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Minutes of the Annual Town Meeting held at 6pm on 22nd May
2019 at The Methodist Church Hall, Garfield Road,Ryde.
1.
Apologies.
No apologies were recieved.
2.
Annual Report on the work of the Town Council from the outgoing
Mayor, Councillor Malcolm Ross and introduction to the new Mayor.
The Mayor gave the following report (attached Appendix 1), and welcomed
Councillor Michael Lilley as the new Mayor for Ryde.
3.
To award the successful Duke of Edinburgh award participants and the
Community Alcohol Partnership prize winners.
Phil Plant from Network Ryde reported on the work that the D of E students
have completed over the last year towards their Bronze Award which
included raising money for the Wessex Cancer Trust whilst litter picking. Phil
also reported on the work of the students who participated in the Community
Alcohol Partnership competition which raised awareness of the issues
surrounding alcohol through a form of art. This was completed in conjunction
with various professionals to support and provide advice.
The Duke of Edinburgh Bronze Award winners were:
o Ronin Jayston
o Carolina Lamb
o Ben Milward
o Ellie Urquhart
o Grady Henley
o Owen Marshall
o Stella Baisley
o Adam Todd
o Sam Smith
o Patrick Douglas
o Harvey Newman
The Community Alcohol Partnership prize winners were:
o Grace Clifton
o Archie Barber
o India Dale
o Lili Mae Lane
o Lilly Pettitt
4.
To receive a report on the work of Aspire over the last year.
Heath Monoghan, CEO of Aspire, gave a report on the work of Aspire over
the last year and the plans for the future.
It was reported that:
Aspire now have over 120 regular volunteers
They have had over a £2,000,000 social and fiscal value impact from
an income of £127,178
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They continue supporting people through mental health issues,
addiction, homelessness and other social issues and have over 3000
users per week
Aspire have exceeded their total annual turnover through grants and
other ways of working
They are looking to develop the building for better use which includes
the opening of a new play centre
They have created employment - 6 part time roles and 1 full time role
Their Annual Report and Financial Statements are now available to
view
5. To receive a report on the work of Isle Access over the last year.
Jan Brookes, CEO of Isle Access, gave a report on their work over the last year.
It was reported that:
Isle Access have worked with businesses to help enable easier
access for more residents
They aim to help not only with access but improve the lives of
disabled people and reduce social isolation
They have worked with individuals to enable better mobility through
schemes such as hand operated bikes and have inspired one of the
Isands para-olympians.
They have received grants from organisations including Ryde Town
Council to help enable services to be more accessible
They are working with Southern Vectis to arrange a morning for an
empty bus to allow residents to practice and boost their confidence
when travelling on the bus using mobility aids
They are aiming to make more accessible beaches
6.
To receive a report on the work of Ryde Business Association over the
last year.
A report was given by Zoe Thompson, Chair of Ryde Business Association
(attached Appendix 2). The report highlighted that:
RBA held 15 meetings over the last year to allow for specific topics to
be discussed
68 businesses and organisations have been represented at these
meetings
RBA now has 252 businessess involed
They have carried out 4 social media based training events to support
businesses
They have been involved with a number of consultations, including
parking and regeneration
They are encouraging and supporting the micro-businesses in Ryde to
review new Government reports on the future of High Streets and
preparing for the predicitons
They are now signed up to a campaign which will be running this
summer, promoting the support of local businesses
7.
To receive a report on the work of Ryde Society over the last year.
The Chair of Ryde Society, Stella Davis, reported that:
The Ryde Society begun from concerns of proposed flats on the
seafront
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They now have 7 members in a steering group and have set up an
environment group which is looking at seaside planting and trees
They have a number of volunteers which are now working with events
such as the carnival
They have been laising with Chris Ashman and Dave Stewart from
the Isle of Wight Council to raise Ryde’s residents concerns
They are hopeful for a Neighbourhood Plan in future
They aim to put colourful flags up along the harbour to attract more
visitors although appropriate planning permissions would need to be
sought
They would like a young Ryde Society in collaboration with Network
Ryde
8. To receive reports or questions from members of the public.
None
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Annual Report 2018/2019
Ryde
Town Council
I would like to start by giving you some brief background information about the town council and then I will set out
some of the successes it has had during 2018/19 along with some of the challenges we all continue to face.
Ryde Town Council is entirely independent of the Isle of Wight Council. It has 16 councillors representing 7 wards across
Ryde, Binstead and Haylands. In 2018/19, the town council raised a precept (or local council tax) of £923,635 representing
a Band D council tax at £114.70 for the year. Using this precept, the town council has provided a range of directly delivered
services, contributed funding to ensure the continuation of many Isle of Wight Council led services and supported a range
of other local initiatives and events.
ber of
As mentioned, the town council has also, for a num
The town council has used the precept to directly provide local
Council
years, supplied funding to enable the Isle of Wight
services such as:
to continue to provide a range of local services for the
• A skatepark
town that would otherwise have been lost. These include:
• Decorative lighting and Christmas trees
• Dedicated Ryde Environment Officers to deal with dog
• Funding support to a range of local events, such as Ryde Carnival
fouling, litter, fly posting and other environmental crimes -
and we thank Katharine and Rob for all their hard work in this
• Marketing projects such as the Town Map that promote Ryde as a unique
tourist destination
area.
• Funding for the maintenance of, and planting in, parks and
• A beach safety and first aid service in the summer months.
ardens.
community g
• Funding support towards the town’s countryside sites
in the emptying of bins along Ryde Esplanade
• An increase
• Summer and winter planting schemes
and in Appley Park
• The management of five allotment sites
• Funding for repairs and replacement of play equipment in
• Ryde in Bloom
the town’s play areas.
• The management and operation of four public toilets
Without this funding the public realm in Ryde, our public parks
• Beach cleaning and beach litter bins
and our children’s play areas would be visibly deteriorating.
• Network Ryde - a youth cafe at 147 High Street
e contributing
and the NHS. We will shortly b
and many more. My sincere thanks to Cllr Tim
The town council has listened to the community
Wakeley and all those partner organisations that
£20,000 to fund a new Community Connector
and has offered funding support to the IW Council
have worked with the town council to ensure the
post in the town aimed at helping our most
to undertake enforcement activities at the town’s
continued success of this project.
vulnerable residents in their hour of need. We are,
‘eyesore’ properties and has supported the IW
as an organisation, aiming to improving access
Council’s plans to improve safety and access in
Over the past year we have continued to forge
to the council’s services and are in the process of
the lower part of the High Street. The council’s
links with a range of local organisations offering
exploring how to make meetings more accessible
Planning Committee has continued to be a strong
funding opportunities through our community
to those in our community with sensory
voice representing the community on a range of
and marketing programme, which has a budget of
impairment.
planning, licensing and highways matters and
£42,000. We have also awarded grants to Citizens
has produced ‘Planning for Ryde’ - a strategic
Advice, to help establish a Ryde local hub drop-in
Town councillors themselves undertake a range
document for the future of the town that the IW
service, the Bus and Coach Museum, helping
of ward work and sit on many local groups, such
Council has indicated could be adopted formally
towards its 2018 Beer, Buses and Walks event, The
as the Age Friendly Island Initiative, the Ryde
as planning policy for the town.
IW Literary Festival Youth Programme and Ryde
Access Advisory Forum Ryde Carnival Association,
the Business Association, Action Groups and
This year has seen the town continue to benefit
Sea Cadets. Funding towards sporting activities
Residents’ Associations and attend IW Council-led
from the town council’s introduction in 2017 of a
has included IW Beach Soccer for beach sports
at Appley and the IW Synchronised Ice Skating
meetings about Ryde Regeneration. The council
new service for young people in our town - under
continues to be a vocal member of the Isle of
the umbrella of the ‘Network Ryde’ project. The
Club. Support has also been given to Play Lane
Millennium Green to extend footpaths, Friends
Wight Association of Local Councils.
cafe, at 147 High Street, provides a well-used,
drop-in service for young people and the team
of Appley and Ryde Business Association, for its
As many residents will be aware, the town council
has worked hard to also deliver a range of town
Christmas in Ryde Event.
has been keen to ensure the future of Ryde
wide activities aimed at reaching as many
In the present financial year, annual substantial
Harbour. Work is underway to explore whether
young people as possible, including the Duke
funding was agreed for Ryde Carnival and the
it will be feasible for the town council to take on
of Edinburgh Award Scheme, games activities
New Carnival Company, Ryde Arts Festival and a
responsibility for the harbour. As we look to the
at Eastern Gardens and the Waterside Pool
three-year funding initiative for Aspire, totalling
future, the challenges Ryde Harbour presents will
£45,000.
need to be met from within a public sector that
continues to be squeezed and in which budgets
The council has also continued to be a key player
need to be stretched even further.
in keeping the Waterside Pool and the nearby
children’s water play park open and will be
I want to end the year on a positive note as I have
been so proud to serve as Mayor and to represent
making a one-off grant of £10,000 to the paddling
pool this year to renew the play facilities there. We
Ryde at many events, including remembrance
ceremonies, ribbon cutting and judging, shop
also recognise the value of our public realm and
have set aside funding to enable town councillors
openings and conferences. Highlights of my
to identify improvement projects around the
year have been my trip down the Ryde Slide,
my involvement in Ryde Carnival and, of course,
town.
having a rescue cat named afer me at Cats
The council’s public face can be found at
Protection!
Town Hall Chambers in Lind Street. From here,
council staff are able to assist residents with a
I come to the end of my year in office believing we
all have much to be proud of in Ryde and that the
range of enquiries and to undertake projects
and initiatives aimed at improving Ryde and
town council will continue to do all it can for the
maintaining its status as benefits the Island’s
town, its residents, businesses and visitors.
largest town. We are also developing a role as
a community hub, so residents can access a
Councillor Malcolm Ross
range of local advice and support services from
Mayor, Ryde Town Council
organisations such as the Citizens Advice Bureau
May 2019
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