“My priority as leader is to ensure this council functions properly and survives,” the new leader of the Isle of Wight Council has declared.
In an interview after last night’s high stakes full council meeting, Councillor Jonathan Bacon said he is here to work with all 38 other councillors, adding: “We’re not about political colours here”.
Elected with broad cross-group support
The representative for Brading and St Helens was elected into the executive role with the backing of 28 councillors, including all 19 Reform UK members, the Island First Network and the All for Islanders group.
Two independents, the Liberal Democrats, Greens and a Labour councillor opted instead for his rival, Councillor Andrew Garratt of Parkhurst and Hunnyhill.
Devolution and financial crisis top the agenda
Addressing the council chamber after the vote, Councillor Bacon said,
“The view I take is we are 39 and we represent 100 per cent of the Island. That is important, very important as we have some extremely big challenges ahead.
“Devolution has been mentioned and that is probably the biggest thing…one of the two biggest things on the horizon, devolution and the perilous financial state we’re in.
“Of course, on top of that, in the last year this council has been labelled dysfunctional.
“I’m extremely conscious of that in taking on this role and I take this role on the basis that we need to promote and foster collaboration and working together across the whole chamber, across the whole 39, to deal with the issues we face.”
A warning against factionalism
In what appeared to be a swipe at Conservative Ed Blake’s attack on Reform UK councillors for backing Councillor Bacon, the new leader said County Hall needs to avoid the ‘sort of factional behaviour, conflict that I’m afraid we’ve already had exhibited this evening’.
He said,
“It does us no credit, it does the people who act in that way no credit, it does the council no credit – it’s one of those things that was highlighted and a key feature behind that Penn Report that labelled us dysfunctional.”
Blake’s outburst and Reform UK’s response
A fiery Councillor Blake previously said,
“I’m sat here rather perplexed. Here we have a party sat in front of us (Reform UK) who announced that they wanted to change the Island.
“Councillor Nigh – his leaflet when he first got elected said the independents have been an absolute shambles, we need to get rid of them. I’m absolutely perplexed further that they’ve chosen Councillor Bacon, someone who’s been in that role before and as Councillor Karl Love has pointed out, ran away from that.
“This is just bonkers, absolutely nuts. Are you chickens, what are you scared of?”
In response, Reform UK’s Councillor Bill Nigh said he was not referring to independents but to the Tories.
Finances, primary schools and the road ahead
Asked by the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) what is to be done about the council’s imperilled finances, Councillor Bacon said he needs to sit down and talk to all new councillors and officers involved.
The leader said a corporate plan and a strategy will be developed to try to deal with the current ‘situation we’re in’.
As to how he will work with Reform UK, Councillor Bacon said he is here to work with all 38 other councillors. The councillor added,
“We’re about 39 councillors working together to the benefit of every resident on the Isle of Wight.”
The LDRS attempted to ask him about his resignation as leader in January 2017, when he cited continued government austerity, but was not given an on the record response.
On whether he still thinks primary school closures are necessary, Councillor Bacon said this is a decision for the new children’s services, education and skills committee to address. He said,
“Things have changed, things have moved on – the situation needs to be appraised afresh.”
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
