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“Will affordable housing discounts deepen under the revised strategy?”

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Summary

The council meeting focused on several key issues, including the adoption of the Island Planning Strategy, updates to staff and member car parking policies, and discussions on the future governance working group's progress. The meeting was marked by debates on governance changes and procedural concerns.

  1. Island Planning Strategy: The council decided to send the draft Island Planning Strategy back to the cabinet for further consideration, particularly on deeper discounts for affordable housing and the overall housing number. Arguments for the referral emphasized the need for more detailed research and community feedback, while concerns were raised about potential delays impacting strategic planning timelines. The decision implies a more thorough review process but risks delaying necessary housing developments.

  2. Car Parking Policy Update: The council approved changes to the car parking policy, allowing free parking at County Hall and Westridge for staff and members with blue badges. The decision was straightforward, with general agreement on the benefits of supporting individuals with disabilities. This change enhances accessibility and aligns with broader inclusivity goals.

  3. Future Governance Working Group: A heated debate occurred over the proposal to change the council's governance system from a cabinet to a committee system. The council agreed to hold an extraordinary meeting to decide on this matter. Proponents argued that a committee system would increase transparency and member involvement, while opponents expressed concerns about the rushed timeline and potential governance risks. The decision to hold an extraordinary meeting highlights the council's divided opinions and the significant impact this governance change could have.

An interesting moment in the meeting was the procedural confusion and contention surrounding the vote on the governance system change, reflecting deep divisions within the council and procedural misunderstandings. This incident underscored the complexities and high stakes involved in the proposed governance overhaul. The council meeting involved a series of votes on various motions, with a notable focus on procedural integrity and legal concerns. The meeting was marked by disputes over the constitutionality of the votes and the legality of the meeting itself.

One key decision involved a vote that was declared unconstitutional by some council members. The arguments centered around procedural errors and potential violations of council rules, leading to a split vote with 12 for, 20 against, and two abstentions. The implications of this decision are significant as it reflects deep divisions within the council and could impact the council's decision-making authority and public perception.

An interesting aspect of the meeting was the repeated questioning of the meeting's legality and the finality of the chair's rulings. This ongoing dispute highlights underlying tensions and may suggest a lack of consensus or unresolved issues within the council that could affect future governance and operational efficiency.

Overall, the meeting underscored challenges in council governance, with procedural disputes potentially overshadowing substantive policy discussions. This could lead to further scrutiny of council procedures and possibly reforms to ensure smoother legislative processes in future sessions.

Attendees

Profile image for CouncillorClaire Critchison
Councillor Claire Critchison  Green Party •  Alliance Group
Profile image for CouncillorDavid Adams
Councillor David Adams  Independent •  Independent
Profile image for CouncillorDebbie Andre
Councillor Debbie Andre  Independent •  Alliance Group
Profile image for CouncillorJonathan Bacon
Councillor Jonathan Bacon  Our Island •  Alliance Group
Profile image for CouncillorEd Blake
Councillor Ed Blake  Conservative Group Leader •  Conservatives
Profile image for CouncillorPaul Brading
Councillor Paul Brading  Deputy Group Leader •  Conservatives
Profile image for CouncillorGeoff Brodie
Councillor Geoff Brodie  Independent Socialist
Profile image for CouncillorVanessa Churchman
Councillor Vanessa Churchman  Vice Chair •  Conservatives
Profile image for CouncillorIan Dore
Councillor Ian Dore  IW Council Chair •  Alliance Group
Profile image for CouncillorRodney Downer
Councillor Rodney Downer  Independent •  Alliance Group
Profile image for CouncillorAndrew Garratt
Councillor Andrew Garratt  Deputy Council Leader - Group Leader •  Liberal Democrat
Profile image for CouncillorChristopher Jarman
Councillor Christopher Jarman  Group Leader •  Empowering Islanders
Profile image for CouncillorJulie Jones-Evans
Councillor Julie Jones-Evans  Independent •  Alliance Group
Profile image for CouncillorPhil Jordan
Councillor Phil Jordan  Council Leader - Group Leader •  Alliance Group
Profile image for CouncillorJoe Lever
Councillor Joe Lever  Green Party •  Alliance Group
Profile image for CouncillorKaren Lucioni
Councillor Karen Lucioni  Island Independent Network •  Alliance Group
Profile image for CouncillorLora Peacey-Wilcox
Councillor Lora Peacey-Wilcox  Independent •  Alliance Group
Profile image for CouncillorNick Stuart
Councillor Nick Stuart  Liberal Democrat
Profile image for CouncillorIan Stephens
Councillor Ian Stephens  Island Independent Network •  Alliance Group
Profile image for CouncillorPeter Spink
Councillor Peter Spink  Empowering Islanders
Profile image for CouncillorSarah Redrup
Councillor Sarah Redrup  Liberal Democrat
Profile image for CouncillorIan Ward
Councillor Ian Ward  Conservatives

Topics

No topics have been identified for this meeting yet.

Meeting Documents

Agenda

Agenda frontsheet 20th-Mar-2024 18.00 Full Council

Reports Pack

Public reports pack 20th-Mar-2024 18.00 Full Council

Additional Documents

PQ - 06-24
Minutes of Previous Meeting
ITEM 7A - Appendix 3 Schedule of changes to address scrutiny recommendations
ITEM 7A - Appendix 4 Island Planning Strategy KC Further Advice Dec 2023
ITEM 5 - Leaders Update Report
ITEM 6A - Members Allowance report
ITEM 6B - Ryde Town Board - Full Council Paper March24 002 ff
ITEM 6B - Appendix 1 - Long-Term Plan for Britains Towns Briefing Note
item 7a - Draft IPS Full Council report 20.3.24 v2
ITEM 7A - Appendix 1 Draft Island Planning Strategy Reg 19 version March 2024
ITEM 7A - Appendix 2 Schedule of main changes to the Draft IPS
ITEM 7A - Appendix 6 Draft IPS EqIA March 2024
ITEM 8A - Car Parking Policy
ITEM 8A - APPENDIX 1 - ParkingPolicyStaffCouncillors-FINAL2021 2
ITEM 9A - LPB ToR Report
ITEM 10A - Full Council March Report Governance Update
ITEM 10A - Appendix 3 Future governance - communications plan
Public minutes 20th-Mar-2024 18.00 Full Council
Public Question time
PQ - 07-24
ITEM 7A - Appendix 5 IWC Demographic report LSH Feb 2024_Redacted
ITEM 10A - Appendix 1 Future governance High level plan
ITEM 10A - Appendix 2 Future governance - committee structure - Full Council
ITEM 10A - Appendix 4 - Future Governance Project Risk Register