2 more political groups at County Hall have responded to the damning Penn report on the Isle of Wight Council.
Group leaders Councillor Bill Nigh, of Reform UK, and the Empowering Islanders’ Councillor Chris Jarman shared their thoughts on independent consultant Richard Penn’s review of the local authority, which he labelled ‘dysfunctional’.
Among the 31-page document’s damning findings was an observation that policies and procedures meant to provide ‘checks and balances’ on the behaviour of councillors and officers are ‘all too often ignored’ or ‘forgotten’.
Cllr Nigh said:
“The Penn report relates back to a period of time before I was elected as a councillor so the only information I have is that contained in the report or what I have been told or seen on social media.
“I gather a press release was made at 16:00 today and that the report itself is on the agenda to be discussed on Wednesday, 19th November when I shall be attending my first full council meeting as an elected member.”
Cllr Jarman said:
“The matter of behaviour of councillors and officers is of paramount importance and for that reason Empowering Islanders, as a group, fully engaged with the process with Richard Penn.
Article continues below this advertisement “Given the seriousness of the matter we decided to provide Mr Penn with substantial packs of documents so that any issues raised could be considered by him, in confidence, on the basis of proper evidence.
“An evidence-based approach by him was important, both to understand the difference between symptoms and cause, and also, should it prove necessary, to deal with any ramifications from central government that may result.
“Empowering Islanders, as a group, met twice with Mr Penn twice in lengthy sessions and we are pleased that many of our concerns and submissions have been used by him in his report, which we fully endorse.
“We were aware that the chief executive planned to produce a covering note to accompany the publication of his report, but we were not invited to participate in the joint group leaders’ statement.”
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He added his group does not believe there to be ‘anything surprising’ in the report, including recommendations regarding statutory officers, and will seek to ‘capitalise’ on the opportunity for all councillors and officers to find a more ‘respectful and effective’ way forward in local government.
Mr Penn’s recommendations relating to statutory officers include raising the position of monitoring officer to strategic director level, giving the role greater authority and considering whether it is correct for the council’s finance chief not to be a full-time officer at County Hall.
Responsibilities of statutory officers include ensuring the legality and fairness of a council’s decision-making process and the proper administration of its finances, according to the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman.
Chief Executive Wendy Perera said earlier this week:
“This report is a moment for reflection and renewal and importantly it is about creating the conditions for change.
“We are grateful to everyone who contributed to the review, and officers and councillors are committed to working constructively to implement the recommendations once approved by full council.”
Like our Labour “government”, IoW Council have not got a clue as to what they should be doing to safeguard residents.
They are obsessed with keeping their seats and their choices as far as Leader is concerned is based on “the least worst” candidate.
Even worse is the way the Chief Executive is selected.
Going back as far as Duckegg telling staff to “put their thinking caps on” whilst being paid £230,000 for coming up with such a puerile idea, it has been a procession of second choice buffoons.
The CEO, her planning staff AND Councillors are guilty of turning this lovely island into a property speculators money making dream.
Roll on devolution
Just like the floating bridge the IW Council is not fit for purpose
Like most island services including the ferries.
Weren’t labour suppose to fix everything? All they have done is raise prices, taxes fees etc
Worst Government of all time.
Nothing surprising says jarman
the same jarman that caused so much trouble trying to unseat peacey willcox,just to inflate his ego and to try to be head of the council
empowering islander my ass
you are a tory in disguise,and like brodie,abhorrent!
you are not liked,especially by some totland parish councillors!
Like a load of kids squabbling in a nursery school. Get rid of the whole lot of them, some of them have been in there for decades. Get some new people in there that think about the people who are paying their wages, instead of keeping those in who just want to protect their seats
Where egos are king its not surprising it’s just a symptom of what’s happening to the country as the world becomes more god less things can only get worse
Time for these people to act their age and show some
diplomacy.
A special thank you to Rufus for reaching out to me directly for a response to the report of Richard Penn. Likewise to Island Echo, On the Wight and County Press for accurately and comprehensively publishing my reply on behalf of Empowering Islanders. It is always disappointing to read less informed media resorting to aged rhetoric rather than the facts.
To address two specific matters:
(1) It is worth amplifying that my remark ‘Nothing Surprising’ does not imply complacency and indeed nothing could be further from the truth. In many respects Councillors can be regarded as keepers of the public trust and therefore have an obligation to bring matters of public concern into the light. This should always be done with respect and in accordance with the law. It is often a lack of clarity in the latter, or the delay in obtaining that clarity from among differing authoritative advices, that brings challenge and at times some contention.
(2) The early termination of a Pension Fund Committee earlier this summer was a unanimous decision of that politically proportionate committee. Present were members of the Alliance Group, Conservative Group and Empowering Islanders Group (the member of the Liberal Democrat Group being unfortunately delayed in traffic). The issue being that a determination regarding the legality of appointments to the committee had not been received prior to or at the meeting. Without such confirmation it was decided that decisions regarding the fund investments (which would be potentially expensive, if not impossible, to reverse) would at best be debatable and potentially subject to being contested. The early termination of the meeting, whilst unfortunate, was therefore prudent and wise.
Cllr Chris Jarman JP
Leader Empowering Islanders Group
A special thank you to Rufus for reaching out to me directly for a response to the report of Richard Penn. Likewise to Island Echo, On the Wight and County Press for accurately and comprehensively publishing my reply on behalf of Empowering Islanders. It is always disappointing to read less informed media resorting to aged rhetoric rather than the facts.
To address two specific matters:
(1) It is worth amplifying that my remark ‘Nothing Surprising’ does not imply complacency and indeed nothing could be further from the truth. In many respects Councillors can be regarded as keepers of the public trust and therefore have an obligation to bring matters of public concern into the light. This should always be done with respect and in accordance with the law. It is often a lack of clarity in the latter, or the delay in obtaining that clarity from among differing authoritative advices, that brings challenge and at times some contention.
(2) The early termination of a Pension Fund Committee earlier this summer was a unanimous decision of that politically proportionate committee. Present were members of the Alliance Group, Conservative Group and Empowering Islanders Group (the member of the Liberal Democrat Group being unfortunately delayed in traffic). The issue being that a determination regarding the legality of appointments to the committee had not been received prior to or at the meeting. Without such confirmation it was decided that decisions regarding the fund investments (which would be potentially expensive, if not impossible, to reverse) would at best be debatable and potentially subject to being contested. The early termination of the meeting, whilst unfortunate, was therefore prudent and wise.
Cllr Chris Jarman JP
Leader Empowering Islanders Group