The Island’s two MPs were at odds over a motion defending County Hall’s independence at a crucial full council meeting on Wednesday evening.
Isle of Wight West MP Richard Quigley (Labour) and his East Wight counterpart Joe Robertson MP (Conservative) took opposing sides at a debate on Councillor Michael Lilley’s motion that the council seeks ‘categorical assurance’ from government of it remaining a ‘stand-alone unitary authority’.
27 votes in favour
Councillor Lilley’s proposal was ultimately successful, with 27 votes in favour, four against and two abstentions.
The Liberal Democrat representative for Ryde Appley and Elmfield’s submission said,
“Isle of Wight Council resolves to celebrate 30 years as an independent unitary authority by seeking categorical assurance from the Government that the council remains a recognised stand-alone unitary authority in light of the recent announcement on devolution and Isle of Wight being part of the priority programme for Hampshire and Solent area.”
Quigley: I think we all want the best for the Island
Councillor Quigley, who represents Cowes North at County Hall, said,
“I do see Councillor Lilley’s point, but the leader of the council’s written at least once, I’ve written at least once and had a response, and I think we all want the best for the Island.
“So, I agree with Councillor Brodie that this is just talking for talking’s sake because it’s still a live issue and no sensible government is going to give categorical assurance before a process has reached the correct point.
“We’re asking for special circumstances, but we’re not asking for the right special circumstances.
“This is asking for us to be given advanced notice of a process that’s barely begun. If the motion was asking for assurances on the best outcomes for the Isle of Wight, that’d be different, and I would be able to support it.”
He went on to abstain in the vote on Councillor Lilley’s motion.
Robertson: We must send the strongest possible message from this chamber
Joe Robertson, Isle of Wight councillor for Bembridge, said,
“I support Councillor Lilley’s motion which seeks, in very similar terms to the council leader’s letter, an assurance from the government that the Isle of Wight council remains intact, stand-alone and separate from the mainland.
“It’s plainly obviously the position of the vast majority of Islanders. After 30 years of a separate council, we want that to continue.
“I accept the point that the motion is a little pointless because the Minister has written back to our council leader at the beginning of this week, declining to give that assurance – telling us very clearly that the possibility of reorganising the Isle of Wight Council which means a potential break up and merger is on the table.
“However unlikely we think that is, we must send the strongest possible message from this chamber that is unacceptable and if there is a cohort of votes in here that say reorganisation of the Isle of Wight Council should be on the table, that is a really really dangerous message to send back to the government.”
This article is from the BBC’s LDRS (Local Democracy Reporter Service) scheme, which News OnTheWight is taking part in. Some alterations and additions may have been made by OnTheWight. Ed
