Have your say on how the Isle of Wight Council should spend its money

The Isle of Wight Council today (Monday, 16 December) launches a public consultation to give Islanders the opportunity to have their say on how it should spend its money next year.

The annual budget consultation is now underway — seeking feedback from all Island residents about the priorities they want to see in the coming year. These views will help shape the draft budget for the 2025/26 financial year.

Each year the council is required to balance its budget so that spending does not exceed income from council tax, grants and other sources. 

Councillor Ian Stephens, Cabinet member for finance, said: "Budget setting is a complex matter and whatever we do, we can’t please everyone.

"Although the Island's finances are well managed, local authority funding continues to be extremely challenging and the Isle of Wight Council is not alone in having to consider difficult decisions to deliver a balanced budget. 

"Higher costs and rapidly rising demand have increased the cost of providing vital services to residents. As a result, the way in which we use our financial resources is becoming more constrained.

“Feedback from residents is essential in informing decision-making and making sure that the budget is spent on the right things. We hope lots of people will take this opportunity to tell us what is important to them.

"In setting the budget for next year we remain committed to working with other organisations and residents to deliver services we can be proud of."

Every year, the council spends around £500 million providing public services that Islanders use every day.

Most of the council’s budget is spent on looking after those people who need us most, through adult social care and children’s services.

The council won't know exactly what its settlement from the government is until later in December.

Council leader, Councillor Phil Jordan, added: "Every year we have to make increasingly difficult decisions about how to spend the money we receive. Higher costs and increasing demand mean our funding doesn't go as far as it used to, and this can only be resolved in the long term by central government.

"We continue to make our case to senior ministers for an improved 'Island Deal' to provide additional funding for the additional and unique costs that we face by providing council services on the Island. Having said that, any additional funding is unlikely to cover the extent of the financial pressures being experienced and therefore the council will need to make savings.

"In identifying areas to make savings the priority is to protect the most vulnerable residents, minimise the impact on frontline services and work to transform services to ensure they continue to be delivered effectively efficiently and focused on our customers."

Residents are encouraged to complete the consultation survey and have their say by Sunday, 26 January. Responses are anonymous and the survey should take no more than ten minutes to complete. 

People can also email any comments or suggestions to budget@iow.gov.uk

Printed copies of the survey are available on request.

Consultation feedback will inform a draft of the budget, which will be considered by the council’s Cabinet and Full Council in February 2025.