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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.

12, July 2018·2 min read

Isle of Wight council spend over £1.5m on agency staff

Between May 2017 and May 2018, the Isle of Wight Council spent £1,526,816 on agency staff across the authority — but particularly within the mental health team, and children’s services.

26, April 2019·2 min read

Isle of Wight councillor explains why they are standing down

The councillor explains why they no longer feel able to devote the time and energy to their ward here on the Island.

19, April 2016·1 min read

Isle of Wight councillors sign up to ‘Councillors Against Austerity’

Following Saturday's anti-austerity march in London, eleven Isle of Wight councillors have signed up to the national ‘Councillors Against Austerity’ founding statement and ask the Government to reverse cuts to council funding

7, December 2016·1 min read

Isle of Wight Executive undergoes a reshuffle

In the lead up to the clear focus on regeneration over the coming months, the leader of the Isle of Wight council has restructured the Executive.

7, June 2018·2 min read

Isle of Wight Studio School the ‘latest casualty of under-funding’, says councillor

The academy sponsor and Department for Education say the school is not viable because of a lack of capacity, but the local councillor believes it is just the latest casualty of under-funding from the Government.

22, December 2017·1 min read

IWC decision to open door for two new supermarkets to be scrutinised

The decision made behind closed doors to vary an option agreement between the Isle of Wight council and SCL Ltd will be scrutinised by a council committee in January.

26, January 2017·1 min read

IWC Leader: Criticisms were ‘disingenuous and unfounded’

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.

16, January 2017·3 min read

Kendall resigns too: ‘Not prepared to do government’s dirty work for them’ (Updated)

Hot on the heels of the resignations of the Leader and Deputy Leader of the Isle of Wight council and the Executive resignations of Cllrs Jordan and Stephens, another Independent councillor has stepped down from the Executive.

luisa hillard and julian critchley - candidate for whippingham and osborne

13, May 2019·1 min read

Labour announces candidate for Osborne and Whippingham seat on Isle of Wight council

The by-election has been prompted by the resignation of previous Labour councillor, Julia Baker-Smith.

26, June 2018·1 min read

Labour question ‘wisdom’ and ‘lack of transparency’ over £400k pa restructure

The Isle of Wight Labour Party have 'questioned the wisdom' of Isle of Wight council recruiting more senior managers when, they do not even have the staff to answer calls from residents.

18, October 2017·1 min read

Live: Isle of Wight councillors debate plan for next three years

Members of the Isle of Wight council will be considering the proposed three year Corporate Plan at the extraordinary meeting. If you can't make it along, catch up with our coverage here.

disembarking the floating bridge - karl love

15, May 2017·3 min read

MCA suspends floating bridge

The new floating bridge was subject to several problems over the weekend and following an approach from the MCA the service has been suspended this morning.

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