Isle of Wight Green Party councillors and Alliance Group Leader Phil Jordan have condemned a council decision to reject submitting a business case that would have protected the Isle of Wight’s status as an independent unitary authority.
As previously reported by Island Echo, at a Full Council meeting last night, councillors were asked to agree on submitting a case outlining a preference for the Isle of Wight to remain a standalone authority.
That motion was voted down, leaving no business case submitted to government.
Councillor Joe Lever, Carisbrooke and Gunville, has said:
“In two separate instances during the meeting, the council – through Tory and the (ironically named) Empowering Islander councillors – in effect forwent our general powers of competence and handed our various decision making powers back to central government.
“The first – and perhaps most immediately problematic and devastating – was regarding local government restructure. As some councillors attempted to needlessly overcomplicate matters, they seemingly tied themselves in knots. A vote to submit a business case to government detailing our preference to remain as a unitary island authority was shockingly voted down.
“The Isle of Wight Council – thanks to those councillors – has therefore submitted no business case whatsoever and left the future of Isle of Wight decision making in a state of limbo.”
Councillor Claire Critchison, Chale, Niton and Shorwell, has said:
“I am unbelievably angry and disappointed at the actions of those councillors who voted against the proposals for the Isle of Wight to stay as a separate unitary authority. It was clear from consulting the public that this was the preferred option, but Conservative, Empowering Islanders and other councillors voted to put the Island in jeopardy of being amalgamated with a mainland authority against the will of the Isle of Wight people. It was irresponsible and unacceptable of them to play with the future of the Island in this way.”
Council Leader Phil Jordan said:
“I am astonished and dismayed at the political games being played in our Council. It has become dysfunctional. I cannot believe residents want the Island merged with the mainland and yet that is exactly what is now likely to happen as a result of this vote.”
Being controlled by the mainland was always to plan anyway.
Can the Council be trusted with this decision?
Isle of Wight is part of the United Kingdom
why shouldn’t the Island be merged with the
mainland, the mainland is on our doorstep.
Personally I love Pompey, they don’t charge me
£2 to park my vehicle along the seafront after 6pm
neither do they charge me 50p to use the public conveniences.
Bring on devolution, it will save money for the country.
As I’ve said before, the only way for the island ( with a population of 140,000) has a chance to be heard, is by being part of something bigger.
I am assuming this is some ‘clever’ ploy from Joe Robertson to allow him some House of Commons camera time in a few months when he attacks the PM in PMQs for ripping the heart out of the Isle of Wight.
Perhaps if that is the case he should disassociate himself from the the Conservative Candidate for the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Mayor race.
Massive gamble if this is what it is and he has put his job on the line by doing it. The moment we are transferred to the mainland he has to resign to Kemi (perhaps Bobby Jenrick by then) and trigger a by-election.
If he succeeds then he deserves to join the Shadow Cabinet
As I said previously, it’s a done deal. The only thing coming out of this pointless meeting is another claim on expenses to attend the meeting.
The council had no choice, they seem to be screaming and shouting like an arrested drug user being dragged into police custody not understanding what the problem is.
If islanders believe that being controlled by a mainland authority would be good for them I think they will be sadly disappointed
As previously stated in a vote online most islanders voted to have control from the island not the mainland
I disagree, if we join with say portsmouth as a unitary authority their council tax band D is 300 pounds a year less than ours, we would reduce our councillors by a minimum of a third with the huge savings on their salaries and expenses, the paid staff at the council would be reduced by probably half,accordingly we only need one chief executive for the authoirty and the savings go on, the precepts on council tax for the benefit of parish councils would disappear which is no bad thing, and the economy of scale with purchasing with a biger authority will be massive.