The Island’s MP has denied he is seeking to ‘destroy’ the local government devolution process, as claimed by the Council Leader Cllr Jonathan Bacon in an open letter to Cllr Bob Seely.
Andrew Turner confirmed he has been raising concerns about the Solent Deal, due to be voted on by councillors tonight (Wednesday), but said it is because he fears Islanders have been misled over the details and that the current proposals are not in the best interests of the Island.
Mr Turner yesterday organised a meeting for local councillors and officers with Marcus Jones MP, the Minister for Local Government and has today confirmed that far from trying to ‘destroy’ the process, that should the Council decide that ‘in principle’ they believe that devolution is best for the Island he will work with them, potential partners and the government to help find the best deal possible.
Mr Turner commented:
“I am fully supportive of devolution – but devolution to the Island is different to devolution to the cities of Portsmouth and Southampton.
“The needs of the Island could easily be over-ridden by the interests of the two cities – which have much more in common with each other than they have with us. As I’ve found out more about how this process has been handled my worries have grown. For instance, the consultation document prominently claimed that the government has ‘promised’ £30m a year for 30 years for this deal. I asked for evidence to support that statement, only to find there is none; the figure is an estimate of the ‘gainshare’ sum that could be available.
“They should have set out in the consultation that this was an indicative sum; there could be no ‘promises’ until further into the process. That was totally misleading and could set up their expensive consultation to challenge and possible judicial review. I am glad that the Chief Executive has confirmed to me that he will clarify the position on this ‘promised’ money to councillors before they vote tonight.
“It has not been made clear to the public that there is no guarantee that the Island would see a single penny of any gainshare funding. If a unanimous decision cannot be reached on how it should be spent, it would be decided by a majority vote. It is not too hard to imagine circumstances in which Portsmouth and Southampton could overrule the Island to their own benefit. Verbal assurances given by current leaders of the other councils are simply not enough to protect the Island’s short-term interests – let alone our long-term ones; there needs to be proper protection in the governance agreement. We must have a guarantee that the proportion of the money for the Island is equal to those for each of the two mainland authorities. The IW Council has complained to me in the past that the Solent LEP overlooks the Island in favour of the cities – they should draw on that experience.
Article continues below this advertisement “I discovered that months ago the Council leaders stopped talking about devolution to their colleagues in Hampshire (whose officers already provide us with Children’s and other services) and threw their lot in with the two cities. They should have been talking to any potential partners to negotiate the best possible deal for the Island. Our councillors are now looking at Hobson’s choice – take it or leave it – when they might have been looking at genuine choices. There would be no harm now in a pause to explore whether there are other options open to the Council. If they decide in principle that devolution is the best way forward for the Island, then I am convinced that we can negotiate a better deal than the one currently on the table – whether that be with the current Solent partners or perhaps with Hampshire. I would be happy to help forge such a deal.
“The Council Leader, Cllr Bacon, is repeatedly changing his position – after the meeting with Mr Jones yesterday he said again that he feels there is an element of being pushed into this deal by the government. If that is what he thinks then he should stand up to the Government to defend the Island’s position. There are arguments in favour of, and against local devolution, but any deal would affect the Island for the next 30 years.
“It is ultimately a decision for the Executive but when looking at the proposals on the table tonight, councillors would be well advised to remember the old adage – Marry in Haste, Repent at Leisure!”
In response, Leader of the Island Independents Group, Cllr Jonathan Bacon, has this afternoon said:
“Part of the reason we are in the current financial position we are is because Andrew Turner and his colleagues in Parliament voted through a financial settlement earlier this year which gave the Isle of Wight nothing. Statements at that time that help would come forward have come to nothing and the message from Government since that time is that there is nothing on the table other than devolution.
“I’m glad to see that Mr Turner now appears to be supportive of devolution. This was previously unclear, but I am now unclear as to why he raising some of the apparent concerns outlined in his press release. The recent consultation has to be reviewed and scrutinised by the Government before they can take a combined authority forward. The devolution ‘offer’ has clearly been set out for some time and was reconfirmed yesterday by the Local Government Minister. Further it is abundantly clear that no other devolution offer exists or is on the horizon. Hampshire District Council Leaders have made this clear in recent communications stating variously that there is ‘no prospect’ of the suggested Hampshire and Isle of Wight Devolution deal or at the very least it is ‘highly unlikely’.
“I have also today received a letter from the Leaders of Portsmouth and Southampton Councils in which they state that “In terms of the priorities for the allocation of the £30m per year, we recognise that one priority in its own right is the need to raise the economic output of the Island’s economy and support the sustainability of the Island’s financial position.”
“The accusation has been levelled at me that I should ‘stand up to the Government and defend the Island’s position’. I cannot see how the Island’s position is defended by rejecting the only offer of assistance that currently exists. Staying at the Table where we know there is the chance of money and help and that we can play a key part in driving forward is surely the best thing to do.”
