Environment - Are you happy with the services the Island Council provide.

(Environment)  »  Are you happy with the services the Island Council provide.

Administrator - The Island Council have now produced their draft budget and there are increases in costs announced (parking permits up by over 100% to name just one). Added to this there are cuts in social care for the elderly and most vulnerable of the community. What are your views on the budget and what questions would you like asked of the Leader of the Council when he visits Bembridge on Wednesday evening?

Sherman Potter - As this topic didn't exsist this morning, I have pasted my post from then here: I see the IWC has produced its proposed budget. Better make sure you all have lots of nice questions for 'Our David' on Wednesday evening: £ General ten per cent increase in parking charges. £ Raising cost of IW residents’ parking permit from £75 to £200 and 24-hour permit to £300. Raising cost of pensioner’s permit from £50 to £200. HOW MUCH?? This is a vast increase and nothing is provided to encourage people to use public transport. Quite the opposit in fact: £ Scrapping free bus and rail travel during peak and off-peak periods for IW residents suffering severe mental health problems and their assistants. £ Student rider fare increase to £1.20. £ Increase fares on Wightbus by 6.7 per cent. £ Scrap tourist parking permits. Because that will encourage people to visit the island. £ Axe parish community grass-cutting budget. £ Axe IW Council contribution to parish training budget. £ Reduce members’ budget for training course fees, conference expenses, off-Island travel expenses and printing costs. £ Delete diversity training post. So, all elected member are un-trained and the grass cutting has to be paid for by each parish or left to grow and make the place look like the Amazon rain forests - nice way to welcome the visitor! £ Carry out a review of council street, beaches, parks and countryside inspection functions to avoid duplication. This means getting rid of them and letting the parks & beaches turn into s*** holes. £ Axing Saturday respite service. People will be assessed for personal budgets and where they do meet the criteria, will be directed to the Alzheimer’s cafe. No sick people wanted over here please. Be easier if you shuffle off and die. It is funny how there is no part in the proposed budget that says "Senior Council Officers to take a pay cut and cap their salary at £45K" Will the last person to leave the island, turn the gas off please. So, services vanish - I suspect we will see a statement saying "For your convienence, we have incresed parking charges" very soon. A point in fact: The IWC state that parking charges will increase by 10this is for the Pay & Display ones) Now, call me sceptical, but parking in Newport High Street for half an hour costs 90p. If we add the 10ise, this equals 99p. Hands up who here thinks this will be the final charge? It will be £1. So as Mr Tesco's says: "Every Little Helps" And don't for one second think that a 5p increase will happen, it will always be rounded up to the nearest 10p. Nice work if you can get it. Whilst Cllr Pugh may be the leader of the IWC, he is not, I'm sure, sat at home with an abacus and chalkboard, doing his sums. This proposed budget has come from the depths of County Hall, by a team of over-rated (and over-paid) officers of the IWC, desperate to protect their expense accounts and pensions. And come the time when the elected members have to vote on this, the same officers will throw their hands up and shout "budget cuts are killing us" It's all very much like "Yes Minister" - the Elected Member has no control over the Civil Service!

Angry resident - On top of all these savage cuts there will also be a substantial rise in council tax. How much more do the 'powers that be' think they can bleed from us?

Superluke2 - Angry reident. You forgot those who bought an ECO car to get free parking. No good any more have to pay full price! Eco Island Bah humbug.

Woody Woodpecker - Don't have a car then, get the bus or a bike, much more Eco friendly. Isle of Wight Council, rubbish.