·5 min read
The former leader had been battling ill health for sometime and passed away over the weekend. Local politicians pay their respects.
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.
·2 min read
Colin Richards was described by colleagues as a man of great integrity who will be sadly missed. Our thoughts are with Colin's family and friends.
·1 min read
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.
·1 min read
The Leader of council accuses the Indie group Leader of levelling "disingenuous and unfounded criticisms" over the election of a new Chair of the Scrutiny Committee, saying the Committee would have been more than able to elect its own Chair.
·2 min read
The Island Independent Group have released a list of “Red Lines” in the budget, marking items they were not willing to to introduce or make cuts.
·1 min read
The extraordinary meeting was called after accusations the decision to not elect a new chair of Scrutiny at the full council meeting last week was "bulldozed through" by Conservative councillors.
·2 min read
It’s currently unclear why the new council Leader has cancelled all future meetings of the Group Leaders, but opposition councillors say it's at odds with Conservative's 'cross-party' claims.
·1 min read
The last Conservatives at County Hall left Isle of Wight education in such a bad shape, the Government had to step in, say the Indies - They're also ignoring the incredibly hard over work of schools, teachers and pupils across the Island.
·2 min read
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".
·1 min read
Island Independents announce alternative budget: ‘Care and compassion, not desks and pens’ (updated)
The Island Independents have prepared their alternative budget highlighting the difference between theirs and the Conservative Alliance budget. The budget proposals will be discussed and voted upon at this Wednesday's full council meeting.
·28 min read
Leaders of all the groups who worked on and submitted budgets have shared their full speeches with OnTheWight.
·2 min read
Concerns have been raised about the process undertaken to allow the Police and Crime Commissioner to join the Fire Authority, with full voting rights on Fire Service matters
