If you followed our Tweets from last night’s Annual Council meeting you’ll already know that the current Leader of the council, Ian Stephens, was re-elected as Leader for another annual term.
When the Island Independents came into power in May 2013, one of the first changes they made was to change the Leadership term from four years to annually, with the leader being judged at the end of the term and either being voted back in or booted out.
Cllr Stubbings (Ind) nominated Cllr Ian Stephens for a second term, with Cllr Howe seconding the motion. The nomination was quickly followed by words of praise for Cllr Stephens from many councillors across the chamber.
“Hard working” leader
Cllr Baker-Smith (Ind) thanked the Leader for, “all of the hard work he’s put in over the last year.”
She went on to say,
“He has worked like no-one I’ve ever seen. He’s in here nearly 24 hours a day I’m sure. I think he’s done an absolutely superb job of leading this council and I’d like to give him my thanks.”
These words of praise were swiftly echoed by Cllr Hillard (Ind) who said,
“The leader has done a very good job of herding independents which obviously is similar to herding cats at times. I am very proud to be part of the Independent group and pleased to see the vision going forward. I thank you for that.”
Cllr Howe (Ind) thanked Cllr Stephens for his leadership,
“We might’ve had our ups and downs, but at least he comes out smiling at the end of the day.”
Cllr Fuller (Ind) pointed out what an achievement it was to be leader of the Independents as well as the Isle of Wight council,
“I’ve worked with Ian now for five years and on the face of it, being the leader of an Independent group – I was leader of nine Independents for a while – is not easy. We all have different opinions and go in different directions but to not only be the leader of the Independent group, but also to be the leader of the Isle of Wight council is an achievement in itself.
“A lot of members in the chamber tonight won’t know how hard Ian works. He is upstairs at all times and always on the end of a phone and I appreciate him and I think for the last year he has worked admirably in his role.”
“Antithesis” of previous leadership
It wasn’t just Independents who were showering the Leader with praise, Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee, Cllr Lumley (Lab) gave his support for the nomination, saying,
“Perhaps unusually for someone from this side of the chamber, I’d like to thank Ian Stephens for the way he’s led this council over the last ten months, and I say that as an opposition member of this council.
“Ian’s whole approach to leadership is the entire antithesis of what I’d experienced in my previous six years in this chamber. He is open, straight-forward, honest. He contacts opposition members, which is almost unheard of. Regularly makes my mobile phone very hot, leaves me messages, responds to emails, listens to my bleatings, my grumbles, my suggestions. It’s quite good.
“Someone said he’s not much of a leader, well I actually think he is, because he keeps you disparate lot together [indicating to Independents]. I’ve never seen a more disorganised bunch than you lot sometimes, but that’s Independents for you.
“Well done Ian, you’re going to the support of the Labour group, but it’s conditional that you continue to do it that way. And that you continue to listen to opposition members. Not just us, but the guys and women behind us as well.”
Best interests of the Island
Conservative group leader, Cllr Stewart acknowledged that Cllr Stephens has the “best interests of the Island”, saying,
“It would be fair to say that whilst I also do not always agree with the direction of travel – and going forward can be in many directions – I think as a leader for this first period and going in the next twelve months, I’m comfortable with that, because you are open and accessible and I think we all must remember that we are genuinely here to represent the best interests of the Island and for me that’s what you’re about and all the while that’s happening then I’m happy to debate with you in a healthy environment, so thank you.”
Support of Chairman
Chairman of the council, Ian Ward (Ind)
“Ian has always been the person who was calm and collected, reasonable, debated with you and you’ve got an honesty, sometimes unnecessarily.
Since you’ve been leader I think you’ve done a tremendous job and I’m certainly glad to see you here again. Thank you.”
The nomination was put to the vote and 36 members voted in favour, with Cllrs Hollis and Stephens abstaining.
Cllr Stephens: “Humbling”
Cllr Stephens thanked members,
“It’s very humbling, extremely humbling when you sit here and hear good words about yourself. Thank you.”
He went on to say,
“All I can say is that the next 14 months are going to be same, as moving forward, but probably picking up a bit more momentum, probably working more closely together than we have before.
“The next paper (Corporate Plan) proves we can work across chamber. I think the Island deserves that and I think the council itself deserves that and I know the officers do. Because sometimes we run a little bit ragged in here, sometimes we’re all over the show, it’s the same in the Group but in the Group we’re behind closed doors. But we do have good officers.
“We’re going through painful times, but together we can actually move forward in a cohesive and honest manner. That’s where we need to be. Thank you for your support.
“Let’s try and continue to work together and I take on board what Cllr Lumley says, we don’t always see eye to eye, but there is respect and what I do ask of members in this chamber, is to respect each other. You don’t have to agree but let’s a common ground of respect throughout. With that we can move things forward in a positive way.”
One year term
It had been raised by some prior to the meeting that the Island Independents said the Leader would be changed on an annual basis.
For clarity, the term is annual, but the leader can be voted back in or booted out at the end of their term.
Here’s how Ian Stephens explained it at the 2013 Annual Meeting. He said,
“To me, I think the leadership of this council should be the term of 12 months. That’s the way I see it because things change, dynamics changes, we are in a changing society, we need to move forward, we need to move forward this authority and modernise it and move it forward in the spirit of openness, openness for all.
“That includes the leadership, the membership and it includes the officers, so we need to make sure that we are ready and willing to move forward after a twelve month period. I think that’s the way forward and I think it’s a ‘just’ way forward.
“The leader then, whoever he or she may be, will be judged and might be voted in or might be voted out. That is sound common sense.”
Image: © Isle of Wight Council
