Isle of Wight Council budget decided TONIGHT

If the ruling Alliance administration's budget is approved tonight (Wednesday), the average taxpayer, in a Band D property, could be paying nearly £90 more a year for the council's services.

At arguably the council's most important meeting of the year, the authority's future finances, price increases and service cuts will be decided.

The budget has been hailed by the Alliance group as one of the toughest ever, as it has had to contend with inflation, rising energy costs and what it calls a lack of government funding.

To help fill the council's coffers, all local authorities, including the Isle of Wight's, have been given permission by national government to raise the council tax for residents by five per cent — with two per cent going directly to adult social care. 

The Alliance's budget proposals could see:

• a rise in parking charges and bereavement service fees
• voluntary redundancies
• a cultural venue development in Ryde in partnership with the Shademakers
• parks and cemeteries not being maintained as regularly
• highways safety works on the A3056
• Floating Bridge prices rise back to pre-covid levels
• coastal protection scheme
• a cut to cross-Solent patient transport
• resurfacing of Queensgate's multi-use games area (MUGA)
• more electric vehicle charging points

Read more: Our rundown of what'll cost more and what'll be cut in latest council cash plan

Who has proposed alternative budgets? 

Two alternative budgets have been produced so far — from the Liberal Democrat group and by Cllr Geoff Brodie.

Both are proposing cuts to the IT budget, reducing the number of laptops and phones replaced in 2026/17, but keeping the level of council tax increase at five per cent.

In the Liberal Democrat proposals, the money cut would go towards funding capital for the council's housing company to speed up the production of affordable housing on the Island.

In Cllr Brodie's proposals, the money would be used to reinstate proposed cuts from the Alliance in adult social care — keeping the falls prevention co-ordinator at the Isle of Wight NHS Trust and the social care stroke support contract.

Read more: Desperate last plea to stop cuts to 'crucial' stroke support service

How much could your Isle of Wight Council Tax go up by?

• Band A - £57.64 - up to £1,211.74
• Band B - £67.25 - up to £1,413.70
• Band C - £76.85 - up to £1,615.65
• Band D - £86.46 - up to £1,817.61
• Band E - £105.67 - up to £2,221.52
• Band F - £124.89 - up to £2,625.44
• Band G - £144.10 - up to £3,029.35
• Band H - £172.92 - up to £3,635.22

The increase in council tax is also on top of rises in the fire and police precepts, as well as some town and parish councils on the Island.

The meeting starts at 5pm and is allowed to last for four hours.

You can view the agenda, associated papers and watch the meeting via the council's website here.