Eco Island actions: the bigger picture

The Island Strategic Partnership has agreed a vision, values and priorities for Eco Island. The ambitions of Eco island have been set out under four themes. The Key Delivery Partnerships will act to deliver the vision.

Set out below is a list of actions already agreed, arranged under the Eco island themes. These commitments will be monitored for progress by the ISP and progress will be reported on the ISP website which can be found by clicking here.

This list of actions will be updated during the life of the Eco Island strategy.

Key Delivery Partnerships will provide information about their performance to the Island Strategic Partnership. This will be done very three months. The performance information will be posted on this site. For information on how performance will be measured and reported, click here.

Jump to themes by clicking here

Thriving island
Healthy and supportive Island
Safe and well kept Island
Inspiring Island

Thriving Island

The ISP is hoping to announce major investment and commercial agreements with major academic institutions that will make the Island a centre for sustainable development research and development in an existing and thriving real-life community.

The Economic and Environment Key Delivery Partnership has responsibility for leading and implementing some very high level environmental actions for Eco island. The KDP will ensure that:

• Island partners will meet the commitment to the Nottingham Declaration on Climate Change, to produce an action plan to reduce carbon emissions on the Island. The initial target will be 3% reduction per year.
• Three Parish and Town Councils will pilot low carbon communities
• Starting in 2008, there will be annual Eco Island conferences in March each year and Big Green Picnics in May each year
• Two hundred Green Island tourism awards will have been awarded
• Partners will submit a bid for a renewable energy research centre
• The Island’s public sector vehicle fleets will run on low-carbon fuels, starting with 13 Isle of Wight Council Vehicles.
• In addition the Partnership has a target of developing new sectors of employment, creating a centre of excellence in renewable energies with a target of 65 Mw energy production capacity by 2015.

Other Actions:

• Deliver the AONB Management Plan to 2009 to conserve and enhance the natural beauty of the Island’s protected landscapes. 
• By March 2009, support, through funding and partnership working, at least 5 projects that demonstrate sustainable approaches to living in, working in and enjoying of the special qualities of the Isle of Wight AONB;
• By March 2009, provide AONB input into at least 80 pre-planning application meetings to assist applicants and their agents to incorporate AONB objectives within their scheme;
• By March 2009, provide AONB comment on at least 170 planning applications within or affecting the AONB to ensure that proposed development meets the objectives of AONB designation;
• By March 2009, work with at least 4 communities to help them incorporate AONB issues and objectives within their Parish Plans, Village Design Statements and other approaches to community planning.
• Delivery of an Island Plan, to provide the sustainable development and regeneration framework for the Island up to 2026. The Island Plan Core Strategy will set the overall framework for planning on the Island for the period up to 2026. It will set the overall strategy for meeting the Island’s needs, whilst at the same time protecting what is special about the Island and its character.
• Delivery of a Local Transport Plan (2006-11) which will increase accessibility and safety, improve air quality and reduce congestion on the Island by 2011. This includes 21 specific targets, such as: increasing cycling by 300% by 2010 over yr 2000 baseline; Complete National Cycle Network Route 23 link across Newport by Apr 09; Complete School Travel Plans, offering safer routes to all Island schools by 2010.
• Roll out our One Million Blooms scheme: three more major sustainable planting showcases, sites to be chosen after community consultation, by April 2009; 20 more community-led planting schemes across the Island by April 2009.
• Delivery of a Council Carbon Management Strategy which will reduce carbon emissions from Council activities by 4% per year for 5 years to 2013 and beyond, and to provide other organisations and businesses with a lead in meeting the challenges of global warming, with an overall target of 3% per year across the partnership.
• Commencement of the project to deliver 800 homes at Pan over a 10 year period from April 2009 as a model of sustainable development for the Island with all homes to be constructed to a minimum of Code for Sustainable Homes Level 4+.
• We will use the interim Waste Strategy to increase the amount of municipal waste being used for fuel or recycling, and therefore prevented from going into landfill, to 60% by 2010.
• We will increase recycling (including composting) to 35% by 2010 through publicity campaigns, improved recycling facilities and the opening of the gasification plant.
• We will build a new eco-school in Cowes, with very low energy requirements, by 2011. We will have designed this school by April 2009.
• Open the new Gasification Plant for testing from April 2008 which will convert waste to energy, producing 2MW of renewable power, enough to provide for 2000 Island homes.
• Begin construction of the renewed East Cowes town centre including new access road, housing food store, town square and local facilities as Phase1 of a high quality scheme which will regeneration of the town.
• Sir Terry Farrell, new Design Champion will produce a low-carbon spatial manifesto for the Island in 2008/09. This will link in with the Island Plan and will help us deliver a clear vision which will embrace our local distinctiveness and deliver quality design This will include a local consultation exercise to design East Cowes Waterfront.
• Install renewable energy systems in 3 community buildings across the Island by Mar 09.
• Deliver Ryde Townscape Heritage Initiative project over 4 years to Mar 2010, which will result in a restored town centre for Ryde.
• Deliver first Eco-Island conference in Mar 08, then annual standing conference on carbon reduction with 30 Island businesses signed up to carbon reduction targets by Mar 09.
• Deliver over a 3 year period from Nov 2007 the SEEDA-funded ‘Taste of the Wight’ Food project by working with local food sectors ( meat fish etc) to ensure more local food produce is sold in local stores thereby reducing food miles supporting increased investment in the local economy and improving the value of the whole agricultural sector of the Island. The target is a 10% switch to Island products by Nov 2010.
• Expand Green Island Awards to 200 participant businesses by March 09 to actively promote and deliver the principles of sustainable consumption and carbon reduction.
• We will review the existing Biodiversity Action Plan by March 2009;
• This will focus ISP resources on 94 different projects to protect habitats across the Island. Specific examples will be:
• We will ensure that 85% of all priority wildlife habitats are being properly looked after in an agreed management scheme by 2010
• We will designate 3 new Local Nature Reserves across the Island by 2010
• We will hold 3 events per year to promote biodiversity; this will be the Big Green Picnic project.
• Continue to maintain good clean air record through Air Quality monitoring.
• Green Transport Plan in place for Council and PCT by Apr ’10 (Improved public transport, improved strategic cycling network, safer routes to schools, walking schemes), and rolled out to other major employers by 2012, to underpin the Eco Island message.
• Ensure a Geo Park application for the Heritage Coast of the Island made by April 2009. This will highlight the Island’s geological quality and provide further profile for the Island as a green tourism destination.
• Reduce waste and use of natural resources by replacing throw away plastic shopping bags with reusable bags on Island by 2009.
• We will stimulate commercial waste recycling, reduction and re-use, starting by August 2008.
• Five new charging points for electric cars to be installed in public car parks by Mar 09 to encourage a shift towards more sustainable vehicles with reduced carbon emissions.
• All new public sector buildings to include renewable energy systems by 2009.
• Thirteen fleet Council vehicles to be running on low-carbon fuels by Mar 09, to provide a lead top other partner organisations.
• Shared public procurement policies across the partnership to be introduced by 2010 to maximise use of recycled products.
• Green Towns programme piloted with Brading and 2 other Town & Parish Councils during 2008/09, to enable them to become low carbon and environmentally-sensitive communities. Roll out to others starting 2010
• Establish the Eco Ambassadors Scheme by Apr 2009
• All Island festivals and key events to be zero carbon by 2010, delivered through the establishment of a local carbon offsetting scheme by Mar 09
• Renewable Energy Research Centre to be established in 2008/09 subject to if funding is secured from Energy Technologies Institute and in partnership with University of Southampton and Island business
• 10 Electric pool cars to be purchased by Island organisations in April 08, to reduce the Island’s carbon emissions
• Adopt the Economic Strategy 2008-2020. The Island is set within one of the world’s most advanced regional economies, which brings both benefits and challenges. The Strategy will set the course for the Island’s economy that will address our challenges and secure benefits for all Island communities.
• Implement Fuel Poverty Strategy to reduce fuel poverty from 7.4% (2003) figure to 5% by2011
• Produce Design and Development Briefs, to deliver 5 regeneration area scheme outlines per year by 2010, covering: Shanklin Esplanade, Ventnor Sea Front, Ryde Esplanade, Newport Quay and Sandown/Yaverland. The design briefs will be developed through local consultation and work with Sir Terry Farrell to provide high quality design guidance that will set the vision for what we want our Esplanades and Sea Fronts to look and feel like.
• Landfill gas utilisation scheme (Biffa) providing at least 2 MW renewable energy by 2009
• Develop business case for carbon neutral public services HQ by June 08
• Sustainable Schools Programme to be introduced to 12 Island schools by Mar 10 involving children in reusable energy saving along side curriculum
• School Travel Plans to be completed for all Island schools by 2010, to provide safer, greener ways for children to get to school
• Grey-water and rainwater harvesting systems to be trialled in 3 public buildings across the Island by 2010: Ventnor, Cowes and Newport
• Establish business case for Island abattoir t by 2010
• Emergency services will better manage water and foam ‘run off’, control of smoke and toxic gases, containment of oil and fuel spillage, close working with the Environment Agency on waste water, control and collection of hazardous chemicals.

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Healthy and Supportive Island

• Eco Island also has a long term target that by 2020 there will be a 20 per cent reduction in preventable deaths from tobacco, through the uptake of healthy active lifestyles.
• We will bring 100 empty properties back into use in 2008/09. This is part of a strategy by partners in the public and housing sector that will ensure the maximum occupation of long term empty properties by making use of discussions and negotiations with owners including advice on how to get finance for repairs and on the best solutions to gaining an income from the property. This will involve working with owners where possible to maximise the opportunity for homelessness prevention. If discussions and negotiations do not return the property back to active use we will use a full range of enforcement powers to ensure public safety and that the property is returned to active use. This will be done using statutory powers, including Empty Dwellings Management Orders and Compulsory Purchase Orders where necessary, appropriate and proportionate.
• The partnership will support vulnerable people to live independent lives by developing a user and carer involvement strategy by October 2008.The carers of vulnerable people are central to them being able to live independent lives. This strategy will identify how carers can be involved in the planning of an individual’s care, how the needs of carers can be met and what services need to be in place to enable them to deliver consistently high standards of care. (JPM)
• Support for vulnerable people who can live independent lives will be improved by putting a LINks scheme in place by September 2008 in partnership with the Island’s PCT and the PPI Forum. The role of the Local Involvement Network (LINK) is to give the community a stronger voice in how health and social care services are delivered. The Network will be run by local individuals and groups and will find out what people want, monitor local services and hold service providers to account.
• Every Town and Parish will have a health trainer to support community programmes to provide advice and support for weight management and healthy active lifestyles. The Health Trainers will identify individuals who may need support to address lifestyle changes including weight management, smoking cessation and active activities to increase their potential health and well-being.
• A reduction in the levels of obesity in all ages. Among a range of strategies for reducing obesity, the partnership will promote the increasing use of leisure services by 2% from 2008/09 (22,000 more people), by extending the programmes and times at the Leisure Centres and actively targeting risk groups through GP’s. This will build on smarter marketing and increasing partnership working. The Government’s Chief Medical Officer recommends at least 30 minutes a day of moderate intensity physical activity on 5 or more days a week as a means of reducing obesity and improving physical wellbeing. More people will be encouraged to make use of the Council’s leisure facilities in support of this goal. (JPM)
• Increase the no of units available for specialist housing for vulnerable people by 10 by 2009. We will work with RSL partners both new and old to identify need and to secure the resources to increase the supply of specialist affordable housing for vulnerable applicants on our Housing Register.
• Deliver 180 affordable homes in 2008 as specified in the Housing Strategy. There is an acute shortage of affordable housing on the Island our new housing strategy sets out plans for tackling this shortage and for maximising the amount of housing we enable over the next five years. This is dependent on the amount of funding that is made available for investment and the number of planning permissions that are granted.
• Replace the lift in Ventnor Botanic Gardens by April 2009. The Botanic Gardens offer a unique environment in which people can participate in activities in support of their physical and emotional wellbeing. Its accessibility to those that are not physically able is presently constrained by the frequent breakdowns of the on site lift. The replacement of the lift will make the facility accessible to all again.
• The partners will improve health, emotional wellbeing, and life expectancy by increasing access across the Island to a range of psychological therapies in 2008/9. A stepped-care model of psychological therapy is being developed to ensure improved access to appropriate therapy. Increased staffing and new ways of working have already been implemented in secondary mental health services resulting in significant reduction in waiting times. Expansion of services in primary care is planned to ensure access for all patients with common mental health problems.
• Increase the take up of Free Home Care for people aged 80+ from 902 to 920 during 2008/09. Free home care helps to sustain people’s independence and choice in the care they will receive and prevents inappropriate/early entry in to a residential environment.
• Improve health, emotional wellbeing, and life expectancy by increasing access across the Island to a range of cultural and art based therapies provided by the public and voluntary and community sector by April 2009. Partners will develop better use of signposting to these services and the provision and communication of case studies to demonstrate the impact of such activities on the lives of some individuals.
• Modernise learning disability services to enable 100 more people to live independently at home by 2009. By working closely together, the learning disability partners will give people more control, choice and flexibility in the care they receive and how it is organised through the use of individualised budgets and supported tenancy arrangements. Individual budgets give people more freedom to choose the services they want, how they are provided and when, rather than have to conform to a routine determined by others.
• Support all vulnerable people to live independent lives by extending personalised budgets to all people who need social care support by April 2009. The Council currently arranges packages of care from a number of private, voluntary and community based providers in order to meet the needs of a wide range of vulnerable people. With individual budgets, the Council will provide a vulnerable person with funds, based on their assessed level of need, with which they can then purchase care, or other activities, of their own choosing that best meets their own individual needs.
• Support 50 vulnerable people to live independent lives by increasing the number of people living independently in supported accommodation through the Supporting People Programme by March 2009. The Supporting People service brings a range of housing related support organisations from many sectors together to enable people to stay in their own homes, and retain control over their own decisions and choices. It has a major role in helping people to develop new skills that will help them to live more independent lives.
• Clear Commissioning strategies will be launched in 2008 that will support people with mental health needs or, a learning disabilities, as well as older people to live independent lives. The Council in partnership with the Island’s PCT will make commissioning plans clear so that the private, voluntary and community partners are better informed about need and well placed to provide services and the change needed to increase the capacity for vulnerable people to live independently. Developing the capacity of support and care services also gives people more choice.
• Deliver 25% more Disabled Facilities Grants by March 2009 than in 2007/08 and reduce waiting times for Disabled Facilities Grants by 25% by 2012. Partners understand that living independently in your own home for as long as possible is very important to Island residents. Adaptations to the homes of disabled people make a significant contribution to helping people remain in their own homes and we recognise that waiting for adaptations can be very difficult for individuals. The Council and partner organisations want to be able to make a substantial reduction in the time an applicant has to wait from assessment to work commencing.
• People who may end up in hospital because of delays will be given priority as will situations where prevention will have the most beneficial effect. Partners will also implement a new policy for adaptations for disabled people which will include minor repair work carried out by the Integrated Community Equipment Service (ICES).
• Deliver a feasibility study for the development of a new state-of-the-art glasshouse at Ventnor Botanic Gardens by April 2009. The Botanic Garden has for many years, been operated to the principles of Eco Island. Its current glasshouse provision is a typical example of this, but maintaining eco standards means that it needs to be replaced. A new facility will symbolise and demonstrate the Eco Island concept and build links to other key national projects such as Kew and the Eden Project.
• Deliver a feasibility study for the development of the Island Heritage Centre (to safeguard the Island’s archives, artefacts and artwork) by April 2009.
• The Island’s heritage underpins the values of Eco Island, especially in relation to the sense of community and passion for the Island. But the archive that records this heritage is kept in imperfect conditions and a new facility needs to be created if it is to be accessible to future generations.
• Increase by at least 2000 the number of children having a free swim over the school holiday in 2008/09. Leisure providers will target schools and reach existing users via a mail shot.In 2007/08 nearly 33,000 swims were made as part of the Island’s free swims initiative. Now that it is established and known about, leisure providers want to encourage more people to take part and especially those that may not have had the opportunity to date.
• Housing partners will Introduce a new Choice Based Lettings System by October 2008 to give residents increased housing options making the current level of homelessness at 140 or below by March 2009. The key partners in homelessness and letting homes want to move to a different system of allocating properties by the end of 2009. This is called “choice based” lettings. The system will provide a clearer and transparent explanation of how properties are allocated and enable housing applicant to make informed choices about the areas they would like to try and live in.
• Bring together partners who will deliver a Warm ‘One Island’ Project to provide energy conservation grants to up to approximately 1500 homes by June 2009. This partnership scheme aims to tackle fuel poverty and cold-related illness by providing financial support to vulnerable households to improve home insulation and heating systems. The scheme will maximise the funding available by accessing Government Warm Front grants and fuel utility grants.
• Ensure Medina Leisure Centre is fit for purpose for the Island Games by April 2010. The ISP is proud of the fact that the Island will be hosting the International Island Games in 2011. The Medina Leisure Centre will be one of the principle venues for the Games and a number of works are required to ensure that it is in the best possible condition to host its element of the Games.
• Improve health emotional wellbeing and life expectancy on the Island by increasing the life expectancy of people in deprived wards by one year by 2013. Reducing health Inequalities is about targeting services to groups that may be vulnerable either by ensuring good access to healthcare, social care, housing, employment, and social activities. Doing this also empowers people by giving them more choice and control over their lives as well as helping to strengthen communities.
• Reduce the number of people in temporary accommodation by 40 families by March 2010. Housing partners will continue to focus on homelessness prevention by; working with landlords and tenants to find effective solutions to avoiding homelessness; providing information and advice to those threatened with homelessness about the actions that they can take; looking for alternative housing solutions to meet the needs of households threatened with homelessness. Partners will use these services to reduce the number of people that are staying in the temporary accommodation awaiting permanent homes.
• Start on site on Pan in April 2009 to build 1000 homes to Eco code level 4, completed by 2019. Working with our partners we will deliver new homes for Island residents on – one of the largest sites of its kind in the south. The development will also see 240 affordable homes for rent and to buy built at the site as well as community and leisure facilities. The plan will see 51 home buy units and 189 homes to rent constructed on the site after work gets underway which is scheduled to start in April 2009. To help tackle fuel poverty and to keep the carbon footprint of the new development to a minimum the new homes will be built to level 4 of the code for sustainable homes; this is one of the highest levels in practice. Funding for the affordable homes will come from a grant of over £11m from the government’s Housing Corporation.

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Safe and Well Kept Island

Here are some agreed actions in support of Eco Island. The Safer and Stronger Key Delivery Partnership Board will occasionally update this list with new targets and priorities. Outcomes will be reported here.

• Eco Island has a long term target that by 2020 the Island’s infrastructure will be renewed to highest ecological standards.
• A restorative Justice Project will bring together the Safer Neighbourhoods Service, Probation and Youth Offending Team to provide reparation to communities (for example, clearing river banks, minor repair works and so on).
• Introduction of a local and rapid enforcement strategy, enabling frontline staff such as Police Community Support Officers, Council Community Support Officers, Dog Wardens and Town Centre Managers to issue fixed penalty notices for environmental crime offences, such as littering and dog fouling – from 2 April 2008.
• An Anti-Graffiti scheme. This will streamline graffiti reporting through the development of a graffiti hotline and a web form in conjunction with an improved response to graffiti removal utilising the Probation Service and existing frontline staff with graffiti kits – to start in December 2008.
• In partnership with the IoW Youth Inclusion Forum to commission the Challenge and Adventure Programme for young people (2 x 8 week targeted ‘Challenges’ with identified youth with a week away on completion of the challenge) by 31/03/2009.
• Engage 24 young people through the Local Intervention Fire Education (LIFE) Programme by December 2008.
• Deliver an Early Drugs Intervention Initiative (EDII) project aimed at raising awareness of the harm caused by drugs to young people and parents. The project includes an early intervention for people at risk of offending by offering access into treatment. In 2008/09, the Partnership plans to deliver at least 25 educational packages for a minimum of 600 adults and 400 young people as well as achieve acceptance of treatment by at least 10 individuals who need it.
• Police will carry out enforcement campaigns to disrupt supply of Class A drugs. By March 2009 it is planned to have achieved at least 39 Class A drug supply crimes with sanction detection and 200 Class A drug seizures.
• Deliver Drugs Intervention Programme, including Drugs Arrest Referral project by March 2009. Targets will be 85% of adults assessed as needing further intervention, to be taken onto caseload; 85% of people to be retained in treatment for 12 weeks or more
• Deliver an ‘Island Safe’ Initiative, through the Handyperson scheme, to 1000 vulnerable residents by end March 2009.
• Establish 3 new 'no cold-calling zones' in partnership with parish and town councils by end March 2009, to tackle doorstep crime
• Continue to design crime and anti-social activity out of our town centres, by introducing revised planning design guidelines by Mar 2009
• A Lights On Campaign delivering crime prevention advice to over 3,000 Island households by end December 2008
• Modernise and expand the Island CCTV system to Cowes, Shanklin and Ventnor by end March 2009.
• Extend “No Public Drinking” Designated Public Places Orders (DPPOs) to 3 new areas of proven need by end March 2009
• Continue to roll out One Island publicity campaign for anti dog-fouling and anti-littering, starting April 2008 to achieve a greater public satisfaction with their areas
• Continue to deliver Public Toilets Improvement Programme (One Island), with a programme of toilets refurbishment by the end March 2009
• Identify and address 3 priority issues (such as dog fouling, littering, fly-tipping, anti-social behaviour) in each of 11 Safer Neighbourhoods Areas with local communities by end March 2009
• A number of investments throughout 2008-09 by partners in public infrastructure including a Carriageway Surfacing Contract for 7 sites amounting to £4.6m; safety surfacing of principal roads for 14 sites amounting to £0.567m; footway resurfacing amounting to £0.313m;
• Repaint Fairlee Road underpass, in collaboration with Isle of Wight College, the Arts Unit and Probation Service, by end March 2009;
• Implement “SmartWater” project, to provide over 1,000 DNA-type unique security marking kits for personal property of vulnerable residents by end March 2009.
• Implement new Rights of Way Village Networks, improving path networks in partnership with local communities, building on success in Carisbrooke. Two new parish networks in 2008, 2 more in 2009.
• Reinstate and/or improve sections of the Coastal Path by Mar 2010.
• The independence of vulnerable people will be improved through Home Fire Safety Checks and fire safety advice to all vulnerable people to assist with safe, independent living.

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Inspiring Island

For more detailed information about the plans of the Children and Young Peoples Trust, visit the Trust website at http://www.iwight.com/childrenstrust/

• The ISP has a target that will result in a majority of Island children and Young People will make better than average progress in school and achieve results at 16 that place the IOW in the top 10% nationally, by 2020.
• Start work on new carbon-neutral high school in Cowes, to begin building by April 2009.
• Secure more 14-19 diploma routes to add to the existing creative media diploma.
• Ensure that all Island schools remain out of Ofsted categories of concern.
• Build a multi-agency training programme for all staff working with young people, to deliver more joined-up local services for children.
• Continue monitoring programme to reduce obesity in children YR and Y6.
• Fewer young people being treated at A&E as a result of alcohol.
• Fewer teenage pregnancies on the Island in 2009 than 2008.
• 120 more young people returned to mainstream education from exclusions.
• Make sure all children have opportunities for jobs or training when they leave school.
• 4 “PURE” drug-free events for 800 young people
• Establish a new “children in care” council by Sept 08.
• Reduce the number of young people entering into the youth justice system.
• Improve the stability of placements for looked after children and young people.

If you would like to comment on Eco Island or would like more information, please email info@eco-island.org.uk or visit the Eco Island contacts page.