An interim proposal on how local government reorganisation should impact the Isle of Wight is to be submitted to central Government.
The interim plan, agreed by the Isle of Wight Council’s Cabinet, is the culmination of a series of meetings between Council leaders and Chief Executives of the 15 local authorities in the Hampshire and Solent area.
It represents a consensus approach to developing structures fit for the future, with agreed principles to guide decision-making.
While all councils have yet to reach a consensus on a preferred option for the unitary structures, the draft proposal seeks confirmation from the Government on whether the Isle of Wight, with a population less than 500,000, meets the exceptional circumstances required to remain a separate unitary authority.
The 500,000 population threshold is a guiding principle set by the government to ensure new councils are the right size to achieve efficiencies, improve capacity, and withstand financial shock. However, the minister has indicated that there may be exceptions to this rule for areas with unique circumstances.
Councillor Phil Jordan, leader of the Isle of Wight Council, has said:
“The Isle of Wight has a unique identity and distinct needs that must be preserved in any reorganisation. Our proposal to remain a separate unitary authority reflects the exceptional circumstances and the strong consensus among local leaders.
“We are committed to ensuring that our community continues to receive tailored and effective governance that supports our future growth and prosperity.”
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Further work will take place collectively over the coming months to agree on final proposals to be submitted in the Autumn.
These proposals will need to reflect key criteria set by the government, such as prioritising high-quality and sustainable public services, achieving efficiencies, improving capacity to withstand financial shocks, and enabling stronger community engagement.
Give us our vote back on May 1st, or people will not pay council tax, there is a growing movement on this for all the areas who have lost there right to vote.
Who is not going to pay their Council Tax? I can guarantee you will!
*their.
And no, only you would be that silly. Thankfully most people can see that the delay is an interim measure while the details are ironed out and local government reorganised. Doing both things at once would cause costly chaos. So far, it’s been an expression of interest based on consensus from our local, cross party cabinet. The few who did oppose are Tories, as are those who oppose the idea in all the other regions of the UK. Telling people like you that ‘your vote has been stolen’ works nicely in their favour. Now ask yourself why.
If you don’t pay your council tax you could go to
prison, it’s happened before in this country.
Just a paper exercise to make it look like the IoW may have a chance to form a separate authority.
In effect I bet a pound to a pinch of snuff we will be lumped into an annexe of the mainland.
The whole process was not designed to give the anyone a real voice hence the removing of our right to vote locally.
Vote for what!, whether conservative,
labour or lib dems, same policies they
all report to their same elite bosses.
That leaves Reform, you only have to look
at the numpty’s who vote Reform, majority of
them are uneducated thugs.
Nothing is getting better, the imaginary black hole
is not going away, just an excuse to charge people
more and cut back on much needed services.
Wait, what? An IMAGINARY black hole is NOT going away? You have a serious problem with logic!
And if it’s an excuse to charge whatever they like…where is the money going? Don’t you think maybe the country’s auditors might have a word or two to say on that?
We have a CROSS-PARTY council. That means a voted consensus goes through, majority rule, democracy win.
THIS ^^ simply means we will retain autonomy in decision making as opposed to a one-size-fits-all policy dictated by the centralised mayoral office, BUT we join in getting more funding to spend as we see fit, determined by our specific needs on the island.
Policies were determined by central government; our councils had no say, no matter who was in charge, or which party.
This will change, and it will get better. And the Tories up and down the country are jumping up and down in angst. Work out what they stand to lose….
Cross party council is a misnoma,the IOW is run by a left wing cabal of councillors aided by jordan who will do anything to keep his role, central government sets the policy, how it is interpreted is totally down to local authorities.
Misnomer.
A cabal? Seriously? A suspicious, secret society engaged in mystique and conspiracies…or are you maybe diving headlong into paranoia and exaggeration trying to keep your tin foil hat on straight. I’d imagine if that were the case, the Tory members of the cabinet would have had hysterics by now. Or are they part of it too?
There’s something in the water in Bembridge
This current Labour Government make the
Conservatives look like saints.
In just over 7 months they have targeted the
elderly by taking away their winter fuel allowance.
They are now targeting the countries disabled
persons, not to mention creating high unemployment
with their useless polices.
Where are the jobs coming from for the persons
they want to get back into work?
Keep dreaming.
You really do need to keep on track. This is a piece about LOCAL governance.
But addressing (yet again) central government policy, the ‘targeting’ of the winter fuel allowance, as I’ve pointed out several times, was a measure to claw back the millions from those who DON’T need it. (11 million people) Those who do (2 million people) will be having additional income in terms of pension credits to offset it. Hardly targeting, is it?
Ditto the ‘disabled’, although I’ll grant you that could go badly wrong for those in genuine need due to the arbitrary age restrictions. It ties in with the unemployment figures (1.5 million unemployed, but over 9 million ‘economically inactive’, some of whom will be using a measure of illness just to survive.
Getting back up from years and years of abject poverty will take time and is complex due to limited choices, housing and services. That makes people ill, but accepting illness as a lifelong situation with no hope of respite kills eventually. The answer will be to fix a broken system across all areas of the population.
Going back to the first bit though, were you happy to donate taxes to 11 million well off people at the expense of your healthcare, pension or children’s education, because that’s the stark reality. It’s about limiting the hand-outs to those NOT in need and directing them to those who are. It’s not perfect but it will take time. Especially with a £22m shortfall.
What a load of b@ll@cks.
What exceptional status!! Lol
The only exceptions on the island I have seen different
to the mainland is speeding is rife, speed camera’s are
rare.
Vehicles park on Pavements and Double Yellow Lines
Etc etc
That is the only exception I have seen.
The island is run different to the mainland, there are
rules on the mainland, unlike the island.
Just look at Regent Street in Shanklin, there’s your
answer.
It’s about time the Numpty council installed bollards
on the pavement outside the takeaways.
Lack of health and safety on this poorly run island.
PLEASE expand your myopic view; this is getting painful.
Ibuprofen is available from all
chemists.
He’s hooked on Sanatogen
Try living on the mainland, you’ll find that many areas are much worse than the Island.
I have lived on the mainland before retiring
to the island.
The difference on the mainland is that
law and order exists unlike on the island
where speeding is allowed!
Oh please, Do tell. Where on the mainland?
Unless you are in central London it IS NOT against the law to park on the pavement …. should be but isnt, so what are the police/local authority supposed to do about it?