Sandown Town Council has unanimously agreed to increase its 2026-27 precept to £263.97 for a Band D property – up £23.50 a year, or 45p a week – to support local services, youth provision and infrastructure improvements.
In a statement to residents following last night’s (Monday) Full Council meeting, Mayor Alex Lightfoot said councils are under pressure from rising costs and funding cuts, and must balance precept increases with delivering essential services.
The budget includes ongoing support for youth services, following the recent opening of LINK Youth Centre at the old Town Hall and new sports facilities at Sandham Gardens. The 2G football pitch there is now in soft launch ahead of full opening in February.
Consultation will begin around Easter for a revamped and expanded Skatepark. The council has also committed more funding for organised youth activities, outreach, and partnerships.
Public toilets will be free to use throughout 2026 following successful trials last summer, with a review planned ahead of the 2027 budget.
Other new initiatives include:
- A match-funding scheme for the proposed Community Benefit Society
- A new round of town murals after positive feedback on the Mary Ellis mural
- £2,500 for summer seafront events and performances
The council will appoint a fundraiser to develop the International School of Rewilding project and a community resilience bid writer to help secure external grants.
Community groups receiving continued support include Breakfast in the Bay, Christchurch Warm Space, Green Town Volunteers, Sandown and Shanklin Independent Lifeboat, and the Sandown Carnival Association – which has received a funding boost amid uncertainty over its current base.
Core services will continue, including beach wheelchairs, lifeguards, Changing Places, marker buoys, extra summer bins, High Street hanging baskets, and event support.
The council also plans to part-fund a school crossing patrol on Broadway following a community petition, and will hold discussions with the school and Police and Crime Commissioner.
Partnership work with the Isle of Wight Council includes funding for planning enforcement, an Environment Officer, and continuation of the Bay Regeneration Officer role. The council has also agreed to part-fund a new Community Safety Officer, subject to wider town council involvement.
Thanks.
Now Ban overnight parking charges of £2
It’s no wonder vehicles evade paying by parking opposite
the pier in the pedestrianised zone on the pavement 24/7
BEATS PAYING
Yet another inflation busting rise on top of what is already the highest precept on the island and amongst the highest in the country.
It will be interesting to see if we’ve kept that top spot when the other precepts come out.
We were already quite a long way ahead of the others before this 9.7% hike so it’ll take a pretty massive hike for any of the others to even get close to us.
Balancing the books is pointless if no-one wants to live here.
Not quite, it’s second highest in SE England, but a long way to go from highest in the country.
Wanna know why?
It’s due to a combination of lower-than-average local income levels, a high proportion of lower-banded properties, and the unique financial pressures of providing services to an island community. Read: a lot of elderly now needing care BECAUSE they wanted to live here.
Consequently, residents often pay a higher proportion of their income on council tax.
And the more that continues, the higher the tax revenue needed.
Trouble is, every time someone suggests house building to encourage younger people (the future year’s tax payers) to live here, everyone over 50 squawks ‘not in my backyard!’
It makes your final comment completely accurate, it soon will be pointless, as without revenue and investments nobody WILL want to live there.
People need to start making their minds up, rather than whine at every single increase.
Whilst i disagree with increasing costs to all of us that have to pay council tax, the free toilets is a positive move. Clean, well maintained, safe and modern toilets benefit the area. It is good to see the renovation to buildings along the hight street and finally some action around the Ocean hotel. People can object to paying more but if things are actually happening then we mind less.