UPDATED: The Isle of Wight Council tonight (Wednesday) agreed a mix of major savings as well as key initiatives to stimulate the Island’s economy at its annual council tax and budget-setting meeting.
The meeting of the Full Council agreed to increase the Isle of Wight Council element of council tax for 2014/2015 by 1.99 per cent (excluding town and parish council and Hampshire Constabulary precepts). This will raise an additional £521,000 for council services (after the loss of the government’s council tax freeze grant). It means the Isle of Wight Council element of council tax for a typical band D property will increase by £25.67 to £1,315.47 a year.
At the meeting at County Hall, Council Leader Cllr Ian Stephens reiterated the overall vision of the council – to put people first and operate in an accessible, transparent and inclusive way, working with business, partners, communities, residents and visitors to make the Island a better place to live, work and prosper.
Councillor Stephens said:
“The process of developing the council’s budget for 2014/2015 and the two ensuing years has been an incredibly difficult task – set against a backdrop of finding £28 million of savings, and the effects this may have on the lives of Island residents.
“There has been much soul-searching as we have attempted to minimise the effect of these savings on Island residents, while endeavouring to fulfil our legal obligation of setting a balanced budget. Wherever possible and achievable we have also sought to develop initiatives and to access funds to both protect and stimulate the Island’s economy.
“We have listened to views across the chamber and taken comments and ideas on board as we have developed the budget.
“Throughout this process of developing the council’s priorities, we have also gone out into the community and listened to what people have had to say. This has included engagement through roadshows, surveys and discussions with residents, town and parish councils, businesses and partner organisations.
Article continues below this advertisement “We have also undertaken detailed root and branch reviews of council services to ensure we are making the very best use of our resources for the benefit of the Isle of Wight.
“Arising out of the measures agreed tonight, a steering group will be undertaking a continuous process of monitoring the achievement of the 2014/2015 budget savings and developing savings for 2015/2016 and future years – and ensuring this is done in an open and transparent way.”
Measures agreed in the council’s budget and plans, included the following:
– Pre-apprenticeships and business support for older people – To allocate £150,000 next year to schemes supporting young people into pre-apprenticeships and apprenticeships and supporting people over 50 to start up their own businesses.
– Assisted Area Status – To continue to promote the case for the inclusion of the whole Island in Assisted Area Status designation (currently status has been secured for 28 of the Island’s 38 wards).
– Children’s services – To provide an additional £2.25 million for children’s services.
– Residents’ parking permit – To introduce an islandwide residents’ parking permit from 1 April 2014.
– Business expansion fund – To continue to promote the Isle of Wight Expansion Fund, launched in January 2014, making £2.46 million of grant funds available to Island-based businesses.
– Tidal energy – To match £1 million of private sector investment to create Perpetuus Tidal Energy Centre Ltd, a joint venture company to develop a tidal energy test facility off St Catherine’s Point.
– Superfast broadband – The council has already committed £3 million to the installation of superfast broadband, ensuring the Island will be one of the best connected areas in the country.
– Tourism – Committed investment of £340,000 a year to Visit Isle of Wight.
To set a balanced budget, the council is faced with making savings of £28 million over the next three years. Initial measures for savings and to increase income, include the following:
– Fees for leisure, recreation and public spaces to be increased from 2014/2015.
– Working with town and parish councils to develop policies and strategies for services the Isle of Wight Council can no longer afford to deliver.
– Savings through management restructures, process reviews and combining council functions.
– Potential savings from combining or collaborating with another fire and rescue service from 2016/2017.
Proposals to implement charges for pedestrians on the Cowes floating bridge were deferred for at least a year pending further consultation and investigation into the viability of such charges.
It was also agreed:
– to retain school crossing staff;
– not to implement the savings in respect of beach safety equipment;
– that savings related to the Lord-Lieutenant’s office are not proceeded with at this stage, but be dealt with in the forthcoming overall review of support services;
– to remove an empty homes officer duplicate post from the list of savings and change it to an administrative post.
UPDATE THURSDAY: Speaking today on the decision of the Isle of Wight Council to continue to fund school crossing patrols, Cllr Chris Whitehouse (Newport West) says:
“I’m absolutely delighted that common-sense has prevailed and that the Council will for the time being continue to fund school crossing patrols. The threat to children’s lives and limbs posed by the proposal to cut this funding was completely unacceptable and I’m really pleased the campaign has succeeded.”
Full details of the reports that went before Full Council can be found at www.iwight.com/meetings.
