Floating bridge charges are to increase, Lynbottom tip is to close at 16:00 and Islanders will be paying 4.99% more Council Tax after the proposed 2017/2018 budget was approved by the Full Council last night (Wednesday).
Earlier this month the proposed budget cuts for the coming financial year were released, revealing a total of £7.5million in savings across the Isle of Wight.
Now, with 18 votes to 16, the budget has been set with an included increase of 4.99% in Council Tax – the same as £61 per year for a Band C property.
A meeting of the Full Council last night (Wednesday) agreed the budget, which was based around the council’s Medium Term Financial Strategy – further developed and progressed by the council’s new Executive which was appointed in January this year. This sets out an aspiration for the Council to live within its means, matching income to expenditure and creating a strong and stable foundation from which it can focus on the challenge of building a strong and prosperous Island based on regeneration, growth and productivity.
Over the next year Islanders can expect:
- All public toilets across the Island closed or transferred to town and parish councils
- Floating Bridge prices increased from £1 to £1.50 with the removal of free travel for bus pass holders
- Reduced opening hours at Lynnbottom Tip, only opening 6 days a week and closing at 18:00 in the summer and 16:00 in the winter
- Reduce/remove street lighting from areas such as cul-de-sacs and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty
- Reduction in the Fire and Rescue Service’s Road Safety Programme
- Reduction in the Fire and Rescue Service’s office support staff and activity, resulting in more shared services with Hampshire
- Reduction in street cleaning and hedge cutting Island-wide
- £10 charge for replacement wheelie bins
Council Leader, Cllr Dave Stewart has said:
“The new Executive put before Full Council a budget which we very much see as a stable and responsible starting point to build upon and develop for the future. We have acted professionally, ethically and with integrity and placed the emphasis on significant investment in the Island’s economic future alongside prudent financial management and protecting key services, especially for the most vulnerable.
“As we move ahead we hope to further develop this strategy – based on regeneration, growth and productivity – to ensure the Island and our council services are robust, healthy and sustainable long into the future.”
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In setting its budget for 2017/18, the Council agreed capital investments in projects for future economic growth for the Island, to be led by the authority’s new regeneration team. The capital investments are designed to help boost further investment in the Island, and create more jobs, while developing the business rates and council tax base to protect and provide sustainable key council services into the future.
Among the list of capital investments agreed for both regeneration and other key projects, were:
- £1 million to purchase and redevelop land for regeneration at Kingston Marina and the Island Technology Park
- £1 million of ‘match funding’ over 3 years to support bids for funding to improve Newport transport junctions
- Establishing a commercial property acquisition fund of £100 million over 2 years, through prudential borrowing, to generate long-term ongoing income for the council
- £100,000 towards the phased implementation of the 20mph speed limit initiative in key areas of the Island
- £3.1 million over 2 years for priority extensions and condition works at Island schools
- £1.6 million towards supporting people to stay in their own homes
- £220,000 for public realm projects from playground equipment to seafront railings
