By Press Release
The evidence submitted by the Isle of Wight Council to the government is now being reviewed by officials, according to Isle of Wight MP, Bob Seely.
Over recent months officers and councillors have been responding to regular requests from the government for further information about the case for additional funding, in addition to sending other information that the council believes would strengthen the case. Council leader, Lora Peacey-Wilcox, said recently: “We are sending them information every week about the costs of being on the Island and explaining why we need extra cash.”
It is hoped the evidence provided will convince the government that delivering services on the Island costs at least an extra six million pounds a year than on the mainland and that they will give a grant to cover the difference.
Mr Seely said: “I’m keen that we keep the pressure on the government to right this wrong and that we provide officials with sound evidence to prove it costs more to provide local services on the Island than on the mainland.”
Mr Seely has twice voted to reduce funding for local government generally; in 2018 he supported the move to reduce the government grant to a level 28 per cent lower than in 2017/18, and in 2018 he voted to reduce it to 56 per cent lower than in 2017/18.
The last time the government recognised the Island’s need for additional funding was in 2002, when Labour’s Local Government Minister, Nick Raynsford, changed the funding rules in response to a cross-party campaign. He awarded the Island an extra £3 million a year through the Area Cost Adjustment, which covers variations in the cost of providing services for councils in England. Then council leader, Shirley Smart asked for the additional funding during a meeting attended by representatives of every political group on the council, organised by former MP, Andrew Turner.
Pictured: Shirley Smart
Mal Butler