“Someone has to try to protect these much-valued social care services” – that’s the message from Councillor Geoff Brodie amid discussions that important social care services here on the Island could be cut.
The message is ahead of the council’s budget-setting meeting tonight (Wednesday), where future finances, cuts to services and price increases could be agreed.
Among those proposed by the Alliance administration — including a 4.99% council tax rise — is cuts in the adult social care budget, removing £67,000 funding for a falls prevention co-ordinator at the NHS Trust and £70,000 for the social care support contract.
In his alternative budget, Councillor Brodie is seeking to reverse the proposals and would withdraw the review of the background support provision at Brooklime House.
Councillor Brodie would also halve the proposed hike in bereavement services fees and charges — which is being put forward due to inflation and rising energy costs. The Alliance is looking to make £300,000 in the year for the charges but Councillor Brodie is proposing to only put fees up by 10% in the next year.
Fees would then go up again in 2024/25.
Councillor Brodie said he was sure the money it would take to stop the proposals could be replaced in 3 years’ time and was confident many councillors would agree with him.
To make the amendments, Councillor Brodie would stop replacing IT equipment in 2026/27 and then use funds from the general reserves budget for future costs. It would reduce the number of laptops by 205 and mobile phones by 320.
Councillor Brodie is also calling for the council to achieve £150,000 in additional savings in the next three years, totalling £6.15 million between 2024 and 2027.
He would have liked to have done more in his alternative budget, he said, including potentially limiting the overall council tax increase.
Councillor Brodie criticised the ‘practically impossible’ nature of putting forward an opposition budget due to the limited window in which to put one forward and get the necessary approval.
The final decision will be made by full council today (Wednesday).
they do need to cut adult social care – most of them are just cradle to grave spongers that should be working instead of making up excuses to leech off the rest of us.
cut, cut and more cuts please -then cut the council tax and other taxes – then you may actually start being the councillors we expect.
You’re an idiot.
wrong jack – truth is stating a fact – if these people paid to support their own offspring, rather than expect the rest of us to pay higher taxes, then there would be money available for services such as this.
cutting money from spongers and state burdens is the correct and financially astute moves
So one bit sticks out like a sore thumb to me !!!!!
He would stop replacing I T equipment ….in 26 /27 !!!!
Cut the no of laptops by 205 and mobiles by 320 !!!
They have just spent an obscene amount on the overpriced computer system!!!!!
Come off it you are just trying to score brownie points….
All we need is the council to stop wasting our money on themselves, …
And spend it in the services….
To propose to spend £1000’s on new electric vehicles which in so way, shape or form can be considered as value for money but in the same breath propose to cut adult social care beggars belief.
wow ie..was there any need too repeat
“councillor brodie”6 TIMES in that small post lol
I am not sure how many laptops the IOW council has but if yoy can reduce it by over 200 then you have far too many, are these laptops for each councillor and everyone at the council who still works at home, if so why do we need a council building, councillor brodie likes the publicity of his office promising much hope in years to come but has done nothing in the preceeding years to cut back on waste. So why should we belive a word he says.
Folks it coming up to re election time Brodie and many others like him can say anything, whilst knowing full well .. the distraction makes many people think that these comments are genuine and deliverable .. the MP & PCC are experts at it ..