HAPPY NEW YEAR !

Well that is a full year of blogging completed and with 168 posts from me that makes it one post every two days.

I also had 13,200 blog 'page hits over the year' - thats 36 average per day; and 2,705 new visitors to add to the 2,443 I had at the start of the year = 5,148 different visitors over the year. I suppose I am providing some sort of service.....

Reflecting on the year - last year at this time I was the best thing since sliced bread as the Council leadership were keen for me to become their third opposition Chair of Scrutiny. Of course I took it on in April and am still in post nine months later. However, for how much longer is questionable given their realisation that I am true to my politics and anything but a poodle ! If I make it to the Council's Annual Meeting in April 2007 I will be surprised. Whatever happens I will continue to provide real opposition to this intransigent administration.

I have continued to fight for Pan at every possible opportunity, never putting any other Council role ahead of the people I represent. I am sure that Pan will be a better neighbourhood to live in by the end of my term in 28 months time.

Nationally we are seeing the unnecessarily, long-drawn out retirement of the Labour leader and the temporary boost in Tory fortunes. However, I am confident of a Labour fourth term as the British people vote very practically and a majority of the British people know they are better off with Labour.

Well thats the end of this post. A very Happy New Year to all my readers. Please pass on my blog address as widely across the Island as you can, and please use the anonymous comment facility as frequently as you like. It makes me feel my labours are worthwhile !

MERRY XMAS AND A PEACEFUL NEW YEAR

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

ROBUST SCRUTINY !

Tension at the Scrutiny Commitee over the 'Constructionline' call-in. The Cabinet member had been called to the committee to explain her delegated decision, but was heavily criticised by committee members for the lack of consultation with local businesses over this new tendering scheme. This was refuted by the Cabinet member who made it clear she stood by her decision. The committee agreed to formally ask her to defer the decision until after doing more consultation with IW businesses. This was a very robust session, but it was right to be so as there are many unanswered questions.

We also had the Cabinet member for Education along who gave a bravura performance - showing that if you prepare well there is nothing to fear in being held to account ! The proof of his confidence in the effectiveness of his school improvment policies will be the exam results in the next couple of years.

COUNCIL BREAKING OWN RULES

People may have noticed that the recent edition of the Council magazine 'One Island' heavily featured councillor members of the ruling administration - which contravenes the Council's own agreed Constitution. I complained about this to the officer designated 'Monitoring Officer', who agreed with me, but then advised me the rules would be changed in the new year.

I bet they wouldn't change the rules for me when they are getting in a state about my personal publicity successes !

STILL BUSY....

Although most of the Council's other committees, commissions and such like closed down last week, the Scrutiny Committee - along with Development Control - has a scheduled meeting this week (Thursday 6pm).

In addition we will be setting next year' budget at Newport Town Management Committee tomorrow evening, and interviewing for a Newport Town Clerk on Wednesday.

So with my usual two days at work I will remain busy right up to the end of the week - just like most Islanders.

NEW CABINET MEMBER VISITS PAN

Yes, the new Tory Cabinet member responsible for the Pan development was taken on a tour by me today. Best they know the area they are talking about when making decisions. I do believe he found it useful and enjoyable. I then met with him and the responsible Director and was given various assurances about the urgent delivery of long-promised things like a recreation facility for the community - current and soon to be.

There does seem to be more of an urgency about the development in recent weeks, but we shall see.

ONE ISLAND, ONE PARTY ?

Saw the 2nd edition of the Council's glossy mag 'One Island' today. Full of pictures and quotes from leading Conservative councillors, in contravention of the Council's own protocol on publicity and the media, which states that the publication should be "a non-political publication, and will not ordinarily feature individual councillors".

I wonder how the 50%+ of Islanders who did not vote for this lot at the last elections will feel about politics being funded from their Council tax.

TOO POLITICAL ?

I frequently hear that many members of the ruling group at County Hall think I am far too political. I prefer to think of myself as honest. Forgive my naivety, but I am sure 35 of the 36 strong ruling group were elected as something labelled 'the Conservative Party candidate'.

And aren't they now members of the most political administration we have had at County Hall in many years ? Just think back to the 2006 budget Council......

Hypocrisy comes to mind.

TENT PHILOSOPHY

US President Johnson said in the 1960s of his critics, "Better to have them in the tent pi**ing out, than on the outside pi**ing in".

Clearly this philosophy still holds sway with regard to the Council's relationship with the local media. I learnt today from a number of people - having been told originally in strictest secrecy - that they have recruited a senior journalist from what the Leader was calling the 'County Depresser' until only recently.

Better start carrying an umbrella.........

HEALTH WORRIES

Learnt yesterday afternoon that the Island's MP had had a stroke on Friday afternoon. An hour or two later I spoke with a close friend of Andrew's who had seen him that afternoon and the day before and told me he was much better - which is good news. I had been in a meeting with Andrew myself on Friday morning when he appeared to be in fine health. I really hope he recovers completely from this.

What with this and the Council Leader's ill-health - both in their early fifties - its all a bit of a warning to those of us just a few years younger.....

More important things than politics ?

WHO IS DRIVING FIRE CONSULTATION ?

Went along to the Newport consultation meeting last evening on a possible merger of our Fire & Rescue Service with Hampshire's. Not brilliantly attended and I was disappointed that only one other of the eight Newport area councillors bothered to turn up.

Despite a very biased style of running a consultation meeting by the Council's consultants, the meeting was 100% AGAINST merger or closer collaboration - though the consultant seemed reluctant to record that fact. Two previous public meetings have had similar outcomes.

What is very disconcerting is that it is clear that the Cabinet Member responsible does not want this merger, and neither does the relevant Policy Commissioner. There are claims that the Government is pushing it, but Labour councillors know that is rubbish - as I told the meeting. The Government wants an improved Fire Service here and is unlikely to go against local opinion if convinced the service is on a significantly improving trajectory. All the current indicators are showing that it is.

So the question needs to be asked - exactly why is the Council spending £35,000 of Council Taxpayers money on consultation - by Consultants - that no one appears to want ? My guess is that it lies at the door of someone higher than the Cabinet Member.........

CONSEQUENCES OF BUDGET EFFICIENCIES

Yesterday we had the Council Tories claiming that £6million of budget efficiencies have been delivered this year without affecting frontline services. They also claimed the moon is made of green cheese and that the River Medina flows with milk and honey. So wonderful is this Island nirvana that Islanders are encouraged to suspend all disbelief and enjoy the fairy stories.

IN THIS BEST OF ALL POSSIBLE WORLDS, EVERYTHING IS FOR THE BEST (Voltaire)

No, you are at the correct blog ! Not some clever philosophers. As I referred to Voltaire's quote at Cabinet tonight I thought I better post it here in a recognisable form.

I used it ironically, as it was intended, because that is the feeling you get after reading a quarterly Performance Management Report, which was the only real item on tonight's Cabinet agenda. I asked a number of questions of this Report - and wondered why all indicators that show they are way off target are still forecast to be achieved by 31 March. Hence the reference to Candide.

NOT SO STARRY-EYED

Read the Council's 'Reputation and the Media' survey of 400 residents at the weekend. One of the most striking findings was that 72% of Council employees are likely to be critics of the Council. This does not reflect the claims we have had from the Council Leader over the last 18 months that staff are 'starry eyed' about the new Council.

Also noticed that 1 in 6 Council critics blame poor Communications. If 4 of them are Council employees can you blame them ? Especially when Council 'blogging' seems to be a weekly chore compared to what you get here and elsewhere !!!!

LABOUR GOVERNMENT LOOKS AFTER ISLAND

With a 6.1% increase in their national funding for the IW Council next year - 2% above the average for similar Councils, which will help the Council Tories to keep Council Tax increases down to inflation levels - our Labour government is looking after Islanders, particularly those on pensions and fixed incomes.

Of course the MP and his Council henchmen are claiming all the credit. With no Tory government in prospect they have little alternative.

THINKING TIME

Spent most of today delivering my quarterly Pan Newsletter - the 7th since I was elected; not had one where I live. I always get good feedback on it - even from those who may disagree with me - so it has to be one of the most important things I can do. Part of an effective communications strategy....

I could get this delivered by party comrades, but I prefer to do most of them myself as I get to chat to residents and have some thinking time. Got over half the ward done in one day, which is pretty good going. Better than being in County Hall especially on a nice day like today. Had a smashing chat with ex-Labour-councillor Tony Tiltman's father-in-law. Told me and anyone passing how, as a pensioner, he has never had it so good !

When not chatting got to thinking if there is a link between the current anti-Russian poisoning news story and the government's wish to renew Britain's nuclear deterrent. Government's always need an enemy when it comes to major defence expenditure....

INDEPENDENT SCRUTINY ?

The following appeared in an IW Council blog last week - one that does not offer a right to reply:

"It’s baffling how some people jump to conclusions without any evidence. Some comments made about senior officers are strange. For example we are putting in place processes for producing high quality papers for members. Frankly this is basic good practice which is the norm in most authorities. But good grief when we tried to implement it here there were some extraordinary comments made about our motivation for doing it!"

I suspect this is something to do with the Scrutiny Committee who have unanimously been defending their right to publish independent reports for some weeks now; reports that are already written by professional officers. The tenacity with which our defence has been opposed does make you question motivations. Hopefully this can be resolved later this week.

IMPLICATIONS FOR PAN

Just realised that the Cabinet changes probably mean a new person as lead councillor for the Pan development as he is responsible for Assets, Planning and Housing.

Went along to the school governors Conference yesterday. I feel obliged to as it was me organising the Conference up to a couple of years ago. However, it was very worthwhile albeit a little hijacked at times by Tory councillors.

WATCH THE FAMILY SILVER

In a lurch even further to the Thatcherite Right, the Council Leader today appointed his group's leading right-winger to the Cabinet - with the portfolio of Assets, Planning and Housing. I now anticipate the bargain sell off of public assets. No doubt this gentleman will be replaced as 'Commissioner' for the Economy, Transport, Tourism and Regeneration by his even more right-wing, right-hand man, the member for V.....

All this begs the question of how they are going to fund another Cabinet special responsibility allowance of £11,250. Suggestions welcome

MORE DANGEROUS THAN OSAMA BIN LADEN ?

Practically choked on my breakfast this morning when reading the Charlotte Hofton feature in the CP about last week's Full Council meeting. Best laugh I have had in ages.

I wonder if they really do................?

STANDING ROOM ONLY

Survived last night's Scrutiny Committee. Such is my unpopularity amongst many people at County Hall these days - see Charlotte Hofton in CP today - the meeting had the potential to kick-off over the Wightcare decision and the refusal to accept Scrutiny's role in that. However, Deborah and I earlier took the view that the decision was ultimately more important than who claims the credit and we just welcomed the decision not to privatise. Thanks to one of my Conservative committee members for easing that process.

The much-delayed 'call in' of the Cabinet's further steps to closer working with Health - you can't really call it 'integration' anymore - proved reasonably successful as the Cabinet member assured us that when she actually implements this delayed decision it will be very different from what it was. Quite clearly their feet are getting chillier by the week.

The school governors we had along were very helpful to the school attainment enquiry, and I very generously allowed the education Cabinet member to respond on the hoof to some of their criticisms. He will have more of an opportunity at next month's meeting when he will be invited as a formal witness to this enquiry.

Finally I suspect this was the first meeting of any committee/commission of the Council for some time to end with the Chief Exec, his deputy CX and the assistant CX all sat in the public area.........we must be doing something right !

SCRUTINY TONIGHT

Our first Scrutiny Committee for 2 months tonight - 6pm, County Hall. On the agenda: school governors along to tell us what they think of the support they get to help improve school attainment; a belated call-in enquiry into further Health & Social Care integration (interestingly last night at a Policy Commission I learnt that a £million here or there in Health Trust budgeting is considered acceptable); and the Wightcare privatisation update - though that was apparently dealt with by press release on Monday!

Scrutiny's independence from the administration remains under attack from a number of sources - so we must be doing something right. Fortunately just about all of the Committee are united in defence of independence.

(My 4th post in the last week - if you are going to blog you have to COMMIT to it !)

WIGHTCARE - "HALLELUJAH !"

Not the sort of terminology I usually use, but that is how I feel today after the Council at last announced they are keeping Wightcare homecare services 'in house'. It took them 7 weeks to confirm what the Cabinet member had already told staff, but better late than never.

Of course they are continuing to undermine the role that Scrutiny had in this, now claiming that the antecedents to this decision originated back in March - surprise, surprise, before I became Scrutiny Chair. If that is the case why we weren't told that outsourcing was under review during numerous meetings between April and June......

Nonetheless, forget the politics, the right decision has been made. I am delighted, my committee knows the role it played, and so do staff, service users and their relatives.

TAKING ON THE HYDRA !

A friend who was in the gallery on Wednesday evening last night compared what I had to deal with from the Tories as being like fighting the Hydra. I thought that was quite apt.....

'OBSESSED WITH ACCOUNTABILITY'

Last night's Council ticked over very calmly before exploding at the point of my own Chair of Scrutiny report.

I started the evening being handed a threatening letter for the second month running, which tells you about orchestration, and which will be dealt with in the same manner as last month's.

In the meeting itself the most notable issues before my report were: almost unanimous support for the CPA & JAR Action Plans (who could oppose them?) and a debate about allowing people to buy £1700 home wind turbines without needing planning permission. This was proposed by the leader of the Independent group who is clearly the member the Conservatives want to build up to take over from me as Chair of Scrutiny, and who is also one of the 13 Development Control members who have been feeling a bit silly after they turned down the Wellow planning application. On the basis that putting the onus for wind energy on individuals, and that they are well out of the reach of most people's earnings and savings, Deborah and I abstained on the motion. All the others supported it.

We then went into Cabinet members' and my reports. The usual lecture from the Leader, and a claim from the Cabinet Member for Health etc. that she has been in the Council longer than most - forgetting that it was as an officer, not a councillor ! Though she has seamlessly slipped from one to the other.......

I then presented my written report on Scrutiny, which was then followed by a barrage of attacks on my publicising of a meeting with Wightcare staff on 5 October where they were told by the Cabinet member their service was to stay in-house after a review initiated as a consequence of a Scrutiny report last June. This meeting has been denied ever since, but you can't tell 50+ people something and then pretend it did not happen. They claim I have caused anxiety - I would suggest that the only anxiety is as a result of some people playing politics with people's lives because they don't want to admit Scrutiny did a good job. There was also an attack on me for not using Council 'communications' for my personal press releases about Scrutiny, but hey I am trying to get a positive image for at least ths part of the Council ! Give me some credit ! One thing that was particularly offensive and only too typical of the current Council Chairman - I had to fight to assert my right to repond to all the questions thrown at me. He seemed to want to let them ask questions without letting me reply.

Later during the Cabinet member for Resources, etc. report I attempted to pin her down on questions I have been asking of her (on behalf of Newport Town Management Committee (TMC)) since earlyAugust - regarding what the IWC is spending the £95K they levy from Newport households upon. The balance of £41K is administered by the TMC. This question was met with a hail of half-truths, excuses and denials, to the extent of suggesting I was a liar. Again I had to fight to repond to some of her allegations. I concluded by telling the Chairman that I was 'fed up' with the way he was running Council meetings and in future I will not be assuming a standing position when he leaves the Council Chamber because respect has to be earned.

Finally after the meeting concluded there was a drinks reception for Councillors with the new Island representative of the monarch and his numerous deputies. As a republican not the sort of thing I go along to, but I observed a well-stocked bar as I passed the Chairman's room..............

SENSE OF FOREBODING

When you are in a group of two against 36, no matter how resilient you are you wake up with a sense of foreboding on Full Council day. That is what this regime is like. But you just get on with it and remember you are elected to do a job for your constituents.

Full report by Friday - hopefully in a comprehensible style.....

CLAMPDOWN !

The last few days have seen the early moves in a clampdown on my reluctance to toe a corporate line as Scrutiny Chair. As if I ever would; how little they know me ! That's not why I stood for election....

I won't go into all the details just yet, but I am now under investigation by the Chief Executive for including a derogatory remark about a consultant - one of those that costs the Council tax paper a fortune each year - in an email to another councillor. Also because I do not rely on official Communications to publicise the work of the Scrutiny Committee. Would any sane person do so who didn't want to be dragged down ?

REMEMBRANCE

I went along to the Remembrance ceremony in Newport this morning. I accompanied staff and young people from Downside Middle School rather than join the official Council party, as I did not want to have to publicly slip away from the subsequent church service. Remembering the fallen is something I totally agree with; I just wish it didn't have to be so tied in with Christian worship.

IMITATION - THE BEST FORM OF FLATTERY

Councillors learnt today that the Chief Exec will be blogging from this weekend. I have sent him a warm welcome to blogging and reminded Members of my own blog - though of course many of them follow it avidly. Especially backbench Tories with a thirst for information, any information ! They don't appear to get it anywhere else....

DEMOCRATIC INACTION

Noticed that the IW Council Web Forum is 'currently unavailable'. I can only suspect that the Communications moderati must be in meltdown trying to stop critical comments. I know of two that mentioned the sacking of our MP which have failed to get through the Grand Censor.

Shame about the Forum. Its normally quite good fun. Hope its back soon.

LOST AT NORTHWOOOD

Went to my first roadshow Cabinet tonight, which was announced by the Council leader as being in Northwood though we all knew we were in Northwood House - possibly the most inaccessible and inhospitable place they could have chosen for a November evening !

As ever, as soon as I was seen entering the room the 'I'm ignoring you' routine clicked into action ! Its now well over a month that I have been ignored by the Council leader - all because I object to being attacked over my lack of religious belief.

Anyway the Cabinet was tedium in the extreme. Papers went though 6:0 - Cllr Abraham presumably preparing for absences after his IW Fire Service martyrdom - with no questions other than the regular contribution from the member for Northwood - who then left presumably because he realised Northwood Village Management Committee don't meet in Northwood House....

The questions I had on their CPA Improvement Plan or JAR Action Plan are better left to a democratic forum like Full Council - where they will go next.

Oh, and there was a list of the 'family silver'.............wonder why ?

ISLAND MP SACKED BY TORY LEADER

The Conservative Opposition Leader today sacked the Island's MP from his front bench role as opposition Charities spokesperson.

This is probably a signal from the Opposition Leader to the Island's Conservative Association that he cannot possibly approve of their unreconstructed Thatcherism, particularly as practised at County Hall, at a time when he is desperate to appear all kind and cuddly.

Indeed I recall that our MP supported the Thatcherite Liam Fox for Leader of the Conservative Party which just about sums up Island Conservatism !

'Shape up or ship out' clearly has no place in the national Conservative Party.......but then again maybe it does......

GCSE 'IMPROVEMENT' LESS THAN SPUN

On 29 August I commented, "Last year the Island was 9% behind the national average for students getting 5 x A*-C GCSE grades. This year we are told that there has been a 2% increase in local performance - from 46% to 48%. We are not yet told what the national average is for 5 x A*-C grades, though we can probably assume at least a small rise of say 0.5% to 55.5%.That would still leave the Island 7.5% behind the national picture. At this rate it will take another 5 years to get overall performance comparable to the mainland.On the right track yes, but hardly at the right speed........"

Well it turned out the increased performance locally was to 47.3%, an annual increase of 1.5%, and that the national average is 57% - a difference of almost 10%. So the Island actually feel behind even further last year. So much for school improvement plans.....

BIASED BROADCASTING

I made the mistake of listening to the local radio station's phone-in on Friday. The Council Leader was on and he was treated by the 'presenter' and his sidekick with absolute sycophancy for the whole hour. There was entirely no balance whatsoever.

For example, the Leader's allegation that the information secured under Freedom of Information by the Island's newspaper regarding the Council's very expensive use of outside consultants is now inaccurate and all down to me !!!!! The Information Commissioner may be interested in that....

TORIES OFF 'TEAM BUILDING'

Yes, County Hall is a safe place for 3 days this week as all seven Cabinet members, both Cabinet Secs, and all four 'Commissionaires' (interestingly adding up to 13) are off 'team building' with all the Directors at the Royal Hotel, Ventnor. Will be intersting to find out who pays the bills or whether largesse is involved.....in the meantime - ENJOY !!!!!!

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.

TORIES SPEND A FORTUNE..............

..........of our money on Communications consultants from LB of Westminster and fail to have the impact that Deborah and I have as a two-person band !!!!

Just look at front page of County Press this week, or indeed the CP overall any week.

I'd help them out if I wasn't an opposition councillor. One thing I will say though - you get nowhere insulting the local media, either publicly or privately. On the Island things always get back to people. Basic stuff !

NOT WINNING FRIENDS & INFLUENCE....

I went along to the Board meeting of the new IW NHS Primary Care Trust today. I have never been to anything like this before and I found it very strange. No papers are published in advance of the day and on the day you still cannot access them on the Webpage. There is also no provision for public questions

I was interested to learn that the new Trust still has to recover from a £4.9m inherited deficit apart from eventually having to achieve a surplus of a further £3.7m. So things still aren't good on that front.

Most astonishing comment was from the new Chairman who asked the County Press jourmalist present if the press understood a discussion they had just had on MRSA incidents at St Mary's. Naturally the journalist - a very experienced one - was rather put out by this. I would have been too.

WELLOW WIND TURBINES

As Island Labour takes a neutral stance on the Wellow Wind Turbines planning application, leaving it up to individual members, I want to declare myself !

I am not a member of the Development Control Committee as I prefer to be able to campaign against planning proposals when necessary, so I can safely say that I think the Committee would be irresponsible not to approve this planning application. However, I have no doubt that they won't approve it, because after all that was in the Tory manifesto and there are more Tories than anything at County Hall.

So future generations will reap the consequences of the short-sightedness of current decision-makers.

DOING THE DAY JOB

The last week has been fairly typical of what I do these days, without much excitement or significant events:

Thursday - mainly in County Hall, dealing with ward and scrutiny matters all day; Friday - all day in Downside Middle School where I accompanied a 10 year old boy from Pan in his school day. Fascinating and very, very useful; Saturday - monthly surgery in morning then rest of day off. Spent time in evening having a drink and chat with a political 'enemy' !; Sunday - catch up day, as usual; Monday - work all day, followed by Newport Town Management Committee in evening. Home at 9; Tuesday - work all day, followed by ward work and ward visits. Home at 9.

OCTOBER FULL COUNCIL

Well I got a reasonably satisfactory response from the Council Chairman to the one of my 3 outstanding emails regarding religious toleration (signed by himself), so I was able to attend Full Council last night.

I nearly didn't get to do the 'walk of the heathen' though as I was firstly subjected to pressure about my monthly Scrutiny report. The powers that be didn't like my reporting the Wightcare staff announcement (see post of Oct 8) - which they continue to deny - and wanted me to remove that section. I refused, so they circulated it to the meeting for me, but only after cautioning me that I may be referred to the Standards Board for breach of the code of conduct. Sorry chaps - for that is what they are - I stand by the truth no matter what. In the meeting itself they again claimed my report on Wightcare was untrue, but I defended myself robustly and will continue to do so.

My first intervention was immediate as I asked for clarification on a proposed amendment to the Minutes after I had complained that they omitted entirely any reference to last month's attack on my lack of faith. Goebbels could have learnt something from this !

There were two motions - one agreeing wide public consultation on the recent Fire Service options report (agreed nem con); the other committing the Council to seeking a significant reduction in the number of councillors in next years Boundary Commission review. That went through overwhelmingly, though I (quietly) abstaned as there was a load of nonsense in the motion about parish councils being 'local democratic leadership'. In some areas yes, but everywhere ? Get real.

I spoke twice in the debate about approving the Newport Town Council petition. Of course this went through easily - 2 against - but I also tried to make overtures to the member for Carisbrooke West, which are not so far falling on stony ground.........

A new Members' Allowances Scheme was approved unanimously. I am a keen advocate of compensating working age and work-dependent people to stand for public office, and that will only happen if allowances help them to take commensurate unpaid time-off - as I do with my allowance. No doubt we will be vilified in the press, but all parties and groups supported the scheme - which is actually a reduction on the budget of the previous Council, probably because we now only have one Scrutiny Committee instead of SIX Select Committees......

After that it was Reports time, which whistled by. Of note all evening was the quietness of the Council Leader, who only spoke for his Leaders' report !

'BEYOND THE PALE'

I am now categorised with the so-called 'difficult' Council Tax papers, just because I sent three emails to the Chairman of the Council in the space of about 10 days.

The subjects were - 1. the cost of his Cowes Week Reception; 2. religious toleration at Full Council; 3. getting Cabinet members to respond to a Scrutiny 'call-in'.

I have been told that the Council's Solicitor (aka the Deputy Chief Executive) will reply on the Chairman's behalf to this 'flurry' of emails. Perhaps the Chairman should try dealing with my email Inbox !

So I am left waiting for answers to very straightforward questions ...... what wonderful communications this Council has, when a councillor has to have a solicitor replying to his emails.

PLANNING SUCCESS

I was delighted to get notification on Friday that a particularly difficult planning application in Pan had been dismissed on appeal. I had managed to persuade the local Development Control Committee to reject the application last March, contrary to officer advice, but was doubtful about the appeal.

I now have eight household who are all delighted with their local councillor and the local planning committee !

STUDENT NO TO 6th FORM COLLEGE

Spent most of yesterday at a High School as part of Local Democracy Week. Interesting talk with some sixth-formers who were very clearly and cogently OPPOSED to the proposal of a one size fits all 6th Form College - as proposed by the Learning & Skills quango.

A 'NO COMMENT' COUNCIL !

Well the official response of the Council to my 'good news' Wightcare press release earlier this week was 'no comment' ! And they wonder why I don't trust them to fairly handle press coverage of Scrutiny ?

Hello ! Scrutiny is an integral part of how a Council is run. You can't just rubbish or deny everything it does and refute that it has any effect on Council decisions. My interview with the next CPA inspectors - which I will have no matter whether they throw me out as Scrutiny Chair or not - will be very interesting.

If you can't manage your communications better after all the money currently being thrown at it then you never will. My press operation consists of...........me !

COUNCIL TO KEEP WIGHTCARE IN-HOUSE

I have issued the following press release for tomorrow:

SCRUTINY CHAIR WELCOMES DECISION TO KEEP WIGHTCARE IN-HOUSE

After the Scrutiny Committee enquiry last Spring into the Council's proposal to privatise their Wightcare homecare service the Council has decided to keep the service in-house.

The Scrutiny recommendations last June that the privatisation proposal be deferred whilst a full financial Review was undertaken was accepted by the Council Cabinet, and an independent Review has been undertaken over the last 3 months.

The Chair of the Scrutiny Committee, Cllr Geoff Lumley, has been advised by staff that the Review has recommended the Council keeps the Wightcare homecare service in-house, to ensure a mixed economy of homecare on the Isle of Wight, and that this recommendation has been accepted. Homecare staff were told at a meeting last week by the Director of Adult Services and Cabinet member.

Cllr Lumley said, "I am delighted at this decision, which reverses the Council's budget decision to privatise Wightcare. I am sure that the Scrutiny enquiry conducted by myself, Cllr Deborah Gardiner and Cllr Brian Mosdell, went a long way to securing a change in Council policy as it became clear that this excellent and popular service was not being allowed to compete favourably with private operators. The evidence given by three Homecare organisers to our meeting last April was very powerful indeed. If anyone had doubts about the value and influence of Scrutiny I would suggest that this will lay them to rest."

THE BIG SULK

Tomorrow morning I should be having my monthly meeting with the Council Leader to discuss issues of mutual interest to my Scrutiny brief. Should be .............but it has been cancelled for the foreseeable future because he does not want to upset me again, especially when Cllr Gardiner and I are reporting him to the Standards Board over his attack on our lack of religion or faith (see 20.9.06).

The lack of insight on this matter is almost incredible.

THE TORIES - LEST WE FORGET

As one of my readers comments,

"Every time I hear Cameron going on about the new Conservatives I remember what the old ones are doing right here."

TORY 'B&B TAX' FIB

From the Council's own web forum, 'Ade' says:

"Conservative leaflet

Having just received the leaflet 'The Island Community', issued by the Isle of Wight Conservative Association, I was intrigued by the item with the sub-heading 'Local Conservatives fight against Labour's B&B tax'. As I was not aware of any such tax having been implemented or even proposed I looked further into this and the following is what I discovered.The Government launched an inquiry into local government funding headed by Sir Michael Lyons (Lyon's Inquiry) back in 2004 which produced an interim report in December 2005. This interim report outlined the consultation that had been undertaken with various interested bodies with a view to producing proposals at the end of 2006. These proposals would produce recommendations on local taxation and how local authorities would raise revenue through local taxation. These new forms of taxation would take over from the present council tax, for example.One of the bodies that the inquiry took evidence from was the Local Government Association (LGA) who had produced a document titled 'Balance of Funding Review'. In this paper the LGA had proposed a tourist tax as one way of supplementing local revenue. The argument being that people visiting and staying in an area benefitted from the services without contributing directly.The Isle of Wight Unitary Authority is a member of the LGA and therefore was a party to this proposal to introduce a tourist tax (B&B tax) being included in the paper that was given to the Lyon's Inquiry.The Lyon's Inquiry interim report Part2 Para 2.100 states quite clearly that there are pros and cons for introducing a tourist tax and certainly does not state at this time whether this would be in the final recommendations. Consequently it is somewhat misleading for the Isle of Wight Conservative Association to label it as 'Labours B&B Tax'."

And the LGA is overwhelmingly under Tory control.....

FROM FORESIGHT TO 'FOUR SHIRTS'

What a difference a weekend makes! Last week in Manchester was all policies and planning for the future of Britain. Today, back home, the most that can be found to say about the leader of the Tory party, in the absence of any policies whatsoever, is that he changed his shirt 4 times in one morning. Still I suppose at least he blogs - unlike any Tory here !

OFF TO MANCHESTER - probably not far enough for one Tory

Last post for a week or so. Off to Manchester for Labour Party Conference tomorrow, representing our local membership. I haven't been to Conference for 7 years and am looking forward to this one.

Before I go I will just submit a unanimous 'call in' by the Scrutiny Committee of the latest delegated decision on health & social care integration.

QUOTE........UNQUOTE

from an official transcript

"I welcome the inclusivity that Canon ****** has brought to the prayers. I think it’s very, very easy to put people in boxes, both religious and political, although I have to say that the Labour Group who have constantly failed to come in here for prayers and have constantly ignored the Chairman when (he) comes in is something that this. …… Chairman needs to try and resolve. It shows great disrespect to the civic office and I believe personally that prayers are inclusive and we should all set an example and be inclusive in that." (Guess Who, 20.9.06)

"I make no judgement about people’s faith but I have no faith myself. That I choose not to come in to the beginning of this is no disrespect to you as just as it wasn’t to your predecessor in my short time in this chamber. However, I have no faith and I do worry that having that expression, particularly as a Christian faith, when many people on this Island are either of no religion or perhaps of other faiths has always concerned me and I am pleased to hear that Canon ******, a man for who I have an immense respect, has had a much more inclusive prayer session today. However to criticise my colleague Cllr Gardiner and I for not coming in to a religious event when neither of us have any faith whatsoever I think is absolutely reprehensible on behalf of the Leader. We have made no comment within here and I actually don’t want to be stood here now making this comment but I am having to respond to a comment that quite frankly has made me feel as excluded from this chamber as it is possible to be. I do not feel at this moment in time that I am welcome in this chamber because I am an atheist, something that I have come to after long thought over many years as a - since my teens and now nearly at the age of 50." (The Response, 20.9.06)

after we had left

"Would the Leader agree with me that I don’t really care what religions are or anybody else for that - whether they are Muslim … - Muslim or whatever, but what I do expect is for people as our Queen said, people won’t change our way of lives. We are a Christian state and people should understand that. If they don’t like it, go somewhere else, but I don’t care what they are, I will respect them as people. … walking out of the chamber, that’s showing disrespect for you Chairman and for this chamber." (senior Tory councillor, 20.9.06)

LEADER MAKES UNSOLICITED APOLOGY

The following - to all Councillors - arrived in my email Inbox entirely unsolicited:

Statement from Leader of the Council Andy Sutton:

“I clearly upset Councillors Lumley and Gardiner at last night’s Full Council meeting and would wish to clarify my position. It was not my intention in any way to undermine the freedom of any member to hold any religious belief or indeed to hold none.

“If (my italics) in any way what I said implied that I was criticising Cllr Lumley’s (or indeed any of his colleagues’) beliefs, then I unreservedly apologise. Quite clearly we are a council that wants to be inclusive in such matters and I am sorry if my words last night gave any other impression.

“On reflection, things can be said in the heat of the moment in the Chamber that can be misunderstood or taken in the wrong way. Let me be clear that my concern was with regard for the office of Chairman and not an attack on religious faith of members.”

What a bizarre way of going about things.

THE EXCLUSIVE IW COUNCIL

Tonight, entirely from left field, came a personal attack on Deborah and I from the Leader of the Council that because we do not take part in the (generally Christian) Prayers at the start of a Full Council meeting we are disrespectful to the IW Council, its Chairman and the Isle of Wight. The response from many of the Conservative group was to applaud their Leader. The Council Chairman by his subsequent inaction effectively endorsed this attack.

I was compelled - though I would have preferred to do practically anything else - to articulate my sincerely held view that religion or faith has no place in the Council and that to attack Deborah and I - both committed atheists - for not participating is to effectively say that we are not welcome within this Council. When we got no meaningful assurances from the Chairman of the Council, Deborah and I both left this exclusive Full Council meeting. We will not be returning until this is resolved to our satisfaction.

I will now be reporting both the Council Leader and possibly the Council Chairman to the Standards Board of England for breaches of the councillor's Code of Conduct.

I feel abused.......

WHERE ARE THE OTHER BLOGS ?

When I set up my blog 16 months ago I wanted to provide an online point of information and comment for - 1. my constituents; 2. other Islanders. I have always been very happy to see comments on my posts, I always try to respond to them, and I NEVER edit them. Of necessity the blog has been parochial as I don't want to become some intellectual ego massager, which would be irrelevant to the majority of my readers.

After 16 months I am still going, but what I find very sad is the absence of other political blogs on the Island. Where is the MP, where is the Tory Council leader, where are other senior Tory councillors ? Blogging is the future of political activity - as recognised by the national Tory Chairman the other evening - but here on the Island the local Tories are still caught up in lodge communications rather than the age of mass communications.

It would be good to see rivals, but I won't hold my breath. Secrecy is at the core of Conservatism.

AND ANOTHER THING ABOUT SECRETIVE....

I will be submitting another Scrutiny 'call in ' later this week. The Cabinet Member has made a 'delegated decision' on progressing the controversial and sensitive issue of Health & Social Care integration - controversial enough for the 'call in' to get unanimous support from the Scrutiny Committee.....special meeting of Scrutiny Committee likely to be during w/c 2 October.

FULL COUNCIL TOMORROW

Tomorrow sees the first Full Council meeting for two months. The agenda is scant in the extreme, but still gives an opportunity to ask questions of Cabinet members and for me to be accountable as Chair of Scrutiny.

I have put in four advance written questions, one of which questions the secretive and clandestine nature of this Council leadership.....Of course there is still the opportunity to hold the Cabinet to account with oral questions on the night.

NEWPORT TOWN COUNCIL ?

Tonight sees the public meeting following the successful petition. It is at St Thomas' Parish Centre in Town Lane from 7pm. Wonder if anyone from Carisbrooke West - whose councillor wants separation from Newport - will turn up ?

Last night we had the Newport Town Management Committee where we had a presentation from the clerk of Wootton Parish on partnerships and quality status. Made me realise more completely why a Town Council for Newport is so potentially beneficial. The clerk beieved her parish had pulled in £1/3 million extra over the last 7 years........

SCRUTINY TOMORROW

September meeting at 6pm tomorrow evening. Loss of £1.8m Housing Investment Grant for 2006/7 one of the items on the agenda. Also 'Use of Outside Consultants', 'Supporting People' programme, and "Whatever Happened to the Tourism 'Blue Paper' "!

Wrote my Report to next week's Full Council earlier and realised this is the THIRD Scrutiny Committee since the last Full Council in mid-July, in which time there has been just two Cabinet meetings.

Whilst the Cabinet/Council sleeps, Scrutiny is always watchful.

IT MUSINGS

Still Broadband-less, and will be until 1st October. The merits of capitalism ! However, I am just getting on with the absence of easily accessible technology and life is none the worse for that. After all I gave up all Council IT gadgets a few weeks ago and have survived, even though some officers and councillors can't seem to understand that I DON'T have a Council mobile, Blackberry, Smartphone, or whatever else some councillors seem not to be able to do without. Indeed since I was electedI have just used my own mobile and paid my own bill - revolutionary ! Or sanctimonious ?

SIXTH FORM EGGS ALL IN ONE BASKET

I posted on this on July 28th, but the consultation on having a 6th form college based at the IW College in Newport, was launched at the Policy Commission for Childrens Services tonight. Consultees have precisely 37 days to respond by - just over 5 weeks - with the closing date on 13 October. A decision will have to be taken early in 2007.

Papers can be found at:

http://www.iwight.com/council/committees/Policy%20Commission%20for%20Children%20and%20School%20Results/6-9-06/Paper%20C%20SCOPING%20DOCUMENT1.htm

INTERNET BANDITS

No posts for the last week as my broadband internet service provider last Wednesday overnight decided to 'deprovide' me without any reason. So after 6 days of Kafkaesque call centre conversations I have told them to go forth and multiply, in the most polite terms! Eight years of using the same ISP counted for nothing to this company, who are the latest in a line of takeovers.

So I am now trying to get a new broadband provider (which seems to take at least 2 weeks) and either sneaking time on my partner's separate service or spending ridiculous amounts of time at County Hall - I was even in last Sunday afternoon. Such is being a slave to email.......

Call centres - the abomination of customer service in this country

GCSE SPIN

The Council has told the Island that overall GCSE results are on the 'right track' - upwards of course. But are they just spinning another poor overall performance ?

Last year the Island was 9% behind the national average for students getting 5 x A*-C GCSE grades. This year we are told that there has been a 2% increase in local performance - from 46% to 48%. We are not yet told what the national average is for 5 x A*-C grades, though we can probably assume at least a small rise of say 0.5% to 55.5%.

That would still leave the Island 7.5% behind the national picture. At this rate it will take another 5 years to get overall performance comparable to the mainland.

On the right track yes, but hardly at the right speed........

Not withstanding this unravelling of spin, of course my congratulations to all students for their GCSE results last week.

SCRUTINY DISREGARDED

The agenda for next weeks' Cabinet came out today. Only one item on the agenda - one that was not on the so-called Forward Plan, though SIX issues in the Forward Plan seem to have disappeared.........Of no surprise is the absence of an agenda item on progressing the next stage of the Strategic Transformational Partnership; as recommended by the Scrutiny Committee last week. All of this does not bode well for democracy - but then they are Tories !

OFF DUTY

Having a few days off before the summer is over. Back on 30 August.

SCRUTINY CALLS FOR MORE TRANSPARENCY

Tonight's special Scrutiny Committee unanimously resolved to call on the Cabinet to make their next costly decision over Strategic Transformational Partnerships (STP) at a public Cabinet meeting rather than through a delegated decision. They also agreed to ask that future reports on this subject - whether internal or from Consultants - be written in plain English rather than the business gobbledegook that seems to be in vogue.

The meeting was fairly low key though rigorous, with the Cabinet member responsible for the STP well-prepared; which demonstrated a level of respect for the committee's work. Hopefully he will take on board the recommendations of the committee, and that transparency in important decision-making by the Cabinet will become more evident.

If the proposed decision is moved to the Cabinet it allows for real political questioning on the STP issue, which is far more difficult to do at the Scrutiny Committee if recommendations are to be agreed by all the various parties.

SPECIAL SCRUTINY MEETING ON TUESDAY

6pm at County Hall.

NEWPORT TOWN COUNCIL ON ITS WAY

Last Friday the Newport Town Management Committee (NTMC), which I Chair, succeeded in getting the last few signatures it needed to petition for a Town Council. The petition will be formally handed to the Council Leader on 30 August, there will be a public meeting on 19 September, and the hope is that the Full IW Council will approve and support our petition at it's October meeting.

Well done to all my NTMC colleagues who helped with this petition, which of course is for the whole Newport area, including all of Carisbrooke and Gunville.

FUEL TO THE FLAMES.

Let us hope that our local MP never has a government job that requires careful judgement. I was always pleased he agreed with me about the war in Iraq, but his remarks suggesting British Muslims should be thrown out of the country were inflammatory in the extreme and will do nothing to foster harmonious race relations.

The Labour MEP for the South East, Peter Skinner, summed it up well today:

Peter Skinner MEP has told Solent TV from his Brussels office, that he was absolutely horrified when he had heard what Mr Turner had said, brandishing 200,000 Muslims as the “enemy within”. Mr Skinner said his comments “inflame quite unnecessarily an already tense situation” and Mr Turner “should be ashamed of himself and apologise to the Muslim population”.

LABOUR RESPONSE TO CPA AUDIT

All that triumphalism. All that bravado. All that self-satisfaction. And what do the IW Council get in their recent Comprehensive Performance Assessment audit ? Another 2-star, 'performing adequately' rating - as it has been getting since 2002.

The way the Conservative leadership have been boasting and bragging for the last year or so, the least anyone could have expected was some improvement in their assessment; if not a full-blown, newly-created audit category of '10 stars, performing magnificently'.

Of course some of us understood all along that it is going to take some while to turn round the audit assessment. Maybe, just maybe, the Council leadership will now exhibit some humility and less of the table-thumping seen at the Budget council meeting last February ?

FIRST 'CALL IN' OF THIS COUNCIL

On Thursday all the members of the Scrutiny Committee who were available - six of them - signed a 'call in' on a proposed Cabinet Member delegated decision - to invite PA Consultants to do more work on procuring a Strategic Transformational Partnership for the Council (see my blog of 26 April).

We did this because we have concerns about the delays in PA's original submission last April on a full scale strategic partnership, concerns about the timetable of events that have lead to this decision, and our strong belief that this sort of decision needs to be made in public.

An extraordinary meeting of the Scrutiny Committee will now be held on (most likely) 21/22 August.

THE GREAT AND THE GOOD, Part 2

From Solent TV website today:

EX-ARMY CHIEF TO RUN NEW HEALTH BODY

A former High Sheriff and ex-Army Officer is to take charge of the Island’s new joint health organisation.

****** has been appointed as the chair of the Isle of Wight NHS PCT, which comes into being on 1 October 2006. ******, who is a Deputy Lord Lieutenant, had previously been Managing Director of international software and systems house, ****** for 20 years. Prior to that, ****** commanded the largest regiment in the British Army. Currently he devotes his time to voluntary roles in the community. ****** will receive a £32,500 salary for his new role. The new health organisation will bring together the two current bodies – the IW Healthcare NHS Trust and the IW Primary Care Trust.

God help us ! Nothing ever changes here.......

HO HUM

Fairly quiet time of the year, which is why I haven't posted for a week. No doubt the calm before the storm, but it has given me time to finish off my next Pan newsletter, which will be delivered to every household from 1st September - mainly by me. That's the way I prefer it. This will be my SIXTH since I was elected in May 2005 - I doubt that will have been beaten.

Put a letter into the County Press for this week, which may make some waves......

Off to try to collect the last few signatures for a Newport Town Council tonight. Aim is to have it finished by the Bank Holiday and ready for Council approval on 20 September

THE GREAT AND THE GOOD, Part 1

Last Thursday evening I went along to something called the 'Chairman's Cowes Week Reception'. Never again !

If the overwhelming majority of those invited and present - mainly the 'great and the good' of the Island and numerous retired or defeated Liberal ex-councillors - was not exclusive and offensive enough, the 'dancing girls' cabaret certainly was. I thought it was a charitable event, it wasn't, and I am now seeking the cost of this event.

19 HAPPY CHAPPIES !

So the Council staff who were highly motivated and high in morale, and the reason for the lambasting I received at Full Council from the Council Leader(see post of 19.07.06), totalled 19. Yes, NINETEEN.....

Someone must tell the Council Leader how many staff they employ.

SPEAKING BAN LIFTED

I received a letter at the weekend implying that any ban of my asking questions at Cabinet (see 28.7.06) had been lifted ! This is amazing - bans imposed without any form of due process and then appeals upheld without being submitted.....

EGGS ALL IN ONE BASKET

Advised today by the Cabinet member that the Hants & IW Learning & Skills Council (LSC) - which is reponsible for post 16 education - wants to develop a £25m 1200 place 6th form college at the IW College for use from 2009, using government money. Effectively that is our entire requirement here on the Island.

As this would have massive implications for our existing sixth form provision within High Schools, the Council will ensure wide consultation in the autumn term. This will be a fascinating debate in the light of what happened over middle schools last year.......

Additionally the further £25m government grant to rebuild one of our secondary schools, may mean just that - a school for 11-16/18 year olds, not 13 -16/18. This is being clarified as agian that has implications for how Island education is organised.

OH DEAR, OH DEAR......

A packed Scrutiny Committee agenda, successfully completed, ended in very bad feeling last night.

With only two hours to complete the agenda, thanks to the administration's own Council Constitution, my refusal to allow the Leader of the Council - not a committee member of course - to question the Southern Water representative towards the end of the meeting, met with a 'toys out of pram' response of disreputable proportions.

Consequently I have been informed by the Leader that questions from me TO THE CABINET will NOT be allowed for five months. Why 5 months, I have no idea, but when did logic come into it ?

There is no provision in the Constitution for questions from non-Committee members to evidence-givers during a Scrutiny Committee; just as there is no provision at Cabinet for non-Cabinet councillors to ask questions as the agenda progresses. The Leader does allow ad hoc questions from people like me at his meeting when it suits him, but not if the direction of the questioning is embarrassing - see late May Cabinet meeting regarding meetings with Schools Minister.

I did not allow the Leader to ask questions tonight because I am the Chair of the Committee and had an agenda to complete in a short time period. If he can't understand that, and now wants to punish me on a tit for tat basis, so be it. At least I have some idea of how to conduct myself at Council meetings.

Apart from that the meeting was reasonably productive. A number of Planning issues were progressed, thanks to the good sense of Cllr Mosdell - yes, I will name him ! Three Cabinet members made valuable contributions to our enquiries - including broad acceptance of our Wightcare report - and another helped kick off our big Budget enquiry. The Southern Water session was informative and useful, before the pram incident.

One thought. If this Committee is supposed to receive support from the Council's Communications operation, as I am told it is, why does that support go to Cabinet members after the meeting and not to the members of the Scrutiny Committee ????????

I sometimes wish I was really naive........

TOO BUSY TO POST

The last week has been very busy, leading to less posts than usual.

I spent the weekend on a Chair of Scrutiny training course at Warwick Univ., which mainly consisted of me arguing with LibDem councillors about the role of an opposition Chair. The course was not very good and took a weekend out of my life. I have significant doubts about the agency that organises all the councillor training.

I have also been involved in the appointment of the new Director of Adult & Community Services, which was concluded last evening. Interesting that one of the candidates spent time reading this blog ! As they say, it is sometimes the only way to find out what is going on.........

Tonight is the Scrutiny Committee, for which I have to do a massive amount of preparation as the agenda is packed with public interest issues........

ANOTHER WORLD ?

This post lifts its head up from parochial matters and contemplates the political party I have been a member of for over 20 years.

The Labour Leader will stand down sometime next year and we will then elect a new Leader by the autumn of 2007. Everyone presumes it will be a Gordon Brown coronation, but in my view that would be entirely wrong.

What must be done is for the party to have a debate about the direction it wants to go after Blair. That is why I am supporting a leadership campaign by John McDonnell MP for when the Prime Minister resigns - see After Blair Link on left.

I do this not because I think he will win, but because I want the party to have a debate - do we want more Blair/Brownism, or do we want to refocus our policies on the hopes of ordinary working people ? Or do we want something that steers a course between the two ?

With David Cameron re-energising his party by blatant opportunism (though no doubt causing heart attacks in the blue rinse brigade) maybe it is time for Labour to spell out some significant differences between us and the Tories ?

John McDonnell wants a leadership debate that is about choices for the party:

• between promoting public services or continued privatisation;
• between free education or trust schools and tuition fees;
• between increasing the state pension and restoring the link with earnings or forcing more people onto the means test;
• between allowing councils to build council houses once again or high rents, escalating housing costs, homelessness and overcrowding;
• between energy from green power sources, conservation, and British clean coal or the costs and risks of nuclear power;
• between promoting civil liberties and trade union rights or reactionary incursions into the right of free speech, assembly and trial;
• between a government committed to peace, withdrawal from Iraq and nuclear disarmament or backing Bush's wars and wasting £24 billion on Trident.

I think that is a debate that Labour must have post-Blair and I am delighted that John McDonnell has put his name forward to ensure that debate.

FULL COUNCIL HELL !

Full Council tonight, which was a form of hell. Two Powerpoint presentations meant curtains had to be closed in the Council Chamber - on one of the hottest evenings of the year. And I was the only male councillor without a tie ! What are they all trying to prove ? I am not being 'disrespectful' by not having a tie on in weather like this....surely ?

Meeting was pretty uneventful. Some argy-bargy over the repeal of the taxi zoning system, which I supported in the interests of customer choice, with the other opposition groups opposing or abstaining. Congratulations to the IW Island Games Assoc. from all, and then a Public Health Report. The latter was then followed by a motion that the Council do all it can to reduce levels of obesity and to encourage healthy eating. I managed to work in a question about muesli and the Council's staff, which drew laughter with its reference to the Leader's most recent attempt at winning friends and influence.

There was a pretty discreditable question to me after my Scrutiny Chair's Report relating to the Labour Group leadership, which I dealt with appropriately. I also thanked the Chair for placing my Report in the Cabinet section of the agenda, and suggested that this was, however, nearly 3 years ahead of the schedule for Labour members to be running the Cabinet !

This was followed by the Leader's Report, where he dealt with a question about current staff morale from an Independent by lambasting Deborah and I for previously talking about low morale, on the basis of some report none of us in opposition have ever seen. After that there were the other Cabinet member reports - with quite a number of placed, soft questions from ruling group backbenchers. I asked a number of questions, but you start to get sick of hearing your own voice.

Finally I have recommenced from today my previous practice of not attending the start of Full Council until after 'Prayers'. I had given up this practice in the last 3 months, but have decided that I will always stay out for the rest of my term. I do not think such an overtly religious and Christian start to Council meetings is either appropriate or very inclusive. In my view religious celebration should be a personal, not a public matter.

SCRUTINY COMMITTEE MOVES UP A GEAR

PRESS RELEASE

After a quiet meeting last month, the IW Council's Scrutiny Committee on Thursday 27 July (6pm, County Hall) will demonstrate it is moving up a gear in terms of holding the Council and most public service providers to account on behalf of the Island people.

The packed agenda for the meeting includes;

• an enquiry into the reason for Southern Water's hosepipe ban, with the water company sending along a senior manager to respond to questions;
• separate, evidence-giving appearances by four of the seven Council Cabinet members - Cllrs Ward, Wood, Cousins and Abrahams - as the Committee progresses two of its current formal enquiries ('planning gains' and 'the delivery and impact of budget efficiencies'), tries to get to the bottom of precisely why a substantial Government housing grant was lost this year, and exactly who is responsible for enforcing on-street parking infringements at present;
• an expected response from the Cabinet member to the Committee's recent Wightcare privatisation enquiry report;
• the conclusion of two earlier enquiries into Development Control processes and reporting.

Cllr Geoff Lumley, Chair of the Scrutiny Committee said, "After the excellent Scrutiny Committee meetings of April and May where we concentrated on the Wightcare enquiry, last month's meeting was relatively quiet. However, the meeting this month has a packed agenda of public interest items, showing that the Scrutiny Committee takes its role very seriously indeed and is pursuing an extensive work programme. We have had better attendances from members of the public than the Cabinet over the first three months I have been the Chair, and I hope that will continue to be the case this month. In the autumn we will be looking at ways and means of improving public engagement with the scrutiny process."

Cllr Lumley concluded, "Scrutiny of local affairs - whether its the Council or other public bodies - is something the Government is very keen on developing. We are likely to see the extension of scrutiny powers in the local government White Paper in the autumn to agencies like the police. If Islanders are not sure what scrutiny is all about, why not come along to one of our meetings to get a flavour of what we are up to ?"

'AIM HIGH' ON WAY OUT ?

Apart from the 'Aim High' dog-leashes all Tory councillors have to wear, you never hear come across this twaddle phrase anywhere these days. Particularly since the new Chief Executive started.......

COUNCIL TORIES - 'NOT A HAPPY SHIP'

This was reported to me by a reliable source recently and confirms everything I have been hearing over the last few weeks. Apparently the Tories' last group meeting was a bit of a battle, with the MP rushed down from Westminster on a Thursday to help mediate.

The Council Leader's propensity for 'favourites' does not go down well in such a large group, especially if you are not one of them !

AUDIT COMMISSION BLAME MANAGERS FOR NHS DEFICITS

As I have been saying it for most of the last year on the Council's Health Scrutiny Commission, I make no apologies for drawing attention to: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/5165242.stm

Pity that I have been slammed down for suggesting as much

BACK FROM BOURNEMOUTH

Back from the LGA Conference, which was very useful for a new councillor like me. Attended lots of workshops that will hopefully help me make a stronger and better informed contribution as an opposition, but constructive, councillor.

Main drawback was being stupid enough to endure a dull speech by 'Dave' Cameron - Dave the Chameleon indeed ! Of the two Labour Cabinet Ministers who appeared - Ruth Kelly and David Miliband - the latter was as ever frighteningly bright and capable.......

Lots of ward stuff to get on with this weekend; not least of which are the summer public drinking problems at Downside Playing Field. Time for this Tory Council to act, instead of spouting hot air.

NEW CHIEF EXEC ON PAN WALKABOUT

Spent an hour on Friday evening showing the new Chief Executive around Pan ward, though was mainly on the estate. He was very keen to see what all the focus on Pan is about and left I hope with a better understanding of why there is that focus, even though compared to most mainland urban areas the estate is quite delightful. I told him that the putting down of Pan locally is just historic and ignorant snobbery about social housing.

Tomorrow I am off to the Local Government Association conference in Bournemouth for the week, together with the Council Leader and another Cabinet member. Never before will I have spent so much time with so many Conservatives; fortunately the LGA does have a Labour Group !

SCRUTINY CONFERENCE

Spent yesterday in London at a conference for Scrutiny councillors and officers. Organised by the Centre for Public Scrutiny, it was not very good at all. Dominated by councillors from Tory authorities who have no idea what scrutiny is about, in my view. At least this Tory Council had the guts to allow an opposition chair of its Scrutiny Committee - yes, that's almost a compliment !

WIGHTCARE REPORT ENDORSED

After some fuss whilst I was away over the publication of the draft Wightcare report before it was formally approved - to comply with the end of May deadline we were given - last night the Scrutiny Committee did approve it with 6 votes in favour, 1 against and 1 abstention.

The rest of the meeting was pretty short as my planned agenda had been somewhat curtailed whilst I was away. A pity really as the MP turned up to listen, only for me to close the meeting 5 minutes after his arrival ! Next month will be back to normal.

......THE MICE DO PLAY

Full Council last night and the four LibDems were suddenly all bright and bushy-tailed ! Is it because the Council Leader wasn't there to give them their deserved monthly reprimand for a decade plus of political incompetence, or has at last establishing a proper Group under Henry Adams' benign leadership re-enthused them ? Time will tell.

Excellent question from the public gallery about the new £40k communications improvement contract with Westminster City Council, after they spent £14k on another communications consultant earlier this year and improved not one dot. Of course the gentleman did not get an answer, but later on I got an assurance that this is a fixed term contract and that communications will not be handled permanently by Westminster staff. Personally I take a view that the Council's communications are deperately poor and have ignored them since I became Scrutiny Chair and they failed with my early request for a media release.

This Council was the first with the new LibDem Chairman - may be that's another reason why his colleagues were so bullish - and the new Chief Executive. Suddenly all Directors are now in attendance for the first time in years......

A motion urging the government to do all it could to ensure the Royal Mail keeps existing sub-Post Offices was approved unanimously.

A change in the format of the Best Value Performance Plan was approved, with opposition councillors abstaning and one Cabinet Member mysteriously joining them. Just wait till the Leader gets up from his sick bed !

I asked a question about a scheduled high-level meeting to discuss the loss of Government funding for failing to tackle anti-social behavious, but was assured this was an error in the title of the meeting !

I also asked, on Deborah's behalf, a question about the claimed sudden loss of government housing grant (reported at Cabinet on May 23) and the contrary information we had received from Govt Office of South East. Lots of bluster - seemingly the main tactic now when we catch them out on dealings with government - but we will pursue this. Perhaps they will learn not to blame the government for things unless they have all their facts right ?

WHILST THE CAT'S AWAY.......

Went into County Hall today for the first time during daytime in nearly a month. All very quiet. Didn't spot a Tory anywhere. Could this be something to do with the Leader slipping his disc ?

RETURN TO THE FRONTLINE !

Well my 2 week holiday passed well and I have also returned from a Conference 'up north' last week feeling well-relaxed - until I saw the front page of the County Press at Portsmouth yesterday......'£300,000 pay rise for top Council officers'. Got my blood pressure right up.

It seems that the Cabinet meeting I missed this week has agreed a new top management structure to ensure the new semi-detached, £150,000 per annum Chief Executive is well-supported. You couldn't make it up ! Adverts have already been placed for new top managers and this Tory Council continues on its merry way of taking the p**s out of low-paid Islanders, and without anyone at Cabinet to at least try to challenge them.

Ironically, whilst I was away our Scrutiny report on Wightcare seems to have ruffled quite a number of Tory feathers - and all it does is try to ensure the transfer of low-paid, mainly female home carers to the private sector is deferred whilst a proper review is undertaken into this in-house service. At a part year cost of not much more than £300k !

BLOG BREAK

I' m taking a little break from blogging for the next 3 weeks ! Don't miss me too much....

FIRST SCRUTINY REPORT - WIGHTCARE

The first enquiry of the Scrutiny Committee since May 2005 - into Wightcare - has concluded and is now in the public domain. I have commented,

"This enquiry is about a matter of significant public interest and the three of us who lead this enquiry have come to the conclusion that any transfer of Wightcare homecare should be deferred for the next year to allow a full business Review and service-user consultation to take place. We have consequently recommended that the Council leadership re-prioritise their expenditure in Adult Services to achieve this deferral, which we consider achievable if there is the political will to accept our report.

The Report has been submitted to Cllr Cousins, Cabinet Member for Care, Health & Housing, and I hope she and the rest of the Cabinet will welcome it and take on board the recommendations as soon as possible."

GHOSTS OF LIBERAL PAST !

Full Council tonight and it was like one of those fifties zombie movies ! The public gallery was stuffed with failed and largely unlamented ex-Liberal councillors - all there to see the appointment (by the Tories, as no one else was consulted) of one of their own as the new Chairman of the Council. It was a real 'rogue's gallery' - reinforcing why they had their electoral debacle last year. Still at least the rump of them left recently got their act together at last and formed a proper group; with good old Henry as leader...

Most of the meeting was pretty tedious, though there was a Cabinet re-shuffle of sorts announced by the Council leader - with the care and child protection elements of Children's Services moved from Patrick Joyce to Dawn Cousins (contradicting the government's Every Child Matters philosophy), and a thunderous looking Tim Hunter-Henderson dumped with much of Jilly Wood's previous portfolio on top of all the rest he holds, so that she can mess around with parish councils.

I was re-appointed as Chair of Scrutiny for another year and consequently went home at the end to work on finishing off our Wightcare scrutiny enquiry report, whilst the 'zombies' joined most councillors at a 'reception'.

MIDDLE SCHOOLS STILL UNDER REVIEW ?

Very interesting exchange at Cabinet tonight between my colleague Cllr Gardiner and the Council leadership over the Tory's commitment to retaining middle schools. The Council leader had recently given an absolute commitment to their retention after making it a (successful) election issue last year.

Deborah asked for that commitment again, got it from the leader, and then pointed out that this contradicted what they had told the Schools Minister, when summoned to Westminster on 15 Feb this year to explain what they were doing to address educational under-performance. The notes of that ministerial meeting, which she had obtained from the DfES, reported that the Council leaders had said "they were exploring a gradual move to 0-7, 7-11 and 11-16 provision" (which of course is not what we have now) "which could provide efficiencies as well as supporting standards".

This caused quite some consternation at the Cabinet table and lots of bluster about ensuring parents were consulted about any future changes, if there were to be any. Which of course is what everyone would want!

The beauties of Freedom of Information - brought in by a Labour government......

MORE TO LIFE THAN MONEY ?

After the announcement by the Tory national leader that "there are more things to life than money" I wonder if this welcome philosophy will now permeate to our local Tory Council - who know the price of everything, but little of the value ? A real pity that "we get this Gradgrindian lot just at a time when the national Tories go all caring and fluffy on us", as my Labour colleague Deborah Gardiner remarked !

BUDGET SHORTFALL

Further to my previous postings on the required efficiences for this year's Budget (May 9th).

Seems that there is still a fair amount to find after all, despite the claim of it all being 'sorted'. Somewhere in the region of £2.5 million at least.

And they still claim there won't be cuts in frontline services ?????

TORIES FOIST ONE OF THEIRS ON ME AS SCRUTINY VICE CHAIR

Seemingly because of critical comments about their budget on this blog and in Labour campaign literature, and perhaps because the CPA inspectors have now disappeared for a while, I have now had the Tories on the Scrutiny Committee foisting one of their own unelected co-optees on to me as Vice Chair.

Despite assurances when the CPA inspectors were here that the opposition members on the committee would be able to elect their own Vice Chair - someone to help me with the Chair's job - last Thursday the Tory members outvoted the opposition choice in favour of their own co-optee. So much for 'opposition control', but I will make sure this this change in approach is made known.

Perhaps they will now get rid of me as Chair at next week's Annual Council ? That would be their best step if they are feeling so defensive, because I can assure them that they haven't seen any real criticism yet !

'SUPERCOUNCILLOR SUTTON' APPEARS AT SCRUTINY

This afternoon saw the Scrutiny Committee. Went reasonably well with some tough questioning of the Care, Health & Housing Cabinet Member on the proposed Wightcare privatisation. However, there was 'Supercouncillor Sutton' along to ride shotgun and to help out when there were difficulties. I hope this isn't a sign of the future. We either have a Cabinet or its a case of the 'Man with Seven Portfolios' and we just ask him along for all enquiries ! Now to put our Report together.....

Interestingly there were a dozen or so members of the public present - some from Wightcare - and the County Press, but not a single councillor other than those on the Committee or called before it. Must be a good dinner tonight !!!

KEEPING ON KEEPING ON....

I'm aware that my blog has been a little unexciting lately, but there has been little to say that is particularly noteworthy and something I can report...

Last week saw the CPA inspection conclude, with the report due out in August. The inspectors have probably fallen for all the flannel, such is the return anyone would expect from all the resources thrown at the inspection over the last few months.

This week sees my second Scrutiny Committee as Chair - equaling the record for a Chair of this committee, but in only 2 months - not the 5 months my predecessor had ! We have Cllr Cousins coming along to answer questions on the proposed Wightcare privatisation, which will be an interesting session. I then have to draw the enquiry to a conclusion by 26 May. We also have the Council Leader along to tell us what happened to the 'strategic partnering' business case.

The meeting is at 4pm - yes 4pm, irony of ironies - as someone saw fit to organise an 'end of term' dinner for the Council Chairman that evening without checking the Council calendar. Talk about 'silo' working ! It wouldn't have affected me, but some of the committee wanted to show their regard for the Chairman. So we got an 'exceptional circumstances' time change. Of course this will mean there are less ordinary people there to observe the meeting.

A RECENT COMMENT

The comment placed on my last post just needs to have attention drawn to it - so here it is:

Have it on the highest authority that they’re going to sell County Hall and Seaclose, redevelop Sea Street, and meet in a marquee on one of Barry Abrahams’ fields; Housing services will be privatized, and run by Hoogstraten Services Inc (“Quality Services – Only British Thugs Employed”); Schools will be run by the Elim Pentecostal Church, from their shed at Coppins Bridge, in return for minor influence on the curriculum – it won’t matter, because God loves YOU!; and roads will just be allowed to crumble, thus saving on bus subsidies, ending coach travel, and, incidentally, stopping the working classes from moving about.

I think you’ll find this is all perfectly sensible when you come to think about it, and the model for local councils throughout the country. It will be marvellous for tourism, because people won’t need to go abroad anymore to see what a third world economy is really like; and our young people will be able to take advantage of the enormous opportunities opened up for prostitution and drug trafficking by the arrival of the international jet-set as they pour into Sutton International Airport at Sandown.

In preparation for this, I am investing in a smock and begging bowl: it is my duty to play my part in Isle of Wight regeneration by really throwing myself into the role of Village Idiot plc, and I hope our others are not going to be backward in coming forward in these days of exciting opportunity by any kind of curmudgeonly reluctance to seize the new future.

Aim high! Such is our creed (I have tried this, but there is a problem with splash-back......)

EFFICIENCIES ? WHAT EFFICIENCIES ?

My world is sometimes surreal ! Last week I was told by a leading Cabinet member that Deborah and I had the wrong end of the stick in claiming the Council has to make £6m worth of budget efficiencies this financial year. I was told not to worry (my little head ?), they had already been made as part of the 'sorting out' of the inherited previous year's budget.

Well I went away- not feeling re-assured, more puzzled. I dug out the Budget resolution agreed last February by this Council and noted that yes, this budget is predicated on £6m of efficiencies being in place - though where they were is another question.

However, the same resolution also had a Council Tax projection for the next 3 years. This shows that far from anyone being re-assured, the efficiencies required for this year amount to £4.3m, for next year £9.6m, and for March 2009 - just before the next elections - £13.7m. A massive total of £27.6 MILLION !

And I am supposed to be re-assured ???????????????

PAN BUS MEETING GOES WELL

My public meeting last night went pretty well, though nothing has really changed. About 80 local people turned up, the vast majority of whom - but not all - are unhappy at the new double-decker service.

Marc Morgan Huws of Southern Vectis bravely accepted my invitation. He explained why SV want to use the Furrlongs route, and an officer of the Public Transport section of the Council then explained that buses (under existing legisaltion) can basically go where they like if the service is not a subsidised one - as this one isn't. There were then loads of questions, comments and criticisms and Marc was left in no doubt as to majority local opinion - as reflected in my quick, 400-signature petition last month.

Pleas to change the service to single-decker were made by most present and maybe SV will listen to them next September when the next timetable comes out.

I wrapped up the meeting by urging SV to change to a single-decker service and pledged to continue lobbying SV about this in the months to come.

Feedback from attendees has been very positive today as they were pleased to get the opprtunity to voice their concerns personally.

INSPECTORS QUIZ ME ON MORALE

Met with one of the CPA inspectors yesterday. Wanted to know all about the Scrutiny debacle pre-April and what my priorities for the Island are - real, well paid jobs; real affordable housing; real educational improvement; and real sustainable and intregrated transport options. I used the word REAL a lot! He seemed approving of my post-April Scrutiny agenda, and I pointed out the administration could have had that from last November.

Was also very interested - entirely unprompted by me - in staff morale issues. Gave him my perspective. This seems to be a quite a theme....

Told him this was the most overtly political administration at County Hall in a generation.

AN INSPECTOR CALLS

Tomorrow I will be meeting with the the Council's Comprehensive Performance Assessment assessors. Should be interesting....

PAN BUS MEETING

Wednesday sees my public meeting on Pan about the unpopular new bus service through the estate. The meeting takes place at Downside Middle School at 7pm, and I have Marc Morgan Huws along from Southern Vectis to answer questions and hear concerns, as well as a Highways officer.

SCRUTINEERING

The Wightcare privatisation scrutiny enquiry continues apace. Myself and my two enquiry colleagues continue to have meetings with identified stakeholders. This is interesting stuff and I am looking forward to pulling it all together into a final report in late May.

Obviously I won't say much about these enquiries on this blog, as it is unfair to the participants; suffice to say I am not going to pass up this opportunity to make scrutiny meaningful.

CONFIRMED - NO BUSINESS CASE

The Summary version of PA Consulting's report on support services privatisation is out this afternoon. 14 pages of wriggling on a the hook that the Tories created for themselves in their manifesto: a 3000 word, 10 page document that they must be beginning to deeply regret.

Essentially PA recommend that support services should not be transferred to a private company, but that a private company will be brought in to help the Council secure increased efficiencies in its support services. This model is called with that wonderful use of plain English that surrounds consultancies - a Strategic Transformation Partnership. Sounds like something out of Dr Who - on the baddies side !

In plain English - an outside consultant ! A bit like the education partnership with Mouchell Parkman. Wonder how that is going ?