The Island is in need of a fresh set of elections, MP Joe Robertson has said in response to the damning Penn report, which described County Hall as ‘dysfunctional’.
Joe Robertson told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) the Isle of Wight Council has been “struggling for some time” and that its problems are “systemic and long-standing”.
Independent consultant Richard Penn’s review of the local authority exposed a problematic culture where policies and procedures meant to provide ‘checks and balances’ on the behaviour of members and officers are ‘all too often ignored’ or ‘forgotten’.
Mr Robertson, who is also the county councillor for Bembridge, said:
“The report has helped shine a light on some of the problems within the Isle of Wight Council, some of which we were aware of already. The council has been struggling for some time, and we are in need of a fresh set of elections so Island residents can have their say.
“Unfortunately, the government cancelled our local elections due earlier this year and I have made it clear that they must not be cancelled again next year.
“The government has also not helped with its plans to create a combined mayoral authority without seeking the consent of Islanders and imposing a massive top-down housing target on us – two issues which undermine local democracy and have placed further pressure on our council which often feels powerless to effect real change.
“I note the report’s criticisms of the Isle of Wight Council not only fall on some councillors but on some officers too.”
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He said he looked to the council leader and chief executive to respond with a plan to address “key concerns” identified in the report and added “not all” problems will be “simply solved” by heading to the polls next May.
Isle of Wight West Labour MP Richard Quigley has not yet responded to a request for comment.
If the Isle of Wight Council cannot get its act together and serve its electors effectively there is a danger that we could be gobbled up by one of the new proposals for the reorganisation of Hampshire.
I thought we are still living in a democratic country.
The local elections should go ahead, no excuses.
With respect, one of the dysfunctional elements of Island politics is that we have MPs who are also County Councillors. It is bizarre that people who have been elected to Parliament should retain a foot in local authority matters. Perhaps logs should be removed from some individual’s own eyes before they attempt to attend to the specks in others.
Calling an election is the least they could do, the CEO and CFO’s resignations would be the decent thing to do…. there is an old adage in business “there is no such think as good managers and bad staff”…. I suspect the adage may apply here.
He’s right! The people we have in do not have a democratic mandate to be there. Worse still they are dragging us down a path very few people agree with and more importantly still, they are doing it in a chaotic and dysfunctional manner. Never could you have a worse bunch of councilors than the Island is stuck with now. Elections NOW!!!
I agree elections in may and Reform this council
Dear me, where to start?
@Sesqui IoW “gobbled up” In racing terms that is a stone bonkers certainty!
@Marcus I cannot remember Turner or Seely being CCrs? If fish & chips and Robbo are then yes they should not be CCrs.
@Chris CEOs & CFO are Officers and not MPs/CCrs, but yes to elections.
@ PI 100% right. I even yearn for the days of Pugh & Brown – better than these planks and shows how far we have fallen!
@tW I too believe that is what will happen – Robbo should be careful what he wishes for. I read a Mieka Smiles article that started “Badenoch is the only grown up in the room” – Another plank with a very SHORT memory!
I am referring to our current MPs, both of whom sit both in the Commons and on the County Council
After the confirmation report then absolutely, the Council Leader, Phil Jordan should resign. The buck stops there with him.
Mind you, who else is there?
Surely there must be someone capable?
I don’t even care much what political party they belong to as long as they could do a reasonable, honest job and better what we currently have.
Jordan needs to resign he is clearly out of his depth.