Cllr Jonathan Bacon shares this release on behalf of the Alliance Group at County Hall. In his own words, Ed
Compounded by the war in the Ukraine, but underwritten by persistent, irresponsible austerity measures from Conservative Central Government, we are faced with a harsh and stark reality. We either fight and represent our residents’ interests and needs, or hand it over to central Government to manage the finances via a spreadsheet in Westminster.
Central Government policy has put us in this position, we are fighting for the people of the Island to retain a healthy degree of control, ensuring that the residents we represent, residents we know; get the services they deserve.
Working tirelessly on the budget
For months, the Alliance Administration has been working tirelessly to pull together a workable and acceptable budget proposal for the coming year.
The documents published on Wednesday 1st February arise from what has been the most difficult budget, ever experienced by the Isle of Wight council. This is a direct result of more than ten years of Conservative Central Government austerity measures, which have stripped the council’s spending power by £93m.
Peacey Wilcox: Ongoing failure of Government to treat the Island differently
Cllr Lora Peacey Wilcox, Leader of the Isle of Wight council, said,
“Since May 2021, the Alliance Group has had a strong focus on understanding and coming to terms with the many challenges the council faces so that it can deliver a positive future for the Island and its community.
“The council has a distinct legal responsibility as a ‘place leader’ under the Local Government Act. Because we are an island that responsibility is even greater as we do not benefit from a neighbouring authority’s support of the economy for example through the provision of jobs or housing. The ongoing failure of Government to treat the Island differently, compromises our ability to provide that hope.
“The national and international pressures we face mean this remains an aspiration as we cannot do what we want and what the Island needs, with the crumbs Government gives us and the ongoing failure to recognise and fund the Island properly.”
Jarman: It will be difficult to find any better alternatives
Cllr Chris Jarman, Cabinet member for Strategic Finances, said,
“Through our sound management we have been able create a legal and lawful budget. Others in the same position have failed. Local councils, including Croydon, Thurrock and Slough, issue a Section 114 Notice, effectively declaring bankruptcy. Others are rumoured to be close to doing so as well.
“The scale of the challenges faced in reaching a balanced budget demanded extraordinary efforts from all involved and a recognition that it was better we remained to represent the Island residents and businesses with the difficult decisions required. Surrendering to the situation as other authorities have had to do was unthinkable being a betrayal of those we represent.
“Everyone will find something they don’t like, but we have to say it will be difficult to find any better alternatives. If you take something out of the proposals, something else has to take its place.”
Stephens: We have no wish or intention to go bankrupt
Cllr Ian Stephens, Deputy Leader of the Isle of Wight council said,
“We can only act within the boundaries set by the Westminster Government. As has been the case for many years, they restrict what we can do and seemingly try to make it as difficult as possible for local councils to survive. Yet we are the ones responsible for looking after Children, Adult Social Care, Education, Waste Collections and so on.
“Despite this, they continue to cut our funding and have done since 2010. All this in the face of a growing demand for the services and support for our community that we want to provide. In many cases, we are legally obliged to provide.
“We have managed to avoid cuts to Adult Social Care Support, Leisure Centres and Libraries. We have been able to provide services in alternative ways. We have been able to honour our undertaking to increase Council Tax Support. We have no wish or intention to go bankrupt. The damage to the Island if that were to happen would be severe.”
Peacey Wilcox: We will be keenly listening to the views people express
Cllr Lora Peacey Wilcox concluded,
“There is much more to be discussed about the proposals and we will be keenly listening to the views people express when they have read what we are putting forward.
“We just ask that in doing so, people pause to think about why we have to produce a budget like this and consider what the alternative might be?”
