As reported by News OnTheWight on Wednesday evening, the Isle of Wight Council budget meeting came down to numbers and as a result, the ruling group will be forced to work from its opposition’s proposals in the coming financial year.
However, the Alliance Group’s finance lead member said he is very pleased councillors worked together.
99.9 per cent of Alliance plans approved
Cllr Chris Jarman (Alliance) said ‘99.9 per cent’ of what the Alliance had put forward was approved.
After a split vote — 19 for and 19 against, with one abstention — the casting vote fell with chair, Cllr Geoff Brodie (Ind Lab), who sided with the Conservatives.
It means the Conservatives’ amendments were accepted.
Following a second vote, to officially approve the amended budget, the Alliance administration mainly approved the amended plans, passing the budget by 34 votes to five.
Borrow £40m for affordable housing
Among the changes made, £40 million will be drawn down from government to build affordable housing.
Two jobs will be saved and money spent to improve access to beaches as well as planting more trees and hedges.
Robertson: Apparent there was not much resistance to amendments
Speaking after the meeting, Conservative group leader, Cllr Joe Robertson (Con) said he was very pleased with the outcome.
He said,
“Our amendments were not extensive in number, but they were very important, and as the debate unfolded it was apparent there was not much resistance to them.”
Jarman: A few, small changes
Cllr Jarman, cabinet member for strategic finances, said the key thing was the council had got into the habit of working together, which was the big reward for him.
Cllr Jarman said,
“There are a few, small changes, but most of them don’t come in in the first year anyway and it is a one-year budget.
“It is good to be aspirational, I don’t think either side [of the council] will have a problem with it.”
Garratt: Brownfield register already exists
Cllr Andrew Garratt (LibDem) was one of the five councillors who voted against the Conservative-amended budget.
He argued there was no need to spend £60,000 on an independent review of brownfield land when a brownfield register already exists.
The money, he said, could be better spent on issues he cares about the most – Islanders living in poverty.
Garratt: Pleased with concessions won
However, Cllr Garratt was pleased with the concessions he had won from the ruling group, taking forward his idea of an anti-poverty strategy, and bringing decisions like the ‘enormous increase’ in Wightcare fees to Cabinet, as well as the fee for live-streaming funerals at the Crematorium.
It means those proposals will be consulted on and considered by the Cabinet, and could be scrapped if there is no support for them.
The approved budget will see a 2.99 per cent council tax increase and associated cuts and savings from 1st April 2022.
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
