A council tax hike of 2.99 per cent has moved a step closer for Isle of Wight residents as the ruling administration’s budget is recommended.
The proposed finances for the Isle of Wight Council’s year ahead were agreed to be recommended to the Full Council last Thursday by the Cabinet and would see the authority ‘turn the ship around’ from simply ‘managing decline’.
First budget for Alliance
The Alliance administration’s first budget was laid out last week in Cabinet papers and would see a number of income generation schemes, cuts and savings but with a proposed council tax increase of 2.99 per cent.
Speaking at Cabinet, the council’s strategic finance lead, Cllr Chris Jarman, said the budget focuses on meeting the objectives of the administration but focuses on three key areas — securing the frontline services of adult social care, children services and providing homes that are ‘affordable to Islanders’.
£400 million spending plan
The proposed 2022/23 budget has a £400 million spending plan, including £25 million set aside for affordable housing, £2.5 million to set up a council-owned housing company and £2.3 million for transport initiatives. including safety and speed reduction.
£3m of ‘savings’
As part of a financial plan, the council need to make £3 million of ‘savings’, by proposing income generation schemes like an optional cost of live-streaming funerals and an increase in fees for one of its care services.
Alternative budgets from opposition groups may be proposed at the full council on 23rd February when the final figures and tax rise will be decided.
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
Image: thomasclaveirole under CC BY 2.0
