RYDE BAPTIST CHURCH, GEORGE STREET, RYDE.
6 Members of the public attended.
IMPORTANT NOTICE REGARDING PUBLIC AND MEMBER QUESTIONS
DUE TO THE UPCOMING GENERAL ELECTION BEING HELD ON THURSDAY, 4 JULY 2024, THIS MEETING WAS HELD UNDER PRE-ELECTION REGULATIONS, AND CONSEQUENTLY THERE WERE NO PUBLIC OR MEMBER QUESTIONS TAKEN.
Apologies were received from Cllr Georgie Carter, Cllr Charles Chapman, Cllr Ian Dore, Cllr Jo Elliott, Cllr Pippa Hayward, Cllr Phil Jordan, Cllr Les Kirkby, Cllr Karen Lucioni and Cllr Jenna Sabine
None
None requested.
The minutes to the meeting of Annual Council on 14 May 2024 were reviewed. After a proposer, seconder, and a vote via a show of hands, the following was:
Members were requested to consider and approve the following:
Section 1 - Final Annual Governance Statement (AGS) 2023-2024
Members considered the AGS, which ensured there was a sound system of internal control within the Town Council. Members of the Finance and Community Resources Committee recommended the statement for approval by Full Council.
It was noted that there were a couple of minor recommendations from the auditor around the publishing of draft minutes.
After a proposer, seconder, and a vote via a show of hands, the following was:
RESOLVED:
The mayor (Chairman) and the Town Clerk then signed the Annual Governance Statement 2023-2024.
Section 2 - Final Annual Accounting Statements (AAS) 2023-2024.
Members considered for approval the AAS and the breakdown of the various areas of expenditure for year ended 31 March 2024, as recommended by members of the Finance and Community Resources Committee.
After a proposer, seconder, and a vote via a show of hands, the following was:
RESOLVED:
The mayor (Chairman) then signed the Annual Accounting Statement 2023-2024.
Internal Audit Report 2023-2024.
Members considered for approval a report from the Town Councils Internal Auditor which evaluated the effectiveness of its risk management, control, and governance processes, taking into account the public sector internal auditing standards or guidance.
After a proposer, seconder, and a vote via a show of hands, the following was:
Notice of Public Rights Dates.
After a proposer, seconder, and a vote via a show of hands, the following was:
RESOLVED:
A report was circulated ahead of the meeting and one of the items of activity highlighted was the Annual Town Meeting held on the evening of Thursday, 30 May at the Ryde Castle Hotel.
Whilst the meeting was not a Ryde Town Council meeting, it was hosted by the Town Council and provided an opportunity to highlight the many activities and projects that had taken part with many partners and stakeholders attending.
It was noted that a number of members of the public had the impression that it was a meeting around Ryde Town Board where people could pitch ideas. However, the Board did provide a presence and to partake information around future projects.
Owing to the sudden announcement by the Prime Minister earlier that week on the date of the General Election, elected members and staff of Ryde Town Council were limited in what they could and could not say, due to pre-election rules, but overall, the event was well received.
The mayor also highlighted the excellent work carried out by the Town Councils Projects Officer, Annette Steed, on the introduction of the Beach Accessibility Scheme which would be launched officially on 24 July 2024 although it will be made publicly available from 1 July 2024.
Members received and noted the following officer reports which were circulated ahead of the meeting.
Clerks Report
The Clerk provided an update on the following:
Network Ryde Opening event – This would be on the 9 July 2024 and all Councillors and staff had been sent an invite via email.
St Johns Public Conveniences – Work had started to fix the Easy Access door. However, due to the low usage of these facilities, this would be the only toilet made available. It would be unisex and open to everyone during the day and locked up at night.
Eastern Gardens Public Conveniences – Members were advised that sadly, further acts of vandalism had occurred over the past month and preventative measures were being considered.
These repeated acts of vandalism on site were having an effect, not only on the budget, but on the work load of the facilities team over the busy summer months, with staff having to be redeployed from routine maintenance to repair the damage caused.
Former Natwest Building – The architect had been instructed to work on developing phased plans, with the new public toilets being the first job.
The building had been hired by Ryde Town Board for the Community Engagement phase. Once completed, internal subcommittee meetings could begin there.
Report from the Project Officer (CDO) Regarding the Beach Accessibility Project
The report was circulated for members to note.
The scheme would look to make the beach at Ryde a more inclusive experience and provide anyone with mobility issues the opportunity to enjoy the beach and sea. The equipment, which was all free to use, which would be on offer included the following:
Beach Wheelchair
Sea Wheelchair
Beach Rollator
Inflatable Supportive Cushions
Sun Loungers with raised seat
Temporary seasonal Changing Places unit
Regarding the funding of the initiative, a Crowdfunding page was set up and closed on 5 June 2024 with a total of £27,462 raised; this included a generous
£5,000 anonymous personal donation, a further £5,000 donation by Visit Isle of Wight, another £5,000 donation by Diametric (who successfully bid for an experience donated by Hovertravel) and £10,000 match-funding from Sport England.
Additionally, there was the £10,000 agreed by Ryde Town Council which was also matched by the Isle of Wight Council.
The mayor was highly impressed with the speed of the delivery of the project, its ‘free to use’ benefit and reiterated his thanks to the project officer as well as Nettlestone and Seaview Shed (NaShers) for their hard work in helping to make the project a reality.
Verbal Report From the Community Development Officer (CDO)
The CDO advised members on the following:
Cookery Lessons – Ryde Town Council had been awarded approximately
£13,000. This comprised of £9,000 from South Western Railways and a further
£4,000 from SNG and lessons would start soon. The schools programme would launch in the near future involving Ryde Primary Schools and Network Ryde.
Food Pantry - A new location would need to be identified due to changes in staffing and various options were being looked at.
Timebank - Following its launch, a successful session was held yesterday at Ryde Library on 24 June 2024, which would become a weekly commitment along with the early evening session on the first Wednesday of each month. A Facebook page had also been set up, which keep followers updated.
Riboleau Community Garden - The gardener from Aspire would begin work in due course. The sites future prospects were discussed at a recent Community Development Steering Group meeting with the possibility of registering the garden as a community asset.
Supermarket Food Vouchers – Funding was still available, and it was noted that the Isle of Wight Council was extending the scheme to those not on Council Tax Support.
Members noted the approved minutes of the meeting held on the 23 April 2024 The following recommendations were then noted by all members.
The Asset Register, as agreed at the Finance and Community Resources Committee meeting held on 23 April 2024.
The updated contracts database as of 30 April 2024, and as agreed at the Finance and Community Resources Committee meeting held on 18 June 2024.
To retrospectively note the amount of the agreed precept request.
The following was formally noted by all members of Council:
Members noted the approved minutes of the Place, Neighbourhood and Planning Committee held on 30 April 2024 and the Community Planning Committee meeting held on 21 May 2024.
The matter of filling the two vacancies for the Community Planning Committee was deferred to the next meeting being held on 30 July 2024.
Members were requested to consider the following recommendation arising from the meeting held on 5 June 2024:
i. Approval of the Two Year Community Development Strategy
Following a proposer, seconder, and a vote via a show of hands, it was:
RESOLVED:
Members noted the following:
To receive an update on the Ryde Town Board.
Members were advised that community engagement had begun in earnest and the responses were coming in quickly, both in paper and digital form using the QR code and Town Board Consultation website.
The former Natwest Bank building was in use and there had been a steady flow of people wishing to find out more details and in particular to get their points of view across.
The full Town Board website was in development and would be ready within a week or two. There would be a gazebo arriving to allow the team to be at various events and the Town Square would be used to engage further with the public.
Sparks Place had been appointed as consultants to complete the documentation to go to Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) at the end of July, and there would be a series of meetings with them over the coming weeks.
Owing to the sudden and recent announcement of the General Election, the DLUHC said that they would not be sending out any guidance until after polling day. A set of templates from them for the three and ten year plans were still to be delivered.
Everything was on budget for the Town Board and Ryde Town Councils Accounts Team had been invaluable in helping ensure this was the case.
However there had been some difficulties meeting with the Finance Team of the Isle of Wight Council to discuss processes for both the money that Ryde Town Council had paid thus far as well as the processes for the £20 million.
To note the latest guidance issued by DLUHC.
This was noted by all members present.
To note the Ryde Town Data Pack.
This was noted by all members present.
Members noted the approved minutes of the Network Ryde Management Group meeting held on 13 March 2024.
Members also noted that Cllr Ross was appointed Chair of the Network Ryde Steering Group and was also thanked for his outstanding commitment to Network Ryde since its foundation in 2018.
Members were reminded that the lease between Ryde Town Council and First MTR Southwestern Trains Limited for the Ryde Interchange Public Conveniences was agreed via email between all members and the Clerk owing to the urgency of the situation.
Members were therefore required to ratify that decision for the record. Following a proposer, seconder, and a vote via a show of hands, it was: RESOLVED:
The next scheduled ordinary meeting of Full Council will be held on Tuesday, 30 July 2024.
Meeting closed at 7.45 pm
Signed………………………………………. Cllr Richard may
Mayor of Ryde Town Council, 30 July 2024