A new policy to manage stray dogs on the Isle of Wight, a hefty 61-point Coroner’s Service Recovery Plan and an ‘excellent’ strategy to tackle domestic abuse were 3 key plans adopted at County Hall at the end of 2025.
The decisions were taken by councillors on the environment and community protection and adult social care, public health and housing needs committees, chaired respectively by councillors Karen Lucioni and Clare Mosdell.
On 4th December, the council passed the Stray Dog Policy 2025 – 2028, setting out how the local authority will meet its related legal obligations.
Its dog service is provided by the Public Realm Officers Team and has responsibilities including responding to reports of stray dogs, trying to deal with loose strays where feasible, and collecting stray dogs during designated hours, according to an officer report.
Natasha Dix, the Isle of Wight Council’s service director for environment waste and planning, told the council chamber that between 2021 and 2023, 35 stray dogs were reported.
However, she added that in the last 6 months, 10 strays were collected by officers.
“Six were reunited with their owners, three were successfully rehomed and one still remains in our care awaiting rehoming,” Ms Dix said.
“They may not be high numbers, but it is important for each and every one of those animals to ensure it is being looked after, that their welfare is held as paramount and that rehoming and reuniting with their owners is an absolute priority.”
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At the same environment and community protection committee meeting, a recovery plan for the much-criticised Isle of Wight Coroner’s Service was endorsed.
A committee report said the waiting time for inquests is reported as being the worst in England and Wales.
But Laura Gaudion, director of adult social care and housing needs, told members that the number of cases open for more than 12 months has seen a 50% reduction, as of 4th December.
She said Isle of Wight Coroner Caroline Sumeray confirmed that for 2025, 197 cases are still outstanding for longer than 12 months.
A total of 236 inquests have been concluded so far this year, which the coroner described as a record number for the Isle of Wight.
Only 38 inquests were brought to an end last year, with an average wait time of 76 weeks – more than double the national average, according to the committee report.
The Service Recovery Plan lists 61 actions, with those completed including ensuring bereaved families guidance is added to the council’s website, prioritising staff learning and development, reviewing officer presence in court and agreeing the complaints process with Mrs Sumeray.
However, ones the plan marked in red – ‘not started’ – included developing a bereaved families charter and exploring procurement options for pathology.
Another measure, scanning completed inquest files to a digital case management and workflow system, had a 31st March, 2025, target date.
On 18th December, adult social care, public health and housing needs councillors threw their weight behind a commitment to preventing domestic abuse and improving outcomes for victims, subject to their recommendations.
The Isle of Wight Domestic Abuse Strategy 2024 – 2029’s three priorities are the prevention and reduction of harm, increased access to specialist support and collaboration and working together.
Thousands of domestic abuse incidents have been logged on the Isle of Wight, representing 20% of all police recorded Island crime in 2023/4.
An implementation plan sitting alongside the strategy explains how the priorities will be achieved.
Independent councillor Clare Mosdell mentioned three recommendations which members voted for:
“That the foreword be updated by the new director of public health, that there is an inclusion of a paragraph explaining the cover image and that inclusion of quotes from Paragon service users are brought into the document.”
Paragon has been commissioned by County Hall to deliver its integrated Domestic Abuse Services.
It’s about time the council made sure dog owners kept their
dogs on a lead, also make sure they pick up the mess dogs
make.
Dogs need to be under control, this does not mean ‘on lead’. From my experience as a dog owner, most other owners are responsible and clean up after their own dog, I’m afraid it is the minority that give dog owners a bad name!
Tackle the easy stuff then? All the real problems put in the ‘too hard’ pile