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 ?

BUSINESS CASE DELAY BECAUSE......

..........there was no business case, as many have long suggested ? If that were the case it would be another (welcome) reneging on one of the Tories' manifesto commitments. So it probably had to go back to PA with instructions to get them off that particular hook.

No doubt opposition councillors might find out what is happening sometime this week. Rumours abound, but I feel like the proverbial mushroom !

CASE FOR PRIVATISATION

The PA Consulting 'business case' for strategic partnering is expected out this week. Was due at end of March. What was the delay ?

SCRUTINY STIRS INTEREST ! SHOCK STORY...

I know its beating my own drum, but it was generally acknowledged that the first Scrutiny Committee with me as Chair last night was the real McCoy - for the first time since last July. A powerful example of non-executive councillors, and lay people, beginning the process of holding the Cabinet to account over a decision of high public interest - the proposed privatisation of Wightcare.

We had three very courageous Home Care Organisers presenting a case for retaining Wightcare as a Council service, albeit with less restrictions on what services it can offer; with a media presence, as many members of the public as you see at Full Council and more than at Cabinet, and about a dozen Tory councillors observing.

The one in May will have its first Cabinet member appearing and will be an even better example of what public scrutiny is about, with an element of political theatre.

I felt proud that a Labour councillor is facilitating this - though I know what follows pride !!!! And the rest of the committee, of all parties and none, fully played their part

CAREERIST POLITICIANS

At Full Council this week we had Cllr Ian Stephens - currently an 'independent' - applauding himself for being non-political - when he was a leading LibDem until last May before jumping that particular sinking ship to save his electoral skin.

We have also learnt that LibDem Cllr Charles Chapman will be nominated by the Tories as the next Council Chairman from next month; no doubt to be followed by him making a political journey himself, to demonstrate his gratitude.

At this rate there will be no LibDem councillors at all. One thing is certain - Labour councillors at County Hall know what principle is.

HELLO TORY BACKBENCHERS !

I have been told that my blog is the best source of Council information for the 50% of the Tory Group who have no special responsibility ! Indeed there are repeated rumours of a Tory 'Backbench Committee' !

Of course tomorrow afternoon sees the annual meeting of the Tory Group where they decide who will be nominated as Council Leader etc at May's Full Council. Strikes me that this is an opportunity for the 'dispossessed, unemployed and unvalued' to exert their latent power.

Of course they could just join the Labour party instead as it is clear there are a good number who aren't really Tories....you know who you are !

NEW CHIEF EXECUTIVE

Councillors learnt last night who the new Chief Executive will be - some chap from Westminster City Council, a Council which is busy outsourcing their staff to the north of Scotland.

The appointment was made by a panel of seven - five Tories, one Independent and my Labour colleague Cllr Gardiner. Haven't had the chance to speak to her about it yet.

However, it is interesting how this appointment will be recommended to Full Council next week with so little involvement of all the Councillors. Good practice would have ensured that the other 41 councillors would have had the opportunity to meet the candidates informally and feedback their impressions to the panel, but this did not happen. At least it didn't happen to a significant number, including at least one Cabinet member and myself - who does have an allegedly important role in this Council as Scrutiny Chair.

FESTIVAL GETS LICENCE

The Festival licence was granted last night, including the new limit of 59,999. I spoke in favour of a limit of 40,000 - as last year - but predictably it fell on deaf ears, though local people have thanked me for doing so. When Conservatives - who constituted the entire Licensing Committee - have to balance the interests of business and local people there is no contest. All a waste of time really, particularly when my own local councillor was banned from speaking. I would have told them to get lost if that had affected Pan.

WHO 'BANISHED' THE LIBDEMS?

Cabinet tonight. Only agenda item was progressing the Decriminalisation of Car Parking for April 2007, which I support as it may help with my other plans to have Newport's residential streets turned into a short-stay parking zone for non-residents. More on that in a fortnight.

Had some fun! Welcomed the Leader's comments in a magazine article that he would be happy to see the LibDem party banished on the Island, but asked him if he agreed that the Island electorate had effectively done that last May, with the plummeting of their vote and the continuing rise in the Labour vote. Of course he agreed. And gave us his usual anti-LibDem tirade - no principles, no leadership, no responsibility, etc etc. Helped introduce some humour to the proceedings. And of course, it is all true !

TEA WARS

Good to see that the issue of free tea and coffee in the Councillors' kitchen at County Hall is fully exercising some Councillors. Talk about fiddling whilst Rome burns !

SECRET MEETING WITH SOLO

Very interesting that the Cabinet is meeting privately with the Festival promoter next Tuesday - just after the Licensing Committee........

55,000 IS TOO MANY

Next Thursday I will urge the Council's Licensing Committee to limit the numbers allowed for the IW Rock Festival to 35,000. That was the figure last year and is more than enough for the Seaclose Park location. I support the festival entirely, having been there in two of the last three years (paying for my own ticket), but feel strongly that there has to be a limit for this residential area - on both numbers and licensing hours. Its not in my ward, though I do live there, but I have had concerns expressed from people in Pan adjacent to the Fairlee area.

The promoters have cleverly and cynically tried to back the Licensing Committee into a corner. They have sold 55,000 tickets without having the licence for such numbers, and will no doubt threaten to pull out if they don't get their way. This week's County Press has given us a compliant public relations push by the promoter, delivering the image of a major philanthropist and benefactor for the Island. Bottom line for all promoters of festivals - they want to make as much money as possible......

TOWARDS A TOWN COUNCIL

The petition for a Newport Town Council is progressing well, with 60% of the required signatures secured. Last night saw the establishment of the transitional body - the Newport Town Management Committee - that will eventually lead to a Town Council. All the IW Councillors are on it, plus up to 7 co-opted people - appointed through due process. Sadly no one from Pan applied to be co-opted, though there is still a vacancy. Must see what I can do.

Astonishingly at this inaugural meeting I somehow got elected as the Chair for the next year. Not sure how this happened when there are six Tory Councillors or members out of the 12 current members, but I won an election 6 votes to 5 ! Obviously this leads to even more responsibility for an already hard-working councillor, but as ever I will give it my best.

TORY PUPIL EXCLUSION CENTRE BITES DUST

Another Tory manifesto commitment - to SET UP an Exclusion Centre for unruly school students - has bitten the dust. However, I have to say I am delighted. Such centres will never solve behaviour problems; only proper support from County Hall, parents, staff and governors will. An example of populist promises not being based on realities.

Apart from that I have spent much of the week so far getting the Scrutiny enquiry into the Wightcare privatisation moving, and dealing with irate residents of Furrlongs about the buses through Pan estate. I have decided to go ahead with a public meeting about the latter on 3rd May at Downside Middle School (7pm) at which there will be representatives of Southern Vectis and Highways to answer questions and respond to mounting concerns.