A campaign led by MP Bob Seely to secure a better funding settlement for the Isle of Wight Council has taken a step forward as Government officials review evidence submitted by Council officers.
It is hoped the evidence provided will validate the case that the delivery of services costs more on the Isle of Wight than on the mainland, particularly in Adult Social Care and Children’s Social Care, and will result in a funding uplift for the Council.
Speaking about the campaign, Mr Seely said:
“The Isle of Wight remains the only sizeable Island in the UK without a fixed link and separated from the mainland by sea, which does not receive a funding uplift to support Local Government services. This injustice has been ongoing now for 50 years.”
“I’m keen that we keep the pressure on the government to right this wrong and that we provide officials with sound evidence to prove it costs more to provide local services on the Island than on the mainland.”
Mr Seely said he had persuaded Ministers to look again at the Island’s case opening the door for the Isle of Wight Council to submit formal evidence.
He added:
“This is all part of getting a better deal for the Island. We have already secured £140million of additional investment to improve our hospital and health services, our rail and transport networks, our schools and colleges and other infrastructure to support jobs.”
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Doesn’t cost more, it’s just not supported or managed well by IWC meaning that private companies and agencies take huge profits. Council should be providing in house residential homes for both adults and children and do more prevention and support. Typical IWC, will pay thousands in BandB to private hotels but not do anything to support those working with mortgage to prevent repossession by bank’s and ending up in b and b. Far cheaper and cost effective to help with interest rates, often people will loose job as well, mental health and family breakdown all then cost society and our future more.
Very well thought out and true comment.
Good to read a reasoned opinion before the “discussion” gets taken over by the normal knuckle dragging comments about our MP.
What nonsense! I would certainly not be happy for my hard-earned taxes to be supporting someone who took on a large mortgage without imagining that interest rates would ever change. Normal inflation and interest rate fluctuations have resumed. This is real life and we do not need to pay to keep people in houses they cannot afford. If their mortgages are too much, then sell and buy a cheaper house. The property market will then undergo a correction. This has happened so many times before and people learn from it.
What nonsense! I would certainly not be happy for my hard-earned taxes to be supporting someone who took on a large mortgage without imagining that interest rates would ever change. Normal inflation and interest rate fluctuations have resumed. This is real life and we do not need to pay to keep people in houses they cannot afford. If their mortgages are too much, then sell and buy a cheaper house. The property market will then undergo a correction. This has happened so many times before and people learn from it.
This bloke is full of shite!!
I think this is a great result, whatever the outcome. With a minimum of effort, doing exactly what I get paid to do anyway, I have managed to make it look like I did all of the work and grabbed yet another headline. I don’t really care which way this plays out, just keep voting for me!
Well don’t be Blob .. we are saved as Bob’s strongly worded letter should fast track the Island deal now .. so that the IWC can waste the money for Islanders , but beware like the West Wight School funding .. it has to be repaid . And they have no assets left to sell off .
“…does not receive a funding uplift to support Local Government services. This injustice has been ongoing now for 50 years”
if only the Conservative party had been in government at some time during those 50 years they could perhaps have done something about it?
I know, right.
Highest ever legal and illegal immigration. Highest ever tax. Worst industrial unrest since the 1970s. Longest ever hospital waiting lists. Nobody can get to see their GP. Nobody can get an NHS dentist at all. Largest class sizes in 30 years. Highest inflation since the 1981.
But they will tell you to vote Tory or Labour will get in and spoil everything.
It would be hilarious if it wasn’t so tragic and so many are stupid enough to believe it.
Ah, so all the stuff that Skippy has previously tried to pass of as him delivering the “Island Deal” actually wasn’t the “Island Deal”, then.
So lies, then.
And no reason to believe this is any different.
Not the Island that is expensive. It’s the fact that there’s not enough care resources here so we have to source mainland ones at much higher cost.
It’s me me me Bob’s way letting you knows there’s an election coming so Dangle a carrot, and these suckers will fall for it whilst keeping him in a Job , that he doesn’t deserve to have .. not my MP …
Wighthall has not regarded us as an Island for years, that is the source of mismanagement of this country. They all love France more than Britain or the unmentionable England.
Cheaper Ferry Fares and Cheaper Council Tax is what us Islanders want
Bob.
When Seely speaks .its. best to switch off and avoid the usual disappointment, he’s so out of touch with the islanders his role is pointless .. best to get rid of him .. nothing is better than this
There are two reasons everything costs more on the Island.
There are two reasons we can not attract the best professionals to fill the roles in the many failing services,education,healthcare and local goverment
There are two reasons tourism is nowhere near the leveks it should be
Redfunnel and Wightlink
We dont need more goverment money wasted by the council
We need regualar reliable and cheap ferry service to and from the Island
The profit before people motto of the Tories has led to most of the problems people are facing now.
Lets talk about Seely attending BBQ with his holiday home owning DFLs while the counrty was in lockdown instead of this feeble attempt to save his seat when the time comes to stick an X in tbe box