By Isle of Wight Observer
An outspoken councillor is calling for a serious debate on whether the Isle of Wight Council should merge with a mainland authority, arguing our local authority may be too small and already too financially strained to continue effectively serving Islanders.
As previously reported, Deputy Prime Minister, Angela Rayner, caused an outcry when she announced last week that Hampshire and the Solent area had been selected for fast-track devolution, and implied that it could mean the end of the Isle of Wight Council.
However, Independent Labour councillor, Geoff Brodie, has tabled the issue for discussion at the next Isle of Wight Council meeting. His comments came as it was announced this week there will be public consultation and a final council vote later this year on the proposed devolution plans.
Both the former Conservative government and the current Labour administration have backed devolution – the transfer of powers from Whitehall to local communities.
Is the IW Council viable?
Cllr Brodie is urging the IW Council’s leadership to be open to considering all possibilities, even a merger with neighbouring mainland councils such as Portsmouth or Southampton.
Cllr Brodie said, “The vast majority of residents don’t care who the local authority is provided it provides good or better public services. The Isle of Wight Council finds it increasingly difficult to provide those good or better services due to an increasingly desperate financial situation, caused by 14 years of severe reductions in government support. Bankruptcy looms.”
Highlighting the Island’s unique challenges, he elaborated on the council’s financial struggles, pointing to low levels of business rates and a high proportion of elderly residents in need of adult social care – a combination he believes makes the current structure
unsustainable. By merging with a larger authority, Cllr Brodie suggests the Island could benefit from economies of scale, stronger business tax revenues, and ultimately, more reliable public services.
‘Howls of protest’ expected
However, he acknowledged the emotional and political resistance his suggestion is likely to provoke. “I know I will face howls of protest from some quarters for even posing the question. But is it time to encourage the Council leadership to not rule out the possibility of a merger? Particularly with cities like Portsmouth or Southampton and their neighbours. That would create a unitary authority of over 500,000, far more sustainable than our tiny council for 140,000 people.” In its White Paper on devolution the government explained: “For most areas this will mean creating councils with a population of 500,000 or more, but there may be exceptions.”
Cllr Brodie also expressed frustration with the IW Council’s leadership, which he described as having an “entrenched ‘Save the Isle of Wight Council’” position. He argued that such an inflexible approach could stifle meaningful negotiations with Hampshire and Solent partners, as they work to submit a preferred model to the Government by March 21.
The debate promises to be contentious. Isle of Wight East MP, Joe Robertson, has already pledged to fight any move to merge the Island’s council with a mainland authority. Despite previously saying, after his election to Parliament, he would stand down this year as an IW councillor, he has now pledged to keep both jobs in order to fight any proposal to merge with a mainland authority.
The public, too, will have their say when the consultation begins later this year. The Isle of Wight Council has many detractors, but does that mean the public is ready to see it abolished?”