The new Isle of Wight Council has been questioned on its commitment to tackling poverty, amid calls to help the most deprived wards.
According to the government’s index of multiple deprivations 2019, 3 areas on the Isle of Wight were ranked as among the most deprived in England — Ryde North East B, and Pan A and B. 9 more, spread across the Island, fell into the second category, ranked in the 11 to 20% most deprived areas in the country.
Questions were asked about the council’s new corporate plan which sets out actions and targets for the ruling Alliance administration in their next 4 years in office.
Raising the issue of the local council tax support scheme at the cabinet meeting on Monday, Councillor Andrew Garratt said the erosion of the help was ‘utterly scandalous’, calling for the cuts to be reversed. The scheme allows those on lower incomes a reduction in the amount of council tax they pay.
When it was first introduced in November 2019, it allowed up to 70% off . In January this year, the scheme was cut to 65% support, in a bid to save £336,000.
Cllr Garratt, who opposed the cut, questioned why there was no mention of the scheme in the corporate plan, saying people were having to make the decision between heating their home and eating. He said it must be restored to help those in great despair.
The administration has recognised the need to deal with poverty and said in the plan, it would do all it could to challenge the issues.
Councillor Geoff Brodie, however, who represents 2 of the most deprived areas on the Island, submitted suggestions to help residents in Pan and Barton but these had so far gone unanswered. He said:
“How can my residents have any faith in meaningless commitment when they and I know this is just words in a soon-to-be dust-covered document?”
Cllr Brodie called on the administration and council to deliver his suggestions. He said:
“I will not let you off the hook on this one as I have had enough. My residents have had enough.”
Councillor Lora Peacey-Wilcox, council leader, said Cllr Brodie knew how slowly the wheels of the council moved but they were working on how to implement some of the problems he highlighted.
The cabinet approved the plan, which will now move to full council for adoption, although Cllr Garratt suggested he would add an amendment to reverse the council tax support scheme cuts.
Don`t worry if you are Homeless go to County Hall and they will give you a TENT !! So
problem solved !!..My wife Mrs Harry worked for the Council for 20 yrs in various departments
and has seen this happen many times .
Were there any Ryde councillors at this meeting? I hear nothing unless it’s to push an interchange, get rid of toilets, or buy a decrepit building.
Aren’t they supposed to support residents?
“How slow the wheels of Council moved”!
Typical excuse for doing as little as possible for members if your electorate, whilst, magically being able to bring vanity projects to fruition.
Unfortunately the IoW Council is not unique in how slow the wheels turn, but they are definitely past masters at it.
How little can we do without being found out is a standard mantra in most Council departments!
so…free housing, free health care, free prescriptions, free Eye tests, free food, free school meals, child benefit, housing benefit, income support, free council tax and they still claim poverty.
real poverty is being homeless, skint, hungry, dirty and cold, not because you haven’t got 50k a year coming in..
stop expecting more free handouts and get a job.
The council are responsible for pushing people into poverty with a lack of services, increases in council tax, and charging way to much to park, and of course the bus fares are too expensive as well.
A very pretty map, but what does it mean?
These people who are in ‘poverty’ get free money from the government, everything paid for, free house, and free healthcare, eyecare, etc. These people aren’t in ‘poverty’, they’ve spent the free money on iPhones and sky instead of food and expect more handouts.
yes and those involved in the charities are getting salaries for “helping out” –