One million pounds in government cash, given to the Isle of Wight Council in recognition of the Island’s unique circumstances, has been slammed as ‘highly unsatisfactory’ and ‘profoundly disappointing’.
The local authority says it is only a sixth of what it hoped for.
On Monday, the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities announced a £54.1 billion funding boost for local authorities – including £1 million for the Isle of Wight.
Bacon: “Empty words from government”
At the council’s corporate scrutiny committee, Cllr Jonathan Bacon (Alliance), cabinet member for environment and heritage, called it ’empty words from government’ and claimed it made no difference to the underlying problem.
He said increasing costs were being acknowledged for councils across the country and the Island’s remoteness was not being recognised.
Quirk: No way Government’s going to give “a big load of money”
Cllr Chris Quirk (Con) said it was ‘inappropriate’ to make political statements at scrutiny committee and called for optimism.
He agreed the Island needs the extra funding, but said there was no way the Government is going to give IWC “a big load of money”, adding that it has to go through a process to make it deliverable, and open and transparent.
£6.4m additional cost for services
For decades, Islanders have been chasing a deal from government, to make up for the added extra costs and pressures created by our Solent separation.
Cllr Bacon said the Island had been seeking extra funding since 1962, so it was galling that “see ourselves continually ignored”.
In recent years, the outcome of a study by Portsmouth University, commissioned by the Island Independents, pinned it at £6.4 million.
Jarman: Evidence provided, but Island ignored
Cllr Chris Jarman (Alliance), cabinet member for strategic finances, told the meeting such a small amount was ‘illogical’, because the authority had provided “copious amounts of rational evidence to secure the future of the Island, but [was] being repeatedly ignored”.
He called it a ‘highly unsatisfactory’ ‘token gesture’.
Ward: Still chasing that rainbow
Chief financial officer, Chris Ward, said the council is “still chasing that rainbow” when it comes to an Island Deal. He sees the £1 million as a ‘stopgap’, allowing the Isle of Wight to continue its conversation with government.
However, he acknowledged it was the first time the Island had received recognition of the unique costs associated with physical separation and said this was a positive to take from the news.
Fair funding review “kicked down the road for at least another year”
He explained to members that civil servants have said they would like to continue the dialogue to “substantiate the evidence”. They suggest the door is open and that ongoing and sustained funding on an annual basis will come through the fair funding review, which has been “kicked down the road for at least another year”.
Love: Lowest denomination they can get away with
Cllr Karl Love told News OnTheWight,
“The Government have given us the lowest denomination they can get away with.
“£1 million is a total insult to the intelligence of our Island people, an undefendable position from any perspective of any political party.
“It’s so blatantly obvious that it’s a minimum to try and keep us quiet, so the Government can say ‘we have given you something’, when in reality they are simply providing themselves with a public response to comments made by Boris Johnson in providing an Island Deal.”
Money for East Cowes
In October, as part of the government’s Levelling Up Fund, £5.8 million was announced for East Cowes and will be spent on improving facilities in the Columbine building and the neighbouring barrack site, as well as creating a new public square along East Cowes Esplanade.
Article edit
4.10pm 9th Feb 2022 – Comment from Cllr Love added
This article is from the BBC’s LDRS (Local Democracy Reporter Service) scheme, which News OnTheWight is taking part in. Some alterations and additions may have been made by OnTheWight. Ed
