Islanders are being asked to share their views on how Councillors can improve their decision-making and become more inclusive, as part of a look into the way the County Hall works.
A review is underway into its ‘leader and cabinet’ system – which sees a few councillors making decisions for the whole Island.
Councillor Geoff Brodie, who put forward the proposals in July, said he felt the cabinet model fails to involve all elected Councillors in decision-making. It could mean a return to a ‘committee’ system, which would mean decisions would be made by more Councillors in specific, politically balanced teams.
The Future Governance Working Group is now seeking the views of Islanders, asking how well they think the current system engages residents and whether they think their local representatives can influence decisions that, in turn, affect voters.
Councillor Andrew Garratt, chair of the audit and governance committee, said he wants to hear what residents would like to see improved.
If you want to share your thoughts, contact your elected Isle of Wight Council representative by 31st October.
The working group will report back with its findings in January.




























































































Surely all they need to do is read the comments on ie !!!!!!
No confidence in anyone of them ….
And as for having more on the committee,,,,,well we’ve seen the bickering and pathetic behaviour, so that’s a no no …..
No point in asking our opinion, as you never listen and to be honest you don’t really give a hoot …
Just trying to look bothered by pretending to care .
What’s the point they won’t listen
So says Cllr Brodie! who was instrumental in barring two Councillors from attending the July 2021 Westridge Farm planning commitee.
Who then at the next meeting barred one Councillor from speaking out during the adoption of the minutes, unless they were in favour. Who also proposed a motion to kick one Councillor out of this same meeting for wanting to speak against the procedures of the Westridge Farm Committee meeting,
Cllr Brodie has a very short memory, or is a hypocrite.
Brodie… “all of the above”! A d probably more if wardrobe was shaken.
Jill : Brodie has no credibility these days .. just all white noise.. nothing interesting or worthy, just the stereotypical Cllr .. the type we do not need .. here on the island .
Bobs Biggest Fan: Your oh so right!!!
Stop behaving like a bunch of squabbling school kids and do your jobs. SUDGESTION, Councillors Must be qualified to take on their specific rolls, Business qualifications, civil engineers , finance, ETC ETC. With real world experience doing these jobs. OH and absolutely no political associations. Oops, just woke up.
So, instead of simply doing the jobs they agreed to do, they are now wasting time and money on working groups to decide, how they should decide how to make decisions -priceless – that is akin to simply re-arranging the deckchairs on the titanic.
their decisions simply need to pass the common sense test..
in other words
no more houses, as not enough infrastructure.
no more benefit funded moves to the island by people without jobs
no more immigrants permitted to be housed here, before locals who need the housing.
no more spending money on immigrants, when locals need the support.
no more LGTBQ rainbow painting of anything – waste of money.
stop handing out cash to every sob story going
cut taxes that locals are paying
I suggest you become a councillor, Islander. That is the most common sense post I’ve seen today.
Well said!!
If it reduces the back handed brown envelopes and is fair. But really why do we or other Counties need this,why can’t Central government. What with town and parish councils it’s just another way of taking and wasting tax payers money.
Councillors should represent the residents and if there are any valid objections to a planning application then Councillors should not approve it – whatever their own personal opinion is.
One word, APPALLING!
Absolutely useless shower of dung. This inept council couldn’t even be bothered to put a survey together to collect views! They are a complete waste of space.
Look at the Island Plan. How many wasted years have gone by on this, because you councillors can’t agree and make decisions? Pathetic.
And you want more of this type of dithering.
The so-called ‘Executive Decisions’ all too frequently taken by Council Leaders should be immediately curtailed.
The ONLY time I can see a requirement for an ‘Executive Decision’ is in an emergency, not as part of discriminatory and exclusionary abuse of power.
By emergency I mean something verging on a catastrophic accident – chemical spills, major conflagration…
NOT – ‘we’ll just rubber stamp this without proper discussion’!
Oh, and IF we get back to proper Council Meetings with discussion and debate, keeping things civil and controlled. You never know, SOME Councillors might even learn to behave and cease the chest-beating and ‘Alpha’ act.
We are a DEMOCRACY after all!
What is the point of a democracy when the ones who get elected fail to carry out the wishes of the people who elected them? Voting for anyone these days, of any or no political persuasion, is a total waste of time as they are only in it for themselves and the expenses that they can screw out of the job. I’m not sure what process would be better, but democracy isn’t working for us.
Some Councillors do, or try to act upon the wishes of their ward.
Councillor Michael Lilley was barred from the Westridge Farm Planning Committee simply for wishing to represent the opinions of his ward, who were quite rightly against the development.
There’s no point in democracy with this bigoted IW Council.
Reduce the amount of UNNECESSARY staff employed and reduce our Council tax.
J.S there is a lot of unnecessary staff employed on the I.O.W Council , i have also requested the amount of employed staff on the I.O.W council ,and JUST HOW MANY OF THESE ARE WORKING FROM HOME ,but as usual I.O.W have declined to answer this question, as well as, IS THE COUNCIL TAX still a PROPERTY TAX ?
i also requested just WHY did I.O.W council sign a non disclosure agreement to the boat builders and designers and just HOW MUCH COMPENSATION was recoverd for the settlement of the Floating Wight Elephant ,.
Well you may think this is a good idea but in reality it stinks.
Councilors get off your backside and get out there and talk to the people you are supposed to be in touch with.
The problem is there are a few in the council who think they can do what they like and do. I think all of the councilors should be changed every two years. Clean slate and clean start.
I honestly think we should replace the council with AI to get rapid appropriate decisions and save us a fortune. AI would not have any “vested interests” or “conflicts of interest” to muddy the waters either.
I would trust an algorithm even less that I trust the councillors….
Well judging by the response on Island Echo I think the council have the answer to this idiotic idea.
With so few services, why all the staff. Council tax should not be used as an employment agency. Most of our tax goes on pensions and benefit spongers.