HOUSING, books and mobile phones are all areas in the Isle of Wight Council’s budget where the Liberal Democrat group is looking to make changes.

It is ahead of the council's crunch meeting on Wednesday, where it will decide its finances for the upcoming year.

So far the ruling Alliance Administration has put its proposals forward, which could see a 4.99 per cent council tax rise.

Now, in a 'radical rethink', the council's Liberal Democrat group is asking the Alliance to rearrange its priorities and put money towards its housing company, instead of replacing ICT equipment in 2026.

The group made of Cllrs Andrew Garratt and Nick Stuart, says the council must speed up its work to help address the lack of affordable housing to rent or buy on the Island as it is a continuing crisis.

To do so they have earmarked £310,000 to be given as equity capital to the council's housing company — through cutting future IT equipment and a feasibility study for a new cultural centre in Newport.

A four-year programme to replace around £1.6 million pounds worth of IT equipment has been queried by Cllr Garratt.

This would replace 1,349 laptops, 45 iPads, 22 tablets and 1,445 mobile phones.

Cutting the final year's funding, which would be £150,000, would see 280 fewer laptops and 680 fewer mobiles.

Cllr Garratt said the decision would allow bodies within the council to scrutinise the matter more.

The group also wants to remove the ringfenced funding for a £160,000 feasibility study for a new cultural centre in Newport.

The group would also like to restore the proposed cut to the library book fund, of £10,000.

Cllr Garratt said more money should be spent on it, as it is one of the council’s most accessible services.