RYDE BAPTIST CHURCH, GEORGE STREET, RYDE.
6 Members of the public attended.
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PUBLIC QUESTION TIME
A question was asked by a member of public and also a local trader regarding the lack of public toilets along Ryde Esplanade and the bad impression it gave to visitors as well as the subsequent effects of any inconvenience to local residents who were relying on the kindness of nearby establishments to allow the public to use their facilities. What therefore was Ryde Town Council doing to get the Esplanade Station toilets up and running?
The Mayor responded by stating that Ryde Town Council was ready and waiting to clean the toilets, but there had been some long and complicated legal obstacles that have hindered the process. However, there was optimism that the situation would be resolved as soon as possible. It was also noted that the toilets along Eastern Gardens which had been the subject of vandalism were due to reopen soon and that there would shortly be public toilets provided at the new Ryde Town Council offices (the former Nat West Bank).
Another member of the public asked for a further update, since the last meeting on 26 March 2024, on what the Isle of Wight Councils plans were for creating and issuing an infrastructure plan for Ryde that would take account the various major housing development schemes. They wished to know which Isle of Wight Council Officer had been contacted, who the Ryde Town Council Officer was responsible for following up enquiries, how frequent such requests where, and if such enquiries were via email, could copies be provided.
The Clerk advised that the Isle of Wight Council Officer contacted was their Strategic Manager for Planning and Infrastructure Delivery and that Ryde Town Councils Officer was its Community Planning Officer. It was noted that Ryde Town Council had recently employed the services of an Isle of Wight Council Enforcement Officer and that they could be asked to help with any further enquiries around the issue. It was also noted that Ryde Town Council had also recently reviewed its Position Statement which since the recent approval by the Isle of Wight Council of the Island Planning Strategy, would soon be regarded as a Statutory Planning Document and therefore help in the creation and issuing of any infrastructure plans relating to housing developments.
A representative of the Royal British Legon and Poppy Appeal Organiser, John Taylor, was pleased to report that the Book of Remembrance had been returned, however he expressed his disappointment that there were a lot of Councillors who did not attend the recent Book of Remembrance Dedication Service, despite being invited. Mr Taylor did however confirm plans to return the Festival of Remembrance to Ryde. He also expressed his appreciation and thanks to Hannah East (Ryde Town Councils Marketing and Events Officer) for her valued assistance and hard work.
A further member of the public asked whether the sand that was being cleared from the promenade, but had since blocked the drains near the Eastern Toilets facilities causing some flooding, was being addressed? It was noted that this would be looked into and be cleared.
Cllr Richard May was proposed and seconded to be elected as Mayor. Following a vote via show of hands, the following was:
RESOLVED:
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Cllr Jo Elliott was proposed and seconded to be elected as Deputy Mayor. Following a vote via show of hands, the following was:
RESOLVED:
Apologies were received from Cllr Ian Dore, Cllrs Karen Lucioni, and Cllr Ian Stephens.
Cllr Jenna Sabine declared a personal and pecuniary interest in minute 58/24 (Item 24 on the agenda - additional request for funding for the Appley Tower Project) as she was the founder and owner of Monkton Arts. Cllr Sabine would not be present during the items discussion and the subsequent vote.
Cllr Lilley declared an interest in minute 59/24 (Service Level Agreement for The Ryde Community Development Trust) as he was the Chair of the Trust.
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 to the meeting of Full Council were reviewed. After a proposer, seconder, and a vote via a show of hands, the following was:
The mayor circulated his report ahead of the meeting.
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Members were advised that Ryde Town Board had, following some procedural issues, been ratified and during the morning had held its first meeting. It was noted that there was much catch up work to do throughout the coming months of May and June which included the agreeing of strategy and direction, consultation exercises, Community Engagement and the Creation of Project Evaluation Matrix.
In July 2024, a submission of a three year Investment Plan and a 10-year Vision would be made to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities by 31 July 2024
Other areas of activity for the mayor included:
Attended meetings of the Ryde Community Development Trust.
With the Clerk and Deputy Clerk, meeting with Cowes Town Council and Ross Edmunds of the Isle of Wight Council to discuss Place Planning issues and mechanisms for evaluating projects
Alongside other Town Councillors, attended meetings of the Ryde Community Forum
Attended the Student Impact Awards at the University of Portsmouth (UoP)
Alongside other Town Councillors, attended the launch of the Beach Accessibility Project
Members received and noted the following officer reports which were circulated ahead of the meeting.
Clerks Update
The clerk provided an update on the following:
St Thomas’s Church – This was progressing very well, and its completion was on target for the move of Network Ryde (the Town Councils Youth Service) from 147 High Street to its new home in the Church.
Former Nat West Bank Building – Members noted that the purchase was finally complete, and work was now underway for its conversion into it being the new home of Ryde Town Council. One of its first uses will be to host consultation events for Ryde Town Board, throughout June.
A question was asked on whether Ryde Town Council would continue to be liable for the offices at Lind Street once the former Nat West building was ready for use. It was noted that the Town Council was still looking at options for leasing the Lind Street Offices in order to create revenue whilst it was still under the lease agreement. One such option could include being the base of the incoming MP for Ryde East.
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Regarding the opening of the toilets to the public at the former Nat West building, it was noted that this was being treated as a priority and be ready for use as soon as it was safe to do so. This would need to be communicated to the public as soon as possible in order to reassure them that new facilities were imminent.
On a separate issue regarding the new Esplanade Cycle Lane, there was some concerns around its ending into the rear of the Bus Station and the potential risks to waiting bus passengers. It was noted cyclists should take responsibility and dismount when entering any pedestrian zone. The Bus Station and the whole Interchange project had been through all the relevant Risk Assessments and Audits and had been deemed safe.
Regarding the completion of the Bus and Train Station, it was noted that it should be ready around late June 2024.
Report from the Community Development Officer (CDO)
The report was circulated for members to note.
Cllr Lilley wished to place on record that he was extremely proud of the Community Development Team and thanked both Alison Pearce (the CDO) and her assistant, Liz Dutton, who have helped to provide much needed services for those in need such as the community garden, learning cookery skills and the new ‘Time Banking’ initiative (a way for people to help each other with members spending time sharing hobbies, skills and knowledge and earning credits).
Ryde Town Board (RTB) Project Manager
The RTB Project Manager circulated the report, which was noted, and Members were advised on the current membership of the Board.
The Boards Chair had been ratified on the 29 April 2024 following an internal selection process by an interview panel and the Board Members would be ratified in early May.
There was some discussion around how the two Isle of Wight Council Councillor Board members would be established, and members were advised that at the Isle of Wight Councils Annual Council on 15 May 2024, their membership would be confirmed.
The Councillor representing Ryde Town Council would be the incumbent Mayor.
Other Board members included the Islands MP (this would change to the MP representing IW East after the oncoming General Election) and The Hants and IW Police and Crime Commissioner.
All other members from various areas were selected by the Boards Chair who felt would best benefit Ryde owing to their experience. Over the course of ten years there would likely be some changes to membership as people may leave their respective positions.
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Cllr Conyers reported that she had attended various Isle of Wight Association of Local Councils (IWALC) meetings, one in particular being around Community Housing.
Cllr Lilley had attended the Beach Accessibility launch event and wished to thank both Annette Steed (Project Officer) and Hannah East (Marketing and Events Officer)
for their hard work in making the project a reality as well as thanking Neil Chapman, the Managing Director of Hovertravel for his input.
Cllr Lilley was also delighted to announce that following various meetings the Argyle House Doctors Surgery future had been secured.
Cllr May (Mayor) and Cllr Elliott (Deputy Mayor) had attended a Ryde Town Council and University of Portsmouth Memorandum of Understanding Steering Group meeting, the main focus being the aspirations of Ryde’s young people.
Members were requested to approve the following:
Committee Structure
A proposed new streamlined committee structure was presented and discussed. It was noted that when ready, the Youth Forum would fall under the Network Ryde Steering Group.
After a proposer, seconder, and a vote via a show of hands, the following was:
All Terms of Reference
All of the new Terms of References were reviewed and discussed, and it was noted that on the Operations and Resources Management Group, key staff positions needed to be added to the membership.
After a proposer, seconder and a vote via a show of hands, it was:
To appoint seven members to the Finance and Community Resources Committee
Members were required to elect the membership of the Finance and Community Resources Committee. Following proposals, seconders, and a vote via a show of hands, the following was:
RESOLVED:
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To appoint 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:
To appoint seven members to the Community Planning Committee
Members were required to elect a membership of the Community Planning Committee. Following proposals, seconders, and a vote via a show of hands, the following was:
RESOLVED:
To appoint a Chair of the Community Planning Committee
Members were required to elect the membership of the Community Planning Committee. Following proposals, seconders, and a vote via a show of hands, the following was:
Cllr Simon Cooke was proposed and seconded as Chair of the Community Planning Committee.
RESOLVED:
To appoint three RTC members to the Network Ryde Steering Group
Members were required to elect the membership of the Network Ryde Steering Group. Following proposals, seconders, and a vote via a show of hands, the following was:
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RESOLVED:
To appoint four members to the Community Development Steering Group
Members were required to elect the membership of the Community Development Steering Group. Following proposals, seconders, and a vote via a show of hands, the following was:
RESOLVED:
Following proposers, seconders, and a vote via a show of hands, the following was:
RESOLVED:
One representative and deputy to Isle of Wight Association of Local Councils (IWALC)
Cllr Simon Cooke and Cllr Diana Conyers (Deputy).
Two representatives to the Ryde Regeneration Working Group
Cllr Pippa Hayward and Cllr Phil Jordan.
Ryde Town Council Mental Health Champion
Cllr Jess Higgins.
One representative and a deputy to the Isle of Wight Civil Military Partnership
Cllr Charles Chapman and Cllr Ian Dore (Deputy)
Holder of the role of Mayor is appointed to the Ryde Town Board and to the Ryde Community Development Trust
Cllr Richard May (as Mayor for 2024-2025)
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Members were required to approve Ryde Town Councils CCTV Policy Following a proposer, seconder, and a vote via a show of hands, it was: RESOLVED:
Members noted the following:
The Ryde Place Plan Summary and Review
The Network Ryde Young People’s Participation Policy
Cllr Cooke wished to place on record his sincere thanks to Cllr Diana Conyers and Chris Turvey (RTC’s Community Planning Officer) for their hard work in reviewing the Ryde Place Plan and the Ryde Position Statement.
The proposed dates for all the forthcoming Full Council and Committee meetings held in public was reviewed. It was noted that these were subject to change and that meetings could be added should the need arise.
The main change was that Full Council meetings would be held on a Tuesday as opposed to a Monday.
Following a proposer, seconder, and a vote via a show of hands, it was:
Members noted the appointment of authorised signatories for the Town Council’s banking arrangements as being the Mayor, the Deputy Mayor, the Chair of the Finance and Community Resources Committee, the Clerk and the Responsible Finance Officer (RFO), as required under section 5 of the Council’s Financial Regulations.
It was noted that there were no conflicts of interest declared by members in relation to Ryde Town Councils External Auditors – BDO LLP UK (https://www.bdo.co.uk/en- gb/home).
Members noted the approved minutes of the meeting held on the 12 March 2024
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The following recommendations arising from the meeting held on 23 April 2024 was considered:
The approval of the updated Risk Asset Register as of 31/03/2024 as prepared by the RFO
The approval of the un-audited accounts for the year ending 31/03/2024
The approval of the updated reserves statement for the year ending 31/03/2024
Following a proposer, seconder, and a vote via a show of hands, it was:
Members noted the approved minutes of the meetings held on 19 March 2024 and 9 April 2024.
The approved minutes of the meeting held on 7 February 2024 were noted.
The approved minutes of the meeting held on 13 December 2023 and the Network Ryde Youth Work Manager’s Report were both noted.
Cllr Sabine left the room for this item only.
Members considered a further request from Natural Enterprise for £10,000 was considered by members.
It was noted that the additional request was mainly due to an increase in material costs and additional repairs. The RFO confirmed that on considering all the information provided, they were happy for the additional funding to be released.
Following a proposer, seconder, and a vote via a show of hands, it was:
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Members were requited to approve the two year agreement which covered the administrative and secretarial support to the Trust for the purpose of conducting and for arranging various Trustee meetings. The service could be reviewed by Ryde Town Council and RCDT at any time by mutual consent.
The charity was a good method to raise various project funds, one such example being the Beach Accessibility Scheme.
Cllr Lilley wished to place on record his thanks to Liz Dutton (Ryde Town Councils Administration Officer) for all the additional work she had carried out.
Following a proposer, seconder, and a vote via a show of hands, it was:
Cllr Cooke asked about RTCs logo not being on the Ryde Lifeguard Station which the Town Council provided funding to and asked if this could be rectified. It was noted that Ryde Town Council were not grant funding the Life Guards but paying for a service. It was therefore suggested that in the future, such contracts could stipulate the display of Ryde Town Councils logo on any external building, stating the words ‘In Partnership’.
Cllr Conyers asked for an update on the planting around Ryde Esplanade as it was not looking particularly good. The Clerk advised that the plants were being put out later than anticipated owing to the unseasonal wet and cold spring weather, but the look of the area should improve soon.
Cllr Lilley asked for an update on the situation regarding the Ryde Arena building as many residents were frustrated at its continued neglect. It was noted that the Leader of the Isle of Wight Council had spoken to the Leaseholders, AEW recently and that discussions had taken place on the possible sale of the leasehold. The Isle of Wight Council had agreed to carry out a structural survey to establish any future costs.
It was also noted that the building could be re-registered as a Community Asset to help secure its future.
The next scheduled ordinary meeting of Full Council will be held on Tuesday, 25 June 2024.
Meeting closed at 9.00pm
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Signed………………………………………. Cllr Richard may
Mayor of Ryde Town Council, 25 June 2024