Analysis undertaken by the Local Government Association into the impact of the government’s proposed changes to local funding has shown that more cuts could be on the way for the Isle of Wight, but Bob Seely MP has pointed out some truths behind the claims brought to local attention by the Labour party.
It has been calculated that a change (in cash terms) of –£552,854 could be seen on the Island, meaning the Isle of Wight Council would have over half-a-million pounds less to play with. Meanwhile, on the other side of the Solent, Hampshire would see a budget bonus of £35,000,000 under the same changes.
Island Labour’s Chair, Julian Critchley, has said:
“This reflects the low priority the Tories give to the Isle of Wight. Despite all Bob Seely’s promises about his ‘Island Plan’, the government continues to cut funding for the island, even as it lavishes extra money on favoured authorities just over the water.
“The Island desperately needs more money. Our existing services are crumbling, with recent cuts to waste disposal, adult social care and mental health services. We can see the impact of the council’s cuts simply by walking down any of our high streets.
“The simple fact is that the government sees the Island as a ‘safe’ Tory seat. Its Tory MP and its Tory council can be relied upon not to make a fuss as the funding is cut again and again. If Islanders want to end this neglect, it’s vital they vote to remove the Tory council next year.
“We need a Labour council which will actually stand up and fight for this Island, instead of a Tory council which simply passes along the cuts from its masters in Westminster.”
In response, Isle of Wight MP Bob Seely has said:
“Since the Local Government Association published these figures, it has conceded that their analysis based on the Adult Social Care funding formula is just one aspect of future funding arrangement for councils, and that no overall conclusion can, or should, be drawn about the outcome of the Fair Funding Review for a local authority by looking at ASC alone. Following this clarification, the Secretary of State for Communities, Housing & Local Government, Robert Jenrick, has rightly referred to the stories coming out of this initial analysis as misleading.
“Consequently, the claims made by Island Labour are scaremongering in the extreme. Rather than seeking a headline based on some half-cut figures, I am working with the Isle of Wight Council to set out – to the Government – an evidence-based case for additional funding and seeking a more integrated approach for health and adult social care.
“However, we mustn’t forget that the last Labour Government took millions of pounds of funding away from local authorities such as the Isle of Wight to redistribute to metropolitan boroughs elsewhere – in a process known as “damping”. We are still living with the consequences of this funding baseline, and it is therefore even more important that we set out an evidence-based case for our funding needs. I am grateful to the continued input of our professional teams at both the council and the Isle of Wight NHS in supporting me in putting this case forward. This remains our top priority for the Island.”
critchley is only interested in getting into office and then rinsing it for all its worth. His intention will be the same as all labour/socialist do gooders – enrich theirselves at everyone elses expense, impoverish everyone else and dictate to them, that they should be paying more to the council for services, which really means, more money into lying labours politicians pockets.
The country needs lower taxes, so that those who are getting up everyday and working, have more money to spend into the economy as they enjoy the fruits of their hard work.
Labour are only interested in ripping people off for as much money as possible.
I wouldn’t let critchley and the other liebour lot run a charity collection, let alone the council.
If you don’t see the need for local services youre just a cretin who doesn’t give a monkeys for anybody else, not your family, your next door neighbour or even the young child in A&E.
Where do you think money comes from to fund things ? Duuuuuuuh..!!
You are disillusion and ideologically driven. You need help.
Vote for me. Oh no I just resigned. Damn
AMAZING! If you read this and still think, yeah, Conservative, then you are ideologically driven and not looking at firstly, the evidence in your own community (shame on you), and secondly, the actual arguments the men themselves make.
Seely is unable to actually give evidence, or real assurance, that the cuts won’t happen, instead he gives some vague promise of a request to government, which surely wouldn’t even be neccessary if the IOW was being given what wa sneeded by this decade term Tory government?
The facts are that IOW budget has been cut by 50% over 10 years, so if you vote Tory don’t you dare complain about homelessness, lack of police, being unable to see your GP, litter on the streets, kids bothering you by being on the street corner.
If you don’t vote you have no say, if you do vote then you better be prepared to stand by what you’ve done.
It’s time that the Isle of Wight became republic and put a divorce in against the uk mainland and get rid of these Tory half whits that think is perfectly acceptable to treat us all like collateral damage. We pay for you way of living so there for you work for us ( constitutes) get your act together and Curt your damn bonuses not the much needed services. The uk constitution needs reforming as the whole. thing is what happens when a few run a country. It goes to the dogs.