MINUTES OF RYDE TOWN COUNCIL’S MEETING OF ANNUAL COUNCIL HELD ON MONDAY 15 MAY 2023 AT 7.00PM IN THE GEORGE STREET CENTRE, BAPTIST CHURCH, RYDE.
16 Members of the public attended.
DRAFT
PUBLIC QUESTION TIME
Regarding Ryde Town Council’s proposed funding of £10,000 towards the Woodlands Sessions Event, planned for Summer 2024 at the Eastern Gardens Beach, a question was asked by a member of the public around who would pay for the clean up?
The member of the public was advised that any application would need to be seen by statutory consultees such as the Police, Environmental Health and the Local Authority and assurances given by the organisers that all four licencing objectives would be met to a satisfactory standard as well as ensure that area would be cleared of any litter. The applicant would need to provide various documents online including an Event Management Plan. Members of the public would also be able to submit any comments when the application was made available.
Another member of the public asked why the Woodland Sessions event had got so far in preparation when the local residents were advised from Ryde Town Council that there would be no more big events on Eastern Gardens (owned by Ryde Town Council). An alternative site at Apply Park was also suggested as it was further away from residential properties.
It was noted that the event would not be held on Eastern Gardens but on the beach next to the Marina with the stage and PA System facing the Solent, pushing much of the noise away and easing any noise nuisance to residents.
A further question was asked by a member of the public over whether it was appropriate for Ryde Town Council to provide funds for a private company to hold an event which would be ticketed and further funded by various catering and entertainment facilities.
Members of the public were advised that the Town Council believed that supporting a well organised event with well-known acts would attract a lot of visitors to the Town, boosting the local economy.
Victor Gallucci
Before the start of the meeting, the outgoing mayor made the sad announcement that on Saturday 13 May 2023, Victor (Vic) Gallucci suddenly passed away at the age of 81. Vic (a retired TV and film actor) had been a much widely liked and respected character who had made many friends at Ryde Town Council since he had brought the Classic Car Show to Ryde. Sincere condolences were sent to Vic’s family and friends.
Cllr Richard May was proposed and seconded to be elected as Mayor. Following a vote via show of hands, the following was:
RESOLVED:
DRAFT
Cllr May then signed the Mayors Declaration of Acceptance of Office in front of the Proper officer.
Cllr Jo Elliott was proposed and seconded to be elected as Deputy Mayor. Following a vote via show of hands, the following was:
RESOLVED:
Cllr Elliott then signed the Deputy Mayors Declaration of Acceptance of Office in front of the Proper officer.
None
Cllr Lucioni declared an interest in Minute 56/23 (II) – Event Funding Request – Woodlands Sessions, as the proposed event would take place within her ward.
Cllrs Carter and Dore both declared an interest in the same item as they were both DJ’s who had worked at similar events.
None requested.
Members were required to agree that Ryde Town Council meets all the eligibility criteria.
After a proposer, seconder, and a vote via a show of hands the following was:
RESOLVED:
The minutes of the previous meeting of Full Council was reviewed and the following was:
RESOLVED:
DRAFT
Annual Report of the outgoing mayor Michael Lilley
The outgoing mayor circulated a report ahead of the meeting which provided an overview of his four years as mayor of Ryde. Such events and achievements included:
Covid 19 Pandemic and Ryde Town Councils Response – Ryde Town Council provided a swift response to the pandemic during lockdown where staff, as part of a community aid hub, helped vulnerable residents with deliveries of food and medicines.
Councillors – A movement to encourage new councillors, diversify the council and ensure as many seats were elected in the town was established resulting in no co- opted seats at the 2021 local council elections.
Strategic Plans – The establishment and implementation of a Ryde Place Plan with the Isle of Wight Council and a Ryde Town Council Corporate Plan 2020-25 was achieved.
Ryde Marina – In April 2022, Ryde Town Council acquired Ryde Harbour from the Isle of Wight Council. Extensive work had been carried out, delivering a much- improved facility. It has now been rebranded as Ryde Marina. The hire of deckchairs and parasols on the beach has returned and the hire of kayaks and paddleboards introduced.
Young People and Network Ryde - Ryde has become the only local area on the Island that has a bespoke, award winning, youth service via Network Ryde. Over the last four years, this has grown, and it has since secured a major investment through the Government’s Youth Investment Fund to renovate and develop St. Thomas’s Church as a new base for Network Ryde.
The mayors full four-year report 20119-2023 report can be accessed via this LINK.
The Clerk provided updates on the following items:
St Thomas’ Church renovations
St Thomas’ Church renovations were progressing well with the stained-glass windows and the clock has been removed for refurbishing off site. The offices had been stripped out ready for the rebuild with the site secured and scaffold erected inside. Repairs to the ceilings would start shortly.
High Street Heritage Action Zone (HSHAZ) – Grant
DRAFT
The HSHAZ team were successful in securing £700,000 additional funding to deliver the High Street improvements. The announcement of which body had awarded the grant would be revealed at the official launch.
Ryde Marina Improvements
The Marina team worked hard over the winter to deliver significant improvements. The upgraded facilities in the Hospitality Suite were nearly complete and it would be fully operational by the Spring Bank Holiday.
The new finger pontoons had been successfully installed with contractors undertaking some land-based dredging within the Marina basin. There had been a delay with getting the electrical bollards installed on the pontoon due to issues with the wayleave agreement between SSE and the Isle of Wight Council which should be resolved shortly.
Strategy Day – 22 March 2023
Members and Officers agreed that Ryde Town Council did not want to manage the decline of the town and should be actively looking to improve on what it has, for the benefit of residents, business owners and tourists. Areas included:
Ryde Town Council, to focus on the Esplanade area, the HHSAZ and the town councils’ current assets.
Develop a new Plan for Eastern Gardens.
Deliver St Thomas’s Church for Network Ryde.
Allotment extension project
Place Plan Review
Viability of Lind Street office relocation
Focus on obtaining grant funding for projects
Cllr Stephens asked what the timescales for any future plans for Vectis Hall were and would it be possible for the frontage to be cleaned up with possible planters added to make a more aesthetically pleasing site for residents and visitors.
Cllr Hanley, Chair of the Vectis Hall Working Group advised that no plans could be revealed at the current time, although a number of options were being discussed.
However, the tidying up of the frontage could be looked at in order to present a more acceptable appearance and the Clerk advised that the front of the hall was included on Ryde Town Councils Summer maintenance plan.
Further discussions would take place at the next Vectis Hall Working Group meeting, and should any more developments be identified, an update would be given to all members at Full Council.
DRAFT
Cllr Kirkby asked what loan monies had recently been received with regard to the Marina. The Clerk advised the latest loan application had been withdrawn owing to a delayed decision around the relocation of the Marina Office.
Councillors were requested to declare if there are any conflicts of interest with Ryde Town Councils External Auditors – BDO LLP UK (https://www.bdo.co.uk/en-gb/home).
There were no conflicts of interest declared.
Members were requested to approve the proposed committee structure and the amended terms of reference for all Committees, Sub Committees and Working/Steering Groups.
Whilst members where broadly in agreement with the proposals, there was some discussion around various aspects on how the new structure would work.
It was suggested and agreed whilst the structure can be approved, an internal meeting of committee chairs should be convened where the proposals can be discussed further, and any further changes can be brought back to a future Full Council meeting with recommendations.
After a proposer, seconder, and a vote via a show of hands the following was:
RESOLVED:
To Elect Members to the Place, Neighbourhood and Planning Committee.
Members were required to elect a membership to the Place, Neighbourhood and Planning Committee. Following proposals, seconders, and a vote via a show of hands, the following was:
RESOLVED:
Election of a Chair of the Place, Neighbourhood and Planning Committee
Cllr Simon Cooke was proposed and seconded as Chair of the Place and Neighbourhood Committee.
RESOLVED:
DRAFT
To Elect Members to the to the Finance and Community Resources Committee:
Members were required to elect a membership to the Finance and Community Resources Committee. Following proposals, seconders, and a vote via a show of hands, the following was:
RESOLVED:
Election of a Chair of the Finance and Community Resources Committee
Cllr Phil Jordan was proposed and seconded as Chair of the Finance and Community Resources Committee.
RESOLVED:
The following appointments of authorised signatories for the Town Council’s banking arrangements as required under section 5 of the Council’s Financial Regulations were noted:
Following proposers, seconders, and a vote via a show of hands, the following was:
RESOLVED:
DRAFT
The following appointments
Network Ryde Management Sub Committee (3 members required)
Cllr Georgie Carter, Cllr Jess Higgins, and Cllr Malcolm Ross.
Community Development Sub-Committee (4 members required)
Cllr Georgie Carter, Cllr Jess Higgins, Cllr Michael Lilley, and Cllr Karen Lucioni.
Community Projects Task Force (5 members required)
Cllr Georgie Carter, Cllr Diana Conyers, Cllr Simon Cooke, Cllr Michael Lilley, and Cllr Jess Higgins.
Grants Sub Committee (3 members required)
Cllr Michael Lilley, Cllr Karen Lucioni, and Cllr Phil Jordan.
Ryde Marina Management Group (3 members required)
Cllr Karen Lucioni, Cllr Jess Higgins, and Cllr Malcolm Ross.
HSHAZ Steering Group (2 members required)
Cllr Malcolm Ross, and Cllr Simon Cooke.
Public Realm Working Group (4 members required)
Cllr Diana Conyers, Cllr Simon Cooke, Cllr Lilley, and Cllr Jenna Sabine.
Following proposers, seconders, and a vote via a show of hands, the following was:
RESOLVED:
Members were appointed to the following Outside Bodies:
Isle of Wight Association of Local Councils (IWALC)
Cllr Simon Cooke (Deputy - Cllr Diana Conyers)
Ryde Regeneration Working Group (2 members required)
Cllr Simon Cooke and Cllr Jenna Sabine
Ryde Business Association
DRAFT
Cllr Karen Lucioni
Ryde Carnival Association
Cllr Richard May
Waterside Community Trust
Cllr Michael Lilley (Deputy - Cllr Ian Dore)
IW Mental Health Alliance 1
Cllr Jess Higgins
Isle of Wight Civil Military Partnership
Cllr Charles Chapman (Deputy Cllr Ian Dore)
Members noted the following Ryde Town Council governance documents:
Place Plan
Corporate Plan
Position Statement
Press and Media Protocol
Training and Development Policy
Network Ryde CCTV Policy
Equality and Diversity Policy
Disciplinary and Grievance Procedure
Complaints Procedure
Vexatious Complainants policy
Safer Recruitment Policy
Network Ryde Safeguarding Policy
Network Ryde Volunteer policy
Network Ryde Social Media Policy
Purchasing Policy
After a proposer, seconder, and vote via a show of hand the following was:
RESOLVED:
DRAFT
The Calendar of Meetings for Full Council, Finance and Community Resources Committee, the Place Neighbourhood and Planning Committee and the Community Projects Task Group for the 2023-2024 Council year was presented.
After a proposer, seconder, and vote via a show of hand the following was approved:
RESOLVED:
Cllr Cooke advised that as Ryde Town Councils IWALC representative, he had attended an Executive Meeting in March 2023 and various councillor training sessions were highlighted for all members to attend should they wish to. He also advised that he had attended two Isle of Wight Council Planning Committees in April representing Ryde Town Council where both the Pennyfeathers and West Acre Park housing development applications were considered. Pennyfeathers was refused whilst West Acre Park had been approved.
Cllr Dore wished to place on record his thanks to both Hannah East (RTC’s Marketing & Events Officer) and Tara Bloomfield (RTC’s Responsible Finance Officer) for their support in the organising of the forthcoming Armed Forces Day on 25 June 2023.
Cllr Jordan reported that he had a meeting with Isle of Wight Council officers with regard to the acquisition of land at Quay Road Car Park for a new Skate Park. Whilst it was early days, there did not appear to be any difficult planning issues to overcome. However, there was still the matter of identifying funding for the project.
Cllr Lilley advised that he was in discussions with various health agencies in establishing a venue to set up a mental health hub with the town.
The Mayor and Deputy Mayor had both attended an Isle of Wight Youth Council meeting and were very impressed with the calibre of young members and their determination. Further updates on the progress of the proposed Ryde Youth Council would be reported back in due course.
Members noted the minutes to the meeting of the Finance and Community Resources Committee held on 28 February 2023 and 22 March 2023.
Members then received the following recommendations from the Finance and Community Resources Committee:
Updated Reserves Statement – Year End
It was noted that when the budget was set, the number of earmarked reserves were only estimated, but following the end of the financial year a true position had become known.
After a proposer, seconder, and vote via a show of hand the following was approved:
RESOLVED:
DRAFT
Event Funding Request – Woodlands Sessions
Members were presented with further details of ‘The Woodlands Sessions’ proposal for a funding request of £10,000 for the weekend event on Ryde Marina beach in the summer of 2024.
With regard to the concerns raised by members of the public, it was noted that any be on the condition that the application for a licence was agreed to, and all licencing objectives met to the satisfaction of the various statutory consultees.
The figure of £10,000 would also be made included in the 2024-2025 Budget which would be agreed by all members of Ryde Town Council in January / February 2024.
Members were again advised that the event would not be held on Eastern Gardens Green but on the adjacent beach with the stage and PA System facing towards the Solent, which would mitigate problems with excessive noise. Whilst the application was yet to be submitted, there were was a general feeling that the event would bring a level of prestige to Ryde as well as positive economic benefits.
After a proposer, seconder, and vote via a show of hand the following was:
RESOLVED:
The minutes of the Place, Neighbourhood and Planning Committee held on 24 January 2023,14 February 2023, 7 March 2023, 28 March 2023 were noted.
The signed terms of the lease for St Thomas Rest Gardens were received.
After a proposer, seconder, and vote via a show of hand the following was approved:
RESOLVED:
DRAFT
Meeting closed at 9.20pm.
Signed………………………………………. Michael Lilley
Mayor of Ryde Town Council, 26 June 2023