The 2024/25 Budget for the Isle of Wight Council has been prepared by the the Alliance Group and is to be debated on Wednesday 28 February 2024.
The Conservative Group believes this is a very weak budget and needs robust proposals to deal with the failures of the last three years of Alliance leadership of the council. The Conservative councillors have worked together with the Empowering Islander Group to create a package of innovative budget alternatives. These are going to be proposed in a budget motion for debate on Wednesday 28 March.
These proposals include:
- Better care for our looked after children by investing in a new residential care home here on the island,
- Build new modular housing to provide speedy homes for those currently in temporary accommodation,
- Accelerate the delivery of affordable homes on surplus council land,
- Build new solar car ports over council car parks to generate renewable energy and power more electric car charging,
- Urgently undertake a feasibility study for the future options of maintaining the A3055 from Luccombe to Freshwater, including the Military Road,
- New Digital Technology Aids to improve Adult Social Care in the Community and allow residents to stay in their own home for longer.
Clare Mosdell, leader of the Conservative Group, said
The Alliance-led cabinet has ignored some big issues facing the island in their budget proposals this year, as they did last year, and our alternative package of costed projects show the opportunities possible to improve our social care, housing and infrastructure with more innovative thinking.