We weren’t able to attend the full Council meeting last week, so many thanks to VB reader Kerri Trickey for sending through her interpretation of discussions held at the full Council meeting. Ed
I arrived fifteen minutes early, only to find the public gallery was already full – so we stragglers had to sit in a spare room and watch via a TV link up – complete with technical difficulties!
Unfortunately, this meant I missed the first fifteen minutes.
Cuts in School Music Service
The first issue discussed was kicked off by a question from a lady in the public gallery who asked why they were going to “cut off the lifeblood” to school music tuition.
She was not the only one to deplore this move – Cllr Churchman (Democratic Independent) mentioned the IOW Festival and said cutting music funding to schools would “kill the goose that laid the golden egg”.
Cllr Geoff Lumley agreed, declaring, “Music is my life. Life is empty without music” and in his alternative budget pledged to reinstate the whole amount.
However, it was suggested that it was the job of the schools to pay for extra activities such as this, and not for the Council to provide money for them – and that “old people can’t keep shelling out for music lessons”.
The budget included an agreement to reinstate music funding to £85,000.
Council Tax
The 3.5% council tax increase was met with disdain from Cllr Knowles (Lib Dems), but he was quickly shot down by Pugh who declared he “did not need to be lectured about council tax by the liberal democrats”, referring of course to their rate of 14% in 2003.
This would be made easier, said Pugh, by the fact they were not implementing increases in various fees and charges such as parking permits – which will be frozen at 2008 levels.
The budget pledged to put more money into CCTV, free Internet access in all public libraries, the continuation of concessionary bus fares, and the restructuring of the council management, which would save £500,000.
Cllr Stephens proposed an amendment to take £1million out of slippage and put it into adult mental healthcare – specifically building accommodation for such adults, in order to give them a sense of self worth.
Islandwide Transport
He proposed a further £200,000 be taken out of slippage and used to improve transport for elderly people.
It was discussed that although Southern Vectis consistently showed “meanness and greediness”, it was not the job of a profit making company to make things easier for residents – it was the job of the Council with concessionary fares.
Cllr Stephens’ amendment was accepted, and although David Pugh said “installing our own bus company would bankrupt the Isle of Wight on a level the government is trying to do with our country” to gales of laughter – it was mentioned that other companies should be encouraged to set up here, and remove the monopoly Southern Vectis had.
Alternative Budget
Cllr Lumley, in introducing his alternative budget, said it was his instinct to “undercut” Pughs budget, but acknowledged it had some merits he was inclined to agree with. However, he made it clear there were also some major changes.
Cllr Lumley focused on raising money before simply redistributing it.
This included completely scrapping the One Island magazine, which would save £60,000 a year.
He proposed the immediate abolition of Environmental Neighbourhood Officers, and said Alistair Campbell would be proud of the Councils £1million per year media and communications bill. He suggested cutting this by £250,000.
The Conservative budget was agreed with 26 in favour, 9 against and 2 abstentions.
Image: luismi1985
