Isle Of Wight Could Miss Out On Millions Due To Delayed Mayoral Election, Councillor Warns

An Isle of Wight councillor has warned the Island is missing out on millions of pounds in potential investment because the election for the first Mayor of Hampshire and the Solent has been delayed until 2028.

Bembridge councillor Mark Rochell says the postponement is placing the region at a significant financial disadvantage, claiming the Isle of Wight is once again being "left behind" at a crucial time for local government reform.

His comments follow a series of devolution announcements made by Prime Minister Andy Burnham's Government last week, which ministers described as the biggest shift of power away from Westminster in a generation.

Under the plans, regional mayors will gain greater control over funding, with Whitehall grants set to be replaced by a share of local income tax from April 2028.

From April 2027, mayors will also retain a proportion of business rates and be able to introduce an Overnight Visitor Levy.

The Isle of Wight Liberal Democrats are backing Winchester councillor Martin Tod, the party's candidate for the Hampshire and Solent mayoralty, in calling for the election to be brought forward to May next year.

The Local Democracy Reporting Service understands that members of the Hampshire and Solent Combined County Authority have already formally asked the Government to move the election forward.

Martin Tod said the additional powers promised by ministers are welcome, but argued Hampshire and the Isle of Wight will continue to lose out while the mayoral election remains scheduled for 2028.

He said:

"The Prime Minister's announcements about extra powers and improved funding are good news – but Hampshire and the Isle of Wight need more.

"A big disappointment is that the PM hasn't said anything about the timing of our mayoral election which seems still to be delayed until 2028.

"Hampshire and the Isle of Wight are losing out in terms of the money we get and what we can do because of that delay."

Councillor Rochell claims a future elected mayor would oversee an annual investment fund worth around £44.6million, compared with the current allocation of £17.8million while no mayor is in place.

He says the difference amounts to more than £500,000 every week that could otherwise be invested locally.

Councillor Rochell added:

"The first acts of our new PM were to meet with regional mayors and begin announcements for new powers and extra funding.

"However, until we get the right to elect a mayor for our region, we are left with no one at the table. "This feels yet again like the Island is being left behind."

The Government announced in December that the first mayoral elections for Hampshire and the Solent, alongside Sussex and Brighton, Norfolk and Suffolk, and Greater Essex, are expected to take place in May 2028.

At the time, former Housing, Communities and Local Government Secretary Steve Reed said the timetable would allow new unitary council structures to be established before mayoral devolution is introduced.