“Possibly the most painful budget I’ve ever had to sit through.”
These were the words of the Alliance group’s cabinet member for finance, when discussing the Isle of Wight council’s 2025/26 budget.
Addressing County Hall’s cabinet on Thursday evening, Councillor Ian Stephens said the ruling administration had “done its best” to “soften the blow”, before referring to £1.5 million in proposed savings.
Where the ‘savings’ will be made
These encompass six service areas: democratic services, children’s social care, education, inclusion and access, waste, property services, heritage and ICT.
Specific plans include reduced spending in children’s social care, education, inclusion and access through better commissioning, and increased technology use and a review of partner contributions.
There will be increased charges for bulky waste collections from £42.50 per collection to £62 and the introduction of a ‘charged for service’ for archaeological advice relating to development proposals.
Inevitable rise in council tax
Other key proposals include a 4.99 per cent council tax rise, an £11.1 million increase in adult social care spending, an extra £4.7 million for children’s services and £13 million worth of new capital investment.
Councillor Stephens said savings were “open to question, open to suggestion” but added the plans had been drawn up after “long discussion” with the council’s senior management team and frontline staff, with support from the chief financial officer and his team.
Jordan: 40p to the £1 to spend compared to 2010
Council leader Phil Jordan said,
“Since 2010, we’ve made cuts and savings of £100 million or thereabouts. In 2010, we had a pound to spend – today that pound is 40 pence – same council, same Island, same people, same services.
“That’s not the fault of any administration in this council – certainly not the fault of this administration, it’s not the fault of any previous administrations.
“The fault of this is government funding cuts since 2010.”
Opposition response
The Alliance’s budget has sparked controversy with the Conservative and Liberal Democrat opposition groups putting forward their positions this week.
The Tories accused County Hall of “out of control spending” while the Liberal Democrats, though echoing Councillor Jordan’s criticism of government underfunding, expressed concern over a proposed reduction in affordable housing equity and potential cuts to the council’s work with the voluntary sector.
Full Council will consider the budget at its 26th February 2025 meeting.
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
