11, ST THOMAS’S SQUARE, RYDE.
6 Members of the public attended.
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Apologies were received from Cllr Georgie Carter, Cllr Jess Higgins, Cllr Les Kirkby and Cllr Karen Lucioni
None declared.
None requested.
The minutes to the previous meetings of Full Council held on 4 February 2025 were reviewed. After a proposer, seconder and a vote via a show of hands, the following was:
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Members were required to approve the co-option to Ryde Town Council of Edward Day as the new Ward Councillor for Appley and Elmfield. Following a proposal and seconder, and after a vote via a show of hands, it was:
Cllr Day then read and signed the Declaration of Acceptance of Office in front of the Proper Officer (the Clerk) and received a copy of the Code of Conduct.
Members noted the following reports:
Network Ryde Youth Service Manager
Members noted a written report from the head of Ryde Town Councils Youth Service provider which included the following:
Home Education – A meeting had been arranged for Thursday 27 March at 1pm at Network Ryde regarding Home Education (as requested at the last meeting of Full Council). Dave Edmunds, the Isle of Wight Council’s Team Leader for Education and Inclusion, had been invited to join the discussion and take questions.
Activities for Young People – A full programme of activities during the February Half Term for young people had been held, including a visit to the Donkey Sanctuary, two Duke of Edinburgh Awards day walks, a trip to the Panto, roller skating and a First Aid course for the Network Ryde Social Action Group.
Safeguarding – There were nine reported safeguarding incidents in February and five reported in March (as of 18 March 2025). Team members continued to attend weekly safeguarding meetings at Ryde Academy as well as participating in a number of Child in Need plans.
Young People Cooking Sessions – Cooking courses had almost been completed, and the feedback was very encouraging. Further funding to continue the courses had been sought as there were lots of young people wishing to enrol.
The full report can be viewed HERE.
Community Development Officer
Members noted an oral update from the Community Development Officer which included the following:
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Ryde Information and Support Service (RISS) – 88 People had been seen in February 2025. A volunteer was shadowing and would be fully trained to work in the service.
In April an application for a grant from Hampshire and IOW Community Foundation would be made. The service should continue until the end of March 2026.
The types of enquiries received included, amongst many:
Information on Personal Independent Payments (PIP).
Accessing online fuel vouchers
Understanding Universal Credit (UC) text messages and UC migration
Water Bill enforcement.
Pension Credit / Benefit checks.
Driving licence.
Time Banking – There were 57 members (13 organisational) and 136 exchanges (213 hours). These included going to Forever Wild at Heart Forest School to clear the brambles as well as other gardening tasks. Coffee mornings continued every two months with February 2025 well attended.
Cookery Sessions – These had been a great success with nearly 119 (with more expected) people participating in various groups. Feedback had been very positive. Sessions had been held at Fellowship House, Women’s Refuge and Network Ryde / Primary schools for young people.
There was a visit from South Western Railway (SWR), a primary funder, in February to see one of the community sessions and interview some of the participants, and staff involved. There would be a short video going out on the SWR social media platforms soon to highlight the sessions.
Sherbourne Centre – The last three years accounts had been filed and a meeting with the last user of the building had been scheduled.
Oakfield Pantry – Staff were being supported at Oakfield School regarding the Pantry with support from the Town Councils Finance Assistant to complete the weekly logs of attendance to allow for reporting. This would be a short term arrangement depending on the outcome of the school closure.
Community Garden – Two more groups would be starting but all were aware of the long term possibility of redevelopment of the site.
Community Forum – The last meeting included a presentation from the Isle of Wight Foodbank.
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Easter Egg Donations – Ryde Academy would be collecting Easter Eggs from the students for their mufti day in April 2025. The eggs would then be distributed amongst the Community Groups.
Money Management Sessions – The first one would be for Network Ryde’s young people in March 2025, and it was hoped there would be another one in the community in April 2025. These were provided free as part of Barclays’s community work, and they would be happy to offer a monthly session.
It was noted that an alternative venue for the Community Garden located at Riboleau Street, could still be identified. Cllr Stephens as the Isle of Wight Councils Cabinet Member for Housing and Finance would assist as much as possible to locate somewhere.
Regarding the cookery sessions, it was noted that these should be extended to as many looked after children as possible, and Cllr Stephens would forward a contact name from the Isle of Wight Council to the Community Development Officer in order to help.
It was also noted that the RISS Centre needed to be publicised as much as possible. Councillors undertook to highlight the service whilst campaigning ahead of the local election. It would also continue to be advertised on the town councils social media platforms and notice boards, as well as feature in the next community guide being published in October 2025, which would be in time for the 2025-2026 winter season.
The Clerk
Members noted an oral report, which included the following:
Department Toilets - The cleaning staff had received training and would start as of the Thursday, 20 March 2025. They would also work on Friday 21 March 2025 and Saturday 22 March 2025. Additional cleaning days would be scheduled once the building work was completed, and a press release regarding opening hours would be issued in due course.
St Johns Toilets – There have been some issues with the electrics tripping due to faulty lighting. Quotes were being obtained for replacement lighting, and the toilets should be opened soon after.
Events and Marketing Officer – The temporary Events and Marketing Officer had started her maternity leave as of 11 March 2025. There was therefore limited capacity to host additional events during the oncoming summer until the return from maternity leave in mid-August from the full time Events and Marketing Officer. The Senior Administrative Officer and Projects Officer have stepped in to manage any existing bookings. There were still plans to host four free events on Wednesdays in August and more information would be made available towards the start of summer.
Annual Town Meeting of Residents (Celebrating Ryde 2025) – This had been scheduled for the 30 April 2025 and would be hosted by Department. It would be a joint celebration with the Honours Awards also being held
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Building Control – The former St Thomas’ Church building had been signed off by building control.
Vectis Hall – The scaffolding work to support Vectis Hall was progressing and should be completed soon. After a recent Structural Engineers report the Town Council was at a stage where it was able to move forward to pre-app planning advice. Updates would be provided as soon as possible.
The mayors report was circulated ahead of the meeting which provided an update on activities since the previous Meeting of Full Council.
Representing the Town Council on both the Steering and Working Groups of the joint Ryde Town Council and University of Portsmouth Memorandum of Understanding and also Representing Ryde Town Council on the Ryde Neighbourhood (nee Town) Board.
Attended the Youth Council meetings at Ryde Academy as well as meetings of the Ryde Academy Council.
Together with Cllrs Lilley and Conyers, presented the Freedom of Ryde to Pat McLean (nee Hird).
Attended the opening of Department in Cross Street, Ryde.
Received a defibrillator at Ryde Marina, funded by berth holder Mr Kevin Goddard and Isle of Wight Defibrillators, who had installed the kit and who would also maintain it.
The full report detailing all activities, can be viewed HERE.
Cllr Conyers advised that she had attended Isle of Wight Association of Local Councils (IWALC) meetings and had raised concerns around the new draft Isle of Wight Council Constitution. In 2022, IWALC, in consultation with the Isle of Wight Council, prepared a revised version of Protocol 16, which determined the relationship between the Isle of Wight Council and local Town and Parish Councils. IWALC were told that this would be incorporated into any revised version of the constitution. However, the latest draft still included the original one. Cllr Conyers would therefore take the matter up with Isle of Wight Councillors.
Cllr Dore reported that the preparations were well underway for Isle of Wight Armed Forces Day on 29 June 2025 and had visited various places, including RAF Waddington, to enquire about possible attractions/displays for the day.
Cllr May, in his capacity as mayor, had along with Cllr Ross attended recent Ryde Carnival meetings ahead of the 2025 carnival season.
None.
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Members noted that the local Town and Parish Council Elections would take place on Thursday, 1 May 2025 and that from Tuesday, 25 March 2025 the Pre-Election Period regulations would come into effect.
Members noted the approved minutes of the Finance and Community Resources Committee held on 21 January 2025.
At the meeting of the Committee on 4 March 2025, it was decided to recommend to all members of Ryde Town Council to not offer polling cards for the 2025 Local Town and Parish Elections. This would save a minimum of £12,760.30p (18,229 electors x 70p). The cost did not include staffing time that would also be charged for issuing the cards. A large marketing campaign to remind residents to vote would also be carried out jointly by the Isle of Wight Council and Ryde Town Council. Such a campaign would include the extensive use of social media and website as well as posters being put up in all wards advising members of the public that polling cards were not required, but personal ID was essential. A list of all polling stations in each ward would also be provided.
After a proposer, seconder and a vote via a show of hands, the following was:
The approved minutes of the Community Planning Committee Meeting held on Tuesday, 28 January 2025 and Tuesday,18 February 2025 were noted.
Two vacancies remained for the Community Planning Committee
Cllr Edward Day was nominated and seconded for the position of member of the Community Planning Committee.
After a proposal, seconder and a vote via a show of hands the following was:
The approved minutes of the meeting held on Thursday 5 December 2024 were noted.
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Members noted the change of name for the long term plan for towns, which would subsequently be renamed as the Plan for Neighbourhoods. This would therefore mean that the Ryde Town Board becomes the Ryde Neighbourhood Board.
Members then noted the following new guidance:
Plan for Neighbourhoods: Prospectus – Link HERE
Plan for Neighbourhoods: List of Powers – Link HERE
Plan for Neighbourhoods: Pre-Approved Interventions – Link HERE
Members noted that the awards ceremony would take place at the Annual Town Meeting of Residents on Wednesday, 30 April 2025, within Department, Cross Street, Ryde.
Members were requested to delegate the decision making regarding the 2025 Honour Awards to the internal Operations and Resources Management Group.
After a proposer, seconder and a vote via a show of hands, the following was:
Members were asked to consider submitting a response to the following consultations and noted that both consultations required online submissions.
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government – Hampshire and the Solent devolution consultation.
Isle of Wight Council – Public Space Protection Orders to extend the current orders for an additional 3 years.
Following a discussion, members accepted that individual responses would be preferable.
On Friday, 14 March 2025, Town Councillors and key officers held a visioning for the future session at 11 St Thomas’s Square.
The session was well attended by both councillors and officers. The consultant who led the session would be sending a report on it in due course.
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One of the suggestions from the session was for a handover document to be given to new incoming councillors at the start of their term. The document would highlight areas of what went well during the previous four years and what could be improved on, as well as providing a platform to plan for the oncoming four year period and help inform the new Corporate Plan
There was also a more detailed induction session planned for the next influx of councillors.
The mayor thanked the Clerk for her hard work in organising the session.
Members noted that the next meeting would be Annual Council held on Tuesday, 13 May 2025 at 7pm.
Meeting closed at 8.15pm
Signed………………………………………. Cllr ****** *******
Mayor of Ryde Town Council – 13 May 2025