The leader of the Conservative group at the Isle of Wight Council says 'in the near future' he will appoint members of a shadow cabinet, to 'constructively' work with leading members of the local authority.

Cllr Steve Hastings' appointees will include a mix of re-elected and new councillors, from the eighteen Conservative members who now sit on the local authority.

Cllr Hastings says the emphasis of his shadow cabinet will be to 'collaboratively engage with Cabinet Members and officers,' not to oppose policy for the sake of it.

The positions will be aligned with those held by Alliance group members, announced last Wednesday by Isle of Wight Council leader Cllr Lora Peacey-Wilcox.

Speaking to the County Press last week, Cllr Hastings said his opposition group would be 'powerful and robust' but would 'work together for the good of the Island.'

Today (Wednesday), he has released more detail about what that opposition will look like.

Cllr Hastings said: "It is common practice in many local authorities that the main opposition group forms a shadow team, to scrutinise and challenge those in power.

"Whilst the appointment of my team will broadly align with this model, I will place a particular emphasis on ensuring that we collaboratively engage with cabinet members and officers.

"Our approach will be simple: we will look at each issue from a constructive perspective.

"There will be a presumption in favour of supporting the intended policy approach, by adding ideas and suggestions to hopefully enhance what the new administration is hoping to achieve.

"We will work constructively alongside the cabinet.”

Cllr Hastings wants Conservative party members to play their part in contributing to the Isle of Wight's future.

Isle of Wight County Press:

He said: “We will examine the new administration’s policies and hold them to account through the scrutiny committee, which I chair.

"I do not see the role of this committee to block decisions, but to contribute to and inform deliberations.

"The call-in provision will be used sparingly, when there are issues of public interest which remain unresolved."

Cllr Hastings hopes to resolve issues before decisions are made by leading cabinet members and has acknowledged the Alliance Group would bring a 'fresh perspective' to some of the issues being dealt with by the Isle of Wight Council.