Ryde residents face a staggering near 10% rise in the town council’s precept when this year’s council tax bills land on doorsteps, with hopes it will boost Ryde Town Council’s coffers by £125,000.
Papers have been released by Ryde Town Council (RTC) ahead of its crunch meeting on Monday (30th January) setting out how the town’s money could be spent.
The recommended option for councillors to consider would see the average Band C resident pay £12.70 more a year — jumping from £134.94 to £147.64 — a 9.4% increase. The precept for Ryde residents increased by 2.5% last year.
The proposals include contributions to summer events held in the town, Isle of Wight Pride and South Islands Seven sports tournament and an increase in allotment fees. A ‘Community Development Role’ could also be funded for £30,000, which aims to help the whole community bring about positive social change.
In a report from RTC’s finance officer, the cost of living crisis was recognised but says “the most effective recovery will come from direct investment in our community”.
The Town Council is looking to increase its precept — the money it asks the Isle of Wight Council for and is collected from residents — from £1,258,270 to £1,384,098, another £125,828 more. It is the only town, parish or community council on the Island to ask its residents for more than £1million pounds. Newport and Carisbrooke, the second largest area behind Ryde, last year set its precept and asked residents for £729,767.
Under the budget proposals, RTC could take over the financial support of Ryde Help Centre, based in Ryde Library, from the Isle of Wight Council for £16,000 a year.
A further £24,500 could be added to the public conveniences budget due to inflation, but mostly to fund future repairs to the toilets as vandalism has increased. To try to stop the damage, RTC is investigating whether to introduce a fee to use the toilets.
Another £10,000 has been added to the decorative lighting budget. But to make savings, the budget for Ryde skatepark could be cut from £15,000 to £7,500.
Ryde residents will be angered to know that after spending £125,000 on the dilapidated Vectis Hall, funding has still not been secured to undertake its restoration. Furthermore, it is costing between £13,000-£18,000 a year in security, insurance, repairs and loan charges.
In addition, of the £1.38million raised by the precept, £341,000 is spent on salaries, £33,000 on employers’ national insurance and £81,000 on pension contributions.
The final decision will be made by councillors on Monday.
So again the majority have to pay for thing’s and causes they are not needed or interested in.
Just boring now all we keep hearing is prices going up and things getting cut…the skatepark budget its all that is in ryde for the kids No wonder they get into trouble as have nothing to do…get the rink back open
You’re completely right, they basically every youth programme and then wonder why they spend so much on anti-social behaviour.
Ryde TC, as usual increasing the precept with a massive rise. People are struggling financially, scared to put the heating on. But Ryde TC ignore that and just ncrease the burden, Disagree that your plan! is what households want.
A cut in your costs more appropriate.
Of course complaints will be disregarded, as you build a bigger empire.
Hang on folks…the proposed 9.4% increase is equal to an average rise, per household, of 25p per week, £1.06 per month, or £12.70 per annum. Don’t be whipped up by inflammatory headlines in your local newspapers.
Not a fan of the current lot at RTC. They like spending other people’s money. During these difficult times, they should be trying to save their residents money not the other way around. Heritage spending, contribution for summer events, and a community development role can wait until things improve.
Kin disgusting council
In addition, of the £1.38million raised by the precept, £341,000 is spent on salaries, £33,000 on employers’ national insurance and £81,000 on pension contributions.
leeches – so 25% or thereabouts is being trousered by those with their snouts in the trough – every tenner we have to pay, £2.50 is going in to someones pocket, that they spend on their own personal lives – disgusting thieves – I hope that councillor lilley and co, do not expect to be said hello to, as they walk the streets in ryde, when out and about
Who would say hello to useles councillors
What you are describing are called ‘jobs’. People who work to improve the town, from cleaning toilets to providing a youth service. I’m really not sure what planet you are from, to expect all these things to happen for free.
Thieving lot of ba…..s. Spend money on crap like the bus station which was fine but oh let’s spend money on something which wasn’t broke and then let struggling financially people pay .
We should do like we did when thatcher introduced the poll tax and refuse to pay to compensate their ridiculous spending . What will they be able to do if we all band together……
Ryde Town Council have nothing whatsoever to do with ‘crap like the bus station’, which I assume you mean the Ryde Interchange project. This is an IW Council led project, with funding from central government.
The country is run by c rooks, they make Dick Turin look generous
Tax on wages, VAT, Tax on Savings, Vehicle Tax, parking fees, Council tax etc
Inheritance tax (unless you are a Royal, then it does not apply)
We are being shafted
I am frightened to fart in case they tax me.
The comments made says it all.How on earth can they contemplate a 10% increase.They are supposed to represent us, not rob us.Also I thought the local councillors were unpaid representatives-where do all these thousands of pounds worth of expensives come from?I hope nobody in future will vote for anyone who votes for this increase.Absolutely disgusted.
Inflation is 10% YoY so in today’s money it’s exactly the same value as in February 2022 to be fair. They are charging “the same” accounting for inflation. Worst inflation in 40 years. Money is just less valuable. Lets see how UK gov reacts, I heard today Brexit gives us nimbleness, flexility and freedoms to make the best of it so eagerly waiting to not be the worst country in G7 ;)))
You are losing your mind over 25p a week? Yes, all town and parish councillors are unpaid volunteers.
In case it has escaped your notice, the price of pretty much everything has skyrocketed the last few months. Do you honestly think that Ryde Town Council are somehow immune from this?
You are yet another example of someone being manipulated into blaming the wrong people. Look to the UK government for the real disgrace. Over a decade of public spending cuts and such mismanagement of the economy that they almost crashed it in a matter of days.
What, so they can spend it on more useless buildings we don’t want saving and projects we don’t want implementing.
So as I said when RTC purchased St Thamas Church and the old Vectis Building our council tax would go up, the council think its a good idea to make all these purchases including their vans as well, but its all at the cost of the general public…get a grip RTC and wake up to the extra pressure your are putting on your residents, just this week i have had to put £75 on gas just to keep warm
No obligation to pay council tax whatsoever, they can whistle..
Don’t pay, it’s that simple!
So they’re putting 10k into Christmas lights and cutting skatepark funding – something that may have half a hope of giving young people something to do. They then wonder why they’re spending so much on vandalism?
They don’t need a community development role, Aspire more than cover that with everything they have to offer, plus, a community development role covering Ryde, employed by Aspire.
That Community development role you mention – is completely funded by Ryde Town Council. All they are doing is moving it from Aspire to in-house.
Isle of Wight one of the Highest Council Taxes in the UK
They are taking the p*ss
Has the town council asked the residents of Ryde whether they agree to giving money to the pride mob, paying for “entertainers” of dubious musical ability to screech and scream from 10am to 10pm in Eastern gardens every summer weekend.
All working people are finding it more and more difficult to manage yet our council tax and precepts just keep rising, if organisations want to have their parades then they should raise the funds themselves.