Controversial Isle Of Wight Council Tax Hike As Budget Approved

Wednesday, 23 February 2022 19:33

By Louise Hill

A council tax hike of nearly three per cent has been approved today (Wednesday).

In a shock move, however, it was not the ruling Alliance administration’s budget that was passed, but instead an amended version by the opposition Conservative group.

It will see the Isle of Wight Council build £45 million of affordable housing, the creation of a council-owned housing company and a fee to live-stream funerals online.

The leading Alliance group says it is turning the ship around from managing decline, moving away from cuts.

Cllr Lora Peacey-Wilcox, leader of the council, said we continue to live in the shadow of a pandemic and great uncertainty at home and abroad, and with only a modest £1 million from government recognising the uniqueness of the Island, the council must reinforce its vibrant and resilient Island economy to secure a better future for all residents.

She said it was, in essence, a one year budget due to the uncertainty in the world but it committed ‘significantly to regeneration’ and ‘protected and upheld’ the frontline of adult social services and overcome challenges in poverty, homelessness and education

Following calls from Binstead’s Cllr Ian Dore, £170,000 was also committed to prioritising flood mitigation works in the area after flooding devastated families in July last year.

The Isle of Wight Council is also making £3 million worth of cuts, savings and income generation schemes as part of a financial strategy.

Through the schemes Islanders will see a 13 per cent increase in Wightcare costs and £30,000 made by charging those families who would like to live-stream funerals to those who cannot attend in person.

An alternative budget had been proposed by the opposition Conservative group which called for £40 million to be spent building affordable housing due to the crisis the Island currently faces.

They also proposed redundancies in the contact centre were scrapped and £500,000 for planting trees and hedges on council land unsuitable for housing.

Cllr Joe Robertson, leader of the Conservatives at County Hall, said they believed the budget could be more ambitious and go further in a number of areas: housing, planning, and staffing.

He said: “There is nothing wrong with being aspirational … here is the opportunity to work together, let’s do it now.”

Cllr Peacey-Wilcox did not accept the Conservative amendment but once put to the vote, chair of the council, Cllr Geoff Brodie was able to push it through with the casting vote.

When it went to the vote 34 councillors were in favour of the Conservative-amended version, including Cllr Peacey-Wilcox, with only five against.

A 2.99 per cent increase in council tax — one per cent which will go directly towards adult social care — would equate to an extra 86p a week for a Band C taxpayer on the Island.

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Controversial Isle Of Wight Council Tax Hike As Budget Approved

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