Island Labour says that the Conservatives are failing to invest in Islanders following yesterday’s news of a 3.99% council tax rise whilst cutting services.
The proposed budget for the council could see more than £203million spent on frontline services in 2020/21. However, that will be partly funded by a council tax increase of 1.99% for general requirements plus 2% specifically for adult social care, meaning an average band C council taxpayer will see their bill increase by £1.09 a week or £56.79 a year from April 2020.
Labour says that calling cuts savings doesn’t disguise the fact that the Tory council is failing to deliver the services Islanders need whilst taking more money out of the Island’s economy in big council tax increases. It is noted that even the dead will be forced to pay more for their incompetence, as funeral and cremation charges are increased by 7%.
Richard Quigley, Island Labour’s 2019 General Election candidate, has said:
“Even the Tory council has a tendency to blame their own government, and claim they couldn’t do more. But actually, some of the blame for this sits squarely with them.
“One of the council’s problems is that the off-island investments the council have made to provide income, are not performing as well as expected. During the election campaign, I made clear the council investment strategy should benefit Islanders.
“Preston’s Labour council, in a town with a similar population to the Isle of Wight, has been lauded nationally for defying austerity and creating local economic improvement by investing locally through its purchasing power, as well as through persuading private companies to invest locally with them.
“As things stand, an investment in one, or both, of the highly profitable Ferry companies would be a better choice. It might also allow us to put pressure on the companies to run better services.
Article continues below this advertisement “Next year, Islanders will have the chance to improve our own economy by electing a Labour council which, unlike the Tories, is willing to invest in Islanders.”
Get rid of them all parasites council
another rise in the council tax and yet for the life of me I cant see how they can justify it
im pretty sure if we had a labour council we would be in the same situation!
If the council were working for big business they would all have been fired.by now. Millions have been wasted they should be bought to account and sacked. Even worse is knowing that up to 18% of our council tax is wasted on the council employees pensions
Richard quigley is just another socialist do gooder that would put up taxes, rinse the public further and hard working businesses just to pay for BS projects and his own expenses. He cannot be trusted, just like all labour Mps