At the first meeting of the newly elected Isle of Wight Council following the local government elections of 4 May, Councillor Dave Stewart, leader of the Conservative Group, which holds 25 of the 40 seats on the council, was elected its leader until the next local elections in four years’ time.
Councillor Stewart said: “I am delighted to have been elected as the leader of the council for the next four years. I have committed to providing strong leadership and direction to the council and this provides the strong foundation for me to do this. It provides the basis for me to work with a new Cabinet team, and the council’s officers to improve the quality of life for Islanders and ensure that we are a council that works for everyone.
“I am committed to working with and for the people of the Isle of Wight to create opportunities, deliver growth and prosperity, preserve the environment, plan for the future and protect our community. I am also determined the council will continue its improvement journey to being financially sound, effective and efficient in all it does and one that is focused on the impact of what it is doing rather than giving disproportionate attention to how it is doing it.
“The reinstatement of delegated decisions, for example, simply means we can get on and take them without having to wait for the next available committee date. At the same time, I have ensured that appropriate checks and balances exist, to scrutinise the work of the council without being a bureaucratic impediment to progress.”
The council leader also announced the nine members of the council who will join him in making up the council’s main decision making body – the Cabinet. The members of the Cabinet and their portfolios for 2017/18 are:
| Cabinet portfolio | Portfolio holder |
| Leader and Strategic Partnerships | Councillor Dave Stewart |
| Deputy Leader and Resources 1 | Councillor Stuart Hutchinson |
| Infrastructure and Transport 1 | Councillor Ian Ward |
| Children’s Services | Councillor Chris Whitehouse |
| Regeneration and Business Development | Councillor Wayne Whittle |
| Adult Social Care and Public Health | Councillor Clare Mosdell |
| Planning and Housing | Councillor Barry Abraham |
| Environment and Heritage | Councillor John Hobart |
| Community Safety and Public Protection | Councillor Gary Peace |
| Procurement, Projects and Forward Planning | Councillor Michael Murwill 2 |
Councillor Stewart said: “One of the lessons I learned over the last four years, is that you need sufficient numbers to spread the load and draw upon the expertise available. I also think it is of extreme importance that our Cabinet has sufficient capacity to make the most of the opportunities we have already identified; this is why I have selected the maximum number of nine Cabinet members, I can have. It is a good team and well supported by our other group members. I hope other councillors from across the chamber will work with us as we take our agenda, endorsed by the electorate, forward.
“I have personally met with each Cabinet member and like me, they are individually and collectively ready to roll up their sleeves and work for the benefit of our whole Island community. I also know they will meet my continuing expectations that we act ethically, professionally and with the highest standards of integrity in everything we do.
“Now the real work starts and we all look forward to making real improvements for everyone.”
