mid-January.

On the certain assumption that they get the permission to go ahead, it is likely that building work will start in April, possibly subject to securing a Government access road grant of £11m.

What is very disappointing is how little attention is being paid to the concerns, comments and objections of local residents. Some of these are:

* The absence of a direct road link between old and new Pan, limiting proper integration;
* The closer proximity of some new homes to existing Pan homes than originally stated;
* The lack of planned social infrastructure (shop, etc), leading to potential social isolation for the new residents;
* The delayed payment of some of the promised community benefits;
* The need for much more affordable housing than is currently planned - only 30% when we need far more;
* The absence of plans for the employment zone - homes without jobs;
* A number of traffic issues for the entire Newport area, and especially at the junction with Staplers Road.

I continue to support the principle of the Pan development, but I want to see movement on the matters referred to. That does not appear to be forthcoming at present, which would mean I will have to oppose the application.

SELDOM SEEN KID

2009-11-22T19:51:00.002Z

Novel to see that the Island's MP spent some additional time in the Pan part of my ward last Saturday morning - during the deluge. Apart from his annual 20 minute 'mobile surgery' each August people don't see much of him at other times. Must be a General Election in the offing......

JOBS AXE HANGS OVER COUNTY HALL - AGAIN

2009-11-13T15:45:00.002Z

I was quoted in the CP today on the Council job cuts front page story. For the record the full quote I gave them was,

"Perhaps if the ruling Tories had paid more attention to our last three below inflation alternative Budgets they would be in less of a mess, with more money in Reserves to soften the blows of this economic downturn.

However, they chose to increase Council Tax by more than we would have over the last two years and have frittered away the Reserves they inherited back in 2005.

There is no doubt that the next few years are going to be tough, but with a sensible budgetary strategy we could get through it without having to devastate family incomes or frontline public services. Once again I will be compiling an alternative Budget for next year and I hope that the ruling Group might just listen to me this time."

I think what I said at the end was important.

MP DEFENDING INDEFENSIBLE

2009-11-13T15:29:00.002Z

I see that our usually pretty sensible MP, for all his political peculiarities, is this week defending the indefensible over Concessionary Fares funding. He told the local newspaper that a doubling in Government specific grant funding - by the not insubstantial amount of £890,000 - was 'too little too late'.

I cannot believe that he doesn't see that you cannot claim to Government you are underfunded, when the figure you claim you are underfunded keeps dropping like a stone - see my last post.

If he would like me to show him evidence that this Council is all over the place on this figure he only has to ask. Or is he just keen to keep Tory councillors sweet ahead of next year's General Election ?

CLUELESS COUNCIL

2009-11-06T12:40:00.003Z

Does this Tory Council have any idea what it is doing?

I recall that last year the concessionary fares scheme 'shortfall’ was claimed to be up to £3.8 million, and I have the documents to prove it. Now they are saying it is £3 million – a difference of £800,000. Hardly chicken feed !

No wonder Government doesn’t meet all their demands if they can’t calculate the precise shortfall.

The doubling of Government specific grant for next year (not including the £1m plus they get anyway) – which is what has been awarded – is a result in most people’s book. But not to Island Tories who seem to think taxpayers are a bottomless pit.

Stop moaning IW Council about the claimed ’shortfall’ and just be pleased that you make some sort of contribution – probably a lot smaller than you now claim – to the highly popular concessionary fares scheme. Better than wasting it on other nonsense.

SILENCE OF THE LAMBS

2009-10-28T21:36:00.003Z

As you can probably tell I'm not sure I'm so enthusiastic blogging these days, but as it was Full Council tonight I suppose there is a public service element of what I write......

After the excitement of closing down all our schools down last month the Tories had the more usual thin agenda for tonight - apart from my motion seeking that the Council support the '10:10' carbon emissions reduction campaign. Sadly they did their usual - brought forward an amendment which sought to reduce emissions by just 4% in 2010. I rejected that, but the amendment was approved by 20 votes (all Tories) to 11, with 3 abstentions. The Tory Whip had done his job again.

Talking of whips I am told by a good source that Tory Group standing orders do not allow individual Tory councillors to speak on matters without the permission of the Whip. That would explain why so few Tory councillors make a contribution at Full Council, with no less than three never having opened their mouths in a debate. I bet they were all going to be 'strong voices' for their communities at the last election......

We then had to approve the membership of the new Ethical Standards Committee - our police force. As all the proposed members were only interviewed by councillors and senior officers I opposed - on my lonesome - as I don't approve of councillors choosing their judge and jury. Let the people decide !

After that it was questions to Cabinet members, with the Liberal group leader asking the Council Leader if I had now been appointed as 'Government Door Opener' after I accompanied the Tories to the meeting with Ed Miliband and they weren't invited. He was accusing me of being in a pact with the Tories over the same issue a couple of weeks ago - which shows just how out of touch the local Liberals were after their crushing defeat in 2005. Without Deborah and I there would have been no opposition whatsoever prior to last June and I still punch at least equal the weight of their five strong group on my own.

In my own question to the Leader I complained how many decisions were not taken by Full Council, but by Cabinet, and he committed to reviewing the Forward Plan for such decisions without making any promises.

At the end when the Liberal group leader was told foolishly by the Children Services Cabinet member to trust her judgement about progress in this area - a 3 star service in 2005, a 2 star service every year since - I asked if this meant that she thought we should listen to her rather than independent outside bodies like Ofsted ? Of course she couldn't confirm that, but hopefully it will stop us being patronised in the future.

All over by 8.20pm and an early return home.

ED MILIBAND MEETING VERY POSITIVE

2009-10-16T09:44:00.002+01:00

IW meeting with the Sec. of State for Energy & Climate Change yesterday went well. He was clearly keen to get alternative green jobs into the IW asap, after I made yet another plea for positive Govt. action for the IW's social and economic regeneration post-Vestas.

Development of tidal energy in the Solent, and a scheme for 'rotawave' technology, potentially delivering at least 300 Island jobs, will be subject to further urgent Govt. expert investigation before support grants are made available. He will also look into Govt. support to upgrade some of the available wharfage on the Medina river, which is integral to much of the renewables agenda.

He was quizzical about the Island's absence of any onshore windfarm and stressed this had been a real niggle for Vestas when they decided to shut down blade production.

He wants to be kept in the picture about a possible offshore blade production that has recently come into the picture, with the potential for 1000 jobs.

Overall he was very supportive and he thanked me afterwards for keeping him well advised on the post Vestas situation.

Finally, contrary to the CP's hysterical headline today the decision to insist on an environmental impact assessment for the Ventnor Golf Club wind turbine application was NOT made by him, but by some official at GOSE. When he was told of this yesterday he was aghast and will be looking into it urgently. Good journalism might have checked with his office before condemning him. However, that would require balance.......

GOVERNMENT MINISTER IN PAN, AGAIN

2009-10-07T19:37:00.008+01:00

Since last week's schools decisions, I have been entirely focused on the Pan development planning application, which was at last lodged on 25 September. This is the biggest planning application on the Island in a generation - over 850 homes in the next 10-15 years - and if you didn't realise how important it was to the Council beforehand you certainly would if you saw the staggering pile of documents !

Anyway my work is now cut out advising local residents who might have comments or objections to make as the Council hurries headlong through what would be a record-breaking 8 week decision-making. The IWC Planning Committee is likely to consider the application in late November/early December.

Today government minister Jonathan Shaw MP, Minister for the South East (pictured with me), was on the Island and he popped over to Pan for a briefing on the development he was last briefed about in May last year. He later told me he was surprised that a brick still hadn't been laid, but he was delighted that we may now be getting a little closer to providing the much-needed 250+ affordable homes for Island families.

It was also very interesting how keen two Tory cabinet councillors were to meet a real government minister.......... I suppose after the Shadow Chancellor yesterday announced to the Tory Conference how if they ever get elected ordinary people would be paying pretty exclusively for the bank bailout, they have realised that the prospect of a Tory government minister visiting the Island has edged a little further away than it was beforehand........

MORE ON THE SEVEN YEAR ITCH

2009-10-01T10:24:00.003+01:00

Last night saw the Full Council make individual decisions regarding the futures of all bar four Island schools. 65 separate decisions in total and it took just over 6 hours, finishing just after midnight this morning.......

Of the 65 decisions we had recorded 'named votes' at my initiation on the 10 most significant decisions . These were the competition awards for the five new secondary schools, the closure of Chale and the 3 Ventnor primary schools, and the creation of a joint-faith Ventnor super primary.

Voting on the night can be summarised as follows:

Middle Schools closures confirmed - generally Cllrs Welsford, Joyce, Stephens, Downer, Churchman, Bacon (all independent) and myself always against, with the Tories, LibDems and Cllrs Fuller, Humby and Dyer (independents) always in favour;

High Schools closures confirmed - generally Cllrs Welsford, Joyce and myself always against, with the Tories, LibDems and Fuller, Humby and Dyer (independents) always in favour;

Primary School enlargements to 4-11 confirmed - only Welsford and Joyce against them all, with myself abstaining on the vast majority - as these in the main were a fait accompli given the earlier votes;

Primary School closures - the three Ventnor ones confirmed with 10 votes against (independents and me) and the Ventnor super-primary approved, and the Chale one deferred for 2 months to give them one last chance to seek federation;

Competition awards - unanimous that the local Medina Innovation Trust should run the Carisbrooke and Medina/Fairlee secondary schools, and that the Cowes Partnership Pathfinder Trust should run the Cowes secondary school. For Ryde and Sandown secondaries I proposed that the local East Wight Educational Trust should be awarded the contract, as opposed to them becoming unaccountable Academies run from Essex (subject to funding). The Ryde one was lost with just 5 votes in favour - me and the 4 LibDems still present (Barry, Howe, Knowles and Richards). On the Sandown one I got just 4 votes as another LibDem had gone home. At least I tried and the 'names' of those who voted for the Academies are in the Minutes for posterity.

The Council then voted an additional £400k for a new primary school transport system - to be funded from savings at County Hall....jobs?

So seven years after the LibDems initiated school reorganisation we are just one year away from it commencing; after the 2007 Tory U-turn to beat all u-turns having being elected in 2005 to retain the 3-tier system.

What's the betting there will be more obstacles on the road to the new secondary schools being established in September 2011 ?

COUNCIL TO PRIVATISE SANDOWN & RYDE SECONDARY SCHOOLS

2009-09-22T21:16:00.003+01:00

I received today the leadership's report on the secondary school competition process for next weeks Full Council. They are recommending that:

Medina Innovation Trust - run the Medina/Fairlee and Carisbrooke Secondary schools as Trust schools;

Cowes Pathfinder Trust - run Cowes Secondary School as a Trust school;

and Academies Enterprise (with Vestas support, 'God' help them) - run Sandown and Ryde Secondary Schools as Academies.

I will oppose the latter. It will be bad news in the long run for parents and young people on the east side of the Island.

STILL TRYING TO HELP.....

2009-09-16T19:39:00.004+01:00

I had a break last week, after a week when I had all the symptoms of swine flu and was coughing like a chain smoker ! Of course I gave up 3.5 years ago - and have never felt worse sometimes......

Anyway I had some good news today when I learnt that Ed Miliband (right) has agreed to meet the IW Council leadership to talk about the Vestas closure, alternative renewable energy strategies for the Isle of Wight, and alternative employment opportunities. This in reponse to their helpful letter to him last month - itself a response to the Council motion on Vestas that I initiated at the end of July. It is likely they will ask me along as well.

I have been badgering Miliband's office for a positive response to the meeting request for a few weeks now. Hopefully this will now do the Island some good.

SLEEP-WALKING OUR WAY TO PRIVATISED SECONDARY SCHOOLS ?

2009-09-04T16:20:00.002+01:00

After the all the protests about school reorganisation between 2004-2008, something far more dangerous in my view could be about to take place for our school system with little disturbance.

The Conservative leadership of the IW Council last year decided not to seek to run the newly-designated Secondary Schools at Carisbrooke, Cowes, Medina-Fairlee, Ryde and Sandown. Instead they decided to invite applications to run the schools as either arms-length Trusts or (far more worryingly) independent Academies using taxpayers money.

In June the Council received at least two applications from such organisations to run each of the planned Secondary Schools from September 2010. A decision will be made between the bidders for each school at a full meeting of the IW Council on 30 September; then to be confirmed at a Cabinet meeting the following evening. The Council could decide that none of the bids are what they want and to re-run the competition, but that is hardly likely given the now tight timetable for reorganisation.

We all had a chance to hear from the bidders at public meetings last July, with the closing date for comments now passed. These will hopefully inform the decison-making process, though most of the meetings were sparsely attended.

Having looked at the bids in detail myself and heard presentations from each of the bidders to councillors today, I have no doubt in my mind that I do not want our Secondary Schools run as unaccountable Academies using our taxes. Particularly (but not exclusively) when the bidder who wants to run all five Secondary Schools as academies (Academies Enterprise Trust) is partnered with a company who have shown in my opinion such contempt for the Isle of Wight community in recent months - Vestas Technology.

I also oppose in general the idea of Trust schools. Indeed I resigned as a governor of Medina High last year when it chose to create its Trust in readiness for this competition. However, Trusts would be immensely more preferable to the academy bids because at least they are rooted in our Island community rather than in Essex, Guildford or London.

Between now and 30 September I want to urge everyone who is concerned about the future of our Secondary Schools to contact their local IW councillor and urge them to oppose the academy bids, and to support the trust bids. That way we can be sure that our secondary schools are in some degree locally managed and accountable.

If we don't do this it undermines all our arguments to keep other public services, such as the Fire Service, managed on the Island.

Finally the legislation that allows for this schools competition for our 'new' Secondary Schools was brought in by the current Government. It only secured a majority in Parliament thanks to the votes of Conservative MPs in the face of a rebellion by 52 Labour MPs. As you can guess I supported the rebels....

IN ALL OUR INTERESTS......

2009-08-27T23:00:00.005+01:00

I think this Press Release from the Council is worthy of posting on my blog. Almost precisely what was discussed between the ex-workers and the Council leadership on 17th August:

"MP and Council tell SEEDA: apply stringent conditions to Vestas

The Island's MP and the Isle of Wight Council Leader have called for safeguards to be put in place to ensure that a brand new Vestas facility, to be supported with substantial public money, provides long-term benefits to the local economy.

On behalf of the Island community, Andrew Turner MP and Cllr David Pugh have written to the South East England Development Agency (SEEDA), requesting that the site of the recently closed manufacturing plant at St Cross be released by Vestas before public money is used to support their new Research & Development facility at Stag Lane, which is currently owned by SEEDA.

The letter follows final confirmation that Vestas is to close its UK production facilities at St Cross - with a loss of over 400 jobs on the Island.

Mr Turner and Cllr Pugh also urge SEEDA and the Department for Energy and Climate Change (DECC) to ensure that their proposed £6m grant funding to Vestas will be subject to appropriate conditions, to demonstrate that this public investment would be to the long-term benefit of the Island's economy.

Their letter to SEEDA Chief Executive Pam Alexander states: "We are increasingly concerned at the lack of jobs available for the highly skilled workforce which has been made redundant.

"Whilst we welcome the proposed jobs for the R&D facility at Stag Lane, we are concerned that Vestas appear reluctant to release the St Cross site for alternative use.

"There are a number of firms interested in expanding renewable energy technology on the Island and we consider that the vacated St Cross premises offer potential for the location of this work, with the possibility of providing alternative employment for the redundant workers, which is something we all want to achieve."

The MP and the council also highlight the shortage of wharves on the Island available for current and future economic development. Under current plans Vestas will have use - in some cases exclusive use - of three of only five sites on the River Medina capable of handling seagoing cargos when the Stag Lane site is complete.

"We consider that there is an urgent need to review the availability of wharves and we are keen to explore with SEEDA how to best secure their long-term accessibility for the benefit of the Island's economy, rather than a single company," the letter states.

"There is a real danger that Vestas may wish to hold their present sites, with associated wharves, to the exclusion of others, while their activities are reduced to a token presence providing only limited employment. This would be inappropriate given the considerable investment from public funds that has gone into both sites."

The MP and the council call on SEEDA to consider a right of way for general use from Stag Lane to the Cement Mills wharf, and to consider a similar set-up for their land at Venture Quays (East Cowes), which is also currently used by Vestas.

On the issue of the proposed £6m investment, the letter states: "We would welcome the public announcement of certain key conditions of the public investment, such as the number of jobs that will be created and outline details about any clawback conditions."

The council and Island MP have requested a meeting with SEEDA to discuss their concerns in advance of the terms for the Stag Lane facility being finalised."

The Council acting, incontrovertibly for once, in the interests of the entire Island community. Well done !

THE FRIENDS THEY CHOOSE........

2009-08-19T20:43:00.006+01:00

Guess which company said of one of the prime bidders to run our five reorganised local Secondary Schools (Cowes, Carisbrooke, Medina, Ryde & Sandown) as academies from 2010,

"(We are) committed to helping raise educational standards on the Island and to supporting sustainable schools. We would in particular like to encourage the education curriculum to further students' understanding of the planet from the sustainability perspective and to explore the options we have to live sustainably."

Not hard. The delightful Vestas of course, who's understanding of sustainability is driven entirely by the greed for excessive profit above all else.

With just two days left of the consultation period I hope as many Islanders as possible object to this bid based on the dodgy support they have sought. With friends like them do we really want them running our schools ?

See http://eduwight.iow.gov.uk/schools/reorganisation/2competit.asp

BI-PARTISAN ON VESTAS.......

2009-08-17T20:00:00.006+01:00

The meeting I set up today between the IW Council leadership and three of the sacked Vestas occupiers went pretty well. So much so that we had Tory councillors wearing the support the Vestas workers 'green ribbons' at the end and saying they thought workforces like Vestas should be unionised !!!!!! The blessed Margaret would drown in her electric bath at that.

An official statement will be issued tomorrow, but the Council pledged to continue seeking alternative wind and other renewable technology companies for the Island and I will continue to press for a positive response from Government to the Council's letter of last week.

"A DAMN GOOD DEAL"

2009-08-11T20:40:00.002+01:00

Tonight I went to my first Cabinet of the new Council. It was a special one to approve the Outline Business Case for the Highways PFI, where the Council hope to be granted from Government £400m over the next 25 years to fund a contract with a private outfit, in return for maintaining their current expenditure on highways (£10.5m) over each of those years. All subject to inflation of course. By my reckoning that means the government is putting in £137 million net, at current day prices.

I have always welcomed the bid in the absence of any other plausible means of getting our highways network up to scratch and consider it to b e a damn good deal from our Labour Government.

The Council Leader agreed with me as he did not want to be churlish. This is getting worrying ! Wightlink, members allowances, a Vestas response, now Highways PFI - agreement from the Tories on all four in just two months of this Council......

It was a shame though that such an significant decision was not made at Full Council - even if it is August - rather than by the six members of the Cabinet with just FIVE other Councillors present - and none from the LibDem group. Nothing ever changes.......

WHERE'S THE MISSING BANNER ?

2009-08-06T19:57:00.006+01:00

All the lobbying of Ed Miliband by Island Labour members including myself, Mark Chiverton, and Deborah Gardiner over the last few weeks drew some positive words from his deputy Joan Ruddock at a meeting with two Vestas workers and the RMT today in London.

Ms Ruddock told the guys that redundancy payments should be reinstated for the sacked workers who occupied/still occupy the plant, that redundancy payments for all 600 should be improved, and that the Government will not abandon the Island even if Vestas have. The proof of course will be in the pudding, though in my view this is the least the government could have told them and anything less from Vestas will show them as the ethically deficient company they clearly are.

I was tickled to notice today up at the plant that the typically opportunistic IW Liberal banner that was displayed on the fencing a week ago has been removed. A consequence I am told of the Simon Hughes visit earlier this week. Bring more of the Liberal leaders down to the Island I say, so that they can be exposed as the charlatans they are.

WITH THE NODDING DOGS

2009-07-29T22:05:00.004+01:00

Full Council tonight - my only real forum at County Hall these days, especially as I have missed the last two Cabinets due to holidays and then Vestas. Pleasant surprise to see Vice Chair Ian Stephens presiding, as the Chairman is in the Baltic, when I joined proceedings at 6.05pm - after prayers.

First motion from the Tories on the ferry companies, urging the OFT to make a reference to the Competition Commission, which built on my successful motion from last March. It went through nem con, though I also got a commitment to have a tracker of actions resulting from Motions in future as I wasn't convinced that much had happened after my last motion.

Then to Vestas, with my Motion calling on the Council to exert pressure on government to facilitate moving the Vestas plant into alternative ownership. I moved the Motion, got support from Cllrs A Whittaker, Barry and Howe (all Liberals), and then the Deputy Leader tabled an Amendment that made a 'more precise statement of aims". Basically more flowery language. Unaninimity then took hold and the Amendment was agreed nem con. Lets hold them to it !

Consensus then fell apart during Cabinet member questions, particularly when the matter of who actually controls scrutiny panel workplans was raised. No matter what the Leadership says, scrutiny since May 2007 has been entirely controlled by the administration and is pretty much a waste of time, with the nodding dogs majority all keen for advancement. Just look at the manoevures they used earlier this year to prevent a scrutiny enquiry into child protection services.

The meeting finished at 9pm having run its full 3 hours course and there are still 10 members of this Tory group yet to make a contribution to debate - none from the opposition side. Bet they were all going to be a 'strong voice at County Hall' on the doorstep !!!!!

TILTING AT WINDMILLS.....

2009-07-28T20:51:00.004+01:00

Tomorrow night is Full Council and I will be proposing a Motion on the biggest national media story we have had on the Island since the Parkhurst prison break-out:

"In the light of the devastating loss of 600+ jobs at the local Vestas plant, the IW Council supports the view of the Island's MP that "it is important that public money is invested in businesses that are firmly rooted in local economies" and will work proactively to make that aspiration a reality in the future.

In the meantime and in the face of the current Vestas situation, the IW Council will exert whatever pressure it can to get the Government to facilitate moving the Vestas plant into alternative ownership as a way of not only saving the 600+ local jobs, but also of promoting its own policies to expand renewable energy sources, including wind power."

I hope that I get a reasonable level of support for what is surely uncontentious to anyone with the interests of the Island at heart..............

COOKING FOR THE VESTAS MASSES

2009-07-23T21:58:00.008+01:00

A couple of bizarre vignettes from the Vestas protest today. Right is a photo of Liberal Ryde South councillor Adrian Whittaker 'cooking for the masses' outside the threatened plant. Rather a nice vegetable stew I am told. Considering the rest of his family, I fancy disownment can't be far away......

Not much later we witnessed one of the Council leadership's spin doctors chauffuering the Deputy Leader of the Council past the protest in a rather smart Jaguar car. No doubt a 'fact' finding visit that we will hear more about........

As for the protest itself it remains good-spirited and determined, and I have again spoken to a number of my constituents up there. Last night's rumoured injunction was actually a summons for one, issued to the occupiers tonight, and to be heard in the IW County Court next Wednesday 29 July.

Sadly I am not getting anywhere at the moment with my conversations with government seeking to rescue the plant, but nothing ventures, nothing gained. Something singularly absent from the leadership of the shameful IW Council. Adrian and I remain the only two councillors to visit, though both the Labour and Liberal parliamentary candidates have spent time up there over the last 3 days and the MP has been into see management and spoke to workers and protesters yesterday.

If you can get there at 6pm tomorrow we could have an even larger demonstration of support on what is a protest growing by the day.

VESTAS - SHAME ON THE IW COUNCIL

2009-07-22T21:35:00.006+01:00

I have spent a good few hours at the protest camp outside the Vestas plant today talking to workers, trade unionists and environmental activists who are camped there in support of the workers occupation. Much of it brings back good memories of my own direct action days 25-30 years ago, but sadly it is most unlikely to turn round the government to a position of saving the plant through 'nationalisation'.

As I understand it Vestas have no intention of selling the plant. Why I wonder? So although I am keen to see some sort of takeover funded by the new government 'climate change' monies that were announced only last week, without a plant to takeover its probably a non-starter. However, IW Labour colleagues and I are lobbying government vigorously behind the scenes to get some fallback position for the 500 workers due to be laid off next week.

What is disapponting is that with the exception of Liberal Adrian Whittaker and myself there has been absolutely no support, or even interest, that I have been made aware of from the other IW Councillors. Indeed it seems to me that the only response of the IW Council leadership has been to ensure that the closure is managed well rather than to find employment alternatives. And as for the IW Economic Partnership.....I'm too polite to tell you what I think in print of that moribund organisation.

What is also very disappointing is the way our 'community' police force seem to be aiding and abetting the viscious Vestas management in trying to starve out the occupation. Probably illegal and entirely against the interests of the Island community and in the interests of big business. Vestas, a big business that is tied into two of the secondary school bids under schools reorganisation, whilst they lay waste to the lives of 500 families.

As I write the occupiers are rumoured to have been issued with a Court injunction to vacate the plant, so no doubt bailiffs will be doing their dirtiest shortly. Nonetheless IW Labour will continue to use whatever connections we have to find an alternative way forward for the plant before the end of the summer.

GLOBAL CAPITALISM LEADS TO VESTAS CLOSURE

2009-07-16T21:52:00.005+01:00

Most fascinating thing to have caught my attention since my return from holiday - along with the secondary school bidder presentations this week (more of that later) - is the following comment from our Tory MP regarding the Vestas closure:

“I have had a number of meetings with Government Ministers about the work they had undertaken with Vestas prior to the announcement that they planned to close the factory on the Island. It was very clear to me that they had explored every avenue in order to work with the company to keep the factory open.

“I attended a public meeting on Friday 3rd July in the Riverside Centre organised by Cowes Trades Council and Workers Climate Action and a number of people there expressed the view that simply pumping yet more public money into the factory would keep it open.

“I understand how important this is to the Island but to be fair to the Government I do think they have worked hard to try to keep the Vestas factory here on the Island. It is easy to simply knock the Government as the Liberal Democrat spokesman has done (although to be fair he couldn’t have known what has gone on behind the scenes) but

when a hugely profitable multi-national company simply decides that it wants to close down a factory regardless of the consequences on it’s workforce or the local economy it seems that there is little that can be done.

That is one of the reasons why it is important that public money is invested in businesses that are firmly rooted in local economies.”

Its a summary of exactly what I learnt just before my holiday and is a marvellous exposition of how harmful global capitalism can be to local communities and local economies across the world, not just here on the Island. And what should perhaps be done by local authorities ?

A LIBERAL DOSE OF INEPTITUDE

2009-06-26T09:51:00.005+01:00

A number of proposed Cabinet-member delegated decisions hit my Inbox this week - before we even have a Cabinet formally in place............

Like all decisions the Cabinet appointments decision by the Council Leader is subject to representations by other councillors - duly made by me - and then a Scrutiny Committee 'Call In' period that does not expire until 6th July. 'Call Ins' are about the only weapon non-Cabinet members have on Council's these days

However, even if I wanted to seek a 'Call In' by the new Scrutiny Committee I'd have a job on my hands. You need 4 signatories to a 'Call In' from members of that committee. There are now only 12 members of that committee, so you need one-third to support you. It used to be 4 out of 15. As 7 of the new committee are loyal payroll Tories that generally reduces the pool I would fish in to 5. Do-able, but hard work........

And not made any easier by the fact that the Liberals have so far failed to put their 2 people forward for the committee.

I am taking a 2 week holiday from tomorrow and by the time I get back quite possibly the Liberals will have at last realised that they have responsibilities as an opposition party at County Hall.

DANCING ATTENDANCE - AGAIN.....

2009-06-23T15:19:00.002+01:00

I went along to the first public committee meeting of this Council last night - the Audit Committee. A couple of years ago (30.5.07) I wrote about how a previous Audit Chair had officers 'dancing attendance' and it was bit like that last night with Finance officers (as many present as councillors on the committee) given quite a grilling by the new Chair. Of course it shows how 'scrutiny' in any form should be done, though I suspect it isn't the approved modus operandi for Tory Chair's.......

Of course going along to committees and particularly the cabinet as an observer is the only way in which I can operate on this Council. Being a lone member, the only places I will get on committees/panels are the ones no one else wants. And I won't want them either. I prefer to get along to cabinet to ask my questions and to Full Council to ask some more. That is my way of holding to account, challenging and scrutinising.

An interesting move is the way the ruling Tory Group have taken an extra place on the 'non-political' Planning Committee - giving them 8 places out of 12. If its so non-political, why are they so anxious to pack it with their people ? Particularly when 5 of their 8 are Newport councillors. Hardly representative is it ?

A TALE OF TWO CAMERONS

2009-06-19T08:38:00.005+01:00

Before she lost her place on the IW Council Deborah Gardiner had been tenaciously tackling Childrens Services regarding local provision for the safeguarding of children after Ofsted referred to 'fundamental failings in child protection' after a serious case review. At every turn Deborah seemed to be blocked until eventually she got a private session of the Scrutiny Committee in May to hold the then Cabinet member to account. Of course he has now gone too.

What was interesting was that the Childrens Champion on the last Council, Cllr George Cameron, did not attend ANY of the Scrutiny Committee meetings in March, April and May which discussed safeguarding children. And this Cameron has just been appointed as Chair of the Scrutiny Panel for.......you guessed it, Childrens Services.

So we now have an interim Assistant Childrens Services Director (Safeguarding), also named Cameron, who the County Press reported 'was for ten years the boss of a social services department heavily criticised in a report issued just months after she left' and which 'went into special measures the following month, for two years.' And a councillor responsible for scrutinising the safeguarding of children who has shown no public interest in such matters when there were real concerns.

I don't know about you, but I have this sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach........

TORIES EXERT TOTAL CONTROL

2009-06-17T20:20:00.008+01:00

Just back from the first Full meeting of the new IW Council, leaving the rest to have a drink with the 'new' Chairman. A Chairman who is the same as before, Arthur Taylor (Con) - who only I voted against as no one satisfactorily explained to me why the one-year only rule was being ignored. Nothing personal !

So time for a quick report............

Other people elected on the night were Ian Stephens (Ind) as Vice Chair of the Council (with my support); David Pugh as Leader FOR 4 YEARS (!) - with only me against; Overview & Scrutiny Chair - Vanessa Churchman(Ind), with a Tory-controlled committee; Planning Chair - Ivan Bulwer (Con); Audit Chair - Roger Mazillius (Con); 4 x Scrutiny Panel Chairs (all Tory-controlled) - George Cameron (Con), Childrens Services; David Whittaker (Con) - Adult Care, Housing & Health; Ian Ward (Con) - Economy, Environment & Transport; and Margaret Webster (Con) - Fire & Community Safety. The Tories offered the Adult Care one to the opposition, but no one from the independent or Liberal group was interested. I wouldn't touch these with a bargepole......I've learnt my lesson about this leadership

The Leader announced his new Cabinet. Basically the 5 re-elected ones from the last one, with some portfolio changes, and 2 new ones - Peter Bingham (Resources) and Edward Giles (Environment & Transport). And the Leader is going to lead on Schools Reorganisation...........

My motion on this Council adopting a Members's Allowance scheme that will be recommended by an Independent Remuneration Panel was accepted by the leadership in its entirity, eventually - thanks to Cllr George Brown (Con, Deputy Leader) !!!!!!!! The 5 LibDems were the only ones against, as they prefer to keep allowances as a Member's decision.

My motion on ending Prayers predictably went down with 33 against and 5 in favour. I won't name the other 4 as is my usual practice on votes as this is a personal matter, but thanks to them all.

NEW PLANS FOR PAN

2009-06-16T21:33:00.005+01:00

I see the County Press has learnt that Miller Homes are no longer the agreed developer for the loooooooooooong proposed Pan development.

http://www.iwcp.co.uk/news/news/pan-blow-as-builder-pulls-out-26749.aspx

I must admit I assumed that they already knew, though given it took 11 weeks for me to find out by accident and then have it confirmed by the IW Council (back in late April) I guess the Council were keen to keep it quiet.

Still they are now pulling out all the stops to try and get everything back on track by seeking planning consent that then MAY lever in the necessary government funding for £11m initial infrastructure costs, that I understand Miller Homes were reluctant to commit to after the economic downturn. They can then advertise for a new developer.

An April start next year has been talked about. The third different April start date since I was first elected as the local councillor in 2005..........

GETTING BACK TO NORMAL

2009-06-13T15:28:00.003+01:00

The last three days have been time for me to follow up on ward work and ward commitments post-re-election. My bread and butter.

I attended the PNP board meeting last Thursday where we are all feeling very proud for winning another major national award for an 'Empowering Communities' project. The biggest award yet. Well done to all concerned.

Yesterday I conducted a number of meetings around the town in unlikely settings, often sitting on walls. One drawback of being a lone councillor is that you don't get any room facility at County Hall. Still the weather is good for now.....

AND OUT OF THE BLOCKS.........

2009-06-09T18:46:00.005+01:00

As an atheist and a secularist committed to diversity, I have formally proposed to the first meeting of this new IW Council next week that it ends the practice of offering Christian prayers at the start of its meetings.

My actions have immediately drawn mutterings that it would discriminate against Christians. Why do religious people who happily discriminate against religious minorities counter-claim discrimination when the cause of all discrimination can so easily be removed ? Helpful answers please.........

I have also formally proposed that Councillors Allowances for this Council should be ones recommended by the Independent Remuneration Panel. In 2006 that Panel made recommendations that were then largely ignored by the Council, including me - though I do not profit by allowances as they balance my loss of earnings. In the light of what is going on elsewhere I think it is important to set an early example here.

BACK AGAIN !

2009-06-06T10:43:00.005+01:00

Yes, I am back ! I bet a few didn't expect that? After a massive buck to the national trend I was returned for the revised ward of Newport East yesterday with a thumping majority, for which I am deeply honoured. Thankfully the contest was fought on my record and our priorities for the next 4 years and I am grateful to the other two candidates for that. My next campaign begins on Monday, as I am going to treat myself to two days rest. An IW Labour councillor can never rest on their laurels.

Very sadly I am now the only Labour councillor at County Hall as Deborah Gardiner fell victim to the national political scene in her marginal Lake North ward and all other Labour candidates paid the price of the Westminster farce. Still one Labour councillor on the Island is generally as effective as a dozen from any other party..........

Overall the IW Council election results were a half-hearted endorsement of the local Conservatives who offered little policy-wise and rode on the coat tails of their national leader. By my reckoning they effectively lost half a dozen wards they (notionally) held and now have a much reduced majority of 8 rather than the 22 they got in 2005. Much healthier. Also good to see them lose 2 'Cabinet' members and two policy commission chairmen, giving the leadership a bloody nose - including the leader's right-hand man.

The dear old Liberals were unable to take any advantage, losing two of their previous councillors, but gaining three (including two of the many re-treads they offered up to the electorate). With just 5 they remain a party who needs to learn how to do opposition.

The real gainers were the various independents who now number 10 - most notably Chris Welsford, the education campaigner. If they form a grouping they are now effectively the 'official' opposition and I look forward to their alternative budget strategy next February and their regular presence at Cabinet meetings.

I intend to keep blogging for the next 4 years, so I hope readers will continue to treat this is an alternative view of what happens at County Hall

GOODBYE TO ALL THAT - FOR NOW!

2009-04-25T16:45:00.008+01:00

As the IW Council elections will be officially called on Tuesday I am going to all but cease posting here until after the election results are declared on June 5^th.

Instead I will be spending much of the next 6 weeks talking even more with the 2100 adults of Pan who I have been representing over the last 4 years, and meeting the 300 people in Shide who are now all part of the new Newport East ward. So if you want to support me, or oppose me, or just ask a question or make a point, please email me directly at geofflumley@gmail.com

I understand I am being challenged by a sitting Conservative IW councillor who has decided not to defend the Newport ward that he currently substantially represents. There will no doubt be at least one other candidate. So it’s going to be an interesting contest, as ever for an IW Labour candidate. And no doubt Deborah and I would be scalps that the Tories would love to take. We intend to try to ensure that does not happen.

However, I also intend my own campaign to be focussed on the many things I have delivered for Pan over the last 4 years and what I now hope to deliver for all parts of Newport East in the coming 4 years. I will avoid mud-slinging and tit-for-tat as I know that just turns people off at election time ….. even when used light-heartedly somewhere like this blog.

Over the next four years I will offer the residents of Newport East a councillor who will:

Continue to oppose school closures and ensure the continuing use of Downside Middle School site for educational and community use, as promised to me in writing by the IW Council;

Ensure the local and wider Newport community gets the maximum benefits from the planned Pan development, including much-needed highways improvements;

Fight to ensure that the IW Council continues to treat the local community fairly and that there is no return to ‘undeserving’ attitudes;

Continue working to ensure that the interests and needs of Shide and Buckbury are as acknowledged as the rest of the Newport East ward.

My hopes for the next Council are for a balance of councillors where Labour councillors will have more influence. I truly hope that the discredited Tory majority at County Hall will be removed and that an administration is formed after June 4^th of councillors who remember their own election promises for the next 4 years (no matter how much I may disagree with them) and who do not slavishly follow the party line or pursue personal advantage. I believe this is a realistic hope for an election outcome.

One thing is certain no matter what happens – many schools will remain open on polling day for the first time in many years - thanks to the protests I made to Full Council last November that children’s education should not be disrupted just to provide easily set up polling stations.

SIMMERING RESENTMENT

2009-04-22T14:40:00.004+01:00

The Pan ward, which I have had the honour to represent since 2005, was known for many years for being the most deprived part of the Island as successive IW (County) Councils and 18 years of Tory government up to 1997 neglected this community.

Consequently when the current Labour government was looking to undertake community renewal pathfinders back in 2002/03, Pan was fortunate enough to be awarded a £2 million government grant over seven years from 2005. This money established PNP, helped establish two new community groups - first PanCan and now the successful Pan Together - and helped to improve Pan over the last four years in so many ways. So much so that 88% of residents said they were happy living in Pan in the most recent official survey, and 41% thought the area had improved over the previous 3 years.

As the local IW and parish councillor it has been an absolute pleasure to represent the area over the last 4 years as there is so much good being undertaken by PNP and the community, and Pan is regularly remarked upon by other Islanders as a much improved neighbourhood.

Therefore, I was quite sad at a recent Newport Parish Council meeting when the response of one parish councillor (who is also a Tory IW Councillor elswhere in Newport) to a request for a parish donation to a local community event was to remark that "Pan's had enough money over recent years" and then voted against it. The proposal was for just £200 and the vast majority supported it.

This highlighted the danger for Pan in the future if we still have this Tory Council at County Hall. This simmering resentment at the good fortune Pan has had over the last 4 years will come to a boil and when the government grant runs out in March 2012 we could be back to being neglected again. Hopefully it won't come to that and the new Newport East ward, of which Pan will be a part from June, will continue to have an IW councillor who believes there is still some way to go after the years of neglect prior to 1997.

CLEANING OUT THE RUBBISH ?

2009-04-16T13:36:00.002+01:00

After a week's break off IW readying myself for the impending election turmoil, it was back for the last Full meeting of this Council last night. The last one because the Tories have decided that they don't want to be accountable to the May Full Council despite there being a Cabinet meeting next week with an agenda so thick it needs a forklift to pick it up. Elected dictatorship indeed. And so many Tory councillors/sheep yet to speak........

Anyway we then had a report from the Standards Committee Chair, where he tried to defend the indefensible - judging people without telling them; an appointed committee membership as unrepresentative of the Island population as it possibly could be (peacock keepers, anyone ?) - safe in the knowledge that the Tory majority would endorse him.

A number of those reports that subsequently gather dust on shelves were then endorsed. I asked how the Children & Young Persons Plan could achieve an improvement in Key Stage 2 results given the growing demoralisation in Island middle schools over school reorganisation, but got the usual twaddle in response. The intention of the latest Adult Learning Plan was praised by Deborah and I, though we sought its withdrawal as much of its language was non-plain English and full of unexplained acronyms. The Tories though were happy with this incomprehensible use of English.

The reports by Cabinet members were interesting in that the Council Leader hadn't bothered to produce a written report as he had been 'very busy'. Its like Gordon Brown saying he won't do Prime Minister's Questions because he has been cleaning out his garage. No respect !

Finally Deborah pursued the outcomes of a critical unpublished Ofsted review of how the IW Council handled a child protection concern from 2007. She has been seeking a Scrutiny review of child protection on the IW since the end of last year, but had been fobbed off and (frankly) deceived ever since. The matter will be considered by the Scrutiny Committee tonight, though in camera to protect identities.

Oh and just to finish off - a Cabinet member was nice to Deborah near the end, probably the first time this has happened on this Council ! If the election doesn't do the job for us I suspect that this Cabinet member will face the chop post June 4th..................

TRAFALGAR TURN AROUND IMPENDING ?

2009-04-03T09:00:00.002+01:00

Word has it that the Tory IW Council is about to make a U-turn over the one-way direction of Trafalgar Road in Newport. The direction of traffic in this road was reversed to a westerly direction some two and a half years ago leading to much local and business concern, knock on congestion in other parts of the town like Whitepit Lane, a public meeting packed to the rafters in January last year, and repeated attempts to get the Council to change their mind by most Newport-based councillors. These were always met with a stony refusal from those who think they know better.......

And now, with 2 months to local election day, Tory candidates are telling local residents in election newsletters that a decision on the future direction of the road are impending. Good news if the right decision is made. But disgraceful that it takes an election for them to do what local people want

WHAT'S THE SURPRISE ?

2009-03-27T19:52:00.002Z

The Council has been repeatedly bleating this week about an inaccurate article in the Daily Torygraph claiming that there are no male teachers in our local primary schools, where the 'newspaper' didn't check the facts.......

I can't get my head around this. Isn't that what all Tory-supporting newspapers omit to do ? Including not checking who runs the local Council.

Though of course our local mob are pretty irrelevant in the wishful schemes of Cam-borne.

"I WANT TO WIN JUST ONCE !"

2009-03-18T21:20:00.002Z

With those words I tonight got my motion on the public service we can expect from the ferry companies through the Full Council - by 35 votes to 1............

I said the words when accepting an amendment to my motion fom the Conservative ruling group that included Southern Vectis within its remit, since local bus services are also to be the subject of a study by the OFT. The amendment also said a few other things I was less happy with, but it retained the three things I wanted the Council to try to get from the ferry companies and now Southern Vectis (see my last post). I think I got a result.

The rest of the Full Council was uneventful apart from right at the end when Barry Abrahams (Con.) expressed a desire that all mainstream political parties on the Isle of Wight work to ensure that we do not have have to share the Council Chamber with the BNP after June. I heartily endorsed what he said, as did the Liberals. The BNP are lurking in some dark corners of the Island and democrats need to be very alert and prepared to stand up to them.

ARE OUR FERRIES PROVIDING A PROPER PUBLIC SERVICE ?

2009-03-14T19:03:00.004Z

I have proposed this Motion to next Wednesday's Full Council meeting:

Council congratulates the Island's MP on his success in mobilising a community campaign that achieved an Office of Fair Trading investigation into the cross-Solent ferry companies.

Council also agrees that it expects a minimum level of service from the cross-Solent ferry companies, based on what the Island needs for commerce and general day to day life.

Council, therefore, resolves:

i. to seek an acknowledgment from the ferry companies, and in particular Wightlink as owners of a previously public service, that they have a public service obligation;

ii. to seek from the ferry companies clarification as to which of their current services are deemed to satisfy any public service obligation that they do acknowledge;

iii. to enquire of the ferry companies if they have any plans for further service reductions.

"YOUR ISLAND, YOUR COUNCIL"

2009-03-06T08:06:00.012Z

After 6 month's consultation with party members and supporters Island Labour has published its 2009 Local Election Manifesto "Your Island, Your Council", which reveals our aspirations for the IW Council after the June local elections.

Labour recognises that having influence at County Hall rather than power is its realistic target, though it plans to field candidates in a majority of the Island's 39 new wards.

For the last 4 years the IW Council Labour Group has been recognised by all fair commentators as the only effective opposition group at County Hall. We now hope to build upon that reputation by securing a larger group of councillors at the June elections who can exercise far more influence at County Hall. We believe that our Manifesto offers Islanders many good reasons to vote Labour at a local level. By releasing it early we are giving Islanders plenty of time to consider our aspirations.

The Manifesto brief says:

From June 2009 Labour Councillors at County Hall will seek to achieve or exert influence upon the following-

YOUR COUNCIL TAX

Guarantee to limit Council Tax increases to no more than the maximum advised by Government – usually the inflation rate.
Aim only to use Council reserves and balances for projects that deliver a public asset, such as a swimming pool or day centre for vulnerable people.
Commit to delivering efficiencies year on year in line with Government targets.
Choose the Council’s own staff before extortionate outside consultants.

YOUR SCHOOLS & YOUR CHILDREN

Reject the current school closure programme and support small schools, recognising their importance and value to local communities
Fully implement the government’s ‘Reducing Surplus Places Strategy ‘ and work to reduce the size of our secondary schools
Introduce free school meals for all primary and middle school children.

YOUR HOMES

Ensure that all new housing developments include at least 33% affordable homes, and at least 50% when built on Council owned land.

Target more Council resources on converting empty properties into homes for hard-pressed local people.

Offer dedicated staff, and work in partnership with other organisations, to provide more support and help with the legal system to prevent Islanders from losing their homes unnecessarily, and improve services such as debt counselling.

YOUR TRAVEL

Pursue a flat rate bus fare of £1 for 19-59 year olds - 50p for 5-19.

Roll-out a free ‘park & ride’ scheme for Island towns, and ensure buses connect with other public transport links.

Make car parking more accessible for local shoppers, whilst increasing the costs of long-stay parking and permits (over 4 hours).

YOUR ENVIRONMENT

Initiate the further development of alternative energy systems based upon LOCAL production and supply that are fuel efficient and powered by renewable energy sources.

Establish annual community and individual carbon emission targets, monitored by local forums in liaison with elected members.

YOUR QUALITY OF LIFE

Offer free swimming in public pools for the over 60’s

Provide the driving force and co-ordination for an annual Island-wide Cultural and Arts Festival, which stimulates the diversity of our community and encourages the involvement of young people.

YOUR HEALTH AND CARE

Increase support for patient and carer travel to mainland hospitals.

Improve support for carers – through faster assessments and more respite and day care services.

LAW & ORDER IN YOUR COMMUNITIES

Seek to improve cooperation with pubs, clubs and outlets selling alcohol to reduce anti-social behaviour in the night-time economy.

Abolish the existing Environmental & Neighbourhood Officer scheme and introduce a more effective and cost-effective Local Community Warden scheme in areas of anti-social behaviour.

Increase resources for CCTV monitoring capacity

QUALITY JOBS FOR ISLAND PEOPLE

Work with IW College and employers to provide the courses and training for the jobs of the future.

Push the IW Council to take the lead with quality modern apprenticeships

HELPING TOURISM

Commit to investing a proportion of car parking charges to improving amenities - for example, decorative flowers and safety improvement along the sea fronts - and the appearance of the towns where visitors stay.

THE DELUDED

2009-03-05T20:24:00.006Z

So a four year journey of braggado and hyperbole leads us to this:-

The IW Council under the Tories remains a 2 star authority that is 'improving adequately' (Audit Commission, March 09). Precisely where it was when it was elected four years ago.........

I am the last person to be an apologist for the Liberal/Island First shambles of 2001-05, but the Tories have been slagging them off for the last 4 years and yet have made NO PROGRESS whatsoever in the eyes of the Audit Commission.

What does that tell us about their ability to run a local Council ?

Within the overall ratings they also get just 2 stars for the 'Value for money' and for 'Use of Resources' components.

It is clear that the bragging and the exaggerating was all entirely delusional.

COUNCIL SPINNERS FERRY QUIET.......

2009-03-01T19:20:00.003Z

I notice that the IW Council spin machine is being very quiet about the great news that there will be a full Office of Fair Trading (OFT) investigation into Island ferry services, after the local MP's campaign.

Of course at Full Council in February 2008, as I reported here,

"On Ferry Fares Fair (Labour's) motion to support the MP's campaign for an OFT investigation was amended by the leadership to kick it into the long grass of a Policy Commission enquiry by 27 votes to 14 - those against were myself, Deborah Gardiner, Mosdell, Swan, Foster, Stephens, Bowker, Joyce, Bishop, Churchman, Mc Robert, Humby, Knowles and Adams. Again cross party and none."

And that long grass has proved to be pampas-like under the loyal Policy Commission chairmanship of Johnny the Fox-Bond.............as of last month they were still taking 'evidence'. IW Council Tories - as snail-like as ever......

AND THEN THERE WERE 8 - YES EIGHT !

2009-02-25T22:27:00.004Z

At tonight's Budget Council our Labour amendment (3% increase), inclusive of an amendment we accepted from Cllr Ian Stephens on continuing capital budget slippage, secured EIGHT votes. So that's 2007 - 2; 2008 - 5; and now 2009 - 8. At this rate of increase a Labour budget will be agreed in February 2013.........

Anyway thanks this year to Cllrs Hancock, Joyce and Stephens again for their support a second-year running; and to Cllrs Bishop, Churchman and Humby.

A last minute, fag-packet 'amendment' from the Liberals (see last year) - which wanted to defer budget-making for another 2 weeks until a 'robust and deliverable' budget had been compiled - secured 3 votes - their group leader being absent having been presumably consigned to outer Siberia by his parliamentary candidate for speaking before thinking the other week........

The Conservative proposal for a 3.5% increase in Council Tax - that hammers young people, vulnerable people, and tax payers, and that maintains a County Hall political spin machine at huge public expense - was then voted through by all the 28 Tories present, with 11 votes against - all opposition members present.

WHY WE DO IT......

2009-02-21T18:51:00.002Z

Last Tuesday I issued for the third successive year on behalf of IW Labour an alternative revenue budget for the IW Council. Once again this alternative is in the public domain well in advance of the Full Council meeting and offers a real alternative to what the Council Tories are proposing. Council finance officer have confirmed that it is a balanced and credible alternative and I hope that we once again get increased support this year.

The other opposition groups - Liberals and independents - have offered nothing so far, which would make it four successive years without anything substantive being offered from those quarters on budgetary matters.

I am asked each year, Why do you do it when you know it will lose ? Deborah and I do it because we feel that being an effective opposition matters in a democracy. Not for us the long sulk of the spurned (aka Island First).

We also do it because we have something to offer. We think offering an alternative budget strategy that does not hammer young people, vulnerable people, and tax payers, that does not maintain a spin machine at huge public expense, is worth doing - and it tells people that whilst Labour may get bad press nationally these days, at a local level there is a living, breathing, and thinking Labour presence that means business. The local Tories know that, which is why they fear us so much to make petty complaints

Having said that getting 6 votes out of 48 next Wednesday would be a success for us this year. It would be one more than last year and would not have depended on 24 non-cabinet Tory sheep steering it through. And you never know this year our Liberal friends might just realise that opposition is a serious business, particularly for those who have serious intentions for the future.

LABOUR COUNCIL BUDGET AMENDMENT - A 'RAINY DAY BUDGET' THAT SAVES ISLANDER'S MONEY

2009-02-17T17:27:00.005Z

Deborah and I put out the following press release for tomorrow morning:

At the IW Budget Council meeting next week Island Labour councillors will propose a Council Tax increase for this year of 3% ......... 0.5% less than what is proposed by the ruling Conservative administration, and a full 2% below September's RPI on which State Pension increases are based.

The highlights of the Labour Budget amendment (attached), to be proposed by Labour budget spokesperson Cllr Geoff Lumley, are:

1. Reinstatement of £311,000 that the Tories plan to cut from services for people with learning disabilities;

2. Reinstatement of the £128,000 the Tories are planning to cut from the Youth Service;

3. Reinstatement of the £92,000 the Tories are planning to cut from School music lesson subsidies;

4. A £500,000 reduction in the overall efficiency target to help relieve pressure on jobs and a 'no compulsory redundancies' commitment;

5. A £25 increase in the annual Residents Car Park Permit (providing income of £150,000);

6. Cancellation of the expensive and largely unread 'One Island' Council publicity magazine, saving £59,000;

7. Abandonment of the £3/4 million Environment & Neighbourhood Officers scheme, replacing it with a £300k Community Wardens scheme;

8. Doubling the Tory proposals for a reduction in the Councillors Allowances scheme - to £100,000;

9. A £250,000 cutback in the Conservative Council's massively expanded £940,000 Communications operaton;

10. A targeted reduction by 10% in Children's Services Mainland Placements, realising £310,000;

11. Abandonment of Schools Reorganisation, saving £250,000 in extra costs.

Overall these measures will realise £968,000 towards reducing the Council Tax increase and the scale of general efficiencies required.

Labour has also decided that it will for the first time in this 4-year Council propose the use of Council Reserves, in recognition of the impact of the recession on local service delivery. However, rather than using £3.9m as the Tories are proposing, they will reduce this by £250K - to £3.65m - precisely the money saved from abandoning school reorganisation.

Cllr Lumley is likely to say, "Over the last three budgets this Conservative Council have benefited from well above average Government grant settlements and a settled national economy. Even the local Liberal Democrats acknowledge that. At such times sensible people with spare money put plenty aside for the next rainy day. However, this Council has squandered over £20 million of reserves and balances on outside consultants, petty vendettas with senior staff, and shoring up its budgetary incompetence. It now leaves us in the position where we need to use reserves in a limited way in recognition of the recession, though that will leave little room for manoevure the year after next."

He concluded, "For the third year running the Labour Group will have proposed a below inflation increase in Council Tax. The first time we got our own 2 votes, last year we got 5. Maybe this year a few more will come over to our way of thinking, at least in part. The message for June 2009 continues to be 'Island Labour councillors will never be spendthrifts with your money'."

GUILTY, AS DICTATED !

2009-02-09T15:46:00.002Z

A complaint that I had breached the councillor's code of conduct was made recently. The complaint was about my use of councillor's 'headed paper' for allegedly political purposes. The complaint was made in the last fortnight by the Chairwoman of the IW Conservative Association..........

Under the Council's procedures for standards complaints I was NOT told about this complaint until last Wednesday, AFTER the Standards Committee had considered the complaint and found me guilty. At any minute I half expect the Stasi to break down my front door and hurl me from a ferry into the Solent.

The punishment actually meted out though was to have a Council officer I do not know contact me last Wednesday out of the blue to tell me that they wished to discuss a complaint with me. When I made contact I was advised of the committee's formal decision (no paper copy until Friday) and reminded that I must not use headed paper inappropriately. I thanked the officer for the reminder.

My heinous crime was to introduce myself early last December (by letter on headed paper) to people who will live in the new 'Newport East' ward after June this year. This new ward largely constitutes the ward I currently represent. I guess the offending sentence was, "As a consequence of this Boundary Review, I want to introduce myself to you as the current (Labour) IW Councillor for Pan, who is planning to seek election for Newport East in June 2009. "

I probably am guilty of the breach of code in its strictest sense. However, I object to not having the right to defend myself, to the complaint being formally discussed by people without my knowledge, and to the way the verdict was communicated to me.

I believe that I am a scrupulous councillor in the things that really matter to people. I also believe that I understand what natural justice is and had cause to express my sympathy to a leading Tory councillor 3 years ago after a particularly badly-handled complaint against them.

This has left a very bad taste and I have asked the Labour Group leader to make a formal complaint. I could have kept quiet about it, but I rarely keep silent when anyone has been mistreated - even myself.

PAN: BEST COMMUNITY PROJECT

2009-02-06T13:59:00.005Z

At the Local Government and Heath Services 'Sustainable Communities' national awards in London last night the Pan Neighbourhood Partnerhip (PNP) was awarded the prize as Best Community Project in the country. This is like winning a BAFTA if you work in these fields of public activity

This was a fantastic award for all those involved - whether it is the small band of PNP staff and their management board members, those in the IW Council responsible for Community Services, the Pan Development Project team, and (not least) the active Pan residents.

The PNP project is now into its fifth year of seven years Government funding for sustainable community development and regeneration. This was evidence that the money has been put to good use over the last 4 years.

As the IW Councillor for Pan and a PNP board member I feel so proud of the excellent work being undertaken within the community.

ALL OVER THE PLACE

2009-01-29T15:06:00.003Z

The report on the County Press website today pretty much tells us all we need to know about the state of local Liberals:

"SENIOR Liberal Democrats on the Isle of Wight have said they would not raise council tax to protect the 205 jobs under threat at County Hall.
Last week, the County Press reported how LibDem group leader Cllr Garry Price said he would consider putting council tax up by a few pence if it meant the jobs could be saved.
He said it would be his preferred solution to plugging the council’s £8m budget black hole, which has put hundreds of jobs under threat.
However, Lib Dems have now agreed a policy which would rule out any council tax increases. Instead, they would look at cutting consultants, the communications budget and the cost of directors.
(The) Lib Dem prospective parliamentary candidate said Cllr Price's remarks were more to do with the party’s concern about unemployment on the Isle of Wight."

It will be interesting to see if they come up with an alternative budget this year that tells us exactly how they would fill the Tory black hole.......work on our's continues and it will not lead to an above pension-inflation increase.

SILENCE OF THE SHEEP ?

2009-01-22T09:14:00.002Z

I have just realised something unusual about last night’s Full Council. Apart from the Chairman and the 5 Cabinet members present, not one of the other 25 Tory councillors opened their mouths. That may not be unusual for most of them, but for someone like Cllr Mazillius – who generally makes Deborah and I look like Trappist monks – that is totally astonishing………

What on earth was going on. Have they been banned by the leadership from speaking for fear of making fools of themselves ? Or have they just got nothing to say……..

TOOTHLESS WATCHDOG

2009-01-21T20:35:00.007Z

First Full Council for what seemed like ages tonight, though the time is now almost entirely taken up with questioning of Cabinet members - as all decisions are now taken behind closed doors or at Cabinet. I find this a useful time, so it will probably be abolished or reduced in the near future. Sadly few other 'opposition' councillors see questioning as useful apart from Deborah of course, one Liberal and a couple of independents, and the meeting barely lasted much longer than an hour.

A couple of interesting points from my point of view:

1. The Scrutiny Committee Chair has denied Deborah's request for a scrutiny enquiry into local childrens services in the light of the Baby P case, as she has been told by the Chief Exec and Leader that there aren't the 'time and resources' available. And the Scrutiny Chair has accepted this...... Oh, how they must love her ! So councillors have to rely on what they are told by senior officers and the Cabinet member, rather than what they find out for themselves from talking to a wide range of staff and service users through a formal enquiry.......

Leader quote, "We are very happy with what the scrutiny committee has done over the last 18 months". I bet they are.

Scrutiny Chair quote, "I can't get any volunteers from the committee to do enquiries." Because they are mainly Tories who don't want to do effective scrutiny; it was never a problem when the opposition were in the majority when I was Chair in 2006/07......

2. The proposed Pan development is 'no nearer' delivering a capital receipt from developers for the Council than they were last time I asked here - mid-November. They are now actively pursuing getting more Housing Corporation money towards a scheme with more affordable housing than the planned 240 homes. However, that still doesn't get the development started anytime soon.

Apart from that there were a few skirmishes between the only former Liberal Executive (Cabinet) member and the current Council Leader over Council Tax increases between 2001 and 2005 and the current dreadful situation that the Tories have got themselves into. I stayed out of that not wanting to pre-empt what I will be saying next month when I present the Labour alternative budget.

GOOD ON THEM.....

2009-01-16T09:19:00.002Z

A couple of young Island women have set up a much needed pro-wind turbine group - the Island Turbine Action Group (ITAG).

They can be found at: http://www.islandturbines.co.uk/

They have my support. Its time for young people to speak up about their world, their future.

IN THE FACE OF CYNICISM

2009-01-14T20:17:00.004Z

Further to my post on 19 Dec 2008 re Petticoat Lane.......

Despite the cynicism expressed by some in response, and in the face of a 6:5 vote (and 1 abstention) by Newport Parish Council on Monday NOT to make representations opposing the Diversion Order, Jackie Hawkins has managed to get 115 representations against this Order - including Age Concern, Voices for Older People, Friends of the Earth, the Campaign to Protect Rural England, and Places for People.

The sort of a campaigner I have time for. An optimist who does not want to just look after number one.

£8M TORY CASH CRISIS

2009-01-09T17:27:00.004Z

Last year this spendthrift Tory Council decided to set a budget that raided our Council Tax Reserves (again) to the tune of £5 million rather than properly tackling the Government’s efficiency target and holding reserves for a very rainy day – as you and I would – and as they would if it was their own money. Instead of £4m of efficiencies – as proposed in the Labour group’s 2008 alternative budget – they set a lower target of £2m and agreed to increase their expenditure on other pet projects.

Consequently they planned to have to find £8 million this year even before the economic downturn fully hit us last summer– a downturn that is denied by one of the increasingly irrelevant Council ‘payroll scrutineers’.

Now the Council Tories are in a position of having to fund an estimated shortfall of £12 million, as a result of the economic downturn. A further £4 million raid on our fast-reducing Reserves brings this down to a still scary £8 million.So an £8 million shortfall looms large over services and staff, with talk of 200 plus job losses and short-time working.

How an opposition group can offer an alternative is a real challenge this year given the mess the Tories have got things into. However, Deborah and I will come up with an alternative as we have at each of the last two budget rounds.

Maybe this year the other opposition party, the Liberals, will come up with their first alternative budget of this Council ?

Whatever, I am very happy to receive suggestions at my private email address – geofflumley@ gmail.com

(updated 21.1.09)

HAPPY NEW YEAR

2009-01-01T16:47:00.003Z

Just back from a few days away re-charging my batteries for the next 6 challenging months. My very best wishes for 2009 to everyone.

As usual at this time of year I summarise here the activity on my Blog over the previous 12 months:

This blog has now completed its third complete calendar year - 3 years and 8 months in total. In 2008 I posted 115 times. That's a post every three days ( down a third on last year) and I hope readers still find them reasonably interesting and informative. The evidence suggests they do..........

I had 25,048 page hits throughout the year - a 72% increase on last year - an average of 68 per day;

and 8,882 new visitors to add to the 11,026 I had at the start of the year = 19,908 different visitors over the year - an annual increase of 81%. I suppose I am still providing some sort of service.

PETTICOAT LANE - PLEASE PROTEST

2008-12-19T21:15:00.006Z

My parish colleague in Newport, Jackie Hawkins, wants people to send in objections to a proposed footpath diversion of Petticoat Lane, which will allow Sainsbury's supermarket to extend. She tells me,

"This is a beautiful walk enjoyed by many people, as well as being a medieval footpath and very much a part of the history of not just Newport but the Island. Indeed it has been included in the Historic Environment Action Plan, which will form a part of the new Island Plan. It is also seen by Rights of Way as a portal into the countryside.

Petticoat Lane in recent years has already seen many changes detrimental to its character; any more changes and it will be beyond recognition.

Sainsburys would like to make the lane 87 metres longer. They try to justify this by reducing the steepness, but the vast majority of the people who regulary use the lane (many elderly. who live nearby) would rather it is left as it is, with the trees and the sound of birds singing. In fact it wouldn't be a lane any longer, it would be nothing more than a pavement no matter what planting they do. The way Sainsburys will maintain their planting is only for visual benefit and not for the benefit of the many species of birds that live in the lane at the present time. And this at a time when we are seeing a decline in what use to be very common birds such as sparrows, starlings and thrushes - all of which are regulary seen here.

Any divertedfootpath will run alongside the proposed extended Foxes Road. So what is now a safe and clean place away from traffic for children, older people and dog walkers to walk along will become dirty, smelly and noisy.

I urge anyone who cares about any of the issues that I have outlined, or any other that may be of concern to you that may be reasons why Sainsburys should not be granted this diversion order, to please write to Alex Russell, Isle of Wight Council, Rights of Way Officer, The Ventnor Costal Centre. Dudley Road, Ventnor. PO38 1EJ. Email - alex.russell@iow.gov.uk We have 28 days to send in our comments - closing date 16th January.

I would very much appreciate it if people would send me a copy of their comments at hawkinsjackie27@googlemail.com. I am also happy to talk to anyone who would like to ring me for more details on this application (Tel 530378).

If there are enough objections then this should result in a public enquiry, which would be held here on the Island and everyone who has written a letter would get the opportunity to speak if they so wished."

I heartily endorse Jackie's plea. This is a beautiful part of our County town that should not be allowed to be destroyed by the expansion plans of a major supermarket.

BY-ELECTION LESSONS

2008-12-19T16:23:00.007Z

Yesterday the IW Councillor vacancy for Newchurch ward - caused by the death of Brian Mosdell - was won by the LibDem candidate with a slim 12 vote majority over the Tory candidate. This is the first by-election since 2000 that the local Tory by-election machine hasn't won. The last time the LibDems won a by-election was in 2000 in Brading.

What Brading 2000 and yesterday had in common was no Labour candidate. Ever since 2000 Labour has always stood a candidate. However, we decided not to put up a candidate this time as this is a ward we don't normally contest and we wanted to see how it went without us.

Back in the 1990s Labour standing at by-elections made little impact on the LibDem vote - it clearly does now. The result of this by-election is very interesting - and it will give all three main parties on the Island food for thought.........

MERRY XMAS AND A PEACEFUL NEW YEAR

2008-12-17T21:38:00.005Z

To all my readers - my very best wishes for an enjoyable Christmas and hopes for a peaceful new year.

SENSE PREVAILS

2008-12-09T19:38:00.005Z

Further to my post on 14 November last night Newport Parish Council, on my proposal, REVERSED its decision to take out a lease on a property in Quay Street.

I was against it last month and this time the vote was 10 votes to NIL, with 4 abstentions. On a named vote those councillors in favour of reversal were - the original 5 against taking the lease (me, Coburn, Craven, Hawkins and Smart) plus Flambard, Foster, Reid, Swan and Wilmott. The abstentions were all councillors in favour of the lease - Whittaker, Jones-Evans, Humber and Page. Ball and Downer sent apologies.

At last sense prevailed. We had spent the intervening month grounding the financial implications of a lease in reality and listening to our communities. Even then some seem very happy to spend public money on a building before this new parish council has actually done anything.

Now we can recommence trying to be meaningful............

MAKING A FINE MESS

2008-12-07T20:40:00.008Z

Last Tuesday I made the trek to Brook for the latest edition of the travelling Cabinet. Seaview last month (which I missed unusually), Brook this month, who knows where next month.........can't they pick a summer's evening for these excursions ?

Once again the Cabinet felt it appropriate to pack the Agenda with EIGHT important decisions for a meeting with just 10 members of the public present.

Just a list of the items on the Agenda will give you a flavour of how important this meeting was for Island Council Tax papers - Revised Revenue Budget and Capital Programme 2008/09; Budget Strategy and Capital Programme 2009/10; 14-19 Education Strategy Plan; Strategic Council Accomodation Rationalisation; latest Island Plan document; ICT Services; Quarterly Performance Reports; Change of Procurement Route for Cowes Pathfinder School........

The papers for the meeting were like a phone directory, which doesn't half task anyone who wants to challenge them about the decisions - like me. Perhaps that is why I am invariably the only opposition councillor at these meetings. I asked quite a number of questions about the current and future Budgets, and Performance, but as usual to little avail.

One thing is very clear - this Council is getting itself into a total mess.

ECO WHAT ?

2008-12-02T16:20:00.007Z

Suspicious person that I am I have attended the last two Board meetings of the Island's Strategic Partnership (ISP), the most recent being last Wednesday. At each I was the only person not invited, though they are supposed to be public meetings. The press don't get along either.

What is it you may ask ? Well it is a gathering of the 'great and good' in the public and voluntary sector - mainly unelected- who are tasked with "developing and making real the island’s Sustainable Community Strategy, called Eco Island" (Constitution).

And how are they getting on with this task ?

Well in the hour or so I was able to stay - 10 minutes having being lost due to the usual late start - the distinct impression I got was 'not very well'. Lots of missed targets it seems (where they are actually being reported), with potential financial consequences for the Island in terms of additional government funding.

Still they are going to be under the glare of the Scrutiny Committee in the future, so that's alright then. But how would some of the unelected Board members react to real scrutiny......

SCHOOL GHOSTS

2008-11-24T20:45:00.007Z

Went along to the Cabinet meeting tonight that was making the latest decisions on school reorganisation. It was like a Dickension scene with the Ghosts of Education Past (Patrick Joyce and Standards not Tiers) stirring the ashes of old conflicts and 3-tier education, the Ghost of Education Present (the Council leader) going on, and on, and on, and on about what they were proposing to do under 2-tiers - and the Ghost of our children's Education Future yet to be realised.

Apparently the leader's speech was due to last an hour, without the questions, but I had had enough after an hour and three-quarters (7.45pm) and went home for my evening meal. When I last checked Ventnor blog (8.45pm) it is still going on, and on, and on, and on............

On my way out I bumped into someone who had only attended the meeting for the second item on the agenda - next year's Concessionary Fares Scheme. She could not believe that anyone was expected to have to wait for more than 2 hours for an agenda item. I agreed with her and told her to complain to County Hall about the agenda planning tomorrow morning.

NB: Just after 9pm the Cabinet did what they were going to do at the 6pm start - agreed the proposals submitted by the leader of the Council. What on earth were they trying to prove by this charade ?........but I have no idea what happened to the Concessionary Fares paper.........obviously not that important to them !