MERRY XMAS AND A PEACEFUL NEW YEAR

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

GAGGED - AS PAN IS PUSHED FORWARD

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

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

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

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

SLOW THE PAN PLANNING RUSH

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

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

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

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

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

NO ACCOUNT HELD

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

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

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

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

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

HIDE THEIR HEADS IN SHAME

Back on October 31 2006 I wrote here,

IF NOT WELLOW, THEN WHERE ?

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

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

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

NO SCRUTINY ROW AT FULL COUNCIL

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

And an early finish at 7.30pm.

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

JUST NOT LISTENING

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

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

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

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

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

SELDOM SEEN KID

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

JOBS AXE HANGS OVER COUNTY HALL - AGAIN

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

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

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

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

I think what I said at the end was important.

MP DEFENDING INDEFENSIBLE

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

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

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

CLUELESS COUNCIL

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

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

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

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

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

SILENCE OF THE LAMBS

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

All over by 8.20pm and an early return home.

ED MILIBAND MEETING VERY POSITIVE

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

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

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

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

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

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

GOVERNMENT MINISTER IN PAN, AGAIN

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

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

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

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

MORE ON THE SEVEN YEAR ITCH

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

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

Voting on the night can be summarised as follows:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

COUNCIL TO PRIVATISE SANDOWN & RYDE SECONDARY SCHOOLS

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

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

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

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

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

STILL TRYING TO HELP.....

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

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

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

SLEEP-WALKING OUR WAY TO PRIVATISED SECONDARY SCHOOLS ?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

IN ALL OUR INTERESTS......

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

"A DAMN GOOD DEAL"

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

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

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

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

WHERE'S THE MISSING BANNER ?

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

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

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

WITH THE NODDING DOGS

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

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

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

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

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

TILTING AT WINDMILLS.....

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

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

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

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

COOKING FOR THE VESTAS MASSES

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

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

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

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

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

VESTAS - SHAME ON THE IW COUNCIL

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

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

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

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

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

GLOBAL CAPITALISM LEADS TO VESTAS CLOSURE

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

A LIBERAL DOSE OF INEPTITUDE

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

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

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

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

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

DANCING ATTENDANCE - AGAIN.....

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

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

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

A TALE OF TWO CAMERONS

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

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

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

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

TORIES EXERT TOTAL CONTROL

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

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

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

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

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

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

NEW PLANS FOR PAN

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

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

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

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

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

GETTING BACK TO NORMAL

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

BACK AGAIN !

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

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

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

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

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

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

GOODBYE TO ALL THAT - FOR NOW!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

SIMMERING RESENTMENT

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

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

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

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

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

CLEANING OUT THE RUBBISH ?

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

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

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

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

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

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

TRAFALGAR TURN AROUND IMPENDING ?

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

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

WHAT'S THE SURPRISE ?

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

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

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

"I WANT TO WIN JUST ONCE !"

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

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

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

ARE OUR FERRIES PROVIDING A PROPER PUBLIC SERVICE ?

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

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

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

Council, therefore, resolves:

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

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

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

"YOUR ISLAND, YOUR COUNCIL"

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

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

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

The Manifesto brief says:

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

YOUR COUNCIL TAX

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

YOUR SCHOOLS & YOUR CHILDREN

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

YOUR HOMES

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

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

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

YOUR TRAVEL

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

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

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

YOUR ENVIRONMENT

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

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

YOUR QUALITY OF LIFE

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

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

YOUR HEALTH AND CARE

• Increase support for patient and carer travel to mainland hospitals.

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

LAW & ORDER IN YOUR COMMUNITIES

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

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

• Increase resources for CCTV monitoring capacity

QUALITY JOBS FOR ISLAND PEOPLE

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

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

HELPING TOURISM

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