A to Z

Richard Priest

Richard Priest was elected in the 2013 Isle of Wight council elections and joined the group of Island Independent councillors.

He was Independent executive member for Children’s services. However, he was sacked from the post by Ian Stephens in September 2014 and then left the Island Independents.

He became Executive member Adult social care and public health in January 2017 under the leadership of Conservative, Dave Stewart.

27, January 2014·1 min read

Council report an improvement in school attendance levels

In November 2013 Ofsted revealed Isle of Wight school absences were the worst in the country, so it's encouraging to see some improvement.

2, May 2014·1 min read

Councillor calls for Festivals to help boost financial support for Music Service

Councillor makes the suggestion that some big projects with the major Festivals on the Island could help boost funding for the Music Service.

10, September 2014·1 min read

Councillor calls for more road safety spending on rural roads

Cllr Seely is hoping some of the £100,000 Community Highway Fund will be spent on roads in the Back of the Wight.

29, April 2014·5 min read

Cowes Enterprise College meeting report: Audience unenlightened by the meandering debate

As many had feared, last night's meeting at Cowes Enterprise College, about the school, was judged to have left much of the audience unenlightened by the meandering debate.

16, July 2014·1 min read

Cowes Enterprise disposal: Live coverage

If you want to follow the council disposing of Cowes Enterprise College, OnTheWight has live updates here.

17, September 2014·7 min read

David Pugh gets involved in Priest/Gilbey/ overthrow rumour affair with questions

David Pugh (who lost his seat to Cllr Richard Priest at the 2013 local elections) has posed a number of questions to the Leader for tonight's council meeting. Here's the full text and his email to council members.

7, April 2014·1 min read

David Pugh on Cowes Enterprise: I’m not publicly accountable anymore

Following calls for him to return be asked questions about Cowes Enterprise College, the ex-Leader of IWC gives his reasons why he won't be taking up the offer.

29, March 2023·3 min read

David Pugh talks to News OnTheWight about why he’s stepping away from Isle of Wight politics

It was an interesting chat

Political Scrapbook - David Pugh Trailer -:

18, December 2014·2 min read

David Pugh: ‘Overheard discussing sensitive party matters’ on packed train claims report

A general rule in life is, if you don't want others to know, don't discuss it in public. Certainly don't do it loudly on a busy train heading back to where you live.

16, July 2014·2 min read

Does the council really need to give away the freehold to Cowes Enterprise College?

Concerns have been raised about the imminent freehold transfer of Cowes Enterprise College to Ormiston Academies Trust.

3, October 2014·5 min read

Facts and truth ‘distorted out of all recognition’ claims Cllr Stubbings

Details that first appeared as comments with OnTheWight, were, for the first time, heard in the council chamber last night. Cllr Stubbings laid out in detail his sequence of events, "to put the record straight in the public arena".

1, February 2017·1 min read

Find out who will be new Scrutiny Committee Chair: Live Coverage

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.

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