OUR ISLAND AIMS AND POLICY STATEMENT

The key aims of the Our Island movement are as follows:

• To empower local voices.

• To improve the quality of local politics by ensuring the focus is on what is best for the Isle of Wight.

• To restore engagement and trust between the Island and the Council and thereby create a Council that that works with and for Island residents and businesses 

• To change the way issues are considered and decisions are made so that the public and Island businesses are involved at every level

We will achieve this through a fundamental restructure of the Council to turn it into an accountable body that can function in times that are very different from when it was created. Key to this will be ensuring that engagement with and involvement of local residents and businesses becomes part of the new body we will create. There will be transparent decision making. This new approach will include ensuring a much closer relationship with our Town and Parish Councils, including the devolution of responsibility and income, thereby creating a partnership of bodies with each doing what they are best at and best placed to do.

Creating a new Council that can function properly will enable us to pursue our key aims to improve the Island as follows:

1.TRANSPORT

(a) Dismantle and/or reform the PFI to deliver maximum public and community benefits

(b) Scrap and replace the Floating Bridge

(c) Rework budgets to favour rights of way, cycleways and town centre experiences for people over traffic.

(d) Seek regulation of Ferry services and the imposition of a Public Service Obligation to control fares and the regularity of sailings

2.BUSINESS AND ECONOMY

(a) Establish an Island Enterprise Fund, supporting IW start-ups and local growth prospects.  IWC to be an investor with returns being made to public services. Sell off the depreciating assets in mainland industrial parks and concentrate on investments on the Island. Create an in-house fundraising unit to directly bid for funds, or assist other organizations to do so in order to maximise opportunities for support that arise.

(b) Support our local businesses and High Streets with free short stay parking.

(c) Actively work with the voluntary sector and social enterprises. Create an Island Social Enterprise Unit

3.HEALTH AND WELLBEING

(a) Through the restructuring programme, ensure our Care and Public Health Services can function properly. Create a new Wellbeing Unit combining public health with the Biosphere, cultural and heritage services, rights of way, and support for sport and Environmental Health

(b) Increase support for Mental Health services

4.EDUCATION AND ASPIRATION

(a) Invest in every island school as a vital local community asset as well as a critical learning centre.

(b) Drive up attainment and create greater post-16 opportunities by putting schools at the heart of community building and seeking new investment in learning, opportunity, imagination and enterprise.

(c) Invest in Adult Education to help tackle poverty and unemployment through retraining and skills development.

(d) Overall create a joined up approach to education, economy and health.

5.PLANNING AND INFRASTRUCTURE

(a) Combine Planning with Transport/Highways and create a cohesive and holistic approach to place-shaping. 

(b) Create an Island Plan  and a local approach to planning that works for the Island driven by local need for housing and protection of our environment and not inappropriate Government Targets.

(c) Promote the increased use of renewable energy in all sectors, including transport, with a view to preserving natural habitats and green spaces.

(d) Ensure that the Declaration of Climate Emergency made by the Isle of Wight Council is put into effect by adopting a feasible strategic plan to meet the needs of our most vulnerable residents and businesses.

(e) Ensure true local representation and involvement in the consideration of development proposals including the involvement of local Town and Parish representatives in the decision making process. 

6.POLITICS

(a) Create a stronger Code of Conduct for our local politicians enforceable by proper sanctions including the ability to impose appropriate penalties for breaches.

We will seek to enshrine the above changes, where possible, in a new Isle of Wight Act, overhauling any restrictions that inhibit the ability of our Island to achieve growth and prosperity. We will ensure our Island is legally recognised as an island and receives the appropriate support and treatment that has been lacking for so long.