The new leader of the Isle of Wight Council has justified why he did not pick a cross-party cabinet as the fallout from his decision continues and he looks to move forward.
Councillor Phil Jordan has announced what he hopes will embody the spirit of working together, in ‘cabinet support teams’.
At a meeting on Thursday, Councillor Jordan invited all groups on the Isle of Wight Council to work with the cabinet members across four portfolio areas on policy, not to provide scrutiny.
It follows the announcement he made last week on who would serve in his cabinet, which has been heavily criticised by members across the chamber and from Councillor Jordan’s own Alliance group.
Despite calls for a cross-party executive, which Councillor Jordan said he would think about, the cabinet has been described as ‘the same people in different jobs, with virtually no change’, by Cllr Karl Love.
Speaking at the corporate scrutiny committee on Tuesday, Councillor Jordan explained why a cross-party cabinet had not been possible.
He said neither the Liberal Democrats, Labour or Independent Labour councillors wanted cabinet roles, and felt due to his previous ‘public disquiet’ over an arrangement between the Conservatives and Empowering Islanders (EI), he ‘would not consider’ a member of EI in the cabinet.
Councillor Jordan said he had spoken to Councillor Suzie Ellis, the Conservative group leader (until she resigned on Thursday), before and after making his decision and was told the Tories ‘could not take a role if offered’ as it would require the approval of all group members at County Hall and those in the local Conservative Association.
Councillor Jordan said Councillor Ellis told him “she felt it would be impossible to deliver and they would not accept a cabinet role if offered”.
However, the Conservatives have rebutted Councillor Jordan’s comments and claimed he has not reached out to anyone on the group since the day he was appointed leader.
Councillor Paul Brading, deputy leader of the Conservatives at County Hall, said there had been a discussion between Councillor Ellis and Councillor Jordan before a new leader was chosen, where she said “it would be difficult to accept cabinet positions but thought it was the right thing to do so would look to push it forward if a cabinet position was offered”.
Councillor Brading said no cabinet position had been offered, ‘really disappointingly’, which went against what Councillor Jordan said at full council.
waaahhhh jordan left me out, waaaahhh
cry babies
And so it goes on and on and on! What about the Island and its residents, are we irrelevant??
What we need are a load of nannies,,,,,
So when these smarmy smirking numptys throw their toys out of the pram ,they get a good slap !!!!!!!
Honestly even nursery school children could do better than this load of clowns…
Never has been an alliance, just a farce …..
I see the new IOW Council logo so proudly announced yesterday isn’t being used!
So Jordan claims that he offered cabinet roles to people from other parties but they did not want them. Is this true?
Well that, allegedly, is what he said,.. but others differ in their apparent views of it…
Personally, I wouldn’t believe any of them…
I was hoping for a first-hand account not more hearsay.
He only included his drinking cronies who will cover for him if needed!.
Also because he hopes he can hide the new job position at the council, child services director a NEW post at £90,000 a year. It’s on Indeed if you would like to apply, but keep in mind you won’t get it as one of his cronies will get it.
“Not provide scrutiny”? Isn’t scrutiny essential to assure voters that propriety is upheld. People with nothing to hide need have no fear of scrutiny.