The public is being invited to have a key input into how the Isle of Wight Council plans what services it is able to deliver in the future via a series of budget engagement events across the Island.
The council is faced with making major savings over the next three years and will not be able to afford the range and level of services it currently provides.
Seven ‘roadshow’ events are to be held in October, inviting people to have their say on what their priorities for services would be. The engagement events will be staged as follows:
- Ryde on Thursday 17 October @ George Street Centre.
- East Cowes on Friday 18 October @ East Cowes Town Hall.
- Sandown on Monday 21 October @ Sandown Bay Academy.
- Newport on Wednesday 23 October @ Riverside Centre.
- Ventnor on Thursday 24 October @ St Francis Primary School.
- Freshwater on Wednesday 30 October @ Memorial Hall.
- Cowes on Thursday 31 October @ Northwood House.
Each event will begin at 19:00 and is scheduled to last an hour-and-a-half.
The council’s leader or deputy leader will chair each meeting and outline the administration’s own priorities, supported by information from the council’s managing director about the financial limitations and government grant reductions facing the authority. The events will conclude with question and answer sessions.
Council leader, Councillor Ian Stephens, said:
“We would strongly encourage members of the public to come along and have their say at these events.
“It is vital we all work together to rise to the financial challenges facing the council over the coming years – and the input of individual members of the public, together with community and voluntary groups, businesses and others living and working on the Island, is vital to this process.”
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An online survey will be available on iwight.com from 17th October so that people unable to attend the roadshows can share their views.
