Today the Government has announced the monies it will give out to councils struggling under the cuts in funding that are being applied to councils.
The Isle of Wight council has to find over £16m of cuts in 2016/17 when they set their budget on 24th February.
Last week Andrew Turner MP, directly asked the Prime Minister at PMQs:
“Would my Right Honourable friend confirm the Government’s willingness to work with them over coming months to help them access existing sources of finance or find new ways to address the Island’s unique circumstance?” This in from the council, in their words. Ed.
The Isle of Wight Council will receive absolutely no further support from government according to the terms of the Island’s Final Local Government Financial Settlement, announced yesterday (8 February) and due to be voted on by MPs on Wednesday 10 February.
The government announced an additional £415.6 million of transitional funds be divided between council’s nationally over the next four years, but none of this money is to be offered to the Island.
Bacon: “Incensed”
Jonathan Bacon, Leader of the Isle of Wight Council, said:
“I am incensed that the government has again refused to listen to the plight of the Island and the needs of our Island community.
“We have been urging them long and hard to do so, and have produced detailed financial analyses showing how the Island is being prejudiced; but these have all been ignored.
“Many of the calculations used by government to establish the settlement simply do not recognise or favour the unique circumstances of the Island, or address the increasing challenges that we face. This latest revision again fails to consider these points.”
Other councils share £415m
While a number of other councils around the country received a transitional uplift in their settlement, the Isle of Wight, will receive nothing extra. The Isle of Wight does not qualify for any of the revisions proposed by government in the final settlement, for example, the additional Rural Services Delivery Grant; which does not apply to the Isle of Wight. And, like roughly half of the other unitary authorities across the country, the £150 million transition grant proffered provides zero support to the Island.
IWC: Won’t be able to provide statutory services in the future
The council has stated repeatedly to government ministers, civil servants, the Chancellor of the Exchequer and the Prime Minister that it requires in the region of an additional £15 million annually to meet the Island’s needs. The failure of the government to recognise this means that the council will simply not be able to provide statutory services in the future.
Bacon: “Fallen on deaf ears”
Councillor Bacon continued:
“We have made it clear that this council will not be able to survive the extreme cuts in funding over the coming years unless there is some recognition of the Island’s unique circumstances and an offer of financial support is made; but it appears to have fallen on deaf ears.
“I can only hope that some Members of Parliament recognise that this settlement will still ultimately change the shape of local authority services forever, and refuse to be bought off by the transitional funding offered.
“If so, they should vote against the Bill that will confirm the settlement, when it comes before the House of Commons on Wednesday.”
