WHO SAID WHAT AT THE MOST RECENT PLANNING STRATEGY MEETING

A vote against ‘increasing the average wage, improving health and education and protecting the Island against climate change, or are Isle of Wight councillors ‘kidding themselves if they think it will solve the housing crisis? Two sides of a controversial argument over the Island Planning Strategy (IPS), which was considered at County Hall last night (Wednesday).

Sparks flew at the Isle of Wight Council meeting, but no decision was actually made on the IPS’ future — setting council planning policies and housing targets for the next 15 years.

The strategy has been in the making since 2016 and has spanned two administrations – but, despite a three-hour meeting, an agreement could not be reached.

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Its approval was shot down in a close vote — with 16 councillors for and 18 against.

Time ran out on a second option, to send the strategy back to leading cabinet members for reconsideration and the recalculation of housing figures.

So, who said what?

For

Cabinet member for planning, Cllr Paul Fuller, said it was impossible to please everyone, but stressed the Alliance administration had incorporated as many ideas as it could. Admitting the document is not perfect, he said it had to meet targets enforced by the government and had already cut the Island’s housing target by a third — to build 479 homes a year — using  ‘robust evidence’ that would pass an inspection.

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There has been criticism because the document draws from predicted data, from 2014, but Cllr Fuller said the government has set the rules on what figures are used. Cllr Jonathan Bacon, cabinet member for the environment, praised officers for their work and said delaying a decision would be dangerous.

He revealed the Isle of Wight Council had sought legal advice and warned an ‘exceptional circumstances’ plea could not made. He feared waiting meant the authority would be led down a blind alley, based on a ‘false and fanciful’ premise.

Cllr Julie Jones-Evans, cabinet member for business development and regeneration, called the IPS a plan for future generations.

Cllr Michael Lilley said the council was stuck between a rock and a hard place. He warned County Hall could be at risk of having its planning powers taken away if it delayed. He also pointed out a recent finding by the Local Government Association that the document should be passed as soon as possible.

Cllr Richard Quigley said a vote against the plan would be a vote against all the good things. He cited an increase in the average wage, improved health and education outcomes and environmental protection, and a plan for a better future.

Cabinet member for housing, Cllr Ian Stephens, said the plan would ensure the right houses would be built – by which he meant affordable properties for Islanders. The Alliance-favoured IPS aims for discounted house prices and rents at a level Islanders eligible for affordable housing can afford. It would mean shrinking market prices, from 80 per cent to 60 per cent.

Cllr Ian Dore called it open season for developers. He likened it to jumping out a plane without a reserve parachute and said councillors would be failing residents and also said the plan’s eventual consideration, by full council (via the Planning Inspectorate and a consultation), provided a safety net for those concerned.

Those who also voted ‘for’ include Cllrs Lora Peacey-Wilcox (leader), Debbie Andre, Rodney Downer, Phil Jordan, Joe Lever, Karl Love, Karen Lucioni, Claire Critchison and Daryll Pitcher.

Against

Speaking again the plan, many Isle of Wight councillors want fewer houses to be built in future than the plan currently budgets for. Leading the charge was Cllr Chris Jarman, cabinet member for strategic finance and transformational change.

Acknowledging many laudable parts of the IPS, he said he was astonished at the level of disinformation at the meeting. He said: “To say the Island is not exceptional would be to undermine everything we have done in trying to promote the Island Deal.”

He challenged the claim that legal advice had ruled out a future ‘exceptional circumstances’ defence – the idea the council is unable to deliver the number of houses the government requires, under its plans for all regions in England, and said it would be better to use 2021 census data. That thought was echoed by Conservative group leader, Cllr Joe Robertson, who said it was not right to approve a plan based on old figures.

As previously reported, he claimed the meeting had been deliberately timed to ensure the IPS was voted through – something denied by the leading Alliance group.

Chair of the council’s planning committee, Cllr John Medland, called the plan illogical and said it contradicts itself. He said recession, inflation levels, high building costs and falling house prices had not been taken into account. He said conditions are not right for private developers to rush out and build properties and wanted the IPS to go back to the drawing board – with an emphasis on community.

Cllr Peter Spink said councillors were kidding themselves if they thought the IPS would solve the housing crisis. He said there would still be more than 2,500 families waiting for homes, despite the plan, and argued they do not ‘get a sniff’ at current new builds.

Parkhurst and Hunnyhill’s Cllr Andrew Garratt said he could not support the plan. due to his concerns about proposed future development in his ward, saying roads and infrastructure are already under great strain.

Cllr Chris Quirk, rebuffed earlier claims the council could lose its right to decide on development, if the plan was not passed. The council had received no such government warnings, he said.

Cllr Geoff Brodie said the plan would actually reduce the number of affordable properties for rent in future.

Those who also voted against it included Cllrs Michael Beston, Paul Brading, Vanessa Churchman, Stephen Hendry, Clare Mosdell, John Nicholson, Martin Oliver, Matthew Price and Ray Redrup.