Islanders have been sharing their views on how the Isle of Wight Council’s budget should be spent next year, with a much higher number of respondents this year than in recent years.
Residents were asked to take part in a consultation to help councillors and council staff understand key priorities for the coming year, with the continued reductions in government funding, high inflation and rising energy costs.
Almost 1,100 surveys were completed — compared to 682 last year and 501 the year before — while a series of meetings were organised for stakeholders from town, parish and community councils, the business sector, unions and voluntary sector.
The feedback was used to help shape the 2023/24 budget, which was published last week.
Given the significant financial challenges, the consultation asked people if they thought the council should increase council tax or make deeper cuts to services. In total, 74% opted for an increase of 1, 2, 3 or more than 3% — the most popular choice was for a 3% rise (30% of respondents).
Meanwhile, 6% supported an adult social care levy on council tax of 2% to offset at least some of the inflationary pressures and to protect the most vulnerable from the worst of the impacts.
To help towards bridging the funding gap, residents were asked if they would prefer to see an increase in fees and charges for discretionary services — those services the council are not required to provide by law but do so because of their value to the community — or reduced levels of service. Of respondents, 85% said they would prefer to see services maintained, with 46% supporting a modest increase — the most popular option — in charges.
The consultation asked residents where the council should spend any remaining funds once it had met all of its statutory obligations. Almost 40% ranked ensuring older people and vulnerable adults are looked after and supported to live independently as their first priority. The 2nd-ranked priority was supporting education, early years and children with special educational needs.
Finally, residents were asked about spending on one-off projects. Around 44% ranked investing in sea defences and flood protection as their first priority. The 2nd-ranked priority was schools and specialist provision for children with additional needs.
During the consultation, many people spoke about the need to build more affordable housing on the Island. Improving cycle paths and public transport, encouraging business investment and tourism, utilising empty properties, removing or reducing car parking charges and improving efficiency were also common themes.
Councillor Chris Jarman, Cabinet member for strategic finances, said:
“I sincerely thank everyone who took part in this year’s budget consultation. We are having to consider very carefully how we allocate our limited resources to provide the best services for Island residents.
“There is much more to be discussed and we will be keenly listening to the views people express when they have read what we are putting forward.”
The budget proposals will be presented at the Cabinet meeting tonight (9th February), with the final budget debated and voted on at Full Council on 22nd February.
In total, 74% opted for an increase of 1, 2, 3 or more than 3% — the most popular choice was for a 3% rise (30% of respondents) –
stop twisting the results to make it look like most islanders voted for more taxation at the higher levels…
reality is
70% of respondents did not vote for 3% rise (based on 30% apparently opting for it)
26% of respondents voted for no rise at all (based on 74% apparently voting for an increase)
so, it would appear that the overwhelming majority voted for no rise or less than 3%
the council clearly ignored the majority and voted in a 4.99% increase to fatten their own pockets.
..
My thoughts exactly. The survey was nothing more than a pretense. When has this council ever listened to the views and wishes of Island residents who are forced to pay what ever the Council decides, wether we their employers like it or not. It’s high time the Council got off their high horse and remember they are merely public servants, and should behave as such.
It should not have been a consultation but a referendum on spoending more in general.
So, where are the actual results so we can make our own minds up?
That’ll be another secret. Added to the many others, covering inconvenient truths..
That will be a secret just like the results from the floating some time bridge
Survey’s prove nothing, this was just a propaganda venture to pass extortionate increases onto the Isle of Wight residents. I sometimes wonder if the Council members live in the real world.
Don’t worry this is just for show !!!!
As we already know they will do what they want and beggar the rest of us !!!…
A leopard never changes it’s spot’s and our council certainly won’t….
Seems our council is taking lessons from king khan, if the results of the survey don’t suit your narrative just twist and manipulate them until they do, finally take no notice whatsoever of the views of the public and go your own sweet way wasting other peoples hard earned cash.
They do exactly the same with these ‘housing needs surveys’ the get parish and town councils to send out forms asking the residents of what they ‘want’ to be built in the future be it one bed flats, two or three bed houses etc, to make it appear, the public have a say and a choice.
Then they do what they want, and IF it coincides with the residents forms asked for, they can say ‘we have provided what the public wanted’ when green fields are destroyed.
If as is normal, it doesn’t match what people asked for, then nothing is said.
Sly, greedy, untrustworthy over paid, over staffed but they all naturally look out for themselves and work buddies before the public.
Only as usual the useless spongers & idiots, are ring fenced.
Just goes to show the apathy of the island population, or the fact that many of us know that the council will ignore what the public tell them they want. Out of a population of 140,000 people, just 1,100 took part in the consultation. Maybe the council should dwell on those figures for a bit…
120,000 plus on the Island and only 1% completed ,600 /700 were from councilor’s,Town and parish and council employee’s etc, alot from rich pensioners and rest probably from business owners with hands in pot for council money. So where is the majority of Isle of Wight folk ?. A consultation should include all that pay – no one consulted with me.!.
Me neither, and I live in Bembridge (not the posh bit)!