This week in Isles of Scilly:

Governance Committee Tackles Standing Orders and Audit Progress

The Governance Committee met on Thursday, 15 January 2026, to address crucial internal procedures and oversight mechanisms. A key focus was the proposed amendments to the Council's Standing Orders, which aim to clarify decision-making processes for human resource matters concerning the Chief Executive. These changes, recommended for immediate effect, would delegate day-to-day HR tasks to the Head of Human Resources, with more significant issues escalated to a panel of five Members. This move follows a previous council decision in September 2025 regarding the Chief Executive's expenses, highlighting the need for updated governance.

The committee also reviewed the annual letter from the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman, which noted three complaints against the Council during 2024-25, none of which were upheld. Furthermore, an update on internal audits for 2025/26 was discussed, revealing that while cyber security and risk management arrangements provided Reasonable assurance, improvements are needed in areas such as IT officer designation, cyber security training, and the integration of risk management. The draft Annual Governance Statement for 2024-25 was also considered, with a significant governance issue identified: the need to update policies and procedures, with ongoing work planned for the coming year. The external auditor's findings pointed to significant weaknesses in financial sustainability, particularly concerning overspends within Adult Social Care, demanding urgent action.

• Impact on Residents: Clearer procedures for HR matters related to the Chief Executive ensure accountability and efficient management. The review of the Ombudsman's letter provides assurance that complaints are handled fairly. The internal audit findings, especially regarding cyber security and financial sustainability, are vital for protecting council data and ensuring the long-term viability of services that residents rely on. The identified overspend in Adult Social Care is a particular concern, as it could impact the level of support available to vulnerable adults.

You can find more details in the Governance Committee agenda.

Fisheries Authority Considers Gear Permit Changes and Management Updates

On Thursday, 15 January 2026, the Isles of Scilly Inshore Fisheries & Conservation Authority (IFCA) convened to discuss proposed amendments to fishing gear permit conditions and receive updates on various fisheries management issues. A significant portion of the meeting was dedicated to revising the Fishing Gear Permit Byelaw 2021.

Key proposals included:

• Remote Monitoring: Allowing the Authority to require additional remote monitoring equipment on permitted vessels, aligning with national policies.
• iVMS Units: Broadening the range of approved Inshore Vessel Monitoring System (iVMS) units for compliance.
• Dredging Tow Bar Length: A proposal for a maximum tow bar length of three metres for dredging vessels was not recommended for implementation due to objections and cost implications, with a focus shifting to monitoring dredge use.
• Dredging Fishing Times: Introducing restricted fishing times (07:00 to 19:00) for vessels using dredges, aligning with measures in neighbouring IFCA districts.

The Authority recommended implementing the first three proposals, with the fourth also being recommended for implementation. The Chief Officer's Report provided updates on permit applications, the analysis of a subsea imaging survey, and ongoing issues with iVMS data access. National fisheries issues were also discussed, including upcoming increases to Minimum Conservation Reference Sizes (MCRS) for edible crabs and lobsters, and Defra's announcement of animal welfare reforms for decapod crustaceans. The report also noted the UK's increased Atlantic Blue Fin tuna quota for 2026 and 2027, and a small pollack quota for 2026.

• Impact on Local Economy: These decisions directly affect the livelihoods of local fishermen. Changes to permit conditions and fishing times can influence operational practices and the sustainability of fish stocks, which are vital for the island's economy and food security. The focus on remote monitoring and iVMS aims to improve compliance and data collection, supporting evidence-based management for the long-term health of our marine environment.

You can read more about these discussions in the Isles of Scilly Inshore Fisheries & Conservation Authority (IFCA) agenda.

Other Matters

The Governance Committee also reviewed the draft Annual Governance Statement for 2024-25, a crucial document assessing the council's adherence to its governance code.

Upcoming Meetings

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

• The Licensing Committee on Tuesday 20 January 2026 will convene to discuss proposed updates to the council's Licensing Policy and a new Street Trading Policy for 2026. Link to Licensing Committee Agenda
• The FULL COUNCIL on Tuesday 27 January 2026 will convene. Link to FULL COUNCIL Agenda
• The Scrutiny Committee on Thursday 29 January 2026 will convene. Link to Scrutiny Committee Agenda

This week in Isles of Scilly:

Council Faces Financial Strain: Adult Social Care Overspend Threatens Services

The Full Council met on December 16, 2025, to discuss a range of critical issues, including a concerning forecast overspend and its potential impact on vulnerable residents. Link to Full Council Agenda

Budget Overspend Driven by Adult Social Care Costs

The 2nd Quarter 2025/26 - Financial Performance Report revealed a forecast overspend of £849,186, a significant increase from the previous quarter. A large portion of this is due to pressures within Adult Services, where agency staffing costs are projected to exceed £700,000 for the year.

• Impact on Services: This overspend could lead to cuts in other essential services or increased financial strain on the council, potentially affecting all residents.
• Action Plan Required: The report recommends an action plan to reduce net expenditure on Adult Social Care, highlighting the urgency of addressing the financial challenges.
• Housing Rent Collection: The council will also review housing rent collection performance to address issues causing poor rental collection levels.

The council must act decisively to address this overspend and protect vital services for vulnerable adults. Failure to do so could have serious consequences for those who rely on council support.

Corporate Risks Highlighted: Affordable Housing and Staffing Shortages

The Council performance summary and corporate risk register: quarter 2 2025/26 identified several key risks facing the council, including:

• Insufficient affordable housing: This ongoing issue continues to impact local permanent residents, making it difficult for people to live and work on the islands.
• Inability to recruit and retain staff: Staffing shortages across various sectors could affect the quality and availability of essential services.
• Failure to maintain financial sustainability: This risk underscores the importance of addressing the current budget overspend and ensuring long-term financial stability.
• Transport links to the Isles of Scilly becoming unaffordable and unreliable: This could isolate the islands and harm the local economy.

These risks highlight the complex challenges facing the council and the need for proactive measures to mitigate their impact.

Land Disposal for Substation to Improve Power Supply

The council discussed the Proposed disposal of land at Porthcressa to National Grid for a new electrical substation. This substation is intended to serve the Town Hall redevelopment and improve power supply resilience in Hugh Town.

• Nominal Cost: The land transfer will be for a nominal cost of £1, but the council will cover the legal fees as part of the Town Hall redevelopment costs.
• Embankment Removal: The project will require the partial removal of the embankment created during the Porthcressa regeneration works.

This project aims to improve the reliability of the power supply in Hugh Town, benefiting residents and businesses alike.

Licensing Committee to Review Policies

The Licensing Committee met on December 18, 2025, to discuss the adoption of a new Licensing Policy and a new Street Trading Policy for 2026. Link to Licensing Committee Agenda

New Policies on the Horizon

The committee reviewed the current Licensing Policy and considered a new Street Trading Policy for 2026. These policies regulate various aspects of business operations on the islands.

• Licensing Policy: The new Licensing Policy will set the framework for licensing decisions, potentially impacting businesses that sell alcohol, provide entertainment, or operate late at night.
• Street Trading Policy: The new Street Trading Policy will regulate street trading activities, potentially affecting vendors and the overall character of public spaces.

Other Matters

The Full Council agenda also included discussions on:

• Biodiversity Reporting Duty: The council discussed its efforts to meet statutory obligations for biodiversity reporting, noting that over 80% of the land area benefits from natural designations like Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), Special Protection Areas (SPA), and Special Area of Conservation (SAC).
• Climate Adaptation Scilly - Phase 2
• Civil Enforcement and On Street Parking
• Post 16 - Residue Funding and an Open Letter to DFE
• Housing Protocol for homeless Young People

This week in Isles of Scilly:

Health and Wellbeing Board Meeting Cancelled Amid Concerns for Vulnerable Groups

The Health and Wellbeing Board meeting scheduled for December 4, 2025, was cancelled. Link to Health and Wellbeing Board Agenda The agenda included critical topics affecting the well-being of island residents, particularly vulnerable groups. While the meeting was cancelled, the report pack remains available, providing insight into the issues the board was set to address.

Child Poverty in Focus

The Director of Public Health Annual Report, Growing up in poverty, highlighted the challenges faced by children and young people in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly who are living in poverty. The report, produced in partnership with the Directors of Children's Services for Cornwall Council and the Council of the Isles of Scilly, examined the causes and consequences of child poverty, drawing on the experiences of those directly affected.

Key themes identified in the report included:

• Food insecurity and hunger
• Housing instability and quality
• Social isolation
• Parental stress
• Digital exclusion
• Safeguarding and exploitation
• Transport

The report included a call to action, urging board members to endorse the report's contents and support its recommendations on child poverty.

Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment Highlights Unique Challenges

The Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment (CIOS PNA) 2025-2028, a statutory assessment required by the National Health Service Act 2006, underscored the unique challenges faced by the Isles of Scilly in accessing pharmacy services. The report noted that the Isles of Scilly GP practice is non-dispensing out of hours.

The PNA recommended support for pharmacy services on the Isles of Scilly through use of the LPS contract approach, which is intended for smaller pharmacies.

The report also recommended that the Isles of Scilly Health and Wellbeing Board recognise the findings of the CIOS PNA 2025-2028, and support the recommendations set out in the CIOS PNA 2025-2028 to enable publication of the report before the statutory deadline.

Mental Health and Suicide Prevention

A report on a collaborative approach to mental health and wellbeing promotion and prevention of 'deaths of despair' highlighted the need for continued focus on public mental health and suicide prevention across Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.

The report noted that island communities face mental health-related challenges such as access to mental healthcare, geographic isolation, stigma and socioeconomic factors, and recommended particular consideration to mental health and suicide prevention training for all residents of the Isles of Scilly, alongside membership of the Orange Button Community Scheme.

The report made several recommendations, including that the board members recognise the progress made and ongoing challenges in the delivery of the suicide prevention strategy, support the recommendations set out in the report to ensure suicide prevention is embedded in the system, provide input and feedback on the next strategy when it is presented in draft form at a future meeting, and commit to accessing mental health and suicide prevention training.

Better Care Fund Update

The report pack also included an update on the Better Care Fund¹ 2025-26 Q2.

Upcoming Meetings

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

• The Licensing Committee on Thursday 11 December 2025 will convene. Link to Licensing Committee Agenda
• FULL COUNCIL on Tuesday 16 December 2025 will convene. Link to FULL COUNCIL Agenda

This week in Isles of Scilly:

Inclusion Hub Plan Advances Amid Scrutiny of Children's Services

The Full Council met on November 18, 2025, to discuss a business case for a proposed Belonging and Inclusion Hub at Carn Gwaval, and the outcome of a recent Ofsted monitoring visit. Link to Full Council Agenda

Belonging and Inclusion Hub: A Step Towards Integrated Support?

The council considered a business case for the development of a Belonging and Inclusion Hub at Carn Gwaval. The hub aims to offer inclusive support for all children, young people, and families, including those with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). It would also facilitate and coordinate alternative provision for children not currently accessing school, provide a youth club, and create spaces for on-island education facilitation.

• Funding Secured: Capital funding for the project is being provided by the Department for Education (DfE) via its High Needs Provision Capital Allocations (HNPCA) provision, with £2 million already confirmed.
• Strategic Objectives: The hub seeks to address the absence of a base for alternative education provision on the Isles of Scilly, support the implementation of outcomes specified in children's Education, Health and Care Plans, and meet the council's duty to promote the welfare and safeguarding of children.
• Location Preference: Carn Gwaval was the preferred location as it met all the required considerations, including being within council control and located adjacent to complementary facilities.
• Future Proofing: The plans allow proof of concept, enabling estimated costings to be calculated to inform the business case, and also future proof the wider site, ensuring that sufficient space is available for a swimming pool within the Carn Gwaval complex, when and if funding becomes available.

If approved, the next steps would be to secure Department for Education approval in parallel with the development of the planning application.

Ofsted Monitoring Visit: Signs of Improvement in Children's Services

The council also noted the findings of a monitoring visit by Ofsted inspectors that took place on 8 and 9 October 2025. The visit was the fourth since the authority was judged inadequate in July 2023.

• Positive Findings: The headline findings pointed to a continued improving picture across critical areas of children's services delivery. Of particular importance were the findings that children get the help when they need it and children on the Isles of Scilly now receive an appropriate response when there are concerns that they are at risk .
• Areas for Strengthening: The letter highlighted the need to strengthen further the oversight and support of arrangements for children who live off the mainland to access post 16 education.
• Future Inspection: A further monitoring visit was expected in the New Year prior to a full reinspection under the ILACS framework.

Upcoming Meetings

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

• The Licensing Committee on Tuesday 02 December 2025 will convene. Link to Licensing Committee Agenda
• The Governance Committee on Thursday 04 December 2025 will convene. Link to Governance Committee Agenda
• The Health and Wellbeing Board on Thursday 04 December 2025 will convene. Link to Health and Wellbeing Board Agenda