Leader of the Isle of Wight Council, Lora Peacey-Wilcox, has announced that she is to step down from her role next Wednesday.
It comes ahead of a vote of no confidence in the Alliance group leader, who took the helm of County Hall in May 2021.
Cllr Peacey-Wilcox will give up her position next Wednesday (20th September) ahead of a full council meeting, in which the Alliance group will look to appoint Councillor Phil Jordan as the new leader. It was in December 2016 that Island Echo reported that Cllr Jordan had to step down from his role as Executive member for Public Protection after being convicted of drink driving whilst returning from a Council event.
Lora will remain a local councillor, she has confirmed.
In a statement issued this morning (Monday), Cllr Peacey-Wilcox has said:
“I have decided to take this course of action because the ongoing submission of votes of no confidence against me has become a serious distraction for the Council and the important work we are engaged in and has simply been wasting time and diverting energy best used elsewhere.
“This situation cannot continue as there is vital and necessary work currently being undertaken for the Islands people which must not be disrupted, particularly in terms of the efforts I have been making personally to secure a proper financial deal for the Island as well as dealing with issues of connectivity through the Island’s Forum. At this point in time it is essential that we have the continuity that maintaining the Alliance Coalition Administration will give.
Talking about her time in office, Cllr Peacey-Wilcox has added:
“During the period of my Leadership we have been decisive and have achieved much, including the new emphasis on cultural regeneration, which has led to over £7m of investment by Arts Council England and paved the way for a new film studio. Sandown in particular has had focus from the High Streets Task Force, Yaverland regeneration, the Bay Place Plan and a successful £3.1m bid for Sandown Town Hall. We have also brought forward the Ryde Interchange, increased the level of Council Support for those in need, settled the Floating Bridge litigation, brought forward a new Dementia Hub, created a Climate Change Strategy, developed closer working with voluntary groups, Parish, Town and Community Councils and, in the last few weeks, we have been working with Ofgen to improve access to the national Grid to support renewable energy development and are bringing forward a decision to be taken this week to advance the building of Affordable Housing on the Island.
“Unfortunately some important work has been stalled as a result of some Members taking advantage of the fragile political situation in the Council Chamber, including the Island Planning Strategy. I am hopeful that the greater stability hopefully brought about my decision today, will enable this and other things to start moving forward again.
“When I became Leader it was clear that the Council was struggling, particularly due to reduced funding from Government and the consequent budget pressures this has caused. The Alliance Coalition took decisive action to stabilise things and created a new direction focussed much more on the needs of our residents and communities and the preservation of our environment.
“Leading the Administration has been challenging. However, one of the skills of Leadership is knowing when to lead and when to stop.
“We have faced challenges from an opposition that plainly has no goal other than playing party politics and taking power. Statements from the Conservative Group that they wish to work together have now been proved beyond doubt to be false. I have decided that my legacy should not be fighting to lead a council that has been decimated by Government but, instead, my work to secure an Island deal and stable connectivity, both for energy and transport, for our precious Island. We need to continue with the clear course the Alliance has set rather than risk placing ourselves in the hands of a group that, at its core, is being directed by the party political games and personal ambitions and interests of a few members.
“I have worked tirelessly over the years for the benefit of the Island people and I will continue to do what I can while I remain as a Councillor. My primary focus will always remain the push for the elusive Island Deal that will make such a huge difference to future of our young people and indeed all those that such a Deal will support.
“I thank the supportive councillors from all parties and the staff that have worked alongside us, my fellow Alliance members for their support and friendship, but, most importantly, I thank my fellow residents for their support and faith over the last two and a half years.”
So sorry to hear that Lora has had enough and she is standing down. No wonder given all the back ground crap. It is sad that some put their energy’s into party politics instead caring about local issues. Well done Lora for all your pass efforts.
About time. We need a strong and stable government to save us!
One down how many more to go!.
Time for the rest to go to. Next one to go should be Wendy Perera. Strip out the place of managers and start providing proper services, the roads are still bad, floating bridge is a joke, public toilets are either shut or in a shocking state, council tax hikes. They do not represent good value for money.
Sack the lot of them and reduce our Council tax.
All are a load of useless B’stards
Yes totally agree where is are money going not on the roads or cleaning the streets our towns need to be clean and policed .we pay more and more money for no services stop wasting our money on people that don’t care and spend it on what us hard working people expect and deserve
You’re current vote is 90 ,so if say 50 have voted you down you actually have 140 votes in favour which shows that vast majority is for Council to change and yes too many managers being highly paid for nothing while front line worker’s doing the actual needed get low pay.
Wait for the accusations and investigations in the coming weeks.?
Just like Sir Norman Fry says ~
As far as I’m concerned, that is the end of the matter. Thank you.
Shame we don’t have an equivalent to the AfD over here…
I guess she was right when she said back in May 2021 that it was an ‘overwhelming’ challenge. And so it appears to have been.
We were promised a breath of fresh air, a new broom etc etc, but what we got was exactly the same as before.
I seem to remember a quote from when she took over concerning the floating bridge fiasco that the previous administration had been secretive and hadn’t allowed the costs or reports to be seen. And yet her administration did exactly the same.
I wonder if we’ll hear from some of those commenting back then on the Echo who were gushing about her taking over and apparently on first name terms with ‘Lora’?
Well said. I have no idea what or exactly where the improvements to Yaverland, Sandown, etc are ?
I accept that funding is now available for the old Town Hall, which is great, but very little has changed otherwise.
Who next? Better not be that **** Jarman!
As the article says, she is proposing the conviced drink driver Cllr Jordan. Great role model for our youngsters
Lol.. particularly when you read the magistrates court round up every week! He’ll get along nicely with a certain type of thirsty Islander!!
Can anybody think of one thing she has contributed to the island apart from resigning.
Putting the poll tax up, for the benefit babes.
A slab of slate in a rose bed in Cowes and a tree carving on Newport Road
Deserting a sinking ship !!!!
But still going to be a Councillor
..??
Oh yes can’t lose that big fat pension can she !!!!!!!
Phil Jordan omg !!!!!!
Why can’t we all put in a vote of no confidence for the lot of them ???????
How can a convicted criminal who put people’s lives at risk become a Council Leader?. Shows just how wrong this Authority is and curupt. We should have a local election now before this current council does more damage to this Island. Highest council tax for less services,poor highways and Social Care. Everything they have done is forcing working families to move off island and bring in either wealthy 2nd home owners or those from failing council estates in our cities on benefits.
Were are you Bob Seely?
You will be backing the next so called leader won’t you? Like you do with all the others.
Phil Jordans past history, take a look. This is from the island echo.
https://www.islandecho.co.uk/councillor-jordan-sentenced-for-being-twice-the-drink-drive-limit/
I believe he is currently responsible for the highways and associated safety.!!!!
No wonder they are the unsafest they ever been, will be a death soon at StMarys,Small brook and especially at Ryde, what a terrible design allowing pedestrians in road and a short cycle path putting older pedestrians at be risk. Busses in road etc.
No!! Please tell me you are joking?
How can anyone cast their vote for this man. Is he a fit and proper person to lead LEAD our Island Council?
Does it really matter who comes and goes on any council as they are all corrupt, but I did hear the the rock was the worst of this.
A people that elect corrupt politicians,imposters, thieves and traitors are not victims. But accomplices
Resigning “because I’ve become a distraction to the work of government” has become a political cliche. It’s what David Cameron said, Gavin Wiliamson, Maria Miller, etc, etc. It’s right u[p there with “I wan’t to spend more time with my family”. Lacking in imagination to the very end.
What about, “In recent months I have come to realise that I might not be particularly good at this job and it seems that a lot of my fellow councillors have reached that conclusion as well. I’ve been rumbled, so I’m off”. I would imagine that’s not a million miles from the truth.
Absolutely hit the nail on the head
Hopefully the rest of the shambles of our council will follow. Off with the lot of you
Not Jordan, please not him.
I’d rather have Brodie and that’s saying something.
If they don’t watch out they’ll end up with masses of people protesting. The entire council is shambolic and nothing more than a bunch of egotistical, narcissistic, arrogant half-wits only interested in boosting their self-imagined social standing to the cost of the rest of us. They’ve squandered millions on rubbish ideas with little accountability. In reality the island is now one of the worst places to live in the UK. Nothing will change now, this is just history repeating itself and the next ‘leader’ will be much the same. The truth is they don’t give a hoot about us, it’s all about them. Pathetic, the lot of them.
You get what you vote for
Perhaps we should take a leaf out of The French people’s book, they take to the street to protest”as is their right”at the drop of a, hat seems to be a national past time, here we just mumble and mouth off via, a keyboard and be “frightfully English” about it.. After the past 12months I am upto here with being “Frightfully English” with sympathetic tuts from our shambolic goverment/council yet no action from any of them to rectify it, after all they can afford to rude the storm out, unlike us plebs!.
It goes from bad to worse
Get rid of all of them!!
I’m delighted that Island Echo readers have (evidently) never put a foot wrong in life. Whereas Phil Jordan made a mistake once, but doubtless learned from it.
His strength of character and courage showed when he eventually returned to IWC, and with great diligence and tenacity has moved many complex matters forward to conclusion, (eg. finances re.floating bridge, bought by the Tories), and new worthwhile and creative projects in Ryde Town centre.
He’s been a constant engine of hard work for the Island. If he becomes Leader, I look forward to his continuing progress for us.
Made a mistake once, and what nice little mistake. No, this person is not fit to lead, is rude and arrogant in the extreme to the public, believe me I know, I have seen it. Floating bridge conclusion, what a joke, allowed the settlement to be encased in secrecy, come on your having a laugh. Most people want this lot out and some real people who care about the island. Engine of hard work, the only engine he likes is the one he parks on double yellow lines, yep seen that too.
…I would also add to my main comment, (currently awaiting approval), that Phil Jordan has been very quick with thoughtful responses to queries from people like me, who he doesn’t know from Adam. He understands all the issues, and knows how to take them forward.
…And, of course, it’s Phil Jordan who’s seen through the Ryde Interchange project, which was brought in on budget and on time, (apart from a short delay at the end, due to appalling weather).
Various Island projects have been in his safe pair of hands. We can’t always say our councillors are both intellectually and practically gifted! But Jordan is.
Ryde interchange, pushed through despite so many people not wanting, for gods sake it wasn’t even needed. Total waste of our money. Safe hands, haha, no way. Are you related? The only thing he understands is how to ignore peoples views and just do anything he damn well likes. This is so bad for the island now he is in charge, and not even voted in, corruption at the highest level.
No, Mr Bentley. I’m neither a personal friend nor a relative. I’m resident in Ryde. I speak as I’ve found, from contacting him over a number of issues.
I’ve found Phil Jordan knowledgeable, helpful, supportive and courteous. Would that all councillors were the same! Although probably fair to say that most strive to be and often are.
Keep taking the medication Mary. One day you might get better.
Blimey, not exactly a good role model are you Mr Jordan? Let’s hope you learnt your lesson and will no longer be drinking and driving.
Concentrate on doing good things for the island and it’s residents. Start with stopping building of homes on Greenfield Sites! You have to listen to the public and our concerns so Parliament say! Scrap Penny Feathers for a start, too large. Our infrastructure can hardly cope now. We don’t want this beautiful island spoiled by traffic jams, sewage release into the sea and longer waiting times to see our GP, Dentist or hospital admission. Enough is enough Phil. Oh, and don’t take in anymore trouble makers from the mainland! Thank you.
Another good person leaving due to some evil, greedy, grasping, machavellian politicos that always seem to lurk in Council corridors…
I didn’t vote for a good person, I voted for change, and didn’t get it.
And Ryde interchange what a waste of time and money get the lot gone and get some normal people in for the people