Council Leader Phil Jordan Targets Affordable Ferries, Wider Powers And Extra Funding As Priorities

Affordable ferries, wider powers for the Isle of Wight Council and millions of pounds of extra funding are some of newly elected council leader Phil Jordan’s most pressing priorities.

Speaking out following last night’s knife edge leadership vote, the head of the Alliance group said the chamber had shown “confidence” in him taking the helm for the year ahead, “particularly on delivering devolution”.

With the help of a casting vote from County Hall’s new chair, Binstead and Fishbourne’s Cllr Ian Dore, the representative for Ryde North West saw off a challenge from the leader of the Isle of Wight Conservatives, Cllr Ed Blake.

Full council’s vote was a dead heat, with 18 councillors backing Cllr Jordan and another 18 voting for the Ventnor and St Lawrence county councillor.

Cllr Jordan said:

“I’m very pleased we managed to get through the meeting last night with a change to the governance system and a good spread of councillors in various committees and chairs.

“There was confidence in me continuing for the next year, particularly on delivering devolution.

"We’re looking to very soon getting into rooms with the minister and government to negotiate those powers and that money.

“We can look at other areas that already have devolved powers and see some of those powers that government are prepared to pass down, particularly on transport, adult education, on health, on community and on culture and local communities.

"We want our fair share, oversight of the ferries and we want wider powers, either straightaway or in the coming years of a devolved power deal."

Pressed on the ferry oversight, he said he was “working with a number of stakeholder groups, with transport professionals, to see what those powers might look like”

Options include looking at minimum service levels, service obligations and government interaction.

He added:

“The main problem we have to face as an Island with our ferries is the equity ownership issue – that’s what we’re going to be talking to government about.

"Turning to increased funding for the Isle of Wight, he said the council believed it had evidenced to government a need for “at least £24 million a year extra”.