Isle of Wight Council leader, David Pugh, was off the Island yesterday, speaking at the Local Government Association annual conference in Harrogate.
He was speaking in a session called “Follow our lead – how environmental leadership can achieve local ambitions.” (details below)
Always interested in how The Leader is presenting himself and the Island to the rest of the world, a Tweet by prolific Twitter user, demsoc, who was at the event caught our eye.
#lgaconf IoW council leader trying to defend anti-wind-turbine nimbyism while also claiming to be eco-leader. Not that convincing.
We wrote to demosoc asking for some more detail
@VentnorBlog his leadership pitch was ‘we do what our residents want’ which didn’t seem much like leadership to me
This side of David Pugh’s presentation seemed somewhat at odds with demosoc’s reporting of Mr Pugh’s views on political consensus.
@VentnorBlog he was also sceptical abt consensus “in my experience it’s better with some opponents just to get on, ignore them and do it”
Andy Johnston, Head of the Centre for Local Sustainability, was also at the LGA Conference watching The Leader, commenting
Interesting debate on environmental leadership with David Pugh leader of IOW at #lgaconf
We also got in touch with Andy Johnson for some more details, but didn’t hear back.
Conference session details
Follow our lead – how environmental leadership can achieve local ambitions.
Councils are at the forefront of addressing the considerable environmental challenges we face. This session will provide the opportunity to share experiences of how leadership on environmental issues can help councils and their partners to achieve local ambitions, deliver wider corporate objectives and have long lasting benefits for their communities.
How can a strategic approach to the environment promote healthier lifestyles, tackle deprivation, support low carbon economies, create jobs or promote better community engagement? What are the barriers to stronger environmental leadership and what support is available for councils developing innovative approaches.
_Speakers
Cllr David Pugh, Leader, Isle of Wight Council; and Chair, Island Strategic PartnershipRob Vincent, Chief Executive, Kirklees Council
David Greenfield, Assistant Director, South East Regional Improvement and Efficiency Partnership
