By Isle of Wight Observer
I thank all those who supported me. It will be a privilege to continue to serve the communities of Brading, St Helens and Adgestone on the council for the next three years.
The council is in a fragile state, and what we need now is stability and co-operation, not conflict and division. Around two-thirds of councillors are new, many with no previous experience of the council or even of parish or town councils. That makes a constructive, steady approach all the more important.
We must focus on the key issues facing the Island and residents, rather than being driven by national political agendas. Councillors fracturing into national political groups does not bode well, but the priority must be ensuring that partisan positions do not prevent us from working together. I have been pleasantly surprised to see that most councillors appear to be here to support their local communities rather than pursue national politics. The proof of the pudding is in the eating, but the initial impressions are positive.
If that spirit does not hold, and the divisions that undermined the last council re-emerge, the authority will remain “dysfunctional” – and in the current circumstances, that could threaten its future altogether.
Island-wide priorities include resolving the council’s relationship with Island Roads, and addressing the problems with cross-Solent travel and its impact on residents and businesses. But none of this can be tackled effectively unless the council itself functions properly, maintains essential services, and proves it can survive as an Island based authority.