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This from Bob Blezzard, Sandown. Ed
I wish to draw to the attention of Sandown residents that the Annual Parish Meeting will take place at The Broadway Centre, Sandown on Monday 24th April.
Earlier start time
The Mayor, who is responsible for convening this meeting, has decided in his wisdom that the meeting shall commence at 6pm, the earliest time allowed by law rather than 7pm, the usual starting time for bi-monthly town council meetings which would have been more convenient for those arriving home from work.
Nevertheless, I hope as many Sandown residents as possible turn up to make their views known about the town council’s performance and also wider Sandown issues.
Highest precept on the Island
The town council precept which for 2023-24 which is £218.43 per Band D property, the highest on the Island by some margin will be a matter of interest to residents. This compares with £89.41 paid in Shanklin and £98.54 paid in Lake.
Residents of The Bay enjoy broadly comparable levels of local government service. Why, therefore is it acceptable for Sandown residents to be required to pay over twice the price for local services compared with those living elsewhere in The Bay?
One council for the Bay entire area
Fortunately there is a solution to this injustice which Sandown residents (although I suspect not residents living in Lake and Shanklin) may wish to consider. The total precept for the three Bay councils this year amounts to £1,017,561 of which over 52% is paid by Sandown residents alone.
If there was a single council raising this amount the cost for Band D property across The Bay would be £132.17, a saving to Sandown residents of £86.26. Of course with a single council the overheads would be lower with one rather than three separate administrations being required.
From 37 to 12 seats
There are 37 council seats on the three councils although a number of people sit on more than one council which suggests a desire to look strategically across The Bay.
A single council could be run by 12 councillors, (two for each of the six IW council wards in The Bay).
Attend the meeting
If you are a Sandown resident and think this idea has merit please turn up to the meeting on the 24th April and call on the town council to ask IW council to carry out a long overdue parish review in The Bay.
Image © Sandown Bay by Paul Coueslant
