Households in the Newport area will be told to pay more towards the local precept on their council tax bills from April.
Budget proposals from Newpot & Carisbrooke Community Council’s Finance lead, Councillor Geoff Brodie, and Chairman, Councillor Martin Oliver, for a 5.1% precept have been agreed.
This amounts to a £840,346 budget or £1.92 per week for a Band D household or £1.71 per week for a Band C.
Support will continue for the Day of Christmas event and this June 2025, there will be a major VE Day event at Victoria Recreation Ground.
There is also support for the re-opening of the newly acquired Pan Multi Use Games Area (MUGA) after its 8 years of closure and a further contribution to a new play park at Hookes Way, as well as further support for expanded youth service provision.
The Council would continue to fund services cut by the IW Council in the past such as all local public toilets, most recreation grounds, all allotments, a 100% subsidy for the 39 bus service, management of Victoria Rec Pavilion, many litter and dog bins and all local school crossing patrols.
Grants to local community and sports groups will continue and in recognition of poverty within the parish, there will be a grant budget for local groups working in that field.
Additional proposals for a 13.4% increase from councillors Vix Lowthion, Deborah Matthews and Julie Jones-Evans would have introduced a subsidy for a £2.50 flat rate Newport car parks charge for up to 2 hours. This was rejected as it would have doubled the cost of parking for just 1 hour. They also wanted to employ more staff for the Council building at 64 High St, re-tarmac a car park at Victoria Rec Pavilion and double the proposed funding of the Newport Place Plan. £68,000 of extra spending.
These additional proposals were rejected, and the increase of 5.1% was then approved 6 votes to 3, with 3 councillors absent.
Cllr Oliver said:
“Setting a budget this year was very difficult. We all want to do more for the community and for our town centre. However, householders are still facing a cost of living crisis and a majority feel that we should not be increasing the precept by any more than the IW Council will be able to. That will be a 5% increase and our agreed increase is in line with that.”
Unlike Liebour, we don’t have a magic money tree.
Scandalous, won’t be too long before we are
paying £5,000.00 a year