OnTheWight received an email at 10:30 this morning from Jonathan Bacon, Leader of the Isle of Wight council (currently), Subject: Combined Authority ‘Story’.
It’s essentially an attempt by him at ‘telling off’ OnTheWight. His gripe seems to be that it hadn’t been officially announced by the council.
Comments ≠ Editorial
It’s not clear to us that he’s correctly read our article (a straight report of what was contained in the official letter with a headline posing a question), or is making the Schoolboy error of mixing up the editorial that we wrote and the contents of the Comments, where members of the public have given their views – many of them are critical of councillors, so we can understand they might be uncomfortable reading.
Quick recap: Editorial and Reader’s Comments are different.
Openness
In the spirit of openness – something, sadly, that woefully missing in this and other cases with Isle of Wight council – below are the contents of his mail and our response. The council’s official Press Statement of 11:39 this morning is below that.
Cllr Bacon’s email
It would have been useful if you had checked this first. A formal statement will come out shortly. Some reaasuring of IWC staff is having to take place first due the unnecessary worry caused by the story.
Essentially all that is being proposed is that we join in dicussions about the possibility of a combined authority which would be an overarching body for the wider Hampshire area possibly taking some devolved powers from Westminster. There is no suggestion of boundaries changing and no suggestion of IWC ceasing to be or losing any powers. There is no commitment to anything at this stage other than to take part in discussions. No decisions have been made.
OnTheWight‘s response
The original email was incorrectly addressed to Sally.
I think you’ll find that I wrote the article, so it’s me that you should be attempting to tell off.
I point you to the question mark at the end of the headline.
While you’re on the subject of useful – it might have been ‘useful’ if you have told the population of the Isle of Wight that something like this was even being considered. It’s a major change and one that Islanders are entitled to know is being discussed.
As far as ‘no decision have been made’ – Quite wrong. You made a decision to put your signature as Leader of IWC to that paperwork. Paperwork that was clearly going to generate headlines.
Perhaps if you’d have told the public/IWC staff in advance, never mind the media – ‘some’ council staff wouldn’t need ‘reassurance’.
Do your recall how keen you used to be on Transparency?
While we’ve got your attention – which is increasingly absent (quite at odds with how you were when you were trying to gain power) – Why didn’t you reveal to us about the judgement of the non-return of the £152k in regards of IWC/Pihl when you have two opportunities?
Simon
IWC Press Statement
Here’s the Press Statement IWC issued at ~11:30 this morning.
Isle of Wight Council leader, Councillor Jonathan Bacon, said: “The government is encouraging local authorities to work more closely together in order to stimulate local economic growth and better coordination of public sector spending.
“Legislation already allows local authorities to combine to deliver economic development and transportation functions but the purpose of the discussions with Hampshire and authorities in the area are intended to consider how much further this could be taken to make better use if public resources and improve the economic, social and environmental well being of the area.
“There is no proposal that would see the winding up of the Isle of Wight Council or indeed any council in the area. The purpose is a better coordination of activities where local communities can benefit more directly from local initiatives and activities.
“There is no commitment to a combined authority on Hampshire’s boundaries or of any other form. This would be a matter for the council to consider once there is a substantive proposal on the table to inform the debate. The current round of conversations may help to develop proposals for further debate and consideration.”
Image: haans gruber under CC BY 2.0
