Councillor Lora Peacey-Wilcox has been elected as the new leader of the Isle of Wight Council.
The independent councillor was voted in at the first meeting of the newly elected council this evening (Wednesday), following the local government elections earlier this month.
It brings an end to the Conservatives leading the council. For the past 4 years, former councillor Dave Stewart has led the local authority and Councillor Steve Hastings was hoping to continue that Tory leadership. However, a vote held at Medina Leisure Centre this evening has seen Cllr Peacey-Wilcox take the reins.
Councillor Ian Stephens has been named Deputy Leader.
Meanwhile, Councillor Geoff Brodie has been elected as the Chair of the Council, with Councillor Claire Critchison elected Vice-Chair.
Cabinet members have also been appointed this evening including:
- Councillor Jonathan Bacon – Environment
- Councillor Phil Jordan – Infrastructure and Transport
- Councillor Chris Jarman – Resources
- Councillor Julie Jones-Evans – Regeneration
- Councillor Debbie Andre – Education and Children’s Services
- Councillor Karl Love – Adult Social Care, Public Health and Housing
- Councillor Paul Fuller – Planning
In her first address as leader, Cllr Peacey-Wilcox has said COVID-19 recovery, car parking charges and issues with planning and housing are priorities. She said:
“From tonight the Isle of Wight has a new political culture. One of political inclusion rather than competition.”
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Working with council staff and other public bodies as a team, Cllr Peacey-Wilcox said it will put the Island on a road to an ecologically sustainable future and a better quality of life.
Probably the right time to give a woman a chance.
nothing to do with her being a woman.
she is an experienced councillor who is the right choice to lead the council
Hope she does a wonderful job starting with getting rid of the new parking charges and sorting out the Floating Bridge fiasco
And who will make up the money lost from that, all of us with more council tax even if we don’t drive
Congratulations Laura, brilliant news and congratulations Geoff, even better news
It’ll be interesting to see what and if anything changes. Wouldn’t hold my breath and wouldn’t want her job even for the 100k she’ll get paid.
You’re confusing elected councillors with the employed officers of the council. Councillors are essentially in a vocational role and get an allowance and expenses that would be lucky to get close to minimum wage with the hours they dedicate. It’s the director level employees that get the 6 figure salaries.
£100k and the rest!!
Best news of the year, now perhaps some cage bars can be well rattled, the cherry on the cake is that the resident village idiot of sandown is out.
Congratulations Lora. PLEASE make things better for the island.
Congratulations to you
Just to say hope you do well but I guess no one on the island has ever heard of you ….please update us on who you are and your policies for the island…..
Well a lot of people who follow local council business will have of heard of Lora.
Interesting times ahead,
Congratulations and welcome, Lora. Can only be an improvement on what we have endured until now. Goodbye Ian Ward, now jog on and clear your desk!
A new broom sweeps clean so sweep out all those dark and dirty corners
for sale: 1 pair of trousers with heavy duty back pocket, one low mileage owner.
Lets have some faith in the lady, lets bring tourism back and no more housing estates, no more supermarkets we have enough
Fiver,.. says nothing changes..
Hope she can sort out the housing on the island also home less people ect
Next year : another huge council tax rise because of the mess this lot ‘inherited’
To all the deluded hopeful, welcome to more of the same as usual.
Phil Jordan doesn’t have to do a lot for the next 4 years, the previous incumbent cretin set the bar so low that it would be impossible to be worse, hope he sets to and sorts out the floating bridge fiasco and the Island roads disaster
Well why don’t you show us your all for keeping ISLANDERS safe by stopping the festival this year. 50,000 people here, no distancing will be possible at all.
Congratulations Lora, this is very positive for our Island
Well it could be a case of what The Who sang about in Won’t Get Fooled Again…”Meet the new boss, same as the old boss”. But, to put an optimistic slant on it, I hope she gets on with the job, and takes the right advice. Good luck, Lora