Isle of Wight Council set its budget last night (22 February 2023).

Its council tax is up five per cent, but many services will be cut.

This is the result of yet another year in which the Conservative government has underfunded councils across England. For the Isle of Wight, we’re still waiting for an ‘Island Deal’ which covers the extra costs we face for being an island.

Together with my Lib Dem colleague Nick Stuart, I put forward an amendment (pdf document) to give the council greater flexibility in its plans to provide affordable homes for people in desperate need.

We wanted to divert funding from the amount set aside for new laptops and mobile phones in 2026/27, and for a £160,000 feasibility study for a cultural centre at Newport Harbour.

It wasn’t passed as Alliance group members together with some Conservative councillors and the single Labour councillor voted against.

I understand their reasons, but feel they missed an opportunity to provide help now for at least some desperate Islanders.