It's about time that people on the island were fully aware of the threat to their health and wellbeing. Especially for the older and more vulnerable Islanders.
The Conservative Government have just announced their latest approach to helping the population. Coordinating social and health care to keep people back in their homes and communities
The Island Conservative Council though has just destroyed a successful island scheme of Local Area Coordinators that has kept many people at home and out of expensive hospital beds. This saves small amounts of money from March this year but with no real consultation, and over riding its own Scrutiny Committee recommendations.
The local health Authority tell the Public there are options to move lots or some of the acute and specialist care off island. They ignore the message from the public that this is too damaging to the health and pockets of Islanders and decide on a drastic option to transfer major facilities to the mainland. Without an agreement with hard pressed local mainland NHS and against the wishes of the key Council Committee who castigated the approach and ineffectiveness.
The Health Authority's public consultation looks like a figleaf to justify their already planned decision, and showcases why democratic oversight is so important.
The local non party Save the NHS campaign and concerned locals keep raising these issues. While from my viewpoint I hope that the Lib Dem focus on local pressure and national pragmatic push can alleviate some of the damaging effects of the current Conservative Government and Council.
Saturday, 5 January 2019
Friday, 4 January 2019
Environmental Energy Focus
Environmental issues are important and obvious on a small self contained island, however the Council approach is piecemeal without a coherent policy or strategy.
One key area is energy supplies and management. For the island we need to balance saving energy eg through insulation, efficient lighting and appliances and improved transport. With sources of energy in biomass, fossil fuels, electricity supplies from the mainland, solar panels and wind power. I'm aware directly of the engineering challenges that have prevented the production of robust wave and tidal flow power and there is little to show those being close to market.
We all know that the island is not in favour of onshore turbines. So its doubly unfortunately the Conservative Government killed the the large wind turbine array off the UK South Coast by stopping the Green Bank funding. A Bank created by the Lib Dems while junior partner in the coalition. Funding that would have provided jobs and key opportunities for Island people and ports.
It would also have assisted Vestas a major supplier of turbine blades and a significant provider of Island jobs.
In a connected blog I've discussed the issues with the Regeneration Strategy. The failed investment where the Council funded a Ventnor hub for offshore energy is a prime example of insufficient due diligence of both the company, the industry and the technology.
Perhaps the island should look to universities and related bodies, and companies to offer island as a market test bed for energy saving and energy management technologies. However that would require coordination and long term planning which we have yet to see.
One key area is energy supplies and management. For the island we need to balance saving energy eg through insulation, efficient lighting and appliances and improved transport. With sources of energy in biomass, fossil fuels, electricity supplies from the mainland, solar panels and wind power. I'm aware directly of the engineering challenges that have prevented the production of robust wave and tidal flow power and there is little to show those being close to market.
We all know that the island is not in favour of onshore turbines. So its doubly unfortunately the Conservative Government killed the the large wind turbine array off the UK South Coast by stopping the Green Bank funding. A Bank created by the Lib Dems while junior partner in the coalition. Funding that would have provided jobs and key opportunities for Island people and ports.
It would also have assisted Vestas a major supplier of turbine blades and a significant provider of Island jobs.
In a connected blog I've discussed the issues with the Regeneration Strategy. The failed investment where the Council funded a Ventnor hub for offshore energy is a prime example of insufficient due diligence of both the company, the industry and the technology.
Perhaps the island should look to universities and related bodies, and companies to offer island as a market test bed for energy saving and energy management technologies. However that would require coordination and long term planning which we have yet to see.
Thursday, 3 January 2019
Transparency and honesty
A key sign of something going wrong is when authorities stop answering questions, or are found out stretching the truth or even lying. Investigating Company Frauds in an earlier life sharpened my sense of when something is being hidden and those forensic accounting skills help with some of the hidden elements of budgets.
On the island in the Floaty McFloatfarce of the Floating bridge is a prime example of hiding facts. The continued obstruction and failure to be honest; The whining protests that it's all working perfectly. Until you compare the trips on the replacement small boat and the actual numbers of travellers. Until you see how many breakdowns and the need for an extra push boat to keep it running at all.
If we look at the plans for St Marys roundabout where the scheme was as stale as last year's christmas cake. The consultation was a limited token gesture. One Councillor with some personal effort managing to encourage more comments than the entire Council apparatus. Then the Conservative Council Cabinet push through a tweaked scheme that ignores the key protest; why this scheme, why now, and why not wait for a comprehensive and developed transport policy.
Personally I followed up the story of Non disclosure agreements (NDAs) with a Freedom of Information request. These NDAs are where someone is paid off by the Council and then legally obliged to keep quiet. The Council disclosed to me these agreements related to internal and education staff but they were unable to tell me who asked for non-disclosure. Which is just nonsense and I suspect hides the fact that most NDAs were Council and schools hiding their behaviour and keeping a number of whistleblowers quiet.
We all know things can go wrong but sometimes you just have to stop digging the hole. Honesty and transparency are essential for elected officials and you can be certain that if I'm part of any Liberal Democrat administration I will not sign off on any NDA agreements to shut staff up, we would consult widely, and we would pretend that something is working.
On the island in the Floaty McFloatfarce of the Floating bridge is a prime example of hiding facts. The continued obstruction and failure to be honest; The whining protests that it's all working perfectly. Until you compare the trips on the replacement small boat and the actual numbers of travellers. Until you see how many breakdowns and the need for an extra push boat to keep it running at all.
If we look at the plans for St Marys roundabout where the scheme was as stale as last year's christmas cake. The consultation was a limited token gesture. One Councillor with some personal effort managing to encourage more comments than the entire Council apparatus. Then the Conservative Council Cabinet push through a tweaked scheme that ignores the key protest; why this scheme, why now, and why not wait for a comprehensive and developed transport policy.
Personally I followed up the story of Non disclosure agreements (NDAs) with a Freedom of Information request. These NDAs are where someone is paid off by the Council and then legally obliged to keep quiet. The Council disclosed to me these agreements related to internal and education staff but they were unable to tell me who asked for non-disclosure. Which is just nonsense and I suspect hides the fact that most NDAs were Council and schools hiding their behaviour and keeping a number of whistleblowers quiet.
We all know things can go wrong but sometimes you just have to stop digging the hole. Honesty and transparency are essential for elected officials and you can be certain that if I'm part of any Liberal Democrat administration I will not sign off on any NDA agreements to shut staff up, we would consult widely, and we would pretend that something is working.
Wednesday, 2 January 2019
Island thanks
Although there are things that we could improve its is worth reflecting on the many reasons why we live on the Island.
The landscape, the sea, the peace and quiet. Architecture, history and wildlife, including the red squirrels; and critically our communities. The people in villages and towns, our neighbours and friends. Work colleagues, former work colleagues, fellow sports people. The one place where I've lived where you can go around with a smile, where people don't think it strange to chat, where people, even boy racers, are polite on the road. Having worked in London while living on the island it is interesting to see their concerned reaction to a smile or eye contact, especially on public transport.
Having knocked on hundreds of doors on the Island last December/January and delivering for Councillor members I can testify to the inherent kindness of my island neighbours.
We have a lot to be proud of on this small island and it is great to call it home.
The landscape, the sea, the peace and quiet. Architecture, history and wildlife, including the red squirrels; and critically our communities. The people in villages and towns, our neighbours and friends. Work colleagues, former work colleagues, fellow sports people. The one place where I've lived where you can go around with a smile, where people don't think it strange to chat, where people, even boy racers, are polite on the road. Having worked in London while living on the island it is interesting to see their concerned reaction to a smile or eye contact, especially on public transport.
Having knocked on hundreds of doors on the Island last December/January and delivering for Councillor members I can testify to the inherent kindness of my island neighbours.
We have a lot to be proud of on this small island and it is great to call it home.
Tuesday, 1 January 2019
Regeneration
With personal knowledge and expertise, and my activist hat I'd love to praise the draft Regeneration strategy; but I cannot. Does the Council ever learn?
13 odd years ago as Head of Science and Innovation for UKTI with a national responsibility I talked to the then Council CEO and Conservative Council Leader about cooperating with companies and skilled professionals on the island, alongside the Universities and Research Institutes I knew in order to generate innovative business and high skilled jobs on the island. They didn't seem to follow what they were being offered just wanted me to get them more money from the Regional Development Authority. Given their failure to understand the possibilities and the clear knowledge that they would be unable to use money constructively they received nothing and I stuck to my day job supporting UK trade overseas, helping companies invest in the UK and developing a coherent approach to innovation across 12 different areas and groups aka the Innovation Map.
In 2018 the Council launched a Regeneration plan and took it out to consultation. I welcomed the idea and went through it carefully, spoke to the key people and attended a couple regeneration meetings across the island. And then went into a deep depression.
It is clear that a lot of effort, on public engagement and expertise has gone into this plan. However the plan is a mixture of financial wishes focused on more housing to bring in Council Tax. It has limited plans for development and no real focus on the key aspects of job creation or industry development.
More housing is a nonsensical way to regenerate the island, build our industry and jobs and protect the environment. And given the vanishing hospital services and ever increasing ferry costs the possibility of success seem remote.
There are some good ideas eg shared housing for older residents but there are more poor approaches. Two examples from the draft:-
Newport Harbour touted as a major development opportunity seems to consist of the privatisation of public space with little to support the existing business and organisations and even less maintain full public access.
Kingston Marina has been brought with the plan that companies driven out of East Cowes by the Red Funnel expansion can relocate. But there isn't the money available. Especially when the Council invest 19 million pounds of borrowed money in North West industrial estates.
So what would an island focussed industrial regeneration strategy look like?
We would start with talking to existing business and expertise. Your best investor is the one already here, not a new Chinese developer. Do they know how many people from the City of London live on and love the island? Given support from Council and other sources such as the Solent LEP we could find the most innovative and successful people on the island and find what they need. We could drive the creation of an Island Innovation Fund. Competitive and straightforward competition with a short term selected board; An Island Dragons Den without the theatricals.
Other issues remain to be managed such as the ferry issue with and without Central Government help. Or even a genuine look at a fixed link if only to focus the minds of the ferry company owners.
Other issues remain to be managed such as the ferry issue with and without Central Government help. Or even a genuine look at a fixed link if only to focus the minds of the ferry company owners.
We also need to find out all the successful and unique industries on the island and then bring together the education sector here and locally on the mainland to deliver the educated workforce they need.
The island has a proud history of engineering with 100 years of constructing ships, boats and aircraft and with a current expertise in high level engineering, composites and boat building.
There are other businesses eg sport, environmental tourism, high level agricultural products and culture: we have a fantastic story to tell with cometent people working hard to deliver that success.
This Regeneration plan ignores or damages the current successful industry. Stop throwing money in the wrong direction!
This Regeneration plan ignores or damages the current successful industry. Stop throwing money in the wrong direction!
Monday, 31 December 2018
Global trade
A bit of personal history and a point to ponder while you think about our links with Europe.
During my time in Government I supported bioscience companies from small to multinationals, Research Institutes and Universities in areas as diverse as medical technologies, bioinformatics and botanical research.
Later I and my teams helped innovative companies, Research Institutes and Universities to trade overseas, and helped colleagues in the UK and our Embassies overseas support investors into the UK, and UK trade globally.
I sent missions throughout the globe, personally leading trade and science delegations to India, North America, Australia, Brazil and throughout Europe. While welcoming missions from Russia, China, South east Asia, with companies and Government bodies from many other countries. With this background the hot air put about by leavers in the Europe debate was ludicrous, and the Remain campaign was frustrating.
It is impossible to replace our easy trading, close physical, cultural and business relationships in Europe with other countries. India doesn't want our services, China wants our trade and knowledge and we can see how they use our technologies to build their industries. Brazil is still mired in its social structure of ultra rich, comfortable middle classes, a vast underclass and a corrupt political setup. As for North America we can see how President Trump is completely focussed on America via threats and trade wars with all and sundry.
And if we look to the Commonwealth countries? Canada has a major trade agreement with us, but via the EU. Australia and New Zealand have pivoted away and look to China and Asia. I could go on but you might now understand why over half our trade is with Europe. If we put up barriers they will be slightly less well off, and we will be significantly poorer than we should be.
UK has some 140 Universities including more leading world Universities than the rest of Europe with London the pre-eminent Science city in the world. All utterly reliant upon global talent, In some of our leading groups nearly all the scientists come from overseas, and Europeans make up many of those. Funding also flows from Europe. While Universities are a massive cash earner for the UK in terms of students, technologies and intellectual property. Most importantly they produce well trained students eager to work in our companies, the NHS and our environmental opportunities. A split with Europe however mild will damage all of these things. On the island with some 1/5 of staff in the NHS from Europe the possibility of those people starting to drift away is scary.
The Europe debate was farcical and many people are now aware of the economic decline, before we have even left.
You may think the economic pain is worthwhile. You may believe that major industry damage, less money for the public sector, lower spending for pensions, NHS defence and local Government is OK. In which case I will listen to your views very politely, but don't expect me to agree to beggaring my children and grandchildren.
During my time in Government I supported bioscience companies from small to multinationals, Research Institutes and Universities in areas as diverse as medical technologies, bioinformatics and botanical research.
Later I and my teams helped innovative companies, Research Institutes and Universities to trade overseas, and helped colleagues in the UK and our Embassies overseas support investors into the UK, and UK trade globally.
I sent missions throughout the globe, personally leading trade and science delegations to India, North America, Australia, Brazil and throughout Europe. While welcoming missions from Russia, China, South east Asia, with companies and Government bodies from many other countries. With this background the hot air put about by leavers in the Europe debate was ludicrous, and the Remain campaign was frustrating.
It is impossible to replace our easy trading, close physical, cultural and business relationships in Europe with other countries. India doesn't want our services, China wants our trade and knowledge and we can see how they use our technologies to build their industries. Brazil is still mired in its social structure of ultra rich, comfortable middle classes, a vast underclass and a corrupt political setup. As for North America we can see how President Trump is completely focussed on America via threats and trade wars with all and sundry.
And if we look to the Commonwealth countries? Canada has a major trade agreement with us, but via the EU. Australia and New Zealand have pivoted away and look to China and Asia. I could go on but you might now understand why over half our trade is with Europe. If we put up barriers they will be slightly less well off, and we will be significantly poorer than we should be.
UK has some 140 Universities including more leading world Universities than the rest of Europe with London the pre-eminent Science city in the world. All utterly reliant upon global talent, In some of our leading groups nearly all the scientists come from overseas, and Europeans make up many of those. Funding also flows from Europe. While Universities are a massive cash earner for the UK in terms of students, technologies and intellectual property. Most importantly they produce well trained students eager to work in our companies, the NHS and our environmental opportunities. A split with Europe however mild will damage all of these things. On the island with some 1/5 of staff in the NHS from Europe the possibility of those people starting to drift away is scary.
The Europe debate was farcical and many people are now aware of the economic decline, before we have even left.
You may think the economic pain is worthwhile. You may believe that major industry damage, less money for the public sector, lower spending for pensions, NHS defence and local Government is OK. In which case I will listen to your views very politely, but don't expect me to agree to beggaring my children and grandchildren.
Sunday, 30 December 2018
Sport
It's about time that sport was given the major attention it needs.
Throughout our life sport provide us with friends, exercise, stress release and plain excitement. Whether direct involvement or as spectators, officials, parents and suppliers Sport touches so much of our live. Who can forget key Olympic moments, World Cups in hockey rugby or football F1 races or even curious sports like curling or golf.
We talk about sport providing practice in team work, concentration and focus on goals and that is certainly true when we are younger. As you get older the fun the exercise and the friendships start to be more important. And in any competitive sport winning, doing well or improving are all major drivers. Extending this to sport for all engagement covers many possibilities, participants in mass sports like football, in individual sports like athletics, or more holistic sports such as my own one of Fencing.
For the younger generation why does the current GCSE curriculum focus on PE science more than practice, How has sport become just a nice to have in current education? Just look at the increased proportion of private educated Olympians to realise that the current approach fails too many of the population.The better schools recognise that sport offers something to everyone and diversity is the key for children.
One of the fastest growing areas of sport is Veterans, which includes me. Is so many areas we see Veterans, from Tennis to Cycling, from Football to Athletics. For me the first international competition was as a Veteran in Croatia, and the joy and satisfaction of competing and passing that on to others provides lifetime memories and encourages me to continue. Sport must be for everyone and as part of my work I coach anyone from 9 to 101, from high level athletes to wheelchair fencers.
Talking money sport provides an economic boost for Island business with substantial numbers of visitors for walking, sailing and cycling events among others. But I suspect there is little knowledge and limited focus in the Council of how this helps the island economy or showcases the island.
The island has produced major competitors at Olympic and national level for athlete and para athletes. It is a bedrock for many people who make the island home while the landscape and opportunities are unique within the UK. So sport on the island needs high level approaches and friends. As a key part The Isle of Wight Sports Foundation has the former High Sheriffs and the next Lord Lieutenant, and one of the best organisers on the island at its heart.
Isn't it about time we had an island Select committee perhaps under the Sports Foundation banner to include the MP, Senior Council officials and leaders, Olympians and major businesses and to look at creating a strategic approach to sport. Covering all the major issues of facilities, opportunities, coaching and coordination in order to showcase the island and produce a new pillar of island uniqueness.
Throughout our life sport provide us with friends, exercise, stress release and plain excitement. Whether direct involvement or as spectators, officials, parents and suppliers Sport touches so much of our live. Who can forget key Olympic moments, World Cups in hockey rugby or football F1 races or even curious sports like curling or golf.
We talk about sport providing practice in team work, concentration and focus on goals and that is certainly true when we are younger. As you get older the fun the exercise and the friendships start to be more important. And in any competitive sport winning, doing well or improving are all major drivers. Extending this to sport for all engagement covers many possibilities, participants in mass sports like football, in individual sports like athletics, or more holistic sports such as my own one of Fencing.
For the younger generation why does the current GCSE curriculum focus on PE science more than practice, How has sport become just a nice to have in current education? Just look at the increased proportion of private educated Olympians to realise that the current approach fails too many of the population.The better schools recognise that sport offers something to everyone and diversity is the key for children.
One of the fastest growing areas of sport is Veterans, which includes me. Is so many areas we see Veterans, from Tennis to Cycling, from Football to Athletics. For me the first international competition was as a Veteran in Croatia, and the joy and satisfaction of competing and passing that on to others provides lifetime memories and encourages me to continue. Sport must be for everyone and as part of my work I coach anyone from 9 to 101, from high level athletes to wheelchair fencers.
Talking money sport provides an economic boost for Island business with substantial numbers of visitors for walking, sailing and cycling events among others. But I suspect there is little knowledge and limited focus in the Council of how this helps the island economy or showcases the island.
The island has produced major competitors at Olympic and national level for athlete and para athletes. It is a bedrock for many people who make the island home while the landscape and opportunities are unique within the UK. So sport on the island needs high level approaches and friends. As a key part The Isle of Wight Sports Foundation has the former High Sheriffs and the next Lord Lieutenant, and one of the best organisers on the island at its heart.
Isn't it about time we had an island Select committee perhaps under the Sports Foundation banner to include the MP, Senior Council officials and leaders, Olympians and major businesses and to look at creating a strategic approach to sport. Covering all the major issues of facilities, opportunities, coaching and coordination in order to showcase the island and produce a new pillar of island uniqueness.
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