This week in Isles of Scilly:

Tresco Planning Application Approved Amidst Conservation Concerns

The Full Council met on June 25, 2025, and among the items discussed was a planning application for Watch House, Raven's Lane, Old Grimsby, Tresco. The application, P/25/020/HH, requested permission to replace an existing single-storey conservatory, add a new internal wall, demolish a small area of existing internal wall, and add a small lean-to utility room. Link to FULL COUNCIL Agenda

• Conservation Area Impact: The planning assessment highlighted key issues, including compliance with the Isles of Scilly Local Plan (2015-2030) and the National Planning Policy Framework (2024), and whether the works were appropriate in a National Landscape and Heritage Coast, and would preserve and enhance the character of the Conservation Area.
• Approval Recommended: Stella New, Development Management Lead for South Downs National Park Authority, recommended approval, delegating authority to the Chief Planning Officer, Lisa Walton, for minor changes to the conditions.
• Conditions Attached: The approval came with several conditions, including a three-year commencement deadline, adherence to approved plans, a scheme for waste management during construction, and ecological enhancements such as bat and bird boxes.

The decision to approve this application underscores the council's balancing act between development and conservation, particularly in sensitive environmental areas.

Housing Policy Review Considers Vulnerable Residents

The Full Council also discussed a review of the Housing Allocations Policy, aiming to determine whether to add any additional preference to the policy. Link to FULL COUNCIL Agenda

• Strategic Review: Nicola Stinson, Strategic Director of Place, Economy and Environment, presented the report, prompting councillors to consider adding preferences to the policy, adopting the revised policy, and agreeing to monitor outcomes annually.
• Impact on Vulnerable Groups: Any changes to the Housing Allocations Policy could significantly impact vulnerable residents, potentially affecting their access to suitable and affordable housing.
• Complaint Handling: The council also discussed a Complaint Handling Failure Notice from the Housing Ombudsman, presented by Nicola Stinson. Councillors were asked to note the contents of the notice and the lessons learned, following the Complaint Handling Code 2024 which came into effect on 1 April 2024.
• Feedback Policy: Councillors were also scheduled to consider an update to the Providing Feedback Policy, with Nicola Stinson presenting the report and councillors asked to approve further changes to the updated policy.

These discussions highlight the council's ongoing efforts to refine its housing policies and address complaints, with a focus on improving services for residents.

Fishing Gear Permit Byelaw Amended Amid Monitoring Concerns

The Isles of Scilly Inshore Fisheries & Conservation Authority (IFCA) met on June 24, 2025, to discuss the Fishing Gear Permit Byelaw 2021, which came into force on 25 December 2025, and replaced the Fishing Gear Permit Byelaw 2013. Link to Isles of Scilly Inshore Fisheries & Conservation Authority (IFCA) Agenda

• Permit Conditions: The meeting agenda included discussion of the Fishing Gear Permit Byelaw 2021, which came into force on 25 December 2025, and replaced the Fishing Gear Permit Byelaw 2013.
• iVMS Changes: It was noted that since the byelaw was made, there have been changes to the roll out of iVMS¹, and some of the then 'type approved' devices are no longer available. To accommodate future changes in type approved devices, the wording in the interpretation is proposed to be amended to state that a device must be transmitting to the UK VMS Hub and that the Hub can then make that data available rather than specify particular unit types.
• Remote Monitoring: An addition to the interpretation for specified equipment is the proposed amendment to provide the Authority with the ability to require other remote monitoring equipment to be installed onboard a permitted vessel, such as cameras or remotely monitored electronic tags or gear sensors.
• Permit Policy: Also scheduled for discussion was a policy for issuing permits under the Fishing Gear Permit Byelaw 2021. The report pack noted that the Fishing Gear Permit Byelaw 2021 does not define a maximum number of permits that the Authority can issue, but that legal opinion was sought regarding the wording in the byelaw for issuing permits, and it is evident that the Authority may decide to set a maximum number of permits that will be issued in any year.

These changes reflect the IFCA's commitment to adapting its monitoring practices to ensure effective enforcement of fishing regulations.

Other matters considered:

• Annual Plan 2025-2026: The Isles of Scilly IFCA was expected to discuss its annual plan for 2025-2026, a document which sets out the aims and objectives for the coming year, highlighting particular workstreams, how the Authority will achieve compliance with high level objectives, and areas where there may be additional budget requirements. Link to Isles of Scilly Inshore Fisheries & Conservation Authority (IFCA) Agenda
• Budget Monitor: The Isles of Scilly IFCA was scheduled to discuss its budget forecast for the financial year 2025-2026. The gross revenue budget has been set at £210,887. Link to Isles of Scilly Inshore Fisheries & Conservation Authority (IFCA) Agenda
• Highway Maintenance: The council was scheduled to discuss the Highway Maintenance Manual and Asset Management Policy. The Head of Environment, Rebecca Williams, was expected to present the report, and councillors were to approve and adopt the Highway Maintenance Manual and the Highway Asset Management Policy to discharge the council's statutory duties and responsibilities as Highways Authority. Link to FULL COUNCIL Agenda

Upcoming Meetings

Here's a summary of upcoming meetings and their main topics:

• Licensing Committee on Thursday 03 July 2025 will discuss the appointment of a Licensing Sub-Committee and review minutes from the previous meeting. Link to Licensing Committee Agenda

This week in Isles of Scilly:

Health Board Quorum Concerns Addressed

The Governance Committee met on June 17, 2025, and among the items discussed were the minutes of their previous meeting held on April 29, 2025. The Governance Committee were scheduled to elect a chair and vice-chair, and to consider the Council's Annual Governance Statement. No video of the meeting was provided.

• Health and Wellbeing Board: The committee discussed the Council of the Isles of Scilly Health and Wellbeing Board and the Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly Integrated Care Partnership (CIOSICP)[^12].
• Quorum Issues: A key concern was the quoracy for the Board, especially with mainland attendees and potential adverse weather limiting their ability to attend and vote.
• Children's Wellbeing: Councillor J Williams felt that a wider interpretation of wellbeing should include children, suggesting the inclusion of the Lead Member for Children as a position of equal importance to the Lead Member for Adults.
• Cornwall Council Representation: Councillor J Williams questioned why Cornwall Council could have both their Lead Member for Children and their Lead Member for Adults on the CIOSICP, but Scilly could not.
• Voting Protocols: The Monitoring Officer said that voting protocols for the CIOSICP dictate that consensus is the default position to pass recommendations and that where consensus could not be obtained each member had a vote which gave the islands a vote on the Cornwall Health and Wellbeing Board matters as well as ICP matters which was unusual and quite unique.
• Quorum Amendment: Councillor J Peacock suggested amending the quoracy of the meeting of the Isles of Scilly Health and Wellbeing Board to establish that it be 1 elected member of the council, plus any 2 other members, and any 1 of the officers stated in 18.3.
• Chairman Amendment: The Monitoring Officer asked that a further proposal be considered to permit either the Lead Member for Children or the Lead Member for Adults to be the Chairman of the Isles of Scilly Health and Wellbeing Board, and that the Board make representations to the CIoS ICB¹ and Cornwall Council to increase the membership of the Council of the Isles of Scilly on the aligned Cornwall Council Health and Wellbeing Board and CIoS Integrated Care Partnership to also include the Lead Member for Children.

The committee resolved that:

• The quoracy of the meeting of the Isles of Scilly Health and Wellbeing Board be amended to establish that it be 1 elected member of the council, plus any 2 other members, plus any 1 of the officers stated in 18.3.
• Either the Lead Member for Children or the Lead Member for Adults be the Chairman of the Isles of Scilly Health and Wellbeing Board, and that the Board make representations to the CIoS ICB and Cornwall Council to increase the membership of the Council of the Isles of Scilly on the aligned Cornwall Council Health and Wellbeing Board and CIoS Integrated Care Partnership to also include the Lead Member for Children.
• With the above amendment the proposed Terms of Reference for both the Council of the Isles of Scilly Health and Wellbeing Board and the Cornwall Health and Wellbeing Board and the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Integrated Care Partnership (as a Committee in Common) be recommended to Full Council to approve them for inclusion in the Council's Standing Orders to come into effect from 20 May 2025.
• Delegated authority be provided to the Monitoring Officer, in consultation with the Director for Adult Social Services, to make any final minor amendments to the Terms of Reference for the Cornwall Health and Wellbeing Board and the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Integrated Care Partnership (as a Committee in Common) including accommodating minor changes as necessary received from the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Integrated Care Board and Cornwall Council resulting from their own governance approval processes.

Standing Orders and Constitutional Overview Reviewed

The Governance Committee also discussed the Review of Standing Orders and Constitutional Overview 2025.

• Standing Order 20: Councillor J Williams wanted to broaden out Standing Order 20 to give respect to all persons speaking, not just the chairman of the meeting.
• Lead Member Roles: Councillor Williams expressed the view that the Lead Member for Adults and Public Health be changed to the Lead Member for Adults and that the responsibility for public health be reflected in both role profiles for the Lead Member for Children and the Lead Member for Adults.
• Finance Role: The Chairman felt that the Lead Member for Finance role should be distinct from the Vice-Chairman of Council role as the de-facto qualification consideration.
• Quoracy for Council Meetings: Councillor Mrs A Mumford proposed that the quoracy for Council meetings should be reduced from the 50% held at 8 members, down to 7 members. This was proposed by Councillor Mrs A Mumford and seconded by the Vice-Chairman, and the vote was lost.
• Quoracy for Governance Committee: The Chairman felt that the quoracy for the Governance Committee be reduced to 4 members, so as to bring it in line with the Scrutiny Committee, and also that the terms of reference of the Governance Committee be amended to remove the need for an off-island member at each meeting. This was proposed by Councillor H Legg and seconded by the Vice-Chairman, and the vote was passed.

The committee resolved that:

• Following consideration of the report and its appendices the recommended changes to the Council's Standing Orders highlighted in the report and shown by way of tracked changes in the appendices, subject to the proposed amendments made by the Committee and highlighted in the minutes, and it be recommended to Council that the aforementioned changes be approved.
• That, for clarity, the approach of combining all of the listed documents contained at paragraph 6 of the report into a single document called the Standing Orders of the Isles of Scilly be endorsed and it be recommended to Council that this approach is approved.

Other matters considered by the Governance Committee:

• Capital and Properties Board Terms of Reference: The committee resolved to recommend that the Council approve the terms of reference of the Capital and Properties Board, including amendments regarding the frequency of meetings and who it reports to.
• Member Training 2025: The committee noted the overview of councillor training legal requirements and the intended training schedule for members in 2025.

Link to Governance Committee Agenda

Upcoming Meetings

Here's a summary of upcoming meetings and their main topics:

• FULL COUNCIL on Wednesday 25 June 2025 will discuss planning, governance, financial performance, housing, and highway maintenance. Link to FULL COUNCIL Agenda
• Isles of Scilly Inshore Fisheries & Conservation Authority (IFCA) on Tuesday 24 June 2025 will discuss the budget, review the IFCA constitution, and consider the annual plan. Link to Isles of Scilly Inshore Fisheries & Conservation Authority (IFCA) Agenda

This week in Isles of Scilly:

Learn Scilly's Positive Impact Recognised

The Scrutiny Committee met on June 10, 2025, and among the items discussed was an update on the Learn Scilly service. The Learn Scilly service provides recreational courses, vocational training, and learning and development services for council staff, as well as information, advice, and guidance on employability and skills.

• Positive Impact: The committee was asked to endorse the report, recognising the positive impact and influence of Learn Scilly's work.
• Health Benefits: The report highlighted the link between adult learning and better mental health, as well as the importance of a skilled workforce for economic growth.
• Wide Reach: In the 2023/24 academic year, Learn Scilly facilitated 72 courses, with 273 individuals (approximately 16% of the 19+ population of Scilly) undertaking a course.

The Learn Scilly service was last inspected by Ofsted[^2] in April 2023 and was graded as Good overall.

The report also identified areas for development, including:

• Expanding the curriculum to take full advantage of the new Tailored Learning funding.
• Working with colleagues in Cornwall to ensure equitable access to training and skills through the Shared Prosperity Fund and its successor.
• Supporting island-based businesses to offer apprenticeships and training programmes.

Scrutiny Committee's Workplan for 2025/26

The Scrutiny Committee also discussed and approved its work plan for the 2025/2026 municipal year. The work plan includes a range of topics, including:

• Learn Scilly Update
• Childrens Ofsted[^2]
• Integrated Health Hub
• Learning and workforce Development Advisory Group Annual Report
• Fire and Rescue HMICFRS Report[^4]
• Health Watch Annual Report
• Ofsted Childrens Standing Item
• Housing Crisis Report Update
• Annual Performance Outturn
• Fire Services Update Report
• LGSCO Report to note

The report emphasized the importance of a work plan for the scrutiny committee to be effective and in accordance with statutory guidance.

Upcoming Meetings

Here's a summary of upcoming meetings and their main topics:

• Governance Committee on Tuesday 17 June 2025 will discuss the Council's Annual Governance Statement and review minutes from the previous meeting. Link to Governance Committee Agenda
• FULL COUNCIL on Wednesday 25 June 2025. Link to FULL COUNCIL Agenda
• Isles of Scilly Inshore Fisheries & Conservation Authority (IFCA) on Tuesday 24 June 2025. Link to Isles of Scilly Inshore Fisheries & Conservation Authority (IFCA) Agenda
• Licensing Committee on Tuesday 24 June 2025. Link to Licensing Committee Agenda

This week in Isles of Scilly:

Social Housing and Healthcare Staff Accommodation Prioritised

The Full Council was scheduled to meet this week, and among the items for discussion was a planning application concerning Park House, a former residential care home in Hugh Town, St Mary's. The proposal P/25/026/COU sought to convert the building into a mixed-use property featuring four self-contained units for permanent local needs and one short-term apartment.

• Addressing Housing Needs: The four flats are intended to be retained by the council and rented out as affordable units to individuals on the housing register.
• Supporting Healthcare: The short-term accommodation is proposed to be leased to Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust (CFT) for use by health and social care staff.

The council officers recommended approval of the application, stating:

The proposal will make use of what will become a former care home building for the purposes of providing 4No affordable flats and a 4-bed short-term accommodation unit that will meet the housing needs of health and social care staff employed on the Island.

This decision, if approved, could provide much-needed affordable housing for local residents and support the recruitment and retention of healthcare professionals on the Isles of Scilly[^1]. This is particularly important given the ongoing challenges in attracting and retaining staff in remote areas.

Link to Full Council Agenda

Bryher Boatyard Snoozepods Face Refusal

Another planning application on the agenda was for the Bryher Boatyard, Norrad, Bryher P/25/016/COU. This application requested a temporary change of use to allow for the placement of two containerised snoozepods for up to three years.

• Flood Risk Concerns: Council officers recommended refusal of the application due to flood risk concerns.

The officers' report stated:

The proposed development would result in the siting of highly vulnerable residential development within an area of Flood Zone 3 without an appropriate flood risk assessment.

This decision highlights the council's commitment to protecting residents from potential flood risks, even in temporary accommodation. Flood Zone 3 is defined as land assessed as having a 1% or greater chance of flooding each year from rivers, or a 0.5% or greater chance of flooding each year from the sea.

Link to Full Council Agenda

Sewage Pumping Station Upgrade Proposed for St Mary's

The council was also scheduled to consider application P/25/008/FUL for the redevelopment of the South West Water Pumping Station at Little Porth, Hugh Town, St Mary's. The proposal includes constructing an enlarged wastewater infrastructure building and a temporary construction compound on land at Parsons Field.

• Improved Wastewater Management: The upgrade aims to improve the facility, including a new screening plant to remove inappropriate materials from entering the outfall at Morning Point.

The council officers recommended approval, noting that:

Permission is sought to replace the existing Bishop and Wolf Sewage Pumping Station (SPS) with an improved facility including a new screening plant to remove rags, paper, plastics, and metals which are not appropriate to go through to the outfall at Morning Point (as is the current situation.)

This project, if approved, could lead to a significant improvement in wastewater management on St Mary's, reducing pollution and protecting the local environment.

Link to Full Council Agenda

Other matters considered by the Full Council:

• Building Control Fees: Councillors were scheduled to discuss increasing building control fees and charges to align with those of Cornwall Council, who undertake the Building Control function for the Isles of Scilly.
• Capital and Properties Board: The council was scheduled to discuss the terms of reference for the Capital and Properties Board, including changing the frequency of meetings and clarifying the Board's role in making recommendations.
• Corporate Parenting Strategy: Councillors were scheduled to discuss and approve the Corporate Parenting Strategy, following an Ofsted[^2] inspection that raised concerns about children's services.
• Corporate Parenting Board: The council was scheduled to discuss the constitution of the Overview Panel – The Islands that Care (Corporate Parenting Board) and nominate members to the Panel.
• External Audit Plan: The council was scheduled to review the proposed External Audit Plan 2024-25 and discuss it with the Council’s auditor. The proposed audit fee for 2024/25 is £159,778, a £21,623 increase on the fee for 2023/24.
• Housing Service Complaints: The council was scheduled to discuss the Housing Service Annual Complaints and Service Improvement Report, including changes to the council's Using and Processing Feedback Policy, in light of the Housing Ombudsman's[^3] Complaint Handling Code.
• Chief Fire Officer Recruitment: The council was scheduled to appoint a panel of Members to undertake the recruitment process for the new Chief Fire Officer, as the current officer is due to retire in September 2025.
• Delegated Planning Applications: The council was scheduled to receive a report containing a list of delegated planning applications that have been registered and/or determined since the last schedule was published.

Link to Full Council Agenda