The Isle of Wight Council Labour Group is welcoming the budget proposals that will be considered by the ruling Executive next week, before referral to Full Council later this month.
Labour had issued proposals themselves recently that sought to ‘protect vital services to vulnerable people’ for at least another year, in the face of the Council’s critical financial situation. The ruling Independent administration has largely taken those proposals on board in their Draft Budget.
Lead Labour member, Cllr Geoff Lumley has said:
“For the last 6 months I have fully and constructively engaged with the Independent administration in an all-party Budget & Policy Liaison Group. Right up until yesterday we were discussing proposals for cuts that I considered unacceptable. The administration have known what we thought they should protect since our publication last week. We are delighted that they have now listened to us on most of the issues we raised. We are also very pleased that they have increased the Hardship Fund for revised Council Tax Support Scheme losers by £166k, further cushioning the effects above the original fund of £212k. Clearly Labour continues to be a positive influence on this Council leadership.
“Provided these proposals arrive at Full Council on 24th February more or less intact, then we will support them. Of course there are still cuts to the value of nearly £3m that are very unwelcome, but the Government has left the Council with no choice but to balance the books as part of its dogmatic savaging of local, public services. Those savings represent the least worst options, though that will be no consolation to those who will lose their jobs and their services”.
