A key Isle of Wight council body voted against proposals to move rapidly ahead with government devolution plans this last night (Wednesday).
The Isle of Wight council (IWC) is aiming to be selected for a ‘fast track programme’ to devolution — something that gives more power to local authorities and an issue IWC has been in discussion with south coast authorities about for sometime — hoping to also be treated as an exception to the government’s call for ‘reorganisation proposals’.
Council leader, Phil Jordan, pointed out many times during the evening how some councillors were mistaking ‘reorganisation proposals’ for the ‘fast-track devolution programme’.
Earlier this week Southampton City Council’s cabinet gave its support to submitting a joint expression of interest with neighbouring authorities to be included on the priority programme.
Partnership with south coast local authorities
County Hall’s Full Council decided not to endorse an amendment proposal put forward by Councillor Geoff Brodie, representative for Pan and Barton, on the English Devolution White Paper.
He had suggested making a joint submission with Hampshire, Southampton and Portsmouth to be included in the government’s fast-track devolution programme.
He was also seeking to defend and help the government understand the geography and historic status of the Isle of Wight’s local authorities since 1890, including its current unitary authority.
Councillor Brodie’s amendment proposal replaced initial recommendations proposed in a report presented to Full Council.
Delaying local elections
Further points were asking the Isle of Wight Cabinet not to seek a 12-month postponement to Island elections unless this delays being included on the fast-track programme, including town, parish and community council elections in a postponement and expressing disappointment to the government over its requirement of a response to the White Paper within 16 working days.
A postponement of Isle of Wight elections due to be held in May 2025 would be to ‘enable the devolution programme to proceed at pace’, a Cabinet report said.
Transferring power locally
Devolution refers to the transfer or delegation of power from central government to local or regional administrations.
The government has described its White Paper as initiating the ‘biggest transfer of power out of Westminster to England’s regions this century’.
Its proposals include ‘delivering deeper powers for more areas’ with new regional Strategic Authorities and mayors across England.
Exception to reorganisation proposals
The government also expects local authorities to put forward reorganisation proposals including replacing two-tier local government structures, county and district councils, with unitary authorities, increasing the size and scale of existing unitary authorities where there is evidence of failure or hindered service delivery and new unitary authorities having a population of at least 500,000, with some exceptions.
The White Paper has been met with considerable disquiet among Island politicians with Conservative and Liberal Democrat councillors airing their concerns this week.
Criticism of Government
The Isle of Wight Conservative Group said government plans could ‘seriously undermine’ the Isle of Wight’s democratic rights.
The LibDem’s group’s leader, Councillor Andrew Garratt, said,
“It’s astonishing the government published sweeping proposals on local government in a White Paper, barely a week before Christmas, and followed up with a letter demanding a decision from the council by Friday, 10th January 2025.
“We hope the government will recognise that rushing things along will make it harder to get devolution right.”
Quigley: A huge opportunity for Islanders
Isle of Wight West Labour MP Richard Quigley said the White Paper presented opportunities for local government across the country, including the Island,
“This is our chance to have a bigger voice in our future, lobby for better funding, control of transport, housing, skills and employment support.
“Devolution presents a huge opportunity for Islanders and for our communities to thrive.”
The cabinet will tonight (Thursday) reach a decision on the council’s response to the government plans in light of Wednesday’s vote.
This article is from the BBC’s LDRS (Local Democracy Reporter Service) scheme, which News OnTheWight is taking part in. Some alterations and additions may have been made by OnTheWight. Ed
Catch up on the latest in relation to the Devolution plans by accessing OnTheWight’s Solent Devolution archive. Ed
