If you followed our live coverage of the Isle of Wight council’s budget meeting last night, you would’ve seen that the Independent-led administration’s budget was voted through with several amendments.
Groups leaders’ presentations
The meeting kicked off with the leader Ian Stephens presenting the Independent budget, the other group leaders presenting their amendments and then open discussions amongst councillors.
It was interesting to hear some councillors saying they’d entered County Hall firmly fixed against a council tax rise (as proposed by Labour), but after hearing the arguments for the amendment said they’d be voting in favour.
Once the debate had taken place, the meeting adjourned whilst the Independent, Conservative, Labour and UKIP groups gathered privately to discuss their proposed amendments. Following this, all group leaders met and agreed the format for the final recommendations.
Opposition amendments included
Unless our memory serves us wrong, for the first time since we’ve been covering council meetings, amendments suggested by parties in opposition were included in the final recommendation.
These included
- 1.999% council tax rise (Lab/Ind)
- Retention of beach safety equipment (Lab/Ind)
- A year (minimum) delay on pedestrian charges for the Floating Bridge to allow for consultation and investigation into the viability of such charges (Lab/Ind)
- Retention of school crossing patrols (Con)
- Retention of Empty Homes Officer, but change to admin position (UKIP)
- Retention of £25,000 support for Lord Lieutenant (Lib Dem)
Who voted what
All councillors voted in favour of the final recommendation, except Cllr Bertie (Con) who abstained and Cllrs Bloomfield (Con), Hobart (Con), Hollis (Con), Jones-Evan (Con), Pitcher and Perks (UKIP) who voted against the proposals.
Cllrs Whitehouse and Whittle were not in the chamber for the vote.
Image: mayprodrigo under CC BY 2.0
