“Possibly the most painful budget I’ve ever had to sit through – those were the words of the Alliance group’s cabinet member for finance, when discussing the Isle of Wight Council’s 2025/26 budget.
Addressing County Hall’s cabinet last Thursday, Councillor Ian Stephens said the ruling administration had done its best to soften the blow, before referring to £1.5million in proposed savings.
These encompass 6 service areas: democratic services, children’s social care, education, inclusion and access, waste, property services, heritage and ICT.
Specific plans include reduced spending in children’s social care, education, inclusion and access through better commissioning, and increased technology use and a review of partner contributions. There will be increased charges for bulky waste collections from £42.50 per collection to £62 and the introduction of a ‘charged for service’ for archaeological advice relating to development proposals.
Other key proposals include a 4.99% council tax hike, an £11.1million increase in adult social care spending, an extra £4.7million for children’s services and £13 million worth of new capital investment.
Councillor Stephens said savings were ‘open to question, open to suggestion’ but added the plans had been drawn up after long discussion with the council’s senior management team and frontline staff, with support from the chief financial officer and his team.
Council leader Phil Jordan said:
“Since 2010, we’ve made cuts and savings of £100 million or thereabouts. In 2010, we had a pound to spend – today that pound is 40 pence – same council, same Island, same people, same services.
Article continues below this advertisement “That’s not the fault of any administration in this council – certainly not the fault of this administration, it’s not the fault of any previous administrations.
“The fault of this is government funding cuts since 2010.”
The Alliance’s budget has sparked controversy with the Conservative and Liberal Democrat opposition groups putting forward their positions this week.
The Tories accused County Hall of ‘out of control spending’ while the Liberal Democrats, though echoing Councillor Jordan’s criticism of government underfunding, expressed concern over a proposed reduction in affordable housing equity and potential cuts to the council’s work with the voluntary sector.
Full Council will consider the budget at its 26th February meeting.
I am fully in sympathy with the councils position with the continuing cuts in central government funding.
However I am equally surprised at the failure to suggest raising the council tax on second homes and airb&b rentals. How many of the councillors and local government officers own such property?
How many households claim Council tax
discounts, even though more than 1 person is
living in the property.
How would you know?
It’s about a sweet spot. 2nd homes are already charged at 200%; if increased it could well clobber tourism. I’d doubt that many of the local lot own second homes here but if they do, I’d suspect they are not huge, and as already said, will pay double the rate for the privilege.
Dick Turpin would have done a better budget.
Extortionate Council tax charges.
Most expensive green waste charges in the country.
Where else in the country do you have to pay a nightly
charge of £2 to park.
50p to use public toilets.
Scandalous, I thought criminals were locked up,
obviously not!
And no CCTV in sight. They’re missing a trick there!
You really ought to check facts before you make statements like that. A quick check just showed that our CT is in line with most similar areas, much better than some, ditto green waste and Hampshire parking (Winchester) can be £3.50 a night. This is the cost of living now across the country. Why? Because the previous government saw it coming and did nothing to offset future costs. Called kicking the can down the road, and we all pay.
After May 1st, don’t pay council tax, as this council will NOT be a legally elected one anymore.
Then expect a debt and a court appearance because they are. They do not become ‘illegal’ just because a vote is postponed, or just because you say so. Ignorance is not a fault, but wilful ignorance in the face of easily accessed facts most definitely is and no excuse in court.