SET against a back-drop of political turmoil and austerity-ravaged funding, the Conservative-led Isle of Wight Council administration has today (Wednesday) revealed its budget plans for the coming year.


Just two weeks after taking over at County Hall, following the resignations of Isle of Wight Council's Independent leader and deputy leader, the Tory-led executive has revealed plans that will hit some disabled people's care packages, youth services and children's centres.

Opening hours at Afton and Lynnbottom tips are set to be slashed, floating bridge charges could be hiked from £1 to £1.50 and the budgets for street cleaning and hedge cutting reduced.

The cost of planning applications would also rise. In total the budget would save the council £7.5 million in the coming year.

The draft budget is due to go before the cross-party executive next Thursday, ahead of being presented to the full council later this month.

Under the plans, council tax would also rise by 4.99 per cent, including 3 per cent dedicated to social care funding.

Isle of Wight Council leader, Cllr Dave Stewart, said: "Our primary objective was to propose a legal and balanced budget, which we have done. We have approached the challenge in a professional and disciplined manner, ensuring that core services are protected and sustained wherever possible, while maximising opportunities for economic regeneration and growth.

"Much of what we have presented in the budget is based on the preparatory work of the previous administration. Working with the council’s senior management team we have been able to interrogate and build on these foundations to present budget proposals which we believe is fair and which the director of finance has agreed are both legal and achievable.

Ahead of the publication of the plans, Island Independent group leader Julia Baker-Smith said: "There comes a point where we need to say enough is enough.

"Robbing Peter to pay Paul can’t go on forever. We believe the forthcoming budget is likely contain over a £1 million pounds of unachievable savings in adult social care alone. While a balanced budget is possible, the harm that could be caused, and the knock on increase in costs for higher level care as early intervention funding reduces could be significant."

She said they were working with officers on an alternative budget that would 'buy the Island time' to seek a fair deal from the government and allow regeneration and investment plans to have an effect.