The Chair of Ryde Neighbourhood Board, Steven Holbrook, has resigned with immediate effect, claiming recent Government changes have left the position vulnerable to political influence and undermined the Board’s independence.
In a statement issued today (Friday), Mr Holbrook confirmed he was stepping down from the voluntary role he has held since March 2024.
Announcing his resignation, the former CEO of the Isle of Wight Chamber of Commerce said the position had become ‘very different’ from the one he originally accepted and claimed changes to Government guidance meant the Chair was no longer ‘free from potential influence from politicians and agendas’.
Steven Holbrook has said:
“I strongly believe the Board should be able to take decisions independently, for the good of the Ryde community and to the long-term benefit of Ryde’s residents.
“With £19.5million of government funding to administer over 10 years, I wanted to get it right. I oversaw the appointment of the initial Board and we built a strong document based on community engagement to secure the government investment package.
“As a result of the latest government guidelines, the direction of Ryde Neighbourhood Board has shifted. The MP for Isle of Wight East and the Local Authority are now effectively in charge and the Chair reports to them.
“I committed a lot of my personal time and energy to this role because I was excited by the non-political original scope of the project. I have now made the decision, with much regret, to resign.”
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Ryde Neighbourhood Board was established under the previous Conservative Government as part of the Long-Term Plan for Towns programme, with Ryde allocated £19.5million of funding over a 10-year period.
Mr Holbrook said only a small proportion of the funding has so far been received and committed, adding that he had fought to ensure the money was used effectively and with a long-term legacy in mind.
He added:
“I believe passionately that Ryde is an amazing place and has huge potential. Ryde now has a brighter future because of the opportunity this significant amount of government money will provide.
“I am proud of what has been delivered so far in what has been very challenging changing circumstances. I’d like to thank everyone who has supported me since 2024 and I’m grateful to everyone who took part in the wide-ranging consultation.”
