Free on-street parking across Isle of Wight towns and the scrapping of proposed parking charge increases are at the centre of rival budget amendments ahead of the Isle of Wight Council’s key financial decision.
The local authority’s draft 2026-27 budget, described as the ‘most challenging’ in 10 years, includes at least £641,000 in staff cutbacks, a waste contract cost increase and a 4.99% council tax rise.
Independent councillor Geoff Brodie has proposed introducing or extending free on-street parking for 1 hour in all Isle of Wight towns, including Newport, at a cost of £1.2million.
His amendment would also release the £12million Transformation Reserve, remove a planned £4million boost to general reserves, scrap £6.3million in recurring savings and allocate £300,000 to community pantries and larders. He is also seeking a 6% uplift for adult social care providers, costing £2.8million.
Cllr Brodie has said:
“After 15 years of austerity and £100m cuts to government support for the Isle of Wight Council, I am of the view that very little, so-called ‘transformation’ is achievable by this council in the future – £20m in 12 months and £65m in four years – and a S114 is inevitable next year. So why waste £12m on transformation when it can at least be used for a greater good this year.
“Therefore, we should prevent pain as much as possible now, given there will be no relief from all-encompassing pain in a year’s time. That is just not going to happen without a massive government rescue package….and pigs might fly past my window.”
A Section 114 notice is issued when a council’s finance officer believes the authority is at risk of unlawful spending, most commonly when expenditure is set to exceed income.
The Liberal Democrats have separately proposed scrapping planned parking charge increases and halting the extension of charging to new streets, citing concerns about the impact on town centres.
Their amendment would also drop a new Under-19 Floating Bridge charge, retain the Duke of Edinburgh support service and reverse plans to close Newport Roman Villa.
They are calling for staffing reductions to be limited to redeployment and voluntary agreements, and for the creation of a Transformation Board bringing together representatives from business, public services and the voluntary sector to drive reform.
Cllr Andrew Garratt, Liberal Democrat group leader, has said:
“Isle of Wight Council faces financial challenges that are not of our making.
“The Lib Dem amendment is aimed at steering the council away from the looming risk of a Section 114 notice being issued – essentially saying that the council cannot pay its way.
“That is why our transformation priorities focus on protecting vulnerable residents, strengthening community resilience, improving partnership working, and supporting economic development”.
Why not charge islandwide permit parking charges
for “all” island based vehicles
Cars, vans, trucks and motorcycles etc.
Flat charge of €250.00 for each vehicle
Works out less than £5 a week – bargain
Beats paying hourly rates, motorists will be quids in
and leave the hourly charges for tourists.
The island could make millions of pounds from parking
fines.
I am not a Civil Enforcement Officer but everyday
when I am driving around the island I see
Vehicles parked on Zig Zags opposite Wetherspoons
Vehicles parked on Double Yellow Lines
Vehicles parked on Pavements
etc etc
WHY DON’T CIVIL ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS SEE THIS!
Purchase tow trucks and a vehicle compound.
Tow vehicles away, charge fees to retrieve vehicles
like many places do on the mainland.
So much lost revenue.
Parking on the pavement, whilst bloody inconsiderate isnt illegal unless your in central London & I think what you see as zigzag lines outside Spoons is actually 2 disabled bays
It’s not, there are 2 disabled spaces opposite Spoons
but numpties park on the Zig zags before the 2 disabled
spaces in between the zebra crossing and the 2 disabled
spaces.
Parking on Pavements is banned throughout Scotland too.
Surely its common sense that free parking will help the high Street
People will take the p*ss if FREE
Oxford have gone green, to get vehicles off the road
they have introduced a £5 congestion charge and
motorists are travelling by public transport.
So much can be done.
There is a vast difference between Oxford and towns here on Island also guest incomes very different too
Newport is gridlocked majority of the time.