Island residents look set to pay 2.99% more in Council Tax from April next year, with motorists being hit even further.
The Isle of Wight Council has published its initial budget proposals for the forthcoming financial year as the authority looks to save a further £5.5million – a saving amount that will have to follow again in 2020/21 and 2021/22. It follows on from £76million in savings since 2011/12.
Preliminary savings have been identified from all council services with 95% coming through efficiencies and income generation – but that still means 5% is coming from direct cuts to services.
Budget highlights
[mks_icon icon=”fa-times” color=”#dd0000″ type=”fa”] Introduce a £1 parking charge for on-street parking and off-street car parks between 18:00 – 08:00
[mks_icon icon=”fa-times” color=”#dd0000″ type=”fa”] Introduce year-round parking charges for Culver Parade, Sandown, Shanklin, Ventnor and Cowes seafronts
[mks_icon icon=”fa-times” color=”#dd0000″ type=”fa”] Introduce additional on-street charging for parking in Ryde and Upper St James St & Crocker Street in Newport
[mks_icon icon=”fa-times” color=”#dd0000″ type=”fa”] 10% increase on Island parking permit; 5% for all other parking permits
[mks_icon icon=”fa-times” color=”#dd0000″ type=”fa”] Close Lynnbottom Waste and Recycling Centre at 17:00 every day of the week in the winter months
[mks_icon icon=”fa-times” color=”#dd0000″ type=”fa”] Increase Shanklin Cliff Lift return rate from £1.50 to £2.00
[mks_icon icon=”fa-times” color=”#dd0000″ type=”fa”] Increase 1Leisure charges across the Island
[mks_icon icon=”fa-times” color=”#dd0000″ type=”fa”] Move Council staff from Seaclose and lease the building to other parties
[mks_icon icon=”fa-times” color=”#dd0000″ type=”fa”] Lease part of County Hall to Citizens Advice and rent out Newport Guildhall
[mks_icon icon=”fa-times” color=”#dd0000″ type=”fa”] Review of Highways PFI with re-phasing of works in a joint savings programme with Island Roads to save £1million
[mks_icon icon=”fa-times” color=”#dd0000″ type=”fa”] Remove council subsidy for Careers Advice
[mks_icon icon=”fa-times” color=”#dd0000″ type=”fa”] Increase crematorium and cemetery charges by 5%
[mks_icon icon=”fa-times” color=”#dd0000″ type=”fa”] End personal protective equipment contract for the fire service and provide ‘in house’ instead
[mks_icon icon=”fa-times” color=”#dd0000″ type=”fa”] Reduction in Home to School Transport contract
[mks_icon icon=”fa-times” color=”#dd0000″ type=”fa”] Increase charges for Wightcare services by 3%
[mks_icon icon=”fa-times” color=”#dd0000″ type=”fa”] Review all care packages to save £1million
[mks_icon icon=”fa-times” color=”#dd0000″ type=”fa”] Review and reconfigure day care at Adelaide and Gouldings to include review of charges
Leader of the Council, Councillor Dave Stewart, has said he wants to highlight the budget discussions as early as possible so everyone is aware of what is needed and people can give their views on how the council should proceed.
Cllr Stewart has said:
“Just like all councils across the country, this council will have to make financial savings in the next financial year and this will be a challenge.
“The administration is not fighting shy of what this means and that tough choices will have to be made, but we have also an opportunity to be innovative and spend some money to make our services more responsive to need and efficient for the future with the use of technology, for example.
Article continues below this advertisement “But this is just an outline plan and we want to hear what people think. We want other political parties to give their views and we will listen to them because we’d like to have a joint approach for the good of the Island, and especially those who are vulnerable.
“It must also be stressed this council is now on a much firmer financial footing than it was 2 years ago. Many people will have heard about other councils, such as Northamptonshire County Council having severe financial difficulties.
“I can assure residents this council is not in that position. We have proposals to balance our budget next year and we move forward with increasing confidence that we can deliver the best possible services to residents while delivering a legal and balanced budget.
“The reserve cushion we have has also allow the council to pursue a commercial investment strategy which has so far generated an additional income of approximately £750,000 and is expected to deliver a further £150,000 in the next financial year. This means the council is becoming increasingly successful in paying its own way, something that it has to do as government grants reduced”.
It has been been confirmed that the Council’s latest commercial investment is in Oxford.
The Isle of Wight Council’s prudent approach to revenue budget management means the authority will now be able to develop substantial capital budget options, which will be shared publicly later in the year.
