Lowest grant increase in the country for IWC

The Isle of Wight Council has received the lowest percentage increase in government grant of any unitary authority in the country, despite months of work providing evidence that it faces extra costs of at least £6 million a year.

Council leader, Phil Jordan, said: “The settlement was £400,000 worse than we had estimated. In spite of government confirming the Island had a proven case for improved special funding, the so-called Island Deal, they have failed to provide anything.

“The settlement is simply not sufficient to meet the cost pressures we are facing. The government is expecting our residents to pay additional money to prevent the social care crisis from getting worse.

“We will be making the strongest possible representations to the government, once again, about this very disappointing settlement for Island residents.”

MP, Bob Seely, has been promising a unique ‘Island Deal’ since 2019. In 2022 the national press reported accusations of corruption after Mr Seely said that he voted for Boris Johnson to remain as Prime Minister after he agreed to review funding for the IW Council. When asked to withdraw the allegation due to Commons rules, Labour MP, Lisa Nandy said instead it looked ‘awfully dodgy’.

The council is encouraging Islanders to have their say on what its priorities should be in their budget consultation, which is open until January 26 and can be accessed via iow.life/budgetconsultation.

Cllr Jordan added: “Councillors are elected to take decisions and sometimes they are difficult ones. But as a council we will look carefully at what you say — but we won’t know what you think unless you take part.”

Labour councillor, Richard Quigley, took a pragmatic view. He said: “It serves little purpose for me to criticise Bob Seely’s failure to deliver on his promise. Few Islanders have faith in him as our MP anymore, and he’ll no doubt hide behind the achievements of others as usual.

“Instead, I’ll spend my time helping the council find ways of mitigating the impacts of reduced funding and encourage our communities to help each other; we need that more than ever.

“I will take this opportunity to remind Islanders that the £93m reduction in council funding and decimation of services, is entirely down to this malevolent government and its lack of desire to help ordinary people. We will all have a chance to show Bob Seely later this year what we think. I urge you to take that opportunity.”