With the Isle of Wight council elections less than a year away, OnTheWight asked leaders of all the political groups within the council for their “view on how things have been since the last election and your hopes for the next 11 months”.
The second to respond to our invitation to take part in this series was Island Independent leader Jonathan Bacon. Ed
I have been asked to write a piece about ‘how things have worked out since the last election’ and my hopes for the remaining term of this Council.
It is anodyne to state that the current Council is a fractured and difficult body to work within. Throughout the Council term there has been no clear majority or control of the Council, a situation that was worsened when the group of five Councillors that defected from other groups established itself.
This situation has hampered the work of the Council in the last few years. While it seems there is a working arrangement between that group, UKIP and the Conservative Group, who together add up to 21 of the current 40 Councillors, it is puzzling, but maybe understandable, that they have chosen not to take over the Council.
Huge challenges
We have many challenges to deal with, both in respect of the current financial situation, but also in respect of underlying issues that have to be dealt with on a day to day basis.
Fortunately I am supported by the Independent Group and particularly my fellow Executive members who do not shirk from these challenges and the responsibility which remains with us.
Many achievements over past three years
As an Administration we have achieved many things including; resolving the chaotic situation we inherited at Cowes Enterprise College; restoring working relationships with various business organisations; securing nearly £4m of funding for the floating bridge; delivering ‘high speed’ rural broadband to 95% of the Island; removing private Executive delegated decision making and ensuring decisions are made in public wherever possible; cutting high salaries and reducing the number of senior management posts; changing the emphasis on property disposals to transfers to community and local councils instead of assets being sold to the private sector at below market values; achieving Government recognition for Assisted Area Status; solving the Totland seawall landslip problem and re-opening a ‘through’ pathway to public access; driving Health and Social care integration, including running a national awarded Vanguard scheme; managing the defective PFI contract successfully; managing the largest revenue budget cuts this Council has ever seen; and, perhaps closest to my heart, bringing about a complete and positive change in direction for Children’s Social Services and education on the Isle of Wight.
Fighting ‘austerity’ agenda
As we go into the last year of this Council the overriding issue is to resolve the financial challenge faced by the Isle of Wight Council as a result of the Austerity agenda being pursued by central Government and the effects on Council services that flow from that.
The Administration is fighting for the Island and for our residents by taking our financial case to the very heart of Government. Our voice is being heard and we will continue on that course until we achieve a fairer funding settlement.
Tangible long-term financial support needed
We have already achieved recognition of the fact that the Island has ‘unique costs’ and now we need to ensure this is turned into tangible financial support for the Island to ensure long term sustainability, both through a revised financial settlement but also through investment that will improve our attractiveness as a tourist destination and achieve regeneration and growth that will directly aid employment and education on the Isle of Wight.
Cllr Jonathan Bacon, Island Independent councillor for Brading, St Helens and Bembridge
