LIVE: Tax Rise? Controversial Isle Of Wight Budget Plans Go To Vote

Controversial plans which could see Islanders' council tax rise for another year are being voted on.

The Conservative administration has put forward a raft of proposals in a bid to save £3.5 million for the forthcoming year.

A rise in overnight parking charges and crematorium costs are among the service cuts and extra charges put forward, as reported.

Isle of Wight Radio will bring you live coverage of the meeting below.

You can WATCH the meeting live here.

Live updates follow:

*5.10pm

*Members are taking public questions.

The first is about Browns Golf Course in Sandown and how many people have expressed interest in taking over the site.

Councillor Dave Stewart said:

"We had over 50 expressions of interests. No bids were received. Council will review its position into the future running of the site."

*5.12pm

Second question: 20mph limits are being adopted by the Government to make areas safer as lockdown rules ease. What is the council's stance?

An Island speed limit view is being progressed and it is hoped it will be concluded in the autumn says Cllr Stewart.

*5.20pm

Cllr Geoff Brodie asked council leader Dave Stewart to explain his tweet saying Newport needs regenerating.

We need to regenerate our county town - ideas to follow ! @iwconservatives

— Dave Stewart (@councillordave1) February 18, 2021

He said: "Does he not think that suggesting idea will follow is an indictment of how little this council has achieved? Is he ashamed of that tweet?"

Cllr Stewart said:

"Short answer, no. I would like to highlight that we have been doing a great deal already for our county town.. I feel we are doing a great deal for Newport."

He cites harbour provision order and ongoing work with roads around Newport.

*5.25pm

Cllr Lora Peacey-Wilcox asked Cllr Stewart to remove the word "pleased" from the Leader's Report about children's food vouchers.

Cllr Stewart says he think all members should be pleased to know that the council is helping children.

*5.30pm

Cllr Stewart says he wants to change Government policy so that money from speeding fines goes to the council, not the Department for Transport.

The budget outlines plans to spend £300,000 on two sets of cameras, as Isle of Wight Radio previously reported.

*5.35pm

Budget proposals are set to be debated.

*5.38pm

"It's the most difficult challenges we have ever faced" says Cllr Stewart as he outlines the Conservative's budget.

He says there are three key points - ensuring the community is safe, creating an environment and financial plan and making sure the Island is a key place to grow up, work and visit.

The full budget plans can be found here.

*5.50pm

Cllr Stuart Hutchinson said:

"By careful management we have reached the point where we can, with or without the Island Deal, we have achieved a budget where the savings strategy will all have been met.

"By reengineering what we do and how we do it. I know that you are all aware of the incredibly difficult issues we have had to deal with in the last year.

"To bring the current year into balance we have adopted a deficit reduction strategy, Without the resilience of the reserves we have put in place and the transformation fund we would have been in a difficult position. We know that the coming year is likely to be as difficult.

"I'm grateful that two of three proposals recognise we need additional funding for adult social care. We have put in more than the tax increase with 4.4m of new funding. Even this doesn't meet the overall forecasts needed."

*5.52pm

Cllr Hutchinson says he cannot support the other amendments put forward. He said:

"Lib Dems and Cllr Brodie - those budgets seek an increase of two per cent of crematorium funerals. We must provide quality service and that requires income. We will review and benchmark with providers as well."

"I can't agree with Cllr Brodie's proposal - I can't support those budgets. I recommend you support the proposed budget" Cllr Hutchinson says.

*6pm

Lib Dems' Cllr Andrew Garratt recognises the "extremely hard year" caused by pandemic.

He called proposed cuts as "cruel" and called on the Tory administration to stand up to the Government. Says he won't be dancing with joy when restrictions are eased because he's seen the effect of the Conservative's decisions.

He wants £100,000 community fund, for example for improvements in parks. He said:

"The COVID pandemic has seen exceptional work done so we propose a community transformation fund."

Libraries have seen cuts - he wants any proposals to cut service stopped. "They're not minor as Tories suggest" he says.

He called the seven per cent crematorium costs increase "scandalous", especially at this time. Lib Dems want a two per cent rise instead.

Cllr Garratt says the money set aside for speed cameras could be used for community schemes, such as road safety. Why can't they be funded by police and crime commissioner? Are they the best value for money, he asks.

"Our amendment shows vision and direction.. I do hope members will consider this amendment fairly."

*6.10pm

"Democratic socialist" Cllr Brodie (independent Labour) is now outlining his budget. He called the Tory budget the most "cynically unfair budget I have seen."

"At a time when most people are fearful, their budget shows a complete lack of empathy. And to use money on capital projects that can wait is just disgraceful. So much for the party of low tax."

He says the party is "ripping off the bereaved" and it is "morally indefensibly especially at a time when Tories "should be clearing their desks" ahead of local elections in May.

He says he has a number of proposals which would be fair, lawful and balanced. He proposes this council recognises the difficult future and reduces the increase in council tax by three per cent to 1.99 per cent. 

He said: "We should not be tying the Island down to a large council tax increase with ongoing pandemic."

Cllr Brodie want the proposed coastal programme reduced to keep the council tax down. Proposes reducing crematorium costs from seven per cent to two per cent. Called parking charge plans "ridiculous" when "we should be encouraging people to the town (when safe)."

"I want to keep the Island's county library as it is now. I know Tories are barbarians of politics but this is surely too far."

He says Lib Dems and Island Independents have "accepted" the council tax hike.

*6.15pm

Cllr Debbie Andre of the Island Independent Group (IIG) says the budget "is one of most important ever and it's crucial we get it right."

"We have to rethink our priorities and realign our spending to acknowledge current climate. They [Tories] say they are exercising sound financial management, I would disagree."

She says the cuts come under a backdrop of redundancies on the Island. 

"What I cannot justify is spending of non essential items such as IT software, speed camera and electric vehicles and not to mention continued investment of floating bridge."

Cllr Andre says the promised Island Deal has been whittled down to £50,000, when £6.5 million was promised. She added:

"In a changing climate with changing priorities we have to soften financial and economic blows. The Lib Dems are making a "valiant attempt". We know there is little room for manouvre. Proposal submitted by Cllr Brodie has similar aims."

IIG proposes an "innovative scheme" of affordable bounce back loans which will enable more Island residents to have a place to call home.

In looking at how they would reallocate funding, Cllr Andre says "we have looked to the future with an establishment of sustainable transport fund for initiatives for community bus companies and potential for Dotto trains (electric). 

She plans to find funds by cutting proposed upgraded to IT and video conference software, as well as speed cameras. She says the prices of electric vehicles will come down and is proposing waiting before council vehicles are upgraded.

*6.35pm

Cllr Paul Fuller from the Island Independents says he "will not be supporting the administration's budget this evening."

Cllr Steve Hastings, Conservative, says he will back his administration's budget.

Cllr Ian Ward, Conservative, says the £300,000 for two speed camera is "not correct". He says talk of two speed cameras is "inaccurate" and the money is for the Tories to decide how many of the mobile cameras go where.

The man in charge of education, Cllr Paul Brading, says he will not support any alternative budgets. He says it is "vital" that the Island invests in children services.

He called IIG's budget "interesting" but says he gets calls from people speeding along Yaverland. He says their budget to propose no cameras is not right and called the Dotto train idea "ridiculous".

*6.46pm

Cllr Michael Lilley told members that it's "very good news" that funding has been given to Waterside Pool in Ryde. 

"We need to keep those facilities at those grass roots", he says.

He says he will support the three amendments and he "totally disagrees" with Cllr Gary Peace, who suggested a seven per cent rise in crematorium and cemetery costs, as proposed, isn't “actually a lot”.

*7.10pm

Cllr Matt Price, Conservative, said he will support Cllr Brodie's budget

*7.16pm

Cllr Clare Mosdell is discussing the homeless shelter which will open in June. She says it's great scheme, it's just a shame it couldn't open before the local elections in May as she wanted it to open on her watch.

She will be supporting the Conservative administration's budget.

*7.20pm

Cllr Andre's dog has interrupted the meeting. She is rounding up her arguments. She says when IIG win May's election, they will not put party politics first.

Cllr Brodie says he's hoping he has more than two votes tonight as he did at his first budget meeting. He said he plans to put Cllr Peace's comments, that the seven per cent increase in crematorium costs isn't a lot, on his campaign leaflets. 

*7.30pm

Cllr Garratt said Cllr Ward's comments about the speed camera were creating "a mist". He said the budget papers "clearly state" that two cameras are proposed.

*7.33pm

Island Deal time... Leader of the council, Cllr Dave Stewart, says the Government wants to work with the Island to help its case.

"This is a Government that are working with us on the Island Deal and people should remember that."

The council has been given £50,000 to look at the challenges posed by being an Island.

*7.35pm

Time to make a brew. The meeting has been adjourned for ten minutes.

*7.45pm

Cllr Hastings has asked Cllr Garratt to withdraw his comment calling him "bossy".

*7.50pm

The Lib Dems' amendment has been voted down by 26 to ten. Two people (Cllr Karl Love and Cllr Julie Jones Evans) abstained.

*7.55pm

Cllr Brodie's budget was rejected by 21 votes to 16, with one abstention from Cllr Kilpatrick.

*7.59pm

IIG's budget was voted down by 26 to 11, with one abstention. 

*8pm 

The Conservative's budget has been approved by 21 votes to 14. No one abstained.

*8.10pm 

That's all for this evening. Check out the full report here.