In a letter to Isle of Wight council leader this week, the Minister of State at the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, Jim McMahon, explains that it is too early in the process of devolution and local government reorganisation to comment on individual proposals.
The Isle of Wight council was accepted on to the Priority Programme giving them a seat at the table to ensure early negotiations. Councillor Phil Jordan wrote to the Minister earlier this month setting out his concerns about the unique geography of the Isle of Wight in relation to the criteria the Government has set out for new unitary authorities – which states that new councils should aim for a population of 500,000 or more. In his letter Councillor Jordan stated,
“Retaining the Isle of Wight Council as the existing Unitary Authority is the only option that our council and community would support for LGR. This position is based on local engagement and the unique needs and identity of our Island community.”
As was reported by OnTheWight, Hampshire, Southampton, and Portsmouth councils have also written to the Government to support the Isle of Wight’s position as a standalone unitary authority.
“Decisions will be on a case-by-case basis”
Mr McMahon explains that decisions will be on a case-by-case basis, and “it is for councils to develop robust and sustainable proposals that are in the best interests of their whole area”. He encourages councils to engage with residents and their local MPs “in working through options”.
The minister ended by saying,
“Unfortunately, at this stage it would be inappropriate for me to comment or give a view on specific unitary proposals, or to pre-empt future decisions under the statutory process.
“Following submission of these proposals to government, we will consider proposals carefully before taking decisions on how to proceed.”
Robertson: The Government keeps refusing to rule it out
In response to the letter, Joe Robertson, Conservative MP for Isle of Wight East and Isle of Wight councillor for Bembridge, told OnTheWight,
“This letter confirms what I have been saying all along: we are in real danger of having our Isle of Wight Council merged with a part of Hampshire and a mainland-based Mayor imposed on us against our will. The Government keeps refusing to rule it out when given the opportunity to do so.
“I urge our Council Leader Phil Jordan to do as the Minister asks and engage with me as a local MP and listen to Islanders’ genuine concerns.
“Over 1,000 have responded to my survey already. He should also stop giving assurances about devolution and the future security of our Council which he knows he is in no position to give.”
Response from the leader
In response to the above, Councillor Jordan told OnTheWight,
“Government have not laid out any plans whatsoever that would see the Isle of Wight Council merging with any mainland council.
“Instead, Government have asked for outline plans by March 21st 2025 from local authorities in the Solent area to change from two-tier authorities to single Unitary authorities. None of this local government re-organisation work involves the Island directly as we are already a Unitary authority.
“The outline plans that are to be submitted to Government for re-organisation before March 21st will state absolutely and categorically clearly, that the Island will remain as the single sized, stature and status local authority it already is.
“The letters, already published from all four Solent Leaders sent already to the Minister, Jim McMahon MP, set out the intent of the Solent Authorities (including the Island) for the Isle of Wight to remain unchanged and that is the basis that the Solent area will progress re-organisation from two-tier authorities into Unitary authorities as Government are seeking across the country.
“The guidelines for any single Unitary authority are precisely that, guidelines, and they are not ‘set in stone’ as confirmed by the Deputy Prime Minister, Angela Rayner, in her address to Parliament. Hansard (from the same speech and in answers to questions) confirms that she said: “500,000 population figure is a guide for efficiency—we recognise that it might vary. It is not a hard target, and it depends on what is needed on a case-by-case basis. This is not set in stone—we are not saying it must be this. It is about trying to get an idea of a ballpark figure for the size of the authority, but, obviously, this will be with local areas working with us.
“Like most, if not all, Islanders, I am not supportive of any merger of the Island under re-organisation and it is entirely for that reason I have worked hard to get the support and agreement of our Solent neighbour authorities, have their written concurrence, and already drawing up our ideas for the plans to submit to Government ensuring the Island remains unchanged as the single Unitary Authority it already is.
“Given all of the written and verbal confirmations already received that there are exceptions to the guidelines and that Government will work with our Island and wider Solent authorities to deliver the Solent re-organisation plans, I am confident and re-assured the Island will not change or merge with any mainland authority.
“That said, I will continue to get that accepted and confirmed in writing, by Government, at the earliest opportunity and timeframe as residents would expect of me, protecting our Island, improving opportunities, securing fairer funding and ensuring the Island is an equal partner in any future arrangements that Government may deliver.”
The letters
The letters are embedded below for your convenience. It also includes a letter from Jim McMahon to the other councils in the area with further confirmations about this re-organisation issue.
Article edit
9.25am 26th Feb 2025 – PJ comment added
9.50am 26th Feb 2025 – Third letter comment added
