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Julia Baker-Smith

Julia Baker-Smith is the Isle of Wight county councillor for Whippingham and Osborne.

She was elected in 2013 and became Executive member for Planning and Housing in January 2016.

In January 2017, Cllr Baker-Smith was elected as Leader of the Group of Island Independent councillors.

In May 2018 Julia joined the Labour Party in and in April 2019 stepped down.

Below are some articles that feature Cllr Baker-Smith.

23, January 2017·1 min read

‘Con-UKIP alliance bulldozed through’ Scrutiny Chair vote claim opposition

Island Independents, Labour and Liberal Democrat councillors have called for an Extraordinary meeting of the full council to be held to revisit last week's "bulldozed through" vote to not appoint a Chair of Scrutiny.

16, February 2017·2 min read

‘Con-UKIP budget to ‘blow’ ASDA Windfall’ say opposition councillors

Opposition councillors say the Conservative-UKIP plans for the ASDA money are "an insult to hard working Islanders who are having their Council Tax put up while paying for running machines and new desks".

18, May 2017·1 min read

‘Dark Day for Island Democracy’ say Island Indies

The Island Independents say the constitutional changes voted through at last night's council meeting are "even worse even than the ‘Pugh days’", adding that the "Conservatives are effectively silencing the opposition".

6, April 2017·2 min read

2017 council election: Island Independents publish their priorities

The Island Independents acknowledge their leadership changes were taken advantage of by the Conservative-UKIP alliance, but say they've never been stronger and are ready to lead the Island to success.

24, January 2014·1 min read

50p per crossing proposed for Floating Bridge foot passengers

The council say that £3m would need to be found to keep the floating bridge running as it nears the end of its life, so proposals are up for consideration to introduce a 50p each way foot passenger charge.

14, February 2018·2 min read

Access to Floating Bridge papers heavily restricted – Even to Scrutiny Members

Members of the Scrutiny Committee ask 'Who runs the council?' after being told they can only view floating bridge documents sat in front of a laptop at County Hall (with an estimated reading time of 30 hours).

9, November 2016·1 min read

Affordable housing development in former school officially opened

Pupils were amazed at the transformation of the former primary school and delighted the eight units will be let at below market rents.

8, November 2017·1 min read

All change for Island Independent group leadership

As the Leader's role is an unpaid position, this working-age mum was finding it difficult to juggle competing priorities in order to provide for her children and serve her community.

14, March 2016·1 min read

All welcome to grand opening of Parkside Pavilion

The Pavilion Community Centre in East Cowes will officially be re-opened as the 'Parkside Pavilion' at 12 noon on Saturday. All welcome.

4, March 2016·1 min read

Alternative solution being sought for night shelter, says councillor in charge

Cllr Julia Baker Smith says she is working with the volunteers running the night shelter and soup kitchen in order to find a suitable alternative solution for the night shelter.

Unite the Isle of Wight Demo at MP's office

5, March 2016·2 min read

Andrew Turner: ‘I didn’t say [Minister] would give us more money’

Very much to the surprise of those who went to a constituency surgery meeting with Isle of Wight MP Andrew Turner, he led constituents to believe that Islanders shouldn't expect financial support from the Minister.

23, February 2017·28 min read

Budget debate: Read the group leader budget speeches in full

Leaders of all the groups who worked on and submitted budgets have shared their full speeches with OnTheWight.

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