Councillor Geoff Brodie, an Independent Labour councillor for Newport East, has submitted a budget amendment that would see the Conservatives’ proposed Council Tax increase reduced.
Geoff’s proposal would see the 2021/22 Council Tax increase drop from 4.99% to 1.99%, whilst also reducing the proposed increase in crematorium fees from 7% to 2%. Cllr Brodie’s amendment would also help Islanders by removing the proposed increase to overnight parking charges and would see Newport’s Lord Louis Library remain open for 6 days a week.
The amendment also aims to retain Local Council Tax Support for town, community and parish councils.
Cllr Brodie had also sought to reverse last month’s decision to reduce Council support from 70% to 65% but has been stymied by financial notice requirements.
The proposals listed above would cost a total of £2.8million, which Cllr Brodie says would be funded by cancelling the Conservatives’ plans to spend £1million into a ‘Transformation Reserve’ and by cancelling £1.8million of Council Tax funding for the planned £40million coastal protection works for 2021/22.
In future years, the funding would be in the hands of, what Cllr Brodie hopes, will be a changed administration at County Hall after this May’s local elections.
Speaking about his amendment, Councillor Brodie has said:
“I have engaged in every Budget round over the last 16 years, bar one, but this is the most cruel I have seen since the first Tory austerity budget of David Pugh and the rest of his gang back in 2011. At a time when most people are fearful for their futures due to the seemingly, never-ending Covid pandemic, to shake down Council Tax payers for a 5% Council Tax increase shows a complete lack of empathy for ordinary people. And to use £3m of that increase on capital projects that can wait or as funding for pet schemes is just disgraceful.
Article continues below this advertisement “In addition, their plans to rip off the bereaved at a time of national pandemic is just entirely shameful.
“However, I suspect there will be a number of their party’s councillors who are uncomfortable with this. I urge them to join me and hopefully other opposition councillors in supporting my proposals.”
Worth a try, Geoff. I wonder what procedural impediments they will put in your way this time?
No mention of the ridiculous £300K for speed cameras?
Of course, when the johnson’s Island Deal comes through all these problems will evaporate!
It is disgusting to ask for more, when they provide less and less year on year, AND the huge number of new homes all paying in should mean we pay LESS not more.
You are so right.
What do they do for nearly £40 a week
Empty the bins
Badly after WE drag them to within an inch of their lorry and then ONLY if your road isn’t too bumpy
Hope you’re successful. If this councillor can do it why can’t they? It’s obvious we’re being ripped off by this greedy council.
Never thought I would consider voting Labour, but as this conservative Government have turned Labour in all but name, with their printing and giving money to the ne’re do wells, and doing nothing about the amount of people filling our land, with Brodies plan to cut our bills, seems we have little to lose in having such in control here now.
I think you will find that this government is continuing the Tory tradition of increasing inequality, look at how the flood of recent contracts have gone to their mates, and you can be sure they will not increase taxes on the rich.
IW is one of the most expensive Council Taxes in England
Lower council Tax for everyone.
Install Parking Meters and more Roads with Parking Permit fees
The revenue raised from this would help reduce the council Tax Bills for everyone.
Some Households have no cars, some have more than 3 cars and a works van parked along the Roads and Streets.
They pay the same council Tax as the person who has 1 or no cars.
COUNCIL TAX IS A VERY UNFAIR TAX!
It always used to be the case that works vehicles couldn’t be taken home because of operating licences but see this has increased over the last few years – has something changed?
Used to have a British Gas van parked literally outside my window every night – when I complained to company it stopped as the vehicle had to be returned to the depot each night.
Far too many work vans are clogging the island roads and Streets at night, many
Park vans on pavements at night causing obstructions.
Also being they are all Diesel they are also polluting this beautiful island.
John has likely been given a heavily subsidised council house, claiming taxcredits for all the half baked brats he bought into the world for others to keep, paying little in rent and poll-tax, and is bitter having an overweight foul ging cretin ‘close’ to him.
You are so wrong, keep dreaming Les
Is it that much of a problem to have a van parked outside overnight? Wouldn’t bother me. A lot of employees who use work vans don’t go to their depots on a daily basis instead going straight to the job so it saves time for the company. Also a lot like British Gas etc are on call out overnight so need a vehicle to hand .
That’s what we pay car tax for not council tax or do you not know the difference
That’s not what council tax is for. It’s not paying for parking on the streets. I know it’s frustrating but everyone is entitled to own a car and park it on a public street. The problem is often the kids of a family who grow up and get cars then cannot afford to move out because this greedy council don’t ensure new houses are affordable. They are only interested in making a profit so they are purchased as second homes for the rich.
Good luck Geoff
Im with you.
The proposals listed above would cost a total of £2.8million, which Cllr Brodie says would be funded by cancelling the Conservatives’ plans to spend £1million into a ‘Transformation Reserve’ and by cancelling £1.8million of Council Tax funding for the planned £40million coastal protection works for 2021/22.
…………..
not exactly the brightest is he…..unless we protect the coastline, then the council will be facing far bigger claims against it, as more and more land is washed away.
brodie is just trying to grab votes and fails to mention that the following year, all taxes would be back up again as no coastal fund cuts to be had.
Ah, but you’re forgetting: by then, the johnson’s promised Island Deal will have come through – won’t it?
What no mention of getting the trains running back to Newport that’s bound to win some votes
They’ll get in again and further erode vital services unless everyone votes Labour. Things couldn’t get any worse for a lot of islanders right now.
Liebour are notorious for spending other peoples money on vanity projects and endless trivia beyond that demonstrated by the tories.
liebour are unelectable until they get rid of their lefty hand wringing, do gooder, backward socialist way of doing things – the majority in this country are centre right, secular, gender content, heterosexuals who are not interested in loony left policies.
Let’s get real whoever gets elected ,within a year everyone will still be griping about something .
They say what we want to hear get in and then they change oh we wanted to do this and that but due to some rule or regulation we can’t,.
Plus they cannot change the rise in council tax as it’s already set .
And I am sure they will still take their share of the council tax for their pension pot.
If they we’re to give this up we would all save money !
But I can’t see that happening anytime ever !!!!!!!
council tax changes can take place at any time of day/week/month – they just have to announce it and issue reprints of bills – hardly a taxing job.
all politicians and council are the same – as soon as they get in, they look to rinse as much as possible for themselves, no matter what party they belong to.
liebour are just the worse – as they fritter away public cash faster than the others do