Isle of Wight councillors started 2025 with faced with several Full Council meetings in quick succession.
Last week saw the first — an extraordinary Full Council meeting — convened to respond to the Government’s plans on devolution that landed with Isle of Wight (IWC) leader, Phil Jordan, just before the Christmas break.
Cabinet members advised against voting
At the extraordinary Full Council meeting, Cabinet members had been given legal advice that they should avoid voting on the motion to send a request to Government to postpone the council elections for one year and be accepted onto a Priority Programme (to allow IWC to take part in the early devolution negotiations where they would be fighting for the Island’s independence).
OnTheWight understands the advice related to the potential for pre-determination claims.
At the meeting, 12 councillors voted in support of the motions, with 16 voting against.
Cabinet votes added to support the motion
The following day, seven Cabinet members voted to postpone the council elections for one year and request for Priority Programme status. Had they been permitted to vote at the Full Council meeting the day before, it would have added another seven votes to the number of councillors in support of the motion (19).
According to Independent Labour councillor, Geoff Brodie, who supported the motion, the council expect to get a response from Government within three weeks. Read more about the Solent Devolution (which has been discussed at the council, in various forms, since 2015).
General Full Council
Tonight (Wednesday) sees the normal Full Council meeting (click on the link in the agenda to watch live) take place from 6pm.
The agenda includes discussions about the Committee System Constitution, Pay Policy, procedure rules for the Budget Setting Process and among other subjects, two motions from councillors who are part of the Empowering Islanders Group.
School closures
Later in the month, 29th January from 6pm, sees another Extraordinary Full Council meeting take place. This one will be to discuss the subject of school closures.
At the December Cabinet meeting, members voted provisionally to close five primary schools to address the issue of growing surplus places, driven by an Island (and nation-wide) drop in birth rates.
At this extraordinary Full Council meeting, cross-party councillors will have their chance to share their views on the subject, but ultimately the decision lays with Cabinet members.
Catch up on the latest in relation to the Devolution plans by accessing OnTheWight’s Solent Devolution archive. Ed
