A five per cent council tax rise has been agreed by the Isle of Wight council tonight.
It means an average household on the Island, paying Band D rates of council tax, will fork out £86.46 more a year — taking the total to £1,817.61.
The Alliance’s budget was passed with no amendments.
Increased fees
Along with the tax hike, the ruling Alliance administration will impose that Island residents will face an increase in parking charges, Floating Bridge fees and the costs of burials and cremations.
In the areas of significant pressure to the authority, adult social care and children’s services, £7.6m and £4.3m respectively, have been put forward in additional spending.
Two per cent of tax will go straight towards adult social care and help bridge the gap of funding pressures although it has not stopped some services being cut.
Stroke social care support, a patient falls coordinator with the NHS Trust and cross-Solent patient transport funding have all been on the chopping block.
Jarman: A survival budget
Cabinet member for strategic finance and transformational change, Cllr Chris Jarman, said it was a survival budget for the authority, with significant cuts in many areas, having faced the turmoil in the world and the Island’s economics.
He said it is a budget that none of the councillors would have wished for and one that has elements which could feel unsatisfactory to all.
Jarman: Alternative budgets would increase the financial instability
Cllr Jarman was against both of the alternative budgets put forward by the Liberal Democrat group and Cllr Geoff Brodie, as he said they would increase the financial instability of the council.
Both proposed amendments, which looked to cut the IT budget, posed operational risks, councillors said, as it would lower the council’s defences to cyber attacks in coming years.
The amendments were both voted on but fell, with more votes against than in favour.
Cllr Karl Love, cabinet member for Adult Social Care, said he was bitterly disappointed to have to vote for the budget with the cuts it proposes to the services but he was trying to save it overall.
Fuller: ‘Crap budget’
The sentiment was echoed by fellow cabinet member Cllr Paul Fuller who said it was a ‘crap budget’ which he had no pleasure to support but they had to fall in line.
11 abstentions
The budget was passed with 21 in favour, four against and 11 abstentions — the majority of the opposition Conservative party.
The council tax increase, as well as a rise in costs for fire and police services, will take effect from 1st April.
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: simonhaytack under CC BY 2.0
