Isle of Wight Council

Isle of Wight Council, known between 1890 and 1995 as Isle of Wight County Council, is the local authority for the Isle of Wight in England. Since 1995 it has been a unitary authority, being a county council which also performs the functions of a district council. It is based at County Hall in Newport. The council has been under no overall control since 2021. With the introduction of a committee system, replacing the former cabinet model from May 2025, the council is currently led by an independent politician, with committee chairs elected from Reform UK and the Island First Network.

In 2026, the council became a member of the Hampshire and the Solent Combined County Authority.

History Elected county councils were established in England and Wales in 1889 under the Local Government Act 1888, taking over administrative functions previously carried out by unelected magistrates at the quarter sessions.John Edwards, "County" in Chambers's Encyclopedia (London: George Newnes, 1955), pp.189–191 As part of the historic county of Hampshire, the Isle of Wight was initially governed by Hampshire County Council. Shortly afterwards it was decided that the island should form its own administrative county, whilst remaining part of Hampshire for judicial and lieutenancy purposes.

The administrative county of the Isle of Wight and the Isle of Wight County Council were therefore established, by the (52 & 53 Vict. c. clxxvii), with effect from 1 April 1890, on which day the council held its first official meeting at the Guildhall in Newport. Somerset Gough-Calthorpe was appointed the first chairman of the council.

Until 1974 the lower tier of local government comprised several boroughs, urban districts and a rural district. In 1974, under the Local Government Act 1972, the lower tier was reorganised and the island was left with two districts: Medina and South Wight. As part of the same reforms the island was reclassified as a non-metropolitan county and given its own Lord Lieutenant and High Sheriff, finally making it separate from Hampshire for ceremonial as well as administrative purposes.

On 1 April 1995, following recommendations made by the Local Government Commission for England appointed in 1992, the two district councils were abolished and the county council assumed their functions, making it a unitary authority. It was renamed 'Isle of Wight Council' at the same time. It remains legally a county council, but one which also performs district functions. It was the first such unitary authority in England; many more were created from 1996 onwards.

In 2026, the council became a member of the Hampshire and the Solent Combined County Authority.

Governance The council performs both district-level and county-level functions. The whole island is also covered by civil parishes, which form a second tier of local government.

Political control The council has been under no overall control since the 2021 election. Reform UK became the largest party at the 2026 election, but fell one seat short of a majority. Since then, the council has been led by independent councillor Jonathan Bacon, with all committee chairs held by either Reform or independent councillors.

Political control of the council since the 1974 reforms has been as follows: (Put "Isle of Wight" in search box to see specific results.)

Upper-tier authority: Isle of Wight County Council Party in controlYears 1974–1977 1977–1981 1981–1985 1985–1988 1988–1995

Unitary authority: Isle of Wight Council Party in controlYears 1995–1998 1998–2005 2005–2013 2013–2017 2017–2021 2021–present

Leadership The leaders of the council since 2007 have been:

Councillor Party From To Andy Sutton 19 Sep 2007 David Pugh 19 Sep 2007 May 2013 Ian Stephens May 2013 21 Jan 2015 Jonathan Bacon 21 Jan 2015 16 Jan 2017 Dave Stewart 18 Jan 2017 May 2021 Lora Peacey-Wilcox 26 May 2021 20 Sep 2023 Phil Jordan 20 Sep 2023 May 2026 Jonathan Bacon 27 May 2026

Composition Following the 2026 election, the composition of the council was as follows: Party Councillors 19 4 2 2 1 11 Total 39 Of the independent councillors, six sit in the "Island First Network", three sit together as the "All for Islanders" group, and the other two are not aligned to a group.

Premises

The council meets and has its main offices at County Hall on High Street in Newport.

The council initially met at the Guildhall in Newport. In 1904 it moved its meeting place to the Technical Institute (now the Island Sixth Form) at the southern end of St James Street in Newport. Until the 1930s the council's administrative offices were split between several different buildings.

By the 1930s, many of the council's offices were at the former Swan Hotel and adjacent houses in High Street, Newport.County Hall history at wightpedia.org.uk, accessed 2 May 2020 A new building, designed in the Neo-Georgian style by Gutteridge and Gutteridge, was built on the same site and opened in October 1938. An extension was built on its east side in 1969.David Wharton Lloyd, Nikolaus Pevsner The Isle of Wight (Yale University Press, 2006, ), pp. 177-178

Elections

Since the last boundary changes in 2021 the island has been divided into 39 electoral divisions, each of which elects one councillor. Elections are held every four years.

Coat of arms

The coat of arms of the Isle of Wight was granted to the County Council in 1938. The shield shows a representation of Carisbrooke Castle, which was the historic seat of many island governors, surrounded by three gold anchors. At the bottom is the island's motto "All this beauty is of God".

Isle of Wight Council

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