Council Tourism Funding Vote Held Behind Closed Doors

A vote on a tourism funding scheme that could cost the Isle of Wight Council an extra £340,000 over five years has been discussed behind closed doors.

Councillors on the economy, regeneration, transport and infrastructure committee considered whether to support the third Wight Business Improvement District (BID) proposal for Visit Isle of Wight on Tuesday (October 6).

The decision followed an anonymous email raising concerns about governance and whether councillors had enough evidence to support the proposal.

Committee chair Cllr Julie Jones-Evans said the discussion had to be held privately because the ballot remained open until October 29, and revealing the council’s decision could influence other voters.

Council officers warned that rejecting the proposal or abstaining could put the scheme at risk, with no immediate alternative funding available for Island tourism promotion.

However, Lyn Blackledge, founder of the Wightbuzz business networking organisation, criticised the decision to exclude the public, accusing the council of avoiding questions and a lack of transparency.

The BID proposal aims to provide sustainable funding for Visit Isle of Wight’s destination marketing and tourism development over the next five years.