Cllr Gordon Kendall, councillor for Brading, St Helens and Bembridge, has quit his role as Executive member for Human Resources, Organisation Chance and Exchequer Services, say the County Press.
The leader of the council, Cllr Jonathan Bacon, told OnTheWight, the resignation is unofficial at the moment as nothing had been received in writing.
“Probably” will resign from Island Independents
The news emerged following this morning’s Employment Committee meeting, where Cllr Kendall (along with Cllr Gauntlett) voted against recommendations to restructure the senior management.
When asked by the CP whether he would resign from the Island Independents, he replied “probably”.
The proposal he objected to was for the Managing Director’s role (Dave Burbage) to be phased out over the next year and the additional duties taken on by John Metcalfe, the current Head of Economy and Tourism.
New blood
Following the meeting, Cllr Kendall told OnTheWight he voted against the recommendations because he felt the council should be testing the market for suitable applicants for the top role, rather than elevating someone who already works within the council.
Once a senior officer at the Isle of Wight council himself, “We need someone with new ideas,” he said.
Role set to finish anyway
Senior-placed people within County Hall tell OnTheWight Cllr Kendall’s executive role would come to an end anyway, as the transformation reaches its conclusion.
Missed meetings
There has been some criticism of Cllr Kendall’s non-attendance at council meetings.
During 2014 he missed meetings of the Executive in May and June; the Property Disposal and Capital Programme Sub Committee in June and August; the Full Council meetings in September and October and the Employment Committee in October.
He’s not attended any of the expected senior decision-taking meetings this year – that is, the Isle of Wight Pension Fund Committee, Property Disposal and Capital Programme Sub Committee and the February Executive.
Impact on ward shared with Cllr Bacon?
This brings an interesting issue for the current leader of the council, Cllr Jonathan Bacon. Cllr Bacon voted in favour of the changes to senior management restructure.
Kendall and Bacon both represent Brading, St Helens and Bembridge. The only only ward on the Isle of Wight that has two councillors representing it.
It’s clearly too early to see if this will have an impact on residents of the Ward, but eyes will be on it.
Cllr Bacon told OnTheWight that he hoped that it would have no effect, concluding, “We are both there to represent residents who come to us.”
Cllr Kendall has yet to respond.
Source
Image: © Isle of Wight Council
