By Isle of Wight Observer
The new cabinet for the IW Council has been decided and, although there are some key changes, a number of them remain unchanged and all cabinet positions are to remain held by Alliance Group members.
New council leader, Cllr Phil Jordan, pledged to increase the involvement of members of other parties in council decision-making when he was elected on September 20. He took the top job after former leader, Cllr Lora Peacey-Wilcox, stood down in the face of a vote of no confidence brought forward by the Conservatives with the support of most of the Empowering Islanders group. She said at the time that she believed that the IW Council would be more stable with the existing cross-party coalition of the Alliance Group, Labour, Liberal Democrats and Green Party members than with the Conservatives.
It had been expected that non-Alliance members may be given cabinet roles. However, after Conservative group leader, Cllr Suzie Ellis, indicated that no members of her group would accept any cabinet position, non-Alliance members will be offered specific roles to support cabinet members rather than hold the posts themselves. Discussions are still ongoing between the groups and the new roles will be announced in due course.
Cllr Jordan said: “I believe that these adjustments will utilise the skills available in the best way possible. I am looking forward to extended cross-chamber working which I am very keen to implement.”
The new cabinet roles are:
Cllr Phil Jordan: Leader of the IW Council, Transport & Infrastructure, Highways PFI
Cllr Ian Stephens: Deputy Leader, Housing and Finance
Cllr Jonathan Bacon: Children’s Services, Education & Lifelong Skills, Corporate Services
Cllr Julie Jones-Evans: Economy, Regeneration, Culture & Leisure
Cllr Lora Peacey-Wilcox: Climate Change and Biosphere
Cllr Paul Fuller: Planning, Coastal Protection and Flooding
Cllr Debbie Andre: Adult Social Care and Public Health
Cllr Karen Lucioni: Regulatory Services, Community Protection, Waste and ICT