Newly-elected Isle of Wight Council leader Lora Peacey-Wilcox has promised to do "as much as she can" as she takes office for the first time.
The independent councillor secured a majority of 20 votes at last night's (Wednesday's) Full Council meeting.
She beat off competition from new Conservative leader cllr Steve Hastings, who only managed a total of 18 votes across the chamber.
Cllr Peacey-Wilcox will now head up the Alliance Group - a coalition of independents and non-Conservative groups.
Some of those voting for cllr Peacey-Wilcox included members of the Vectis Party, Our Island, Island Independent Network, the Lib Dems and The Green Party.
Speaking to Isle of Wight Radio, she said she was "shocked and surprised" to have been chosen as the new leader.
She called for patience from Islanders:
"You never know what's going to happen in a council chamber so to be honest, we'll see how it goes. The one thing is, the Island people voted for change. 61% voted for change. We're going to try and do as much as we can. That's all we can do - we can try.
"Just give us time. We need time to see what we're going to walk into. We don't know. If it's anything like 2013 it was pretty diabolical. So we're just going to see where we go and it's all about moving forward especially with COVID recovery, mental health and wellbeing."
Following the meeting, cllr Hastings told Isle of Wight Radio "it just came down to numbers".
He promised to provide a "robust" opposition - and said talk has already turned to forming a shadow cabinet.
One of the first things approved at last night's meeting was a motion to restore reverse proportionality in the Corporate Scrutiny Committee and the three Policy and Scrutiny Committees.
It means the Conservatives will hold the majority in those committees.
Cllr Peacey-Wilcox says it shows the group is open to working with all councillors:
"We've brought in the political proportionality, we've opened up scrutiny, transparency. It's a completely different way of doing things. We're open and we've appointed the opposition to some of out committees. We're opening up."
A new cabinet has also been formed. It will consist of:
- Cllr Chris Jarman - cabinet member for resources
- Cllr Phil Jordan for infrastructure and transport
- Cllr Julie Jones-Evans - regeneration cabinet member
- Cllr Debbie Andre - education and children's services member
- Cllr Jonathan Bacon - cabinet member for Environment, Heritage and Waste Management
- Karl Love - cabinet member for adult social care
Watch:
Live. The new leader of the Isle of Wight Council joins us for her first interview.
Posted by Isle of Wight Radio on Thursday, May 27, 2021
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