The leader of the Isle of Wight Council has defended the Island’s inclusion in the government’s fast track devolution plans in the face of doubt over County Hall’s future.
Phil Jordan said today that fast track devolution is about having “local control of key decisions and strategic investments sooner rather than later” – though Isle of Wight East MP, Joe Robertson, insists the Island’s current unitary authority is “under threat”.
Cllr Jordan, Ryde North West’s representative, said the plans put the Island “at the table of negotiations” where it can “negotiate a devolved power deal” instead of it being “imposed”.
He said:
“Devolution does not alter local authorities. Devolution is a strategic partnership where constituent councils work together across an area or region to deliver strategic schemes and projects on things such as transport, housing and adult education.
“It is a partnership that transfers certain powers from Westminster to our area and it transfers additional funding to the strategic partnership.”
Mr Jordan spoke out following Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner’s announcement today that elections scheduled for May this year in nine local authority areas, including the Isle of Wight, will be postponed as part of the government’s devolution plans.
Ms Rayner said a postponement decision had only been agreed in places “central to our manifesto promise to deliver devolution” after “careful consideration”.
She told the House of Commons:
“We are not in the business of holding elections to bodies that will not exist, and where we do not know what will replace them.
“This would be an expensive and irresponsible waste of taxpayers’ money, and any party calling for those elections to go ahead must explain how this waste would be justifiable.
“To that end, I have agreed to postpone local elections in East Sussex and West Sussex, in Essex and Thurrock, in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, and in Norfolk and Suffolk.”
Joe Robertson (Conservative) said:
“The very existence of the Isle of Wight Council is now under threat. This is no longer just about a shared mayor with Hampshire but whether we merge our own council with part of the mainland.
“The Deputy Prime Minister was very clear that local elections are only being cancelled in places where the local council may cease to exist after the negotiations.”
The MP asked the Deputy Prime Minister to confirm whether the postponement of Island elections meant the “future reorganisation” of the Isle of Wight Council is on the “negotiating table”.
She answered:
“The fact that it’s an Island does provide limitations, but of course, nothing has been taken off the table.
“We want to deliver reorganisation, deliver for the people of the Isle of Wight.”
She added the government would continue to work with Mr Roberston and “local leaders”.
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