This latest news from the Isle of Wight council. Ed
Isle of Wight Council Leader, Jonathan Bacon, has announced a reshuffle of the Isle of Wight Council’s Executive in order to better align the skills of Members with new responsibilities and the wider ambitions and focus of the council.
Of the Executive rearrangement, Councillor Bacon, said:
“We have a good team that works well together for the betterment of the Isle of Wight. These changes to roles and responsibilities will help to better align the work of Executive Members with the council structure, as we seek to manage the challenges faced by the council in the coming months.
“Our biggest challenge remains one of finances, as a result of the cuts and withdrawal of funding imposed upon us by central government. I am therefore taking the step of giving all Executive Members a specific and collective, responsibility for Resources while, as Leader, I will be taking on the lead responsibility for this area myself.”
The new Executive responsibilities are as follows:
| Member | New role | Former role |
| Jonathan Bacon (Leader) | Children’s Services and Lead Member for Resources | Children’s Services, Organisational changes and HR |
| Phil Jordan | Public Health, Public Protection and PFI | Public Health, Public Protection and PFI |
| Stephen Stubbings (Deputy Leader) | Adult Social Care, Integration, Human Resources and Corporate Governance | Adult Social Care, Community Well-being and Corporate Governance |
| Shirley Smart | Regeneration, Economy and Public Transport | Economy and Tourism |
| Ian Stephens | Tourism, Culture and Heritage | Resources |
| Luisa Hillard | Sustainability and Organisational Change | Sustainability, Environment and Public Realm |
| Paul Fuller | Planning, Licensing, Public Realm and Local Engagement | Planning and Licensing |
Losses and gains
(OnTheWight compiled this following table)
| Member | Loses | Gains |
| Jonathan Bacon | Organisational Change and HR | Lead Member for Resources |
| Phil Jordan | ||
| Stephen Stubbings | Community Well-being | Integration, Human Resources |
| Shirley Smart | Economy and Tourism | Regeneration, Economy and Public Transport |
| Ian Stephens | Resources | Tourism, Culture and Heritage |
| Luisa Hillard | Environment and Public Realm | Organisational Change |
| Paul Fuller | Public Realm and Local Engagement |
In addition, a new Group Leaders Forum has been created to enable closer working practices, discussion and understanding between parties about the future demands and challenges of the Isle of Wight Council. This forum will enable Forum Members to receive appropriate briefings on relevant upcoming decisions, for the views of those members to be given due weight and credence at Executive, for all members to be able to propose attributed ideas for wider consideration, and to provide cross-party agreement on key issues where possible.
A Budget and Policy Liaison Group has also been created that will bring together the Chairs of the key policy based Committees. The Group will help to develop and bring forward budget and policy ideas to meet the issues faced by the council collectively.
Councillor Bacon continued:
“I have said for some time that, given the challenges we face as a council, which are becoming acute, we need to actively work together in full knowledge of the situation before us, as a whole Council. This is the only way through the difficulties we face, to achieve the best outcomes and our aspirations for the whole Island.”
These changes will help the council and its Members to better meet its priorities and achieve a vision for the Island to be a great place to live, work and visit.
Image: © Simon Haytack
