The ‘toughest budget yet’ looks set to be approved by Isle of Wight Council members later today (Wednesday), which means a 4.99% rise in Council Tax for Islanders.
With question marks over more funding, the need to find savings and unknown circumstances surrounding COVID, there are projects promised in the budget to improve the council’s position — either through buying new or improving old resources.
Here are 9 capital schemes proposed by the Conservative majority in its 2020/21 budget, which would cost council taxpayers a 4.99% increase:
- £30,000 for buoys in Sandown Bay
- £240,000 to roll out contactless payment devices for car parks
- £300,000 for 2 sets of average speed cameras
- £260,000 (£18,000 from ring fenced grants and contributions) for improvements such as seafront railings, car park boundaries, pathway resurfacing and tree replacements
- £300,000 for the rolling replacement of council vehicles and the move to electric vehicles
- £300,000 for the Network Integrity Report Safety and Community Schemes – 41 projects as requested by the public and town, parish and community councils, including improvements to the Whitehouse Road junction near Newport.
- £750,000 in funding Compulsory Purchase Orders — currently being used to purchase 2 derelict properties in Sandown.
- A total of £40,700,000 for coastal protection schemes. The Environment Agency is providing the bulk of the funding. The council’s corporate resources will fund £5,840,000 of the project, which will see improvements made to the Cowes and Gurnard seawall among other schemes. It is thought the projects will not start until 2023, but the council has said it is ‘prudent’ to set aside the match funding while they have the resources.
- £500,000 for highways improvements — bus stops and stands, disabled bays and footways, road signage, cycling improvement works and other works to land not included on the highways PFI.
Alternative budgets have been proposed by opposition parties which put forward the idea of withdrawing some of these schemes.
Councillor Geoff Brodie has asked for the coastal protection scheme at Cowes and Gurnard to be postponed, saving £1.8million.
The largest opposition group, the Island Independent Group would scrap the investment in average speed cameras and half the funding for vehicle replacement and the Liberal Democrats are also proposing to withdraw the investment in speed cameras.
In a full council meeting from 17:00 this evening, councillors will vote to approve the budget and either accept or reject the amendments proposed by the opposition.
Why don’t they just tell the truth and say what it really is.
5% increase plus 7.1% police precept and £7.33 extra a year for the fire brigade because they moved off the island against everyones wishes.
Tally that all and give a real figure and stop talking rubbish.
They only separate out all the figures to make it sound like they aren’t robbing us blind. All of those things should be be one figure as council tax is SUPPOSED to cover those things anyway…… or do we now need to pay for all those things separately. Next it will be a bin men “precept”.
Don’t forget Parish councils, who will also look to increase the burden.
That looks nice but wear do the council tax payer get the money with so many unemployed and the same for us old and wrinkly.
Yet again our useless Council demonstrates its ability to waste public money.
But the sheep will nod it through, in between snores and trouser purchases. Chances are most of them won’t even have read it.
Totally agree, brilliant
What’s the use of electric vehicles for the council, if/when they travel to the mainland, when the ferries on & off are very polluting? Defeats the object immediately. Average speed cameras are a waste of money, as people will just go an alternative route and still speed
So many people are going to struggle to pay this time with everything that has happened. The public should be consulted about what we want from this money as it is our money!
£30,000 for buoys in Sandown Bay.
About time the boating fraternity were made to pay for these buoys to be planted in the bay, if you want them then pay yourself.
As with most if not all of the spending why do the Council need extra from us council tax payers, who are struggling to pay bills with this covid situation not resolved yet!
£300,000 for the rolling replacement of council vehicles ?
With the Covid situation not resolved as yet should we have to pay & realistically cannot afford to pay.
The Council will carry on sucking us dry to our last few pence as usual!
Floating bridge is I competence at it’s best!
Unemployment has almost doubled on the island, so the council implement a tax rise.
That probably won’t encourage employers to take on new staff.
750k for compulsory purchases? So when these buildings are renovated do the islanders get first dibs at reduced prices, of course not.
Can I also ask what happens to the interest on the coastal defence money if it’s banked for 2 years before they start work?
So many faults in this budget plan.
Is contactless P meters really necessary?
Do southern vectis not contribute towards bus stops then?
Its all about greed.They will leech until the island collapses then they will be off some were new
I suggest we ALL v ote for anyone else BUT these next time around.
Yes agree. We must get this lot out. Vote for the GREENS, they will oppose all the house building planned for the island also. We don’t want to lose masses of beautiful countryside which will affect wildlife and their habitat as well as ours!!!!
What next window tax? Garden size take. How about we just give the council all of our earings and let them give us pocket money
Bus stops and stands – Southern Vectis responsibility. Cycling improvement works – charge the cyclsts. Electric vehicles – buy modern diesel vehicles, far cheaper. Sue the floating bridge manufacturers. Scrap the speed cameras. Scrap the buoys in Sandown bay, if they are to warn of hazards it is the responsibility of Trinity House. Make all car parks free.
4 totally unnecessary expenditures two of which further demonstrate the Council’s anti car driver policies. Cancel them and save the tax payer at least some money.
£30,000 for buoys in Sandown Bay, REALLY?????????????????? what the h*ll……they really have no idea and are blatantly wasting our council tax money.
I thought the tax was to benefit the people of the island and make our lives easier and better.
This will cause exactly the opposite effect.
Complete waste of time having this meeting about council tax rise they already decided to do it months ago.
When to Westridge Ryde, 15 Kia picantos cars in carpark all have Isle of Wight Council signs on the side of the car.
Let’s hope they take a 5 % pay cut as the have all been furlong as well
waste of money – should be pulled down and land returned to nature -much cheaper and force the current owner to do it or to sell the properties at auction
£500,000 for highways improvements — bus stops and stands
those are southern vectis – it is there street furniture – they need to pony up – we already pay for this in our bus fares.
Southern Vectis provide the bus service not the bus stops or shelters.
This is the same for the whole country