The new leader of the Isle of Wight Council, Lora Peacey-Wilcox, was the guest speaker at the Isle of Wight Association of Local Councils (IWALC)’s Annual General Meeting last Thursday (29th July).
Lora praised the work of parish, town and community councillors and assured members that her new Alliance administration will work closely with local councils.
Cllr Peacey-Wilcox said:
“Having been a local councillor for 22 years I know how much work you people do.
“You won’t be excluded now! At its last meeting, the Council voted to restore IWALC’s position as a voting member of the Scrutiny Committee and to give it a seat on the Planning Committee.”
The leader also promised regular meetings with Cabinet members.
2 other Cabinet members, Paul Fuller and Jonathan Bacon, also attended the meeting in their capacity as parish councillors. They helped Lora respond to questions from IWALC members about the Local Council Tax Support Grant, planning and road safety.
At the meeting, members elected officers for the coming year and representatives to the 15 external bodies on which IWALC is represented. Councillors Diana Conyers, Mick Lyons and Sue Hardy were re-elected as Chair, Vice-Chair and Treasurer respectively. However, there were also some new faces, including Cameron Palin, a member of East Cowes Town Council, who will be IWALC’s representative on the Isle of Wight Council’s Scrutiny Committee.
In her capacity as Chair, Diana Conyers welcomed Sandown Town Council, which has re-joined IWALC, and highlighted some of IWALC’s achievements over the past year, including the relaunch of its monthly bulletin and provision of training for new councillors. She also outlined plans to hold a workshop on Community Resilience in September, which will look at the lessons learned from the successful cooperation within and between communities and organisations during the COVID pandemic.
one thing they are all succeeding at superbly – is dreaming up meetings like this, for them all to sign up to attend and then claim those lucrative meeting attendance fees.
So did IWALC have seat on Planning Committee when deciding West Acre?
If the Council Leader will engage with informed objectors to the appalling Ryde Transport Interchange proposal, which looks set to increase congestion, reduce safety, and decimate the Western Gardens, her credibility may be secured. Without such genuine consultation, DfT money stands to be openly misused.
I expect Cllr Wayne Whittle could answer those questions for you, but won’t.
This council are just as bad as the last lot….. hang on is Lora Peacey-Wilcox actually Dave Stewart in drag. Another way to waster OUR money on things that will never make any difference.