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MINUTES OF RYDE TOWN COUNCIL’S FULL COUNCIL MEETING HELD ON MONDAY 4 JULY 2022 AT 7.00PM IN RYDE METHODIST CHURCH, GARFIELD ROAD, RYDE
6 Members of the public attended.
The following questions were put to Council by two members of the public:
A question was asked regarding how Ryde Town Council was progressing with requesting for Ryde Police Station to re-open and what had transpired when the issue had been raised with the Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) Panel when they met and had an undertaking been given that Donna Jones (the current PCC) would speak with Ryde Town Council and Ryde residents about the ongoing problems around crime and disorder.
Response – Cllr Stephens, who was the Isle of Wight Council Cabinet Member covering community protection advised that he did raise the issue with the PCC and that she had given an understanding that she would like to see a new Police Station open in Ryde as part of a one public estate centre next to the Fire Station in Nicholson Road. Cllr Lucioni the new Isle of Wight Council Cabinet Member who covered community protection said that she would make the issue of having a Ryde Police Station open full time as well getting her to meet Ryde residents and councillors a matter of priority and urgency and would report back at the next meeting in September.
A question was asked regarding whether Ryde Town Council would set up a Task Force to look at creating a Housing Strategy for Ryde with a view to addressing housing needs and bringing empty buildings back into use.
Response – The mayor advised that this was being looked at by the Place and Neighbourhood Committee and an update would be provided at their next meeting. Cllr Stephens in his new role of Isle of Wight Council Cabinet Member responsible for Housing advised caution in any Ryde strategy duplicating the work of the Isle of Wight Councils Housing Strategy.
A question was asked on the cleaning up around the Canoe Lake and what, is any progress had been made?
Response – The mayor advised that he had met with officers of the Isle of Wight Council to help expedite the matter. However, it was noted that funds were very limited at the Isle of Wight Council and that such comprehensive cleaning may not be easily achieved.
Apologies were received from Cllrs Georgie Carter, Lisa Carter, Charles Chapman, Jess Higgins, Les Kirkby, and Jenna Sabine.
None declared
None requested.
The minutes to the meetings of Annual Council and the Extraordinary Meeting of Full Council held on 9 May 2022 and 27 June 2022 were reviewed.
RESOLVED:
None.
Members were provided with an update on two major acquisitions the Town Council had undertaken - St Thomas’s Church and Vectis Hall.
(Reports on both sites were circulated and can be accessed via this LINK)
St Thomas’s Church which would be the new base for Network Ryde was progressing well and once issues around the windows, roof and external work had been completed, an opening was hoped to be in the second half of 2023.
A question was asked around how the building would be heated, and it was anticipated that ceramic electric heaters which could be controlled remotely online was a suggested source as well as possible underfloor heating. Individual electric heaters would likely be used for hot water supply. Solar panels would also be a possible option as well as Air pumps. It was however noted that all work would need to stick to the allocated budget for the project. Overall, the works were progressing well with no major problems expected.
Vectis Hall however was a much more difficult proposition. Members were advised on the future options for the building (as outlined in the report update).
The building was unfortunately in a very poor condition and largely beyond being salvaged. Internally it was extremely dangerous with the scaffolding already starting to rust and becoming unstable.
The best way forward would be to take down the frontage and rebuild it with a completely new building rear. This would enable the building to look the same from the front and therefore retain its visual appeal. Another option could be to move the front forward and in doing so create some additional internal capacity (although some members expressed a desire to retain the front space as is).
Once a way forward had been agreed, the project would then take between three to five years and cost approximately £750,000.
Members thanked the Historic Buildings Officer and were advised that a further update on progress would be provided at the next meeting of Full Council on 5 September 2022.
The report was circulated prior to the meeting for them to note. Members were advised on the following events:
HMS Sirius Event at Appley Tower - 13 May
Ryde Bus Museum Weekend - 14/15 May
Celebrating Ryde event - 14 May
Veteran’s Hub opening on Ryde High Street - 20 May
Ryde Carnival Presentation at Ryde Library - 25 May
Falklands War Commemoration Event - 26 May
Young People’s Flower Bed Design Event - 2 June
Queen’s Jubilee Events around Ryde - 2 to 5 June including Freedom of Ryde and Ryde Citizen Awards, lighting of the Jubilee Beacon
Opening of a new Ryde School theatre - 29 May
Appley Tower Day - 2nd July Future events would be:
Mardi Gras - 9 June
IW Pride in Ryde - 16 July
Beach Sports Festival 30/31 July
Ryde Rotary Family Fun Day – 30 July
Regarding Jubilee awards ceremony, one member believed the presentations would have better been made by the mayor as opposed to the deputy Isle of Wight Lieutenant as he was a Ryde resident.
The Deputy Clerk provided members with an update on the following: Bin Emptying – This would be addressed at the next meeting.
New Staff Appointments – The Interim Responsible Finance Officer had now been appointed on a full-time basis. A new Facilities Officer had also been employed on a part time basis and interviews had taken place for an Apprentice Receptionist.
Tour of Britain – Ryde would start off stage eight of the 2022 Tour of Britain Cycle Race on Sunday 11 September 2022 (Stage 1 begins in Aberdeen on 4 September) with the finish at the Needles after a comprehensive tour of many parts of the Island. It was anticipated that the international major sporting event would put Ryde in a favourable light on the world stage and leave a lasting legacy.
The mayor advised members that Aspire had reported that the Ryde Community Connector role had been integrated into the Living Well Island-wide contract and there would be a Ryde based worker covering the Ryde area under the new contract. The Living Well contract would be coordinated from offices at the Ryde Aspire Community HUB situated on Ryde High Street.
The new Ryde Community Development Network Steering group would receive reports from Aspire, who would manage the post, which was expected to be appointed in the Autumn.
The revised updated budget which had been considered at the previous Finance and Community Resources Committee on 21 June 2022 was recommended to members of Full Council for approval.
Following a proposer, seconder, and a vote via a show of hands, the following was:
RESOLVED:
The minutes to the meetings held on 22 March and 13 April 2022 were presented and noted.
The resignation of Cllr McLagan was noted
Cllr Charles Chapman was nominated and seconded and after a show of hands the following was:
RESOLVED:
The minutes to the meetings held on 22 March and 13 April 2022 were presented and noted.
Members considered the renaming of the committee and after a proposal and seconder, the following was:
RESOLVED:
The resignations of Cllrs Chapman and McLagan were noted.
Cllr John McLagan was nominated to re-join the committee which was seconded. Cllr Jo Elliott was nominated and seconded to join the committee and after a show of hands the following was:
RESOLVED:
Members noted the report from the Committees and Place Plan Co-ordinator on the Celebrating Ryde day which was held as an extension of the Annual Town Meeting on 14 May 2022. The day had been a great success and plans were already in place for the 2023 event.
Members did agree with the recommendation that the next event should be around three to four hours in length as opposed to six.
Meeting closed at 9.00pm
Signed……………………………
Michael Lilley – Mayor of Ryde Town Council – 5 September 2022