During last night’s October full council meeting (read our live coverage), members narrowly voted to reject the motion to request that Secretary of State establish a Solent Combined Authority.
A total of 17 councillors voted to reject the motion, 16 voted in favour and two members abstained.
About “staying at the table”
Following the meeting, Leader of the Isle of Wight Council (IWC) Jonathan Bacon told OnTheWight,
“It was very disappointing that a large number of those objecting to the proposal to remain in the process appeared to either have not read the papers, were misunderstanding them or were wilfully misrepresenting them.
“I was uncomfortable at the number of Conservative members who seemed to base their view on what Hampshire CC thought or how Hampshire CC might be affected.”
He went on to say,
“Tonight was about staying at the table to see what sort of deal might be offered to us. It has been made clear time and time again that no final decision would or could be made until an actual Deal Offer is made and considered by Full Council.”
Re-engage with Hampshire
After the meeting, group leader of Conservative councillors, Dave Stewart, told OnTheWight,
“Conservatives voted against the motion because we didn’t feel the deal in its current form with the current governance arrangements was right for the Island. There has been little support for it amongst residents, and there were some very significant question marks over it.
“It wasn’t only Conservatives who voted against the motion. Independent and UKIP groups also opposed the Solent devolution deal. Two members of the ruling group abstained. So we know there are cross-party concerns.
“We now encourage Council leader Jonathan Bacon to work with all groups in the Council to re-examine the issue of devolution and to look at the fullest range of options, including reengaging with Hampshire County Council.”
Labour: Offer too good given the crumbs at Government’s table
Speaking on behalf of the Labour group of councillors, Cllr Geoff Lumley told OnTheWight,
“Although our very clear preference for a ‘No Mayor’ Solent Combined Authority was defeated by 21-12, Labour then supported the administration on the substantive issue of applying to Government for a Mayoral Combined Authority.
“We did this because £30m a year for 30 years is too good a possibility to reject in these times of crumbs from the Government table, that it would be ridiculous to be pleading poverty to Government one day and then rejecting what is on offer the next, and finally because the Mayor will ultimately only be responsible for devolved services and not what is currently the responsibility of our Council.
“The approach of the Conservative group and their cohorts is entirely daft. A Conservative Government policy receiving a two-fingered salute from Island Tories.”
Leader: “Nothing else on the table”
As he presented his motion during the full council meeting, Cllr Bacon informed members that when he met with the Government minister the day before, it was made clear to him there was “nothing else on the table, nothing else on the horizon and nothing else coming from the government” other than the Solent Combined Authority deal.
It was also stressed many times over the course of the meeting that the had minister clearly stated any decision made by the IWC would be non-binding and would not commit them entering into the deal.
A share of £30m pa plus business rates
The deal being offered by the Government – if the Island joins the combined authority – is for a share of £30m per annum pot between the three authorities, Isle of Wight, Southampton and Portsmouth over a 30 year period.
The funds distributed between all three authorities would also include monies from a pot filled with Business Rates from the three authorities – clearly with the two cities contributing far more than the Island.
More than once during the debate, Conservative councillors said they didn’t trust the government to provide the amounts stated for the full period or trust that any decision made that evening would be non-binding.
City leaders provide reassurance
Cllr Bacon also advised members that he’d received a letter from the leaders of Southampton and Portsmouth councils which stated how they understood the importance of raising the Island’s economic output.
Adding how they appreciated it would take “significant investment over a period of time”, but recognised how that would have a “positive impact on the wider Solent economy”.
Support from Labour
Cllr Lumley’s bid to ensure there would not be an elected mayor and no voting rights for the Solent LEP didn’t gain enough votes. Despite this, he delivered a speech on the importance of voting in favour of the motion before the councillors.
He said,
“Labour are not going to stick two fingers up to the government who are offering £10m pa every year for 30 years.”
Offer may be taken back
Following the meeting, Cllr Bacon warned that the deal being offered by the Government may now be withdrawn, leaving the Isle of Wight with nothing.
“As things stand, I am worried about how Government will react to what happened at Full Council this evening and the stance taken to the one and only offer of help that has been made to the Island.
“I would not be surprised if the current offer is now withdrawn. There is no other deal in existence and nothing else on the horizon. Assertions that there might be do not match with what has been said by Hampshire District Councils who would have to be involved in any such arrangement (see “below copy email sent to members today, but which some either hadn’t read or didn’t want to read).”
Conservatives dealt a serious blow
Cllr Bacon finished by saying,
“I fear that the Island Conservative Group have dealt a serious blow to our financial future and the chances of improving our economic base and stability, which is what devolution is all about. The reasons for doing this are not clear and seem more concerned about Hampshire and more concerned about advancing their own electoral ambitions.
“When, as a Council, we rely on Government for 35% of our revenue funding, it seems bizarre to stick two fingers up at the only offer of assistance we have had, particularly at a point where no final commitment is required.”
Back to Executive committee
The Isle of Wight council Executive will now debate the matter at an Extraordinary Meeting being held on Monday 24th October at 5pm.
They could in theory overrule the decision made at full council.
Email from Hampshire leaders
Cllr Bacon emailed all members prior to the meeting showing the responses from leaders of several Hampshire district councils to Hampshire leader Roy Perry’s letter to all colleagues (see at bottom).
From: Bacon, Jonathan
Sent: Wednesday, October 19, 2016 11:47 AM
To: All Members
Cc:
Subject: Comments from Hampshire District Councils in relation to letter from Roy PerryDear All
You will all have received and no doubt read a letter from Councillor Roy Perry, the Leader of Hampshire County Council, that was forwarded by Cllr Chris Whitehouse. The letter has attracted comment from some of the Leaders of District Authorities in Hampshire and for your information I have compiled those responses I have received so far. They largely address the clearly incorrect assertion that there is a viable alternative Hampshire and Isle of Wight Devolution Deal, which has become part of the current debate.
Jonathan Bacon
1. From Cllr Keith House, Leader of Eastleigh
Dear JonathanThere are a number of problems with Roy’s letter.
1. “HCC remains strongly of the view”. This may be Roy’s view, but the Council has not considered this.
2. As a simple matter of fact, the Solent proposal predates the HIOW proposal.
3. “Deeply damaging to the County Council and the services we provide”. No evidence has ever been put forward to support this rhetoric.
4. “Direct and divisive threat to the County Council”. Again, this is mere rhetoric. The Solent CA proposal does not in any way threaten HCC.There is no prospect of the HIOW deal being resurrected with a HIOW elected Mayor. The debate over the last eight months has demonstrated that a Winchester, County-based Mayor would likely adopt the County-centric view of the world we have seen from Hampshire rather than the inclusive polycentric approach we have developed these last 14 years in South Hampshire and latterly including the Isle of Wight.
Best wishes
Keith
2. From Cllr Sean Woodward, Leader of Fareham
Dear JonathanFrom Fareham Borough Council’s point of view we see no prospect whatever for a Hampshire and Isle of Wight combined authority with an elected mayor. I have discussed this matter with all members of the council and there is a unanimity of view. For the record I stated on behalf of the council that the governance proposals were completely unacceptable to us let alone the prospect of a pan-HIOW mayor. The original proposal made to government by PUSH in October 2014 was for a Solent CA; we put that proposal on hold to pursue the pan-HIOW idea but that failed followed by the government approaching us with a potential Solent deal.
I remain hopeful even at this late stage that the county council will re-join the Solent CA deal which offers us the only chance of taking significant devolved powers locally with more to come in subsequent deals as well as the ability to raise funding through prudential borrowing using the £30m per year additional funding to plug our £2bn infrastructure gap. From your own council’s point of view, having regard to your financial difficulties, there is nothing to lose yet everything potentially to gain by being a part of the Solent CA.
I am happy to offer reassurance to your members if any of them wish to contact me regarding my statements above.
Best wishes
Councillor Seán D T Woodward
Executive Leader
Councillor for Sarisbury Ward
County Councillor for Sarisbury Division3. From Stephen Parker, Leader of Hart DC
Jonathan,Taking Roy’s bullets in turn:
• Roy expressed the view at a Heart of Heart meeting that the original HIOW CA is “dead in the water”; his words. That would be my view. The original proposal had some legs but we have all moved on. There is a concern among my members that the weight of the southern economy would inevitably make the centre of gravity the Portsmouth/Southampton axis, which is absolutely right for those cities, possibly the Southern PUSH Districts and for you and your members to determine for the island. However, it may not be in Hart’s interests.
• I do not agree with Roy’s analysis. In any event, the Mayor is only required to take on the new responsibilities devolved from Government; he is not required to take any from existing authorities, although those authorities may see an advantage to passing some responsibilities to him.
• I agree with Roy that the unitaries have a right to form a CA. I offer no view as to whether it would offer optimum outcomes; it is none of my business.
• Whether HCC chooses to object to the enlargement he describes is a matter for them. My preferred approach is to be supportive of sister authorities making a legal and legitimate decision in whatever outcome they choose.
• It has to be encouraging that Roy reiterates in relation to schools and children’s services that “We remain fully committed to the future of the partnership for as long as we think we can sustain a useful contribution and for as long as IWC wishes us to continue.”
• In the light of HCC’s approach of resisting the development of a Solent CA beyond the three unitaries, Roy’s final bullet is something which the Solent group Districts will want to bear in mind. It should not affect the decision of Isle of Wight members, but it is for them to determine based on the evidence available to them from all sources.Regards,
Cllr. Stephen Parker
Leader, Hart District Council4. From Cllr Mark Hook, Leader of Gosport
Dear Jonathon,My remit on behalf of Gosport Borough Council, one of the eleven districts in Hampshire, is to negotiate a deal on behalf of GBC and put it before my council.
After the HIOW bid faltered I was party to the setting up of the Solent bid. The Solent leaders believed, and still do, that the potential for investment under a Combined Authority status was worth pursuing in the interests, and for the economic benefits, of our respective communities .
Subsequently Hampshire County Council were invited to join but had declined. If they had agreed to be part of this worthwhile action then Gosport would have been part of the Combined Authority that is now under discussion. Regrettably Gosport Borough Council cannot act independently as we cannot join the CA without the approval of HCC. It is obvious that the leader of HCC will try everything in his power to stop districts like mine in joining a CA, despite the obvious benefits to my authority and the community. I do hope he reconsiders his position on this matter.I am also in the belief that in desperation HCC have now clouded the CA issue by consulting on changing the two tier working arrangements we have by becoming a unitary authority, something all Councillors are opposed to. I believe we should deliver services at the local level and any devolvement of power should be welcomed.
Regards,
Cllr Mark Hook
Leader – Gosport Borough Council
Article edit
Response added from Cllr Lumley.
