Welcome aboard to Cllr Wayne Whittle, who was elected as an Independent in 2009, but has decided to join the Conservative Group on the Isle of Wight.
This means there are now 25 Conservative councillors with nine Independents, four Lib Dems, one Labour councillor and one other.
In a letter to residents in Ryde North East Ward he says:
This decision has been taken following very careful consideration over several months. Whilst I have not agreed with all the decisions made by the Conservatives in recent times, I have concluded that in joining them I can be a challenging (but constructive) team member; working within the Conservative values and principles which they all share. I feel that my personal values and principles align with these.