After 3 successive years of moderate increases and even 1 decrease, Newport & Carisbrooke residents from April will have their Community Council precept frozen in recognition of the cost of living crisis so many are facing.
At Monday’s Budget Council, long-serving finance lead Councillor Geoff Brodie proposed a NIL increase in the precept that was approved overwhelmingly by his colleagues. Just one abstention. This was in distinct contrast to some other comparable local Council’s on the island where precepts have been rocketing.
The NCCC precept will remain at £1.74 per week for a Band D household.
Irrespective of the freeze NCCC will continue to provide all existing services, many abandoned by County Hall in the last 12 years – public toilets (with one replaced so far), school crossing patrols, environment officers, funding the town’s 39 bus, support for youth services, improving planning enforcement – and delivering events that are popular with local residents, such as its annual ‘Day of Christmas’ and seasonal lighting of the town centre and Carisbrooke village.
The budget also provided for continuing the current free hour’s parking pilot, subject to the IW Council continuing their contribution, and for opening and servicing their new community hub in the High Street – due to open in April. Also the usual grants to organisations working within the area, such as Gift for Nature, Newport Foodbank, Pan Together, Warmer Newport, CAB, Newport Carnival, Riverfest, and numerous sports, arts and community organisations.
Cllr Brodie said,
“At Newport & Carisbrooke we have always tried to be cautious with our residents’ money and it was recognised by everyone this year that we could not justify any increase in expenditure. Staff, other leading councillors and myself were able to put together a package for 2023-24 that maintains what we do whilst freezing the overall budget. I am sure our residents will be grateful that their local Council understands how difficult household economies are at present.”
Cllr. Garratt, Vice-Chair, said:
“The decision that Newport & Carisbrooke Community Council made on its budget was the conclusion of a long process of consideration that started well before Christmas last year.
“Although our precept is small in comparison to the overall council tax, we felt it very important to not add to the burden of the cost-of-living crisis. Because of this there were several good suggestions for new projects from councillors that we are not taking forward this year.
“That said, residents will see still many services and initiatives delivered by the community council, and be assured that we are working to ensure value for money on everything we do.”
If they can do this and still provide and improve services how come Sandown is 50% increase and other areas?.
Because Newport is protected from a lot of cuts because it is the ‘county’ town and the base of IW Council. It doesn’t have large liabilities like beaches. Plus it doesn’t really do that much, so there’s that.
Sandown is housing many enrichers, all costing a fortune to fund, along with all the down and outs, feral tax credit raised children damaging property, and countless empty buildings paying no c.tax or business rates.
IF someone arrives with nothing (expect the essential mobile) then everything they then consume, wear, live in or are treated for and educated will cost YOU not the Government but you.
Still at least they are all so respectful, happy, honest and safe to mix with females, so the cost for us all is so worth it……………isn’t it?
Sandown take note m this is how to run a council
Lucky Newport, unlike Ryde, just goes to show that it can be done
Newport benefits massively from being the ‘county’ town and often does not get the services cuts that other do. For example Ryde had it help centre funding cut for next year but Newport did not. That’s £16k just there. Ryde Town Council picks these things up rather than sit on its hands and let the town slide as is happening elsewhere.
Newport doesn’t have any beaches either, which is a massive cost to maintain. All of which IW Council did before, but no longer do.
Ryde also provides far more services than any other local council on the Island. For example it provides a proper, professional youth service.
Despite the hysteria, Ryde has turned out to have one of the lowest increases.
Wow we are all paying for this !!!!
It is the isle of wight!!!!!!
Surely we are ONE island?????
Someone is overspending!!!!!????
Total C- – k up ….
How about all u numptys re assess the cost to each of us cash cow’s ??????
All 4 1 one for all ….
Newport County town, what a load of rubbish… they only call it that because the Council Offices and the courts are there… Pretty much any town on this Island is far better than dirty Newport… does it even have a post office yet ??? Awful place, and they expect visitors… why / What they going to see ?? Doubt anyone in right mind would pay the extortionate fares for ferry just to see a run down town with loads of empty shops, and a Tesco store…County Town.. ha ha ha ha ha !
I don’t disagree, and that my point. They absolutely do get special treatment from the IW Council because of that perceived status. Even this esteemed site refer to them as such (in the just posted article about Iceland closing). Yes, it is laughable.
But this is why they can be all pious about not having to increase their precept. They just do not have the same burden as other towns. Not having a beach is a huge cost saver for a start.
They also are not a particularly proactive or ambitious Council. For example, they do not run a youth service like Ryde does (nor does anyone else on the Island for that matter).
Pretty much every town or sizable village (e.g Bembridge) raised their precept. This is just an empty gesture.