The future of the Isle of Wight Council will be decided this week.
Since the results of the election, announced on May 7, exactly which party, or group of parties, is in charge of the Isle of Wight Council has been hanging in the balance.
No party received enough seats to gain the majority, with the Conservatives losing their hold on the council as well as their party leader.
A group needs to have 20 seats to control the 39-seat council — but the Conservatives fell two seats short, and have been trying to work out a way forward since then.
Their attempts have included an open letter to all opposition councillors from the new leader, Cllr Steve Hastings, with an invitation to come forward if they had any ideas.
The final pieces will fall into place this coming Wednesday (May 26) when the leadership will be voted on at the annual meeting.
The Conservatives are the party closest to the 20-seat target.
But, if all other councillors elected onto the Isle of Wight Council banded together in a coalition they could take the majority and vote in a leader of their choosing.
These 21 other members are:
- 13 independent,
- two Green,
- two Island Independent Network,
- one Labour,
- one Liberal Democrat,
- one Our Island and
- one Vectis Party.
The elected leader will potentially be in office for the next four years and will then determine who makes up their cabinet, with the power to make some of biggest decision for the Island.
At the same meeting, a new chair and vice-chair will be elected by the councillors, after both Cllrs George Cameron and Shirey Smart lost their seats.
Councillors will also be appointed to committees of the council and outside bodies.
It will also be considered whether other arrangements such as reverse political proportionality should be applied to some committees.
Reverse political proportionality means there are more councillors of opposing parties scrutinising the decisions made by the main group.
It formerly applied to the scrutiny committee.
The meeting on May 26 will also be the council’s first meeting to be physically held in person since the start of the Covid pandemic.
Covid safety measures will be in place but the meeting will not be held in the usual chambers at County Hall, instead taking place in the "1Leisure Sports Hall" at Medina, to ensure there is enough space to socially distance.
Isle Of Wight Council To Move To Committee System In 2025
Highway Improvement At Church Litten Next Week
Man Arrested After Being Caught During Act Of Self-Gratification In Newport
May Day Bank Holiday Recycling And Waste Collection Information
Isle Of Wight Ambulance Service Star Louise Awarded King’s Ambulance Medal
Stranded RIB Towed To Safety By Cowes Lifeboat
Major Highway Works Taking Place Across Isle Of Wight This Month
Three Men Arrested On Suspicion Of 'Attempting To Take Child'
Wildheart Animal Sanctuary Rescue To Bring First Bears To Isle Of Wight For 30 Years
One Week To Go Until Isle Of Wight Walking Festival 25th Anniversary
Apply Now For Grant Funding To Help Strengthen Family Support On Isle Of Wight
Pavers Shoes The Latest Newport Business To Close Its Doors
Isle Of Wight Libraries Celebrate World Book Night
Traffic Advice Issued For Walk The Wight
Hovertravel's Hoverbus Showcases All-New Look
Bear Grylls Pays Homage To Young Islander Ginny Following Ultimate Scouting Award
Southern Vectis To Open May Community Fund For Worthy Causes Across Isle Of Wight
Terrorism Plot Teen From Isle Of Wight Further Sentenced
Ryde's Waterside Pool Secures £254,000 Of Government Refurbishment Funding
Flood Warnings Eased But More 'Unsettled' Weather On The Way
