Households across the Isle of Wight will be forced to pay almost 5% more in council tax from April, as well as more money to fund the police, the fire service and town/parish precepts.
The draft 2025/26 budget, revealed earlier today (Wednesday), seeks to tackle the substantial pressures on public finances while safeguarding the wellbeing of residents and preserving the essential frontline services that many Islanders depend on.
Of the £1.5million savings needed in the next financial year, efficiencies and income generation will deliver the required savings without cutting services. But there is a warning… the Council says it needs to save £2.5 million for 2026/27 and a further £2million per annum for the subsequent years, to ensure long-term financial sustainability.
Labour’s Budget changes, announced late last year, mean an additional £11.1million is being allocated to Adult Social Care on the Isle of Wight, to cover the uplift in minimum wages. An additional £4.7million will be spent on children’s services too.
From April 2025, the minimum that Isle of Wight households will pay in council tax (excluding town/parish council precepts) is:
A – £1,578
B – £1,841
C – £2,104
D – £2,367
E – £2,893
F – £3,419
G – £3,945
H – £4,734
It’s already known that Newport & Carisbrooke Community Council will bump up their precept by 5.5% – or £88.92 a year for a Band C property. This means a Band C home in Newport will soon pay almost £2,200 a year.
There is some good news though… the council is proposing to freeze parking charges at their current levels for the second consecutive year. This measure aims to alleviate the financial strain on household budgets and support the high street. Additionally, crossing charges on the floating bridge will remain unchanged.
A key highlight of the budget is the investment in schemes to support coastal protection, crucial for protecting the homes and livelihoods of residents in vulnerable coastal regions. This includes repairs or improvements to promenades, seawalls, railings and groyne refurbishment, which are essential for mitigating the impacts of coastal erosion and climate change.
The budget also includes improvements at Beaulieu House, the children’s disability residential and respite home in Newport, ensuring it can continue to provide essential services and support to those in need. These upgrades will enhance the facility’s capacity to deliver high-quality care and support.
The budget also prioritises responsible repairs and renewals in public spaces. By maintaining and improving the public realm, the council aims to create a safe, functional, and welcoming environment for all residents and visitors. This includes replacing play equipment, litter bins and benches where necessary.
In addition, the council has planned investments in capital schemes for school maintenance and adaptations to disabled residents’ homes as part of a £13 million capital programme. These projects will improve educational facilities across the Island and enable disabled residents to live independently in their own homes.
Furthermore, there is planned investment in the Gouldings care home in Freshwater and the Parklands Dementia Hub in Cowes, building on the significant improvements already made in these important facilities.
Council leader, Councillor Phil Jordan, says:
“Despite the challenging financial climate, our commitment to protecting and improving our community remains steadfast. We are dedicated to ensuring our community continues to thrive, even in the face of economic pressures.
“One of our top priorities is the protection of our coastal areas. By investing in coastal infrastructure, we are taking proactive steps to safeguard our coastal regions from erosion and flooding. This investment goes beyond infrastructure; it’s about securing the homes and livelihoods of our residents.
“The council continues to advocate for fair funding for the Island from the government. By maximising spend from minimal funding, keeping charges down, investing in capital schemes, balancing the budget responsibly, using reserves wisely, and re-structuring where possible, we are working hard to minimise any adverse impacts on our residents.
“This draft budget is about balancing our financial responsibilities with the needs of our community, and I believe it strikes that balance effectively.”
The budget will be considered by the council’s Cabinet on Thursday 13th February, and by Full Council on Wednesday 26th February.
But in the meantime, they won’t let us get our vote in March . And the same old same old , more police more fire service and we don’t get neither
Scandalous, over £2,000.00+ a year to have
my bins emptied.
What else do we get for our Council tax!
We have to pay an overnight charge of £2 to park
along seafronts and we have to pay to use
public toilets.
Councils take the piss! Literally
We all know things need funding and maintenance but the island residents including myself just can take any more increases.
I lay awake at night worrying about money and how can I carry on affording to cope ,simple I and many many others just can’t.
We are at the bone there’s no more I can cut back on or even cut out of my existence
Not a position I ever thought I and I’m sure many others would think they would be in.
I wonder how many households will
offset the increase by claiming they live alone.
Lol
Look on the bright side, Asda have reintroduced ‘roll back’ they will still rob you, but not as much. As for council tax do not pay it until they reinstate our democratic right to vote in a new council.
Where do they expect us to get the money from? Unlike Liebour, we don’t have a magic money tree.
What do you mean since when EVER has it been lower than that ???????????????? TWATS.
Did anyone seriously expect it to go down? That would mean cutting of the middle layer of extra costs and not allow the major profit-driven corporations to have their hands in our pockets. Like the Preston Model (look it up). Why, it’s a form of devolution. Who knew?
I’m not a betting man but i’d wager it will never stop rising
4.99%…..What a surprise. Many islanders are already struggling with their own financial pressures, and now this. Every year, our council tax goes up by the maximum permitted amount set by the government without a referendum. Yes, there are huge costs, notably for social care, coupled with reduced central government funding. However, maybe questions need to be raised regarding poor management, which is possibly the case for many authorities throughout the country. Also public service pensions are a very expensive luxury, gold plated, and funded by the taxpayer which would be a huge saving if employees had to contribute to pension schemes similar to people in the private sector. I bet they will very soon start moaning about the pitiful returns after years of payments out of their hard earned wages into such schemes.