Isle Of Wight Budget Breakdown: What To Expect Ahead Of Tonight's Meeting

Wednesday, 24 February 2021 06:00

By Oliver Dyer @olidyer

A near five per cent council tax hike is on the cards for Islanders as Isle of Wight councillors meet to decide this year's forthcoming budget.

The local authority will vote on plans at Full Council this evening (Wednesday).

The Conservative administration has put forward a raft of proposals in a bid to save £3.5 million for 2021/22.

This includes a 4.99% increase in council tax, as well as extra charges and service reductions such as:

A 7% increase on crematorium and cemetery costs.
A rise in overnight parking charges (£1 to £2 from October 2021).
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.

Plans to spend £300,000 on two sets of average speed cameras - and another £300,000 to replace council-owned vehicles - have also been touted.

Half a million pounds (£550,000) has also been earmarked to replace County Hall's air conditioning, and to upgrade the building's data centre.

But the plans are expected to be met with opposition from the Island's other political parties nonetheless.

Full Council is expected to meet at 5pm today.

Isle of Wight Radio will bring you updates as and when they happen.

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