THE Isle of Wight Council has set its budget and council tax for 2021/22, with an emphasis on major investment to help recover and rebuild the Island as it comes out of the global coronavirus pandemic, County Hall has insisted.

On Wednesday, the Full Council agreed the budget, which included a council tax increase of 1.99 per cent for general requirements plus three percent specifically for adult social care - equivalent to £1.37 per week for a band C property.

The council has also approved a £56 million capital programme, including investment in new affordable housing, coastal defence and protection schemes, schools, IT infrastructure and highway improvements.

Council leader, Dave Stewart, said: "Following the coronavirus pandemic, we find ourselves having to deal with perhaps the most challenging circumstances local authorities have ever faced in trying to set a balanced budget.

"In setting this budget, we faced some difficult choices to achieve the £3.5 million of savings required. However, only £1.8 million of this figure is new savings of which the majority are from service efficiencies.

"This budget ensures we are able to continue to protect our community going forward, including an extra £6 million for adult social care and children's services."

Through the budget the council has stated it will:

  • Support on average more than 3,000 people in adult social services at any point in time.
  • Support on average 1,300 children through children’s services at any point in time.
  • Each year collect and dispose of 24,000 tonnes of household general waste and 33,000 tonnes of recycling and composting.
  • Enable more than 1,000 children to travel by bus to school and another 220 to travel by taxi.
  • Provide council tax support to more than 10,500 households of which nearly 50 per cent receive maximum relief;
  • Fund more than three million free bus journeys for people over pensionable age.

The pandemic and financial situation means there are some areas of savings required, such as the level of support offered through the Local Council Tax Support scheme.

A vital hardship fund will continue for those in most need and more funding is due from the Government to manage the expected increases in applications to the scheme.