The chair of the Ryde Neighbourhood Board (RNB) has hit back after Isle of Wight East Conservative MP Joe Robertson publicly denounced “unacceptable conduct” relating to Ryde Theatre.
Steven Holbrook said it was unfortunate Mr Robertson “hasn’t turned up to many meetings” of the committee – something the MP denied.
His comments come after Mr Robertson expressed transparency concerns last week.
Pulled from auction
It followed news that the iconic Town Hall, due to go under the hammer last Wednesday (10th December 2025), had been pulled from auction.
Alliance council leader Phil Jordan, who serves on the board, previously said he was working with the property owner and community interest community Ryde Revival to strike a deal.
Ryde Neighbourhood Board
RNB is an independent partnership formed as part of the government’s Plan for Neighbourhoods, renamed Pride in Place, in September this year.
The Board says a ten-year vision for Ryde Town, shaped through community consultation, has been completed and submitted to Whitehall.
Pride of Place regeneration funding
Once approved, the vision will enable around £742,000 in Pride of Place regeneration funding to be obtained for the first year from April, with increased sums becoming available every year over the next nine years.
Concern over email motion
Mr Robertson last week posted on Facebook to say RNB “quietly passed a motion by email four days ago to encourage money to change hands, legal paperwork be signed and the owner to pull the Town Hall from auction”.
He said communications have seemingly been happening between the Board and “unidentified relevant parties” in secret.
Mr Robertson said,
“This is unacceptable conduct by the Ryde Neighbourhood Board who have been entrusted with public money for the people of Ryde.
“The Board must now publish all documentation (including background information, emails and minutes of meetings) surrounding the motion and how it came to be voted on.
“Ryde residents must be given the full picture – it is their money not the Board’s money.”
Holbrook: All discussed in depth during the meetings which he didn’t attend
In response, Mr Holbrook told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS),
“Unfortunately, Joe hasn’t turned up to many meetings.
“All these areas he brought up were discussed in depth during the meetings which he wasn’t attending.”
The draft minutes of the meeting have now been published.
RNB would “commit to supporting a community group to acquire the building”
RNB published a statement today (15th December 2025) which said it was clear from ‘wide-ranging community feedback’ that the future of the Town Hall was a matter the community wanted addressed.
It said,
“The Board has agreed that, while it cannot commit directly to the purchase of the building, it would commit to supporting a community group to acquire the building provided certain conditions, ensuring due diligence and due process, are completed by any third party wishing to purchase the building.
“It was hoped that this commitment in principle would provide sufficient assurance to the owner to withdraw Ryde Town Hall from the auction in December.
“The Board is clear that an open and transparent selection process must take place. This will be based on a robust business case and the ability of the prospective acquirer to secure the building with appropriate insurances.
“We are obviously delighted that subsequently Ryde Town Hall was withdrawn from the auction, as this now gives time for future possibilities to be explored.”
RNB said any future financial commitment would need full Board approval, be in line with government criteria, and also be signed off by the Isle of Wight Council as the accountable body.
Robertson: Takes issue with “various secretive meetings”
Mr Robertson today (15th December) said either himself or a representative from his office had been at every RNB meeting except the most recent one held at the start of December.
He said the real issue with the proposed acquisition of the Ryde Town Hall is not the formal Board meetings but “various secretive meetings” and conversations between one or more members of the Board, the Town Hall’s private owner and Ryde Revival CIC.
This article is from the BBC’s LDRS (Local Democracy Reporter Service) scheme, which News OnTheWight is taking part in. Some alterations and additions may have been made by OnTheWight. Ed
