Council Tax Rise: Isle Of Wight Council Approves "Cruel" Budget

The Isle of Wight Council has agreed a 4.99 per cent rise in council tax and a controversial package of savings totalling £3.5 million.

The Conservative administration's budget for the forthcoming year has been given the go ahead, despite opposing councillors calling the plans "scandalous" and "cruel".

At a virtual meeting this evening (Wednesday), Full Council approved the plans by 24 votes to 14.

Three per cent of the near five per cent council tax rise will go towards adult social care, and 1.99 per cent will be set aside for all other service demands.

Isle of Wight Council leader, Cllr Dave Stewart, said this year has brought "the most difficult challenges" the local authority has ever faced.

He told members:

"Following the arrival of the pandemic, we find ourselves dealing with the challenge of a balanced budget.

"Our priorities are community safety, a financial plan for economic recovery and to continue to make the Isle of Wight an inspirational place to grow up, work and live."

Proposals now approved by councillors also include a seven per cent increase in crematorium and cemetery costs.

Overnight parking charges will also go up from £1 to £2 from October.

11 per cent of its savings will come come through 'service reductions'. This includes:

• Partially reducing opening hours at Dinosaur Isle Museum, Sandown and Newport Roman Villa.
• Closure of Lord Louis Library, Newport for one day a week, and closure of the declining mobile library service by helping users to switch to the home library and online services.

The council says it will achieve 24 per cent of its savings through "additional income" and 89 per cent through 'efficiencies and income generation'.

Plans to spend £300,000 on speed cameras - and another £300,000 to replace council-owned vehicles - were high on the agenda this evening. Opposition councillors deemed the spending "non-essential".

Half a million pounds (£550,000) will also go on replacing County Hall's air conditioning, and to upgrade the building's data centre.

Defeated amendments

Three amendments were put forward - and all were voted down.

Cllr Andrew Garratt

Lib Dems' Cllr Andrew Garratt called proposed cuts "cruel" and called on the Tory administration to stand up to the Government.

He said he "won't be dancing with joy" when restrictions are eased because he's seen the effect of the Conservative's decisions.

He called the seven per cent crematorium costs increase "scandalous", especially at this time. He asked for a two per cent rise instead.

Cllr Geoff Brodie

Meanwhile, Cllr Geoff Brodie (independent Labour) said the Tory budget is the most "cynically unfair budget I have seen." He told members:

"At a time when most people are fearful, their budget shows a complete lack of empathy. And to use money on capital projects that can wait is just disgraceful. So much for the party of low tax."

He proposed the council reduced the council tax increase by three per cent to 1.99 per cent. 

Cllr Brodie wanted the proposed coastal programme reduced to facilitate the council tax decrease. He also suggested reducing crematorium costs from seven per cent to two per cent. 

Cllr Debbie Andre

For the Island Independent Group (IIG), Cllr Debbie Andre, said the budget "is one of most important ever and it's crucial we get it right."

She said:

"We have to rethink our priorities and realign our spending to acknowledge current climate. They [Tories] say they are exercising sound financial management, I would disagree."

She asked for funds, set aside to upgrade IT and video conference software and speed cameras, to be reallocated. 

You can see read live coverage of tonight's meeting, here.