Isle of Wight households have been hit by another council tax hike this week with news that an additional 7.1% will have to be paid towards the fire service precept.
The 7.1% annual increase -or £5 for an average Band D taxpayer – comes on top of the increases of 2.99% for the local authority, 4.4% for the Police precept and local town/parish precepts, which will be as high as 5% for those living in Sandown.
The move, which is set to fund further investment in Isle of Wight fire stations, was approved at the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire Authority meeting yesterday (Tuesday). It will come into force from April.
Last year — the year that Hampshire and Isle of Wight fire services officially amalgamated — Islanders had to pay £6.11 to match what Hampshire residents were paying. However, with an approved precept increase of 1.99%, it meant a jump for Island Band D taxpayers of £7.48 — taking the total precept up to £70.43. Now, the 7.1% increase means the average Band D property will pay an extra £5 — a total of £75.43.
Usually, the authority would not be able to raise taxes by more than 1.99%. However, because Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service (HIWFRS) has one of the lowest rates in the country, a rise of 7.1% for 2022/23 was approved by government.
The increase will allow for £1.7 million continued necessary investment for the upgrades to the Island’s fire estate. It follows £1.1 million last year after the physical condition of fire service buildings was found to be ‘considerably below the standard’ of those on the mainland.
Phase 1 of the 4-year programme saw asbestos removed from walls at Newport station, new roofs for stations in Sandown, Shanklin and Yarmouth and a new generator installed at Ryde, among other projects.
In phase 2, roofs are set to be replaced at Newport, Cowes, Bembridge, Ventnor, and Freshwater, with kitchens upgraded at 6 hubs.
New sleeping quarters are also set to be installed in Bembridge. Following the retirement of a number of senior officers in recent months, mainland officers are being brought across the Solent and are sleeping at Ryde Fire Station. However, in the future, they could be housed in Bembridge for the duration of their period on duty.
What is the point in going to work any more?
Agree. Leave school, claim various illnesses, few kids. Then our very expensive council and social services will keep you in clover.
Worth it, I’d rather pay that money than fund a broken floating bridge any day.
These guys save us from fires and their units have not been updated in many years. It’s about time they get upgrades
But you’ll moan about the tax-hike for the police..
Got a letter this morning saying my mortgage interest was going up again. They never get left out do they, the worst of them all, the banks. Bring it on – council, fire, police, banks, energy, Tories, bring it on.
The one thing I won’t pay is parking.
all part of the governments plan – get that cost push inflation going, make no real effort on supply chain issues, which pushes up prices and government tax revenue, encourage wage rises, which increases the income tax the government receives, move up interest rates and begin draining money from the system. This results in more money back in the public sector, rather than the private sector, more money for government and councils, less money in the system overall and the hard working taxpayer impoverished.
Everything is going according to plan by the looks of it.
If island officers have retired then why weren’t they replaced? No engine at Bembridge, but sleeping senior managers? whatever next!!!! More cuts to our island staff from a mainland run behemoth!
Why should we subsidise Hampshire Fire Brigade , we are the Isle of Wight , Just because Hampshire Fire Brigade cant get their Control Room system right and they need to cut down on staff and fire stations why do we have to pay , Watch out for cuts to Isle of Wight Fire Brigade to make up the difference for Hampshire Costs
So our wonderful government give us £150 off our council tax and the fire service help themselves to 7% and the useless non existent police steal 4.4% plus increases in our parish “contribution” whittles that away quite nicely, give with one hand and take away with the other, and they have gone out of their way to deny pensioners anything near the minimum living wage.