Councillor Peter Spink, of the Empowering Islanders Group, has written a detailed email to Councillor Phil Jordan (leader of IWC) and Wendy Perera (CEO), raising concerns about proposals for local government reorganisation and devolution. The questions, sent ahead of a key council briefing on Monday afternoon, highlight a perceived lack of clarity in reports to Full Council and Cabinet on the subject of a Solent Devolution.
Councillor Spink’s email stresses the importance of ensuring all councillors fully understand the recommendations being put forward. He acknowledges that the government’s tight timelines may have contributed to the lack of clarity, but insists on urgent written responses to a series of pointed questions.
Government criteria and local reorganisation
Councillor Spink references the government’s Devolution White Paper, which sets out the conditions under which local government reorganisation might be considered.
He asks whether the government has invited the Isle of Wight council to reorganise, and if so, what evidence demonstrates that the criteria for reorganisation—such as evidence of failure or boundary issues—have been met. He challenges the council leadership to explain why, if there has been no such invitation, they are recommending reorganisation and what evidence supports their proposal.
Exceptional circumstances?
Citing the White Paper’s preference for unitary councils serving populations of 500,000 or more, Councillor Spink questions why the Isle of Wight, with a significantly smaller population, has not been considered an exception. He asks what evidence has been evaluated to justify this approach and calls for clarity on the decision-making process.
The email also addresses the government’s ambition for partnerships spanning larger geographies, while allowing for exceptions in “exceptional circumstances”.
Seek to maintain autonomy as a unitary authority
Councillor Spink queries why the Isle of Wight is not pursuing an exceptional designation to maintain its autonomy as a unitary authority.
He expresses concern that amalgamating with mainland authorities could lead to the Isle of Wight becoming “a very small cog in a very large wheel,” governed remotely from across the Solent. He asks how the council plans to ensure that residents do not feel alienated from decision-making and seeks specific assurances about representation, including the number of Island councillors in any merged authority.
Councillor Spink also raises practical questions about planning decisions under a new governance structure, asking whether these would be delegated to Mainland committees.
Legal and procedural clarity
Councillor Spink seeks confirmation about the legal advice received from the council’s Monitoring Officer regarding the executive’s authority to make decisions on devolution. He requests confirmation of whether such advice exists and if the Cabinet has the power to adhere to decisions made by an Extraordinary Meeting of Full Council.
Finally, he calls for answers to his questions before the scheduled briefing, stating that a later written response would be “entirely unacceptable”.
A call for transparency
Councillor Spink’s email reflects growing unease among councillors and residents about the implications of potential devolution and amalgamation. The concerns raised highlight the need for transparency and robust evidence in decision-making processes that could significantly reshape local governance.
As the debate unfolds, Islanders will be watching closely for the council leadership’s response to these pressing questions.
