Council Leader Phil Jordan and Councillor Julie Jones-Evans, Cabinet Member for Economy, Regeneration, Culture and Leisure, met with Local Government Minister Lee Rowley MP on Tuesday to discuss further the extra costs the Isle of Wight Council uniquely faces for operating on an Island.
As previously reported by Island Echo, Lee Rowley’s visit was welcomed by the Island’s MP. The Alliance Administration has now commented on their discussions with the Minister.
Cllr Jordan said:
“For 60 years, the Government has recognised it is more expensive for Island councils to operate, with more costs for staff and goods and with extra unapparent needs.
“Island councils also have special situations with trying to raise extra revenue as well, and, of course, it is difficult to share many services with the mainland.”
The council staff and the Administration are working hard to provide data in particular service areas, such as Adult Social Care, Children’s Services and Waste that shows the Isle of Wight Council has higher costs than their ‘statistical ‘Nearest Neighbours’ – the councils with whom we are compared – caused by our ‘isolation by water’’.
Cllr Julie Jones-Evans added:
“Having time to talk to the Minister gave us the chance to put some of this statistical analysis into context, by talking about real life examples and was really helpful. We are making progress.
Article continues below this advertisement “The visit took place at Branstone where we could demonstrate our ability to deliver big projects that enable the Island to grow sustainability. The message was – with a level financial playing field, we can thrive.”
The visit finished with a drive through Sandown, which is the town selected for Government’s High Streets Task Force assistance.
Cllr Jordan concluded:
“We felt it was important not to shy away from some of the more complex issues we are trying to deal with, such as derelict buildings on the seafront. We sincerely thank the Minister for taking time in accepting the offer to visit by Cllr Peacey-Wilcox and for working with us to help solve this 60 year funding issue”
I do hope that Phil Jordan wasn’t doing the driving with his track record. BTW, has anyone else noticed his spooky resemblance to Pennywise the Clown from It?
The optimist in me says that actually having the minister here to see first hand is a good thing.
The pessimist in me points out that recognising that we have additional costs and actually doing something meaningful about it are very different things. So far we have only seen the former (repeatedly) and very little of the latter.
I also can’t help wondering if they even slowed down whilst driving through Sandown, it’s clear they didn’t stop to talk to the local residents and businesses.
And I am sure they all had a damn good nosh up somewhere at our expense, and nothing on the island will change.
So that is what Jones Evans looks like. She owns Dragon Fly in Newport. People pretending to read your palm/ fortune / cards are paid with nice brown envelopes
Occult forces are in control of the council through this soothsayer and all of the freemason mumbo jumbo. Dragging us all to hell in a hand cart.
Just charge permit parking islandwide to raise extra revenue
Great idea, and don’t increase Council Tax next year
So for 60 years the government has recognised this, yet they’ve done nothing in 60 years to address it!
so what exactly is new here?
Except the current lot actually cut the money we get.
And Seely voted for these cuts.
Twice.
Lol… Isolation by Water…….was called Separation by Sea in my day but nothing has changed — except ferries get cancelled regularly ( they did keep running in difficult weather and didn’t have staff issues then)and cost even more of a fortune.
Extra expenses, like over inflated wages for a new Child Development Director, or whatever the job was that the salary is ovee £100,000 I bet that won’t get mentioned, or the filling of Jerk Jordans drinks cabinet. 60 year funding issue, really, it’s been the on the slide more in the last 15 or so years, the island is a total tip, especially Sandown. Lack of funding, councillors not giving a s**t about the islanders, to much building and rubbish housing, I could go on but what’s the point. Nothing will change, just a chance for these latest idiots to have a drink and some overpriced food.