Many thanks to VB reader, Darran Gange, for sending in this article over the weekend. We’re sure you’ll find it of interest. Ed
The disquiet over the Isle of Wight council’s proposed cuts has been hard to avoid over the past few weeks, and now that the cabinet of the council has voted, the outcome may well remain unchanged when the full council votes in February.
However, on Friday the Council unleashed a new “You Choose” tool which asks Islanders to balance the council budget, and fill the £32,000,000 “gap” in the budget over the next four years, without raising council tax.
Pick and Mix
Users of the tool can effectively vote for where they would make savings, and tell the council where they would not cut. For example, you could choose not to charge passengers for the Floating Bridge but would have to make savings elsewhere to justify that choice.
Conversation
The council says that this tool is part of their “conversation” on the budget and that they need your help to understand “what services are most important to you so that we can prioritise our budget accordingly.” There is also an opportunity to add your own suggestions on where you would make priorities or changes to council spending that are important to you.
The council intends to publish the results along with other consultations to the Cabinet in January, one month before the final budget decisions are made. How much the results gained from the tool effect policy remains to be seen, but could be worth a look if you want to have your say on the proposed cuts.
You can access the YouChoose tool.
