Isle of Wight East MP Joe Robertson has accused Councillor Phil Jordan, Leader of the Isle of Wight Council, of making ‘deeply misleading’ statements regarding the proposed creation of a regional Mayor for Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.
In an open letter sent on Monday (15th September), the Conservative MP challenges several claims made by Councillor Jordan about the so-called Solent Devolution Deal, which could see strategic powers transferred to a mainland-based Mayor under a new Combined Authority.
Mr Robertson refutes the assertion that the Isle of Wight Council has endorsed the proposal, stating that no formal position has been taken ahead of a full council vote scheduled for 1st October.
He has said:
“You assert that, ‘the Isle of Wight Council has confirmed the major benefits of joining the proposed Solent devolution deal.’ You know this is not true.
“Councillors are set to vote on the proposal on 1st October and until that time the Council has not taken a view.”
Among Mr Robertson’s key concerns is the suggestion that local tax will remain fully under the control of the Isle of Wight Council. He points out that the proposed Mayor would have the legal authority to impose an annual charge on Council Tax bills, which cannot be blocked by local councillors.
The MP also challenges claims that the Council will retain all its current powers, warning that strategic planning responsibilities – including housing numbers and site allocations – would be handed over to the new regional Mayor. He suggests this could be the first step in a broader erosion of local authority control, especially in areas such as health.
Regarding voting rights on the proposed Combined Authority Board, Mr Robertson says that having 1 vote out of 5 or 6 would leave the Isle of Wight vulnerable to being overruled by larger mainland councils on every issue.
He references the controversial example of potential funding removal from Mountbatten Hospice, warning that similar outcomes could arise across multiple policy areas.
Turning to the financial aspect of the devolution deal, Mr Robertson questions claims that the £44.6million annual funding package is ‘transformational’. He calculates this equates to approximately £20 per person, and notes that existing government funding streams may be withdrawn once the new authority is created, potentially reducing or eliminating the net benefit.
The MP also raises concerns over branding, criticising Councillor Jordan’s reported request to the Government to refer to the Mayor as representing “Hampshire and Solent” instead of including the Isle of Wight in the title. Mr Robertson says this does not reflect the views of local residents.
He concludes the letter with a stark warning:
“Creating a new Combined Mayor Authority is, at best, a great unknown which Islanders have no say over. At worst, it will sell us down the river into a subordinate relationship with Hampshire that we will never be able to exit from.”
As long as the Ferries are cheaper and more reliable and we don’t
have to pay 50p to use toilets and pay a £2 nightly charge to
park our vehicles along seafronts.
I personally don’t care if Mickey Mouse or Donald Duck is
running the island.
Anything is better than what we current have.
I am fed up with speeding on the island, parking on
pavements and parking on double yellow lines.
NO ONE ON THE ISLAND ADDRESSES THESE ISSUES
The establishment of a mayor of a wider region will finally give an authority with enough weight to sort out the ferries. An independent island council will never have the required traction. This is the most fundamental issue.
The devolution goes ahead the Island will become forever the poor relation waiting for scraps. The only people who seem set to benefit are councillors who are putting their own interests ahead of their constituents.
Isn’t that what MPs also do.
The island are lucky they have not had an influx of migrants
coming to the island.
That would add to costs, you can’t have it all ways, some people
want their cake and eat it.
Bring on devolution
I think you mean Illegal immigrants and there already is and I’m guessing that would continue
I fail to see how any councillors, especially Island ones, will benefit trom this. Explain.
I agree entirely with these views we are sleep walking into being taken over by a master plan this is not only a bad plan for us but it is something that is being forced on to many other places and I think it needs to be stopped .
On the money, devolution should be put to a plebiscite, it is just too important for the Island
Not sure what arithmetic Mr Robertson is using: £44.6M between 140,000 seems more like £308 per person per year, but then I’m not accustomed to manipulating firgures for political benefit. Unless the £44.6M is across the whole region …
I have never forgotten the Tories
£350 Milion a week Brexit bus or the
£37 Billion wasted on test and trace
Politicians are good with figures, take accounts clerk
Rachel for example.
After 1 year plus in power and all the cuts and removal
of the pensioners winter fuel allowance.
The blackhole has gone from £20 billion to £50 billion.
God help us for the next 3 plus years.
Yet again, Local Government Reorganisation is being confused with the mayoral plans. But who is the more confused? Perhaps that’s the intention, in which case it’s worked on me.
This is already causing arguments amongst councils across the country, arguing about some being swallowed up by bigger councils than them and them being the underdog , stupid Idea.