Following reports that the Government is planning to hand more powers to the new Mayor for Hampshire and the Solent, Isle of Wight East Conservative MP, Joe Robertson, has today written to the Labour Education Secretary, Bridget Phillipson, asking her to set out her intentions for young Islanders’ education ahead of a crucial Council vote next week.
First reported in The Guardian, the Government has backed a Labour think tank report which draws up plans to give a proposed new Mayor powers over Island schools and hospitals.
The article goes on the explain that an anonymous government insider has said the plans will be added to the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill (currently going through Parliament) via amendments.
Will shift responsibility for young people’s education
Powers over transport, policing and strategic planning have already been announced together with the power to increase Council Tax with their own “mayoral precept”.
Adding schools to this list of powers will shift responsibility for young people’s education and schooling arrangements across the Solent to Hampshire.
Full Council vote
Isle of Wight Councillors are set to vote on whether to approve the Government’s plans for a Mayor next Wednesday 1st October.
In his letter, Mr Robertson ask the Education Secretary about her knowledge of the amendments and has invited her to discuss the impact this will have on the Isle of Wight.
Robertson: The Mayor will get powers over trains, buses and road but not over ferries
Mr Robertson said,
“What is becoming clear is that the Hampshire-based Mayor is going to become increasingly powerful over time, taking powers away from our own independent Isle of Wight Council. This is the very opposite of community empowerment. Isle of Wight Councillors need to know what they are voting for next Wednesday – if the Government cannot be straight with us, then Councillors should reject the plan.
“We already know the ‘Isle of Wight’ name is being replaced with ‘Solent’ in the Mayor’s title. We also know that the Mayor will be able to put their own charge on our Council Tax bills and they will get powers over trains, buses and road but not over ferries – despite ‘Solent; being in their title. This alone is enough to say no to Government and renegotiate better terms. Now is a time for Councillors to pull together and stand up for our Island.”
See below for full text of Joe Robertson MP’s letter to the Education Secretary.
Dear Secretary of State,
I am emailing regarding a recent Labour Together report titled ‘Pride and Prosperity: A Decade to Restore Civic Power’. The document has been endorsed by your colleague, the Housing, Communities and Local Government Secretary, and makes points regarding schools and education responsibilities.
The report states, “Over the coming years, this would mean strategic authorities and local authorities becoming responsible for health, education, criminal justice and other services to increase place-based leadership, accountability and integration. Building on the last Labour government, this would enable a ‘Total Place’ approach to delivery and spending, as many have argued for. The obvious vehicle for this would be the integrated settlements being given to mayors across the country.”
As reported in The Guardian, anonymous government insiders are claiming that amendments will be made to the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill that is going through Parliament.
As you might be aware, I have been extremely concerned about how the government’s devolution deal will negatively impact my community and have raised this in the House of Commons several times – from erasing the Isle of Wight from the Mayor’s official title, to the failure to acknowledge the Island’s critical ferry infrastructure, and giving the Mayor power to increase Council Tax with their own ‘mayoral precept’. To now read that both education and health responsibilities are being moved away from our community proves that the government has not listened to Islanders.
On the 1st October, the Isle of Wight Council is voting on the devolution deal. With these national headlines, I fear councillors do not have the full understanding of what they are voting for as the government is withholding information, particularly around how a potential Hampshire-centric integrated settlement might help or hinder the Island.
The Isle of Wight community has continuously fought for central government to recognise our unique geography and allow us to govern ourselves independently from Hampshire. That is why the first Unitary Authority in England, Isle of Wight Council, was established here in 1995. It is also why the Island now has two Members of Parliament following the recent constituency boundary review. Parliament specifically legislated to ensure that the Island has two constituencies smaller than the national average to avoid either of us merging with Hampshire in a cross-Solent constituency. Any further shift of power away from the Isle of Wight in the devolution deal is completely unacceptable and in contrast to what our community both wants and needs.
Given the above:
1) What conversations have you had with the new Housing, Communities and Local Government Secretary about your expectations for the future of education and schools in line with his endorsement of this report?
2) Were you or your team of advisers contacted about endorsing the report referred to in this letter?
3) Has your department had any involvement in drafting the amendments discussed anonymously with The Guardian?
4) If there is new legislation that will ultimately shift education responsibilities away from the Isle of Wight, would you meet with me to discuss how the Island community will be worse off with fewer powers?
I hope that you will be a critical friend around the Cabinet table and stand up for the young people of the Isle of Wight who will have their life chances decided outside of their own community, completely contrasting the point of your government’s legislation.
News shared by the office of Joe Robertson, in their own words. Ed
