In the 8 years up to the South Wight Chronicle’s suspension 2 weeks ago each weekly edition carried a column from Ventnor’s Town Clerk, offering regular updates on the Town Council’s work. Its contribution to the Council’s commitment to transparency has been so important that, until the Chronicle returns, here’s the first edition of its digital alternative.
WORKING FROM HOME
The Town Council’s Office is closed but all our usual staff phone numbers are forwarded to our mobiles, all our usual email addresses are active & staff are working from home with excellent digital
connections including a daily routine conference call enabling us to work together.
VIRTUAL MEETINGS
The government has changed the law and the regulations about the holding of Town and Parish Council Meetings from Saturday 4 April to 7 May 2021. This permits all meetings of the Council and its Committees to be held by video-conferencing; we’re ready for that: details to follow.
SUPPORT FOR VULNERABLE RESIDENTS
Our work since the lockdown started has focused on arrangement for supporting the town’s vulnerable residents. Our Community Development Officer Tony McCarthy, with Admin support by Alison and Morgan and an amazing response from residents has a signed up group of over 50 volunteers to assist with the collection of essential shopping and medications as well as offering regular phone conversations for those more isolated.
We have set up a dedicated email address – [email protected] – for residents needing support or please call the Town Council helplines: 853775 or 857848.
31 BUS
Regrettably, the Town Council has had no option but to suspend the 31 Bus Service to comply with government regulations and advice from the Community Transport Association that says: community transport cannot run the sorts of services they normally would and should not be transporting groups of passengers in their vehicles until the Government’s guidance changes.
NEW PUBLIC TOILET
We’re delighted that our plans for the new public toilet in the Central Car Park were approved by the Isle of Wight Council’s Planning Committee on 27 March. The permission notice can be viewed by clicking this link. The next stage is preparing the detailed specifications necessary for submission of Building Regulations Approval and a tender process.
ASSETS & SERVICES WORKING GROUP
The latest of the fortnightly meetings of the Group was on Tuesday. Its Agenda included: Salisbury Gardens’ Roof, the Central Car Park. Public Toilets, 31 Bus, Boniface Fields, Energy Hub Funding Application and the Haven.
NEXT TOWN COUNCIL MEETING
The April Meeting of the Town Council is scheduled for Monday 20 April with a 7pm start. It will, of course, be a virtual meeting and the new government regulations that allow this can be read
here. It will also be live-streamed as usual.
VIA MY TWITTER FEED LAST WEEK
• The National Children’s Bureau highlights fears for children in poverty as numbers increase: In 2018/19, 4.2 million children were living in relative poverty, after housing costs have been taken into account – a rise from 3.6 million in 2010/11: here
• Here’s a graphic showing peak times for accessing Universal Credit.
Fore more information, including contact details for Town Councillors, visit the Town Council’s website at www.ventnortowncouncil.org.uk or through our Twitter account @ventnorclerk.
New Public Toilet Less car parking spaces. How long before they sell it off for private housing as they did the one in Market Street and the western end of the esplanade?