A change of government has not changed the drive towards devolution, which may see the Island’s council working more closely with mainland authorities or bring in a directly-elected regional mayor.

New Deputy Prime Minister, Angela Rayner, has written to council leaders across the country, including Cllr Phil Jordan, setting out plans to transfer powers to local areas, but confirming that this will be to “sensible economic geographies so that local leaders can act at the scale needed to effectively deploy their powers.”

Devolution of power and funding is part of Labour’s plan to boost economic growth and can include responsibilities for transport, skills, housing, planning, and employment support among others. The biggest powers will be to areas with directly elected leaders, such as a mayoral combined authority, where two or more councils collaborate and make collective decisions across council boundaries with a single mayor. Ms Raynor describes this arrangement as having “huge advantages”, adding that such bodies will have the resources needed to deliver their new powers and functions. She says that more details will be published soon, but asks for initial proposals “by the end of September”.

Last year the IW Council was exploring a deal with Southampton and Portsmouth City Councils, but negotiations became complicated when Hampshire County Council proposed a much larger arrangement. It wished to include the three councils, the county, its districts, and Bournemouth, Christchurch, and Poole Council.

Cllr Jordan said: “We are responding to the letter inviting us to request a devolved power deal. There is much detail to be understood about powers and funding, but the government is pushing forward with devolved area agreements. It is pragmatic to engage with neighbouring authorities, and explore potential agreements that could benefit the Island and Island residents. We continue, of course, to pursue a realistic and fair funding formula for our Island.”