This in from Geoff Lumley, in this own words. Ed
The Isle of Wight Council Labour Group have decided to issue early their proposals as to how the Council can protect vital services for at least another year, whilst balancing the budget. Furthering transparency and accountability from their elected councillors.
Savings of £3.4m still needed
All IW Councillors have been told by Officers that after savings previously agreed towards the £17.4m shortfall, an unavoidable 3.99% increase in Council Tax, and the likely use of £4m from Reserves – in itself the product of a scrutiny enquiry lead by Labour’s Cllr Geoff Lumley – there is £3.4m to find from discretionary services. Less if recent representations to Government bear any fruit – most unlikely.
The Chief Executive has provided a list of all such services costing in total £7.2m.
Protecting vital services
However, many of these are services that are, in Labour’s view, vital to the very fabric of Island life. Labour councillors Geoff Lumley and Alan Hollands have examined these with local party officers and have advised the Council leadership they cannot agree with cuts to vital services to the value of £4.3m.
However, this still leaves £2.9 of savings required. By the use of an additional £500k from reserves a balanced budget is achieved.
Lead Labour member Cllr Geoff Lumley said,
“We take no pleasure in having to support some cuts in discretionary services and the staff involved, but the Government have left the Council with no choice with its cruel grant settlement for this year.
Nonetheless, for this year at least we consider that the Council can retain services that we consider vital, such as the Supporting People programme, which in itself prevents later expense on statutory social care services (see list at end).
Next year appears to be even bleaker than this, but with these proposals we can cling onto vital services for another 12 months. After that, unless something unexpected happens, the Council will be bust.”
List of vital services Labour would save:
- The Gouldings and Adelaide Club
- Support for Cross Solent Patient Travel
- Contract for work with sensory impaired
- Most care costs for complex cases
- Funding for stroke initiative
- Mental Health Day Services
- Branstone Farm
- Grant funding for Youth Offer contract
- The Targeted Youth Service team
- Early Help Co-ordinators
- Blanket protection element of Local Council Tax Support Scheme for unemployed people (reversal of January Council decision (see live coverage of meeting)
- The Supporting People programme
- Work on turning empty properties into homes
- Concessionary Fares – discretionary element for disabled users
- Free parking for Blue Badge holders
