Ryde’s £20 Million Fund Sparks Debate Over Board Accountability

Ryde regeneration funding worth £20 million could start becoming available in April next year but decisions still need to be made on what to spend it on.

Addressing a well attended forum hosted by the Ryde Society at the Royal Esplanade Hotel, Ryde Neighbourhood Board chair Steven Holbrook gave an update on the ten-year government investment.

The board was formed to put together investment plans and a public consultation, allowing residents to have their say on how the money should be spent.

According to its website, it has 16 members including Hampshire and Isle of Wight Police and Crime Commissioner Donna Jones, county councillors Phil Jordan and Karen Lucioni and Dr Michele Legg, clinical director and deputy chief medical officer for NHS Hampshire and Isle of Wight.

Mr Holbrook told the audience the £20 million has its origins in the previous Conservative government’s Levelling Up Fund.

Mr Holbrook, the former CEO of the Isle of Wight Chamber of Commerce, said:

“The (public) engagement is largely completed and as of this week we’re looking at the scheme on how we score potential projects… against the government’s guidelines.

“In the next few weeks, we’ll be looking at all the schemes which are being put forward – probably 30-plus schemes – and we’ll then be putting those schemes through that initial scoring plan.

“We will then be guided by those results and that will then form the first part of the plan.

“The plan is broken down into short, medium and longer phases.

"It's not £20 million up front, it’s £20 million over a ten-year period – so it’s roughly £2 million a year.

“End of November, the plan will go into government and then we sit and wait to get the feedback and approval.”

He added that as of April, the “first tranche of money will be effectively, theoretically available”.

Attendees raised a variety of issues requiring action or support yesterday, including new education and sports facilities, local businesses, dilapidated and vacant buildings, the Isaac Hayward Paddling Pool and crime.

Towards the end of the evening, the Board came under criticism for “not representing the community” and for its attendance records.

Stella Davis, of the Ryde Society, said:

“Is there any system of review for members of the board?

"There is a considerable lack, if one looks at the minutes, of certain people over a continuous number of meetings – and they’re not here tonight.

“As you had a very large number of people applying, perhaps you should be reviewing the enthusiasm of some of the board members.”

Mr Holbrook responded:

“In terms of the board, we’ve had a change in the last week…one of the members, who identified themselves that they just couldn’t make the commitment, has stepped down.

“(Non attendance isn't a) mechanism for removing people from the board because as long as you’ve sent your apologies that’s acceptable within the structure that was given.

“Conversations will take place if people aren’t able – we’ll address it that way.

"I would hope if they felt they were no longer able to give it the time that they would step back.”

Other than Mr Holbrook, board members Cllr Jordan, Ryde Mayor Diana Conyers and Cllr Lucioni served on the panel at last night’s meeting.

The members listed on the board’s website are: Steven Holbrook, Geoff Underwood, Carol Jaye, David Redrup, Donna Jones, Karen Lucioni, Lisa Gagliani, Luke Kerr, Louise Dandy, Phil Jordan, Rachael Randall, Diana Conyers, Trevor Nicholas, Richard May, David Langdon and Michele Legg.