Cabinet Connection – Isle of Wight Observer News

Karen Lucioni
Cabinet member for community protection, regulatory services and waste

This is my first column as cabinet member responsible for community protection and regulatory services and the first question I am normally asked is what regulatory services covers.

Regulatory services include licensing, environmental health, community safety and trading standards. Its primary function is to achieve regulatory compliance in order to protect the public. Alongside this, I sit on the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire Authority and I am pleased to announce that a programme of uplift and modernisation is going ahead at various stations around our Island. I also sit on the Police and Crime Panel, holding the Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) to account.

A subject close to my heart is safer streets for all. Working jointly with other councils as well as the PCC we have secured funding that will help to tackle unacceptable behaviour, harassment and violence experienced on our streets, particularly against women and girls. Training and support are available for businesses and venues to offer assured ‘safe spaces’ on the Island.

Thank you to everyone who recycles their household rubbish correctly. Please can I remind you that you are able to put out textiles with your green bin? These are sorted and national charities will benefit from anything that can be reused.

Food waste fact — 22 per cent of what is in general waste is food! Please remember we collect food waste weekly and food caddies are free to replace. If you need a new one please call 823777 to get a new one and help us to divert from landfill.

If you are having waste picked up from your home by a private waste collector. Make sure the contractor you choose has a Waste Carrier Licence and gives you a transfer note detailing what they have collected. If you see your waste fly tipped please call the council with the details of who collected it. Your support helps us stop criminals and keeps our gorgeous island free of fly-tipping.

All these actions help with our carbon footprint so please think; Recycle, Reuse and Reduce. We can all make such a positive impact with the choices we make, and small changes can make a big difference. I have committed to these changes, please join me.

Please feel free to contact me at karen.lucioni@iow.gov.uk if you would like to talk about anything covered by my portfolio.