This in from Stop The Cuts Alliance member, Tanja Rebel. Ed
On Wednesday evening the Isle of Wight Council votes on this year’s budget and the possibility of massive cuts in public services affecting, libraries, lifeguards, tourist information centres and many other valued services.
If you are opposed to the proposed cuts, and you are ‘represented’ by one of the Councillors named below, speak to them between now and Wednesday and tell them what you think.
What to tell them
Tell them that you want them to vote for the interests of Isle of Wight residents and not narrow party political aims.
Tell them that you know their party rules require them to do what their leader David Pugh says, but also tell them that you know that rule 9.1 of their party group rules allows them to oppose that view on grounds of conscience or specific ward interest.
Tell them that what they do on Wednesday night will affect their own political future and the future of the Conservative Party on the Isle of Wight.
Tell them the Island, it’s residents and it’s economy are more important than David Pugh.
How to tell them
Do it on the telephone or in person if you possibly can.
Send an e-mail as well but they are easy to ignore and many of these Councillors do not reply to e-mails.
Who to tell
The decision as to what happens at the end of the day rests with the following 25 Councillors who are members of the ruling Conservative Group:
Mr Barry Abraham Ward: Wootton Bridge
Mr Peter Charles Bingham Ward: Central Wight
Mr George Brown Ward: Cowes North
Mr Ivan Bulwer Ward: Binstead and Fishbourne
Mr George W. Cameron Ward: Freshwater South
Mrs Dawn Cousins Ward: Newport North
Mr Roger Graham Dixcey Ward: Newport South
Mr Edward Stephen Giles Ward: Whippingham and Osborne
Mr John Vere Hobart Ward: Carisbrooke
Mr Richard Hollis Ward: Parkhurst
Mr Tim Hunter-Henderson Ward: Lake South
Julie Jones-Evans Ward: Newport Central
Mr Roger Mazillius Ward: Cowes South and Northwood
Mrs Lora Peacey-Wilcox Ward: Cowes Medina
Mr David Pugh Ward: Shanklin South
Susan Jane Scoccia Ward: Ventnor West
Mr David Stewart Ward: Chale, Niton and Whitwell
Mr Andy Sutton Ward: Freshwater North
Mr Arthur Taylor Ward: Ryde North West
Mr Gary Taylor Ward: Ryde South
Mr Ian David Ward Ward: Sandown South
Margaret Webster Ward: East Cowes
Mr Jerry White Ward: Lake North
Mr David Whittaker Ward: Newport West
Mr David G. Williams Ward: Shanklin Central
Contact details can be found on the Isle of Wight Council website, in the libraries and on Parish and Town Council notice boards.
We need SIX of these Councillors to vote against the Conservative budget and in favour of one of the alternative budgets.
Pass this message on to as many people as you can so that these Councillors know what we think and what the people who vote for them want them to do.
