Title: Independents Take Control of the Isle of Wight Council
In a historic move, Island Independents have signalled their intention to form the first wholly independent council since 1973, following their victory in last week’s local elections. The group comprises twenty Independent Councillors who have all signed up to the Bell Principles of Independent Political Conduct.
Island Independents will now embark on the programme of reform set out in their Framework for Change. This will result in constitutional changes that will result in a return to more transparent, accountable and democratic governance for the Island. There will also be a comprehensive review of all services, as promised by the group in the lead up to the election. The aim will be to ensure that the Council is fulfilling its statutory obligations in all areas and to uncover and expose any possible weaknesses in its service to the public, which can then be addressed.
The leadership and the cabinet as well as the traditional roles of chairman and vice-chairman will be determined at the Council’s annual general meeting on 15 May. The group hopes to move towards filling some of these positions with more than one person to reduce overburdening individuals. It is envisaged that allowances too will be shared. It is felt that this will help to reduce the risk of autocratic decision-making and bring more experience and knowledge to bear on these challenging roles. The number of delegated decisions is expected to fall radically under the new administration, as it moves away from the Cabinet style of government towards a more open and inclusive Committee based system.
Speaking on behalf of the group, Councillor Ian Stephens said:
“This heralds the start of a new era in the life of the Isle of Wight Council. We now have the opportunity to make a real difference to lives of Islanders, businesses and visitors. We hope to set in place a new era of leadership and collaborative decision-making that takes a more inclusive, transparent approach and one that listens and responds to the needs of the Island community. Our hope is to maintain our ethos of people before politics and to work with the many hard-working staff at the Isle of Wight Council to deliver and improve the services that are so vital to our residents.”
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Notes for editors:
Island Independents currently comprise the following members:
- Cllr Ian Stephens (group leader)
- Cllr Jonathan Bacon (joint deputy leader)
- Cllr Paul Fuller (joint deputy leader)
- Cllr Julia Hill
- Cllr Richard Priest
- Cllr Ivor Warlow
- Cllr Phil Jordan
- Cllr Roger Whitby-Smith
- Cllr Shirley Smart
- Cllr John Howe
- Cllr John Medland
- Cllr Steve Stubbings
- Cllr Charles Chapman
- Cllr Luisa Hillard
- Cllr Rodney Downer
- Cllr Jon Gilbey
- Cllr Lora Peacey-Wilcox
- Cllr Gordon Kendall
- Cllr Colin Richards
- Cllr Bob Blezzard
Ian Stephens
Telephone 07970 009 523
Email: istephens@btinternet.com
Chris Welsford
Telephone 07854 744 062
Email: chriswelsford@ayrespunchard.co.uk
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Press Statement
Released 16/04/2013
A Framework for Change – A Return to Democracy for the Isle of Wight Council
The Island Independents have released plans for a fairer, more accountable and democratic system of local government on the Isle of Wight.
Ian Stephens, who coordinates the group said:
“With an Independent majority, policy will be agreed by the whole council through a form of select committee with a transparent and democratic process that means all councillors are involved and proper scrutiny can be applied before decisions are made, rather than in retrospect as is currently the case”.
It is intended that there will be far fewer delegated decisions and an end to controversial and strategically important decisions being made behind closed doors.
Ian went on to say:
“The proposed system recognises and welcomes the input of Councillors of all parties not just Independents and we will run the Council on a consensus basis that gives everyone a say and ensures that residents are represented fairly throughout the Council, putting an end to the dictatorial and bureaucratic style of leadership that has characterised the current Council.”
Under the current adversarial system, the Ruling Group, in isolation from the membership of the Council, presently decides policy. Senior officers and Cabinet Members agree on policies and then these are presented, often as a virtual fait accompli to the members at Full Council. Scrutiny panels, such as Children & Young People, recently branded ineffective by Ofsted, are also controlled by the Ruling Group. Independents believe that this has turned the process of putting motions before the Full Council into no more than a rubber-stamping exercise and is responsible for many of the worst failings that have recently come to light. Motions submitted by individual councillors have almost no chance of succeeding and this denies residents the representation they are entitled to.
By introducing a new decision making process, Independents believe that policies and decisions will better reflect the will of the people, rather than the will of the Ruling Group. This is what it means to put People Before Politics.
A copy of the Framework for Change is available on the Independent website:
A Framework For Change.pdf
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For further information contact:
Ian Stephens
Telephone 07970 009 523
Email istephens@btinternet.com
Chris Welsford
Telephone 07854 744 062
Email chriswelsford@ayrespunchard.co.uk