Isle Of Wight Council Secures £6m In Additional Government Funding

The Isle of Wight Council is set to receive an additional £6 million from the Government to help deal with financial pressures facing local services.

The Extraordinary Financial Support funding will provide £2.72 million in 2026-27, followed by a further £3.28 million in 2027-28.

The announcement follows representations to ministers by West Wight MP Richard Quigley, who has argued that the Island faces additional costs because of its geography.

The Government has acknowledged the Isle of Wight's circumstances as an island authority when confirming the funding.

Mr Quigley has particularly highlighted pressures on adult social care, where demand and costs have increased.

He welcomed the funding, but said it should not replace a longer-term settlement specifically reflecting the Island's circumstances.

“This new support will help the Council manage some of the significant pressures it faces, particularly in adult social care, and I welcome the Government’s acknowledgement that our isolation by sea creates genuine additional costs.”

Mr Quigley said previous funding arrangements, alongside the impact of austerity, had placed significant pressure on the council's finances.

He said he would continue to press for an island-specific funding package to provide greater certainty for local services in the future.

The £6 million will be split across the next two financial years, with the council receiving the larger proportion in 2027-28.