Geoff Brodie

The councillor for Newport East said, "Cllrs Stewart and Ward may be having regular tea and biscuits with the Island Roads management, but they are clearly letting them off the hook"

The 18 votes in favour were all the members of the ruling Conservative group present, except for Cllr Tyndall who abstained and Cllr Matthew Price (Newport North), who last week led a call for works to be halted.

A special meeting will take place later this month, where councillors will debate postponing the works.

Cllr Brodie, who last month said he felt he'd been misled over the Highways PFI, will be raising the issue at next week's full council.

Even though several Isle of Wight Conservative councillors said they would oppose the housing targets set by Government, Cllr Brodie reports that Barry Abraham said it would be a 'waste of time'.

Cllr Brodie says he and many of his residents feel misled by PFI contractor, Island Roads, and say it's time for some honesty.

Voting against the extended leave, Cllr Brodie said, “We're not doing a job, we're elected to represent people. When you have a significant illness, are you really up to it?"

Cllr Brodie said the Law Centre "never had a chance with this tender process" and that he believes more disadvantaged people would suffer as a result of the decision.

In last night's annual budget vote at the Isle of Wight council, the Independent Labour councillor attracted two Conservative votes for his budget amendment, including the abstention of another two Conservative councillors.

Councillors debated and voted on next year's budget, which sees £5.5m of cuts/savings to public services including a 2.99 per cent increase to Council Tax, £1 overnight parking across the Island and 5% increase in crematorium and cemetery charges.

Cllr Brodie says he knows his proposals will be rubbished by the Conservative ruling group, but fears they are building up an "election war chest" with reserves that are "way over what is required".