The Isle of Wight's Conservative councillors have hit back at claims an 'ongoing failure of Government to treat the Island differently' is responsible for the latest raft of planned cuts, due to be decided on February 22.

The biggest opposition party has called County Hall colleagues 'wasteful'.

The seventeen members of the Conservative Group have slammed decisions to 'write-off' cash they say could have been recovered - including £370,000 spent on the cancelled Isle of Wight leg of the Tour of Britain.

Conservative Group Leader Cllr Joe Robertson said: "I acknowledge the tough financial circumstances. The Budget makes grim reading because the Alliance-led Council has not kept its own house in order.

"No amount of complaining and pointing the finger at others will mask the fact the council is squandering money it already has and writing-off money it is owed, while hiking Council Tax to the maximum for hard-pressed Islanders."

  • A rise of 4.99 per cent is on the cards, subject to a final decision later this month.
  • The Alliance Group's 2023/24 budget would also see prices go up at Dinosaur Isle, job roles cut and parking become more expensive, among a raft of measures

On Thursday, Alliance Group members called it the 'harsh and stark reality' of 'persistent, irresponsible austerity measures' and asked "people pause to think about why we have to produce a budget like this and consider what the alternative might be." 

However, Conservative group leader, Cllr Joe Robertson said: "The council failed to ask for a single penny back of the £370,000 it spent on the Tour of Britain contract that was cancelled last year.

"At the same time the budget proposes to hike fees in bereavement services by £300,000 and cut support to those forced to travel to the mainland for medical appointments.

"The council is currently spending £1.3 million on replacing windows, heating and lighting at County Hall, which sits half empty and could be redeveloped for affordable homes and retail.

"Meanwhile the Alliance wants to hike parking charges, to the tune of £340,000, which amounts to a tax on high street shopping, at a time when small businesses are trying to recover from the effects of Covid-19."

He also took aim at a housing company, set up to invest Government loans but which he says is lying dormant and also criticised a proposal to spend cash on re-housing Islanders in temporary accommodation.

Cllr Chris Quirk, finance spokesman, said: "Presenting a balanced budget is all very well but with an overspend and raid on reserves last year, to the tune of £6 million, what assurances can the Alliance give that they will actually stick to the Budget this year?

"Since being elected nearly two years ago they have depleted the Council’s reserves and they cannot afford another substantial over-spend in the coming year. That is the hard reality of failing to manage the Council's finances properly." 

In 2020, when Conservatives last led the Isle of Wight Council, a Council Tax rise of 3.99 per cent was agreed (the maximum allowed).

Former leader, Dave Stewart, announced the news he had 'balanced the books' as a legal requirement of the local authority.