UNHEALTHY BUSINESS

I attended the first Policy Commission of which I am a member last night - the Care, Health Scrutiny & Housing one.

On arrival I learnt that the IW NHS Healthcare Trust Board had that day - and without advising their Council 'partners' - revealed their financial recovery plan. In this plan were (just a taste) - 241 jobs to be lost, an end to all financial help with fares to mainland hospitals, and the sale for capital gain of a number of properties, including Shackleton House and The Kestrels. There was much more in the paper I got brief access to.

Their was outrage ! And from all parties. This Policy Commission also fulfils the statutory role of Health Scrutiny Committee and not to have been consulted in advance was a real bullet in the foot by the so-called managers in the local NHS.

Of course, I pointed out that this was just typical of the way IW health services have been run throughout my 16 years here, and reminded my councillor colleagues that only I and two others had spoken and voted against the proposed health and social care merger at the June Full Council meeting. And for exactly the sort of reason we were now hearing about. I proposed that we call in the Trust's Chief Executive to a special Commission meeting within 10 working days so that we can scrutinise this so-called recovery plan and its potential effects on our Island's health. This was unanimously agreed.

Later there was discussion about a future meeting to consider the provision of housing services - privatisation (euphemistically called strategic partnering) once again on the agenda. Of course this will be considered. However, both myself and the Independent member of the Commission were able to raise the need for more affordable housing for Islanders if we are to avoid a future social problem. I also pressed my wish to see at least 50% of homes in any future Pan development being affordable to Islanders. I was told this is existing policy for the Council, but it certainly does not feature in the Pan Masterplan to my recollection, where 30% is mentioned. Ideally I would like to see it as 100% !

Special Full Council on Friday to approve last year's accounts. These should have been done by the Scrutiny Committee today, but as that committee hasn't got any opposition members after last week's walkouts and resignations it can't meet. Compromises over meeting times have been suggested by one pragmatic leading councillor, which would be accepted by the opposition (former) members of the committee, but I understand the beloved Leader won't have it ! Could be fun again.......