By Isle of Wight Observer
I am launching a Business Forum for Ryde, chaired by John McLagan, which will help bring business together to share ideas and better connect with decision-makers, like the Isle of Wight Council and Ryde Neighbourhood Board. It is an exciting time for Ryde, with the Government providing £20 million to the Neighbourhood Board over the next 7-10 years, so we must ensure that the money is invested wisely and with proper consultation with residents and local businesses.
My next Business Forum event will be a drop-in at Royal Victoria Arcade, on Union Street, at 5 pm on April 15.
Earlier this week I attended the monthly “Let’s Talk” Beat Surgery at Morrisons, in Lake, with Police Community Support Officer Ashley Webb.
Residents raised a number of anti-social behaviour issues including nuisance-riding of e-scooters. I was pleased to report that the Police & Crime Bill, which should become law later this year, will allow police to seize scooters (and similar) driven with intent to cause distress without having to give a warning first.
I have written to the Local Government Minister setting out five red lines for the negotiation for a new Combined Mayoral Authority shared with Hampshire. My position remains that we do not want a shared mayor; however if we are forced to have one then they must be given regulatory powers over cross-Solent transport operators if the Government doesn’t create those powers for itself.
Finally, I have been challenging the Health Secretary, Wes Streeting, in Parliament, over dementia care and screening for prostate cancer. I got an indication from him that he would like to see a national screening programme for men at high risk.
He stopped short of making a firm commitment at this time, but my exchange with him made the front page of the Daily Mail last Wednesday.
The Health Secretary was more dismissive of reintroducing dementia as a priority in the annual NHS Planning Guidance.
He described the issue as a “hobby horse”, which is alarming coming from the man in charge of the NHS. I reminded him that dementia is the biggest cause of death in the UK. I have written an article for Alzheimer’s Disease International’s annual report to raise awareness of the issue.