YEAR 9 U-TURN IN THE OFFING

Late Friday afternoon's are very much a time when the Council communications operation likes to sneak out press releases that may not be reported on so comprehensively.

This Friday it was a Council decision to DEFER any final decision on school re-organisation - in particular regarding the future location of Year 9 - by a month. The excuse is they need more time to consider the comments they have had about the proposals; thus causing continuing uncertainty.

Are they on the point of making a sane decision ?

BOOTED OUT ?

No matter how they dress it up it would seem that there was another Cabinet sacking last week. Jilly Wood was demoted to a sort of 'Cabinet Secretary' in last weeks reshuffle, and seemed to be suggesting she would still be part of the Cabinet. She sent out on Friday a very helpful guide (from the Constitution) as to what Cabinet Secs are supposed to do; only for her then to 'recall' the message 6 hours later - probably because she was wrongly assuming her role would be similar to the two original Cabinet Secs - Pugh and Wells. Clearly not. Very presumptive. Those two know how powerful the full role was.......

FIRST CONCLUSIONS ?

It looks like the first conclusions of the Council's Undercliff investigation may be on their way. The secretive Council committee (that occasionally meets in public and then throws the public out almost immediately) is scheduled to meet in a week's time. It will consider the recommendations of the independent person who has investigated the disciplinary charges against one of the chief officers currently suspended. Presumably the recommendations and what they then decide to do might get into the public domain sometime soon after.

STILL NOT LISTENING

In the CP's softly-softly interview with the new leader of the Council today he is quoted as wanting 'to involve the Council's opposition members in the process (of listening), should they wish to engage'.

Such a short memory ! The Labour (and it has to be said independent) members of the Council have always engaged with the Council as fully as possible - until last May. Labour did it more fully through the old Scrutiny Committee when I was Chair, and the committee attempted to have input into policy and advice on decision-making. But the Tories didn't like it and broke their promises to me - made by the now leader.

Ever since the new Scrutiny Committee, barring one rare incident over Shanklin Theatre, has generally been a Tory cheerleaders forum.

If the new leader really wants to listen to opposition members he could start by creating a proper opposition-run internal Scrutiny Committee, which also dealt with performance review - and leave the current committee to the external stuff that will need to be done in the months to come.

But he won't.

NO PLACE FOR NICE GUYS ?

After spending yesterday in the CCU at St Mary's after experiencing some chest pains* - I have returned home today to find that the fallout from last week's coup is continuing. A Cabinet reshuffle by the new Leader has proved the old adage that there is no place for nice guys in the nasty party !!! Ian Ward has been unceremoniously dumped by the new leader in a re-shuffle that saw him replaced by someone who is both a JP and a member of the Hants Police Authority - wonder how she is going to fit all of this in......

* And in case any one is wondering - no there isn't likely to be a by-election ! I hope.

PLANNING DECISION CHANGED

After the almost unprecedented criticism by Council officers of the recent controversial planning decision, it returned to the Planning Committee tonight after the due period of 'cooling off'. And I went along feeling like the curious bystander at a funeral........

As expected arms had been twisted sufficiently for the decision to be overturned, with two of the Gang of 6 who approved the application last July missing, two changing their minds, and two showing they weren't 'heated up' in the first place. Interestingly two missing Tories from the last decision turned up this time and voted for approval !

An independent former-Tory councillor initially attempted to defer any fresh decision, but was trampled on from a great height whilst protesting about 'Mickey Mouse' proceedings. I think he had a point........

WHAT SORT OF COUNCIL.......

........would seriously name part of its Budget monitoring process as a 'Star Chamber' ? The following is a desciption of the historical origin of the name from Wikipedia,

"The Star Chamber was an English court of law at the royal Palace of Westminster that sat between 1487 and 1641, when the court itself was abolished. Its primary purpose was to hear political libel and treason cases.

In modern usage, legal or administrative bodies with strict, arbitrary rulings and secretive proceedings are sometimes called, metaphorically or poetically, star chambers. This is a pejorative term and intended to cast doubt on the legitimacy of the proceedings."

Surely only a mad one like the Isle of Wight ! What next I wonder - The Inquisition perhaps?

OH DEAR........OH DEAR .....

After referring the suspiciously decided Planning application (see my yesterdays blog) to the national Standards Board last Monday, the leader of the Council today offered his resignation to the Tory group - and they accepted it. Also resigning at what must have been an even more blood-soaked Tory Group meeting than usual are the Deputy Leader Cllr Joyce and and his sidekick Cabinet member for Children's Services, Cllr Swan.

At Full Council tonight Cllr David Pugh - the baby faced assassin, as the comment on my last post describes him ? - was elected Leader, with Cllr George Brown as Deputy. Only Deborah and I opposed, with the other 'opposition' members abstaining. Cllr Alan Wells takes on the Childrens Services portfolio. Further Cabinet changes will be announced later. Cllr Sutton is going to be some sort of mainland emissary - just like fallen patricians were exiled from Rome, to prevent them getting revenge.

One thing you should never do is offer to resign unless you are certain it won't be accepted. Otherwise, just resign and have done without any messing around.

I suspect the style of the new leader will be less abrasive than his predecessor, but the substance will change not one jot.

After that the Full Council tonight was quite subdued. Deborah and I were our usual difficult selves - voting against Tory policies, whilst the Liberals and Independents generally supported them.

My plea to know something about the latest mysterious people appointed to the local Standards Committee was treated as if I was asking for nuclear secrets. That committee is seriously worrying me under its new direction.

A new Housing Strategy that failed to convince me that the Council will up its game in actual delivery of affordable housing for Islanders was carried with only Deborah and I against. Warm words don't provide roofs.

I asked Pugh about the Undercliff enquiry and was told that it is drawing to a conclusion. Amazing how we still don't get briefed on anything. I also asked him when, if ever, we were going to get a non-Tory Chair of the Tory-controlled new Scrutiny Committee, and was told that he wants to re-engage with opposition members of the Council !

Finally I got a commitment from Cllr Cousins that the NHS Trust's recent decision to conduct much of its financial decision-making behing closed doors - as reported in the press a few weeks ago - was something she would raise with them as part of their close working. She told me 'my point was well made'. I look forward to the response.

And so a new era dawns. To think, just one year the now ex-Leader was berating me at Full Council for being an atheist. Live by the sword - die by the sword ! Who next.......

THEY CAN'T BE SERIOUS !

The Council's website has won an award from something called Hantsweb for the 'Best Public Sector Website'. Fair enough.

Though you start to wonder what the standard was like when they also praise the Chief Execs blog! With just 11 posts since the new year it isn't really what you could call an active, cutting edge blog.

Perhaps the judges need some help with the standards currently available in blogging. And no, I don't consider this blog as even in the best 90%.

OH DEAR........

Sometimes Councillors across the UK do things that taint the entire reputation of local government. How often am I told by people that everything to do with local government, especially Planning, is corrupt ? It really annoys me.

Sadly something suspicious seems to have been happening here in Planning, that seems to involve Members primarily, but not exclusively, of the ruling group.

See
http://www.iwight.com/council/committees/Planning%20Committee/25-9-07/Paper%20B.pdf


The matter has rightly been referred to the Standards Board of England. I hope the suspicions are unfounded. If they are I will expect and demand resignations.

ALMOST LIKE THE GOOD OLD DAYS !

Last night's meeting of what I call the New Scrutiny Committee - as opposed to the excellent Old Scrutiny Committee - was tremendous. Even with its in-built Tory majority.

The main business was a call-in of a Cabinet-member decision on the future of Shanklin Theatre (right). Everything but the kitchen sink had been thrown at stopping this call in, and I can see why now. Fortunately the call-in was achieved.

The best bit of the questioning of the relevant Cabinet member last night was that by one of our co-optees who knows a thing or two about rescuing theatres. She tore him and his unsubstantiated decision apart and left him squirming and sweating profusely. Very rarely you get moments like this. Cllrs Mosdell and Bishop over Constructionline last December, Cllr Gardiner over Wightcare earlier in 2006. And each time the hairs stand up on the back of my neck as we see real scrutiny an action. If only we had our Old committee back, though I suspect this will be the last time this will be allowed to happen on any form of Scrutiny Committee.

The outcome was a referral back of the decision to the Cabinet member, with a recommendation that he talk further with our co-optee before revising his decision at the end of the month. This went through 6:3 with the votes in favour Cllrs Price (LibDem), Foster (Ind), Bishop & Churchman (Con) and me, plus the aforementioned co-optee Mrs Poston. Against were Tory Cllrs Tuson, Bulwer and Burt - who said he would like to see the theatre knocked down and developed as flats !

NEWS ON THE PAN DEVELOPMENT

MISSING......BACK SOON

Yes, I know, my record on this blog hasn't been too good lately. You'll be calling me Duckegg next! A mixture of post-by-election blues and loads to do in Pan. There is something about this Council that seems to engender a feeling of wading through treacle. You never get straight answers to simple questions and chasing up simple requests takes increasing amounts of time.

Nevertheless, once this brief summer period is out of the way it will be back to the battle at Full Council next week, where I have much to pursue.

HARDLY A RINGING ENDORSEMENT

Last week the Conservatives at County Hall held Newport North ward with the support of just over 10% of the local electorate - or 35% of those who turned out to vote. Their Leader is now claiming it as a "ringing endorsement" of his Council leadership.

Talk about desperate !