The Isle of Wight Council and Andrew Turner, the Island’s MP will be hosting a visit from the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, the Rt. Hon. Greg Clarke MP today (Tuesday).
The visit follows an invitation and various discussions between the MP, the Council, Ministers and Civil Servants over the past few months about the Isle of Wight Council’s serious concerns that it will not have enough money in the next year to continue to deliver public services for the Island’s community. There is already recognition in Whitehall that the Island’s situation is unique and that we require special consideration in advance of the formal review of local authority funding which has already been announced.
Councillor Jonathan Bacon, Leader of the Isle of Wight Council, said:
“I am very much looking forward to the Secretary of State’s visit and the opportunity to demonstrate to him the Island’s critical financial position, as well as the impact that austerity has had, and continues to have, on the Island’s community. This is our opportunity to demonstrate that the Island has a special and unique case for funding that takes account of the fact it is an island, with extreme challenges that endanger the continuation of vital council services for Island residents.
“I hope that this visit will be the start of a short, sharp and productive conversation with government to identify solutions to the council’s current financial challenges. We think that the level of cuts achieved by the Island have gone further and deeper than almost all of the authorities we compare with, due in some part to the Island’s segregation not being a consideration in the current funding formula.
“I hope that this will be taken account of in the review of this funding formula which will be led by the Secretary of State and I look forward to discussing with him how we can play a full part in that review. Nevertheless, we do have an immediate funding gap that we cannot fill without support to buy us the time to benefit from the changes we are sure must come in the funding formula.
“We have provided government officials with information that makes the point that the council, and indeed all Island organisations, often have additional costs from the premium pricing of goods and services, the need for self-sufficiency, and; for transport and travel. These costs are unique to the Island as a result of its segregation from the mainland. We think this is a convincing case to inform our conversations and, which will ultimately help to secure the financial future for the Isle of Wight and its residents.”
Mr Turner added:
“The Government is responding to the case that I and others have made that the Island’s council faces a crisis, at least in part due to costs arising from our separation from the mainland. The funding inherited from the last Labour government did not recognise this. Last week government officials came down to the Island to look in detail at the Council’s finances in advance of the Secretary of State’s visit. I look forward to hearing from Greg on Thursday what their findings are and discussing the way forward for the next year or so until a new local government funding formula is in place.
“During the consultation on changes to the formula the Government will be expecting to hear facts and see evidence about the additional costs we incur. We must ensure that we have a coherent message and the facts and evidence needed are in place. We will also need to demonstrate that the Council has looked at how they deliver services to make sure that it is being done efficiently. I look forward to working with councillors of all parties, local businesses and other organisations to put a strong case for our unique circumstances to be recognised.”
Featured photo: Greg Clark/The CBI
