Quick off the mark to capture the attention of the newly appointed Local Government Minister, MP Bob Seely held a last-minute debate in the House of Commons this week to brief Simon Hoare MP about the ongoing issue of Isle of Wight Council funding.
During his sixteen-minute speech, Mr Seely asked the Minister – who was just nine days into his new post - to commit to a permanent uplift to the council’s funding settlement. He said the fact that the Island had missed out in the fair funding review – due to the covid pandemic – was an historic injustice.
He explained: “The Isle of Wight is the largest island by population in England… and the only island authority in the UK that does not receive a permanent uplift to council funding to reflect the additional costs resulting from separation by sea from the mainland.”
He went on to say: “We negotiated last year what the Government described as a temporary uplift. It was about £1 million. I would like to see that uplift at the heart of an island settlement that is then, frankly, increased.”
Mr Hoare said he accepted that the challenges and opportunities faced by island communities differed greatly from those facing other authorities in England and recognised that the separation from the mainland by water could lead to increased costs in some areas.
He confirmed that his officials were assessing the evidence submitted by the Isle of Wight Council and intended to share a draft of the report for comment to council officers in due course.
The Minister also said he would be delighted to accept an invitation to visit the Isle of Wight which, Mr Seely assured him at the end of the debate, was already in his inbox.
Mr Seely added that an uplift in council funding was only part of a better deal he was seeking for the Island.
He said: "Working with other people, the NHS and the council, we have got and delivered a better deal for the Island.
“We have got major investment in the NHS, the railway has undergone significant repair, Isle of Wight College is about to be demolished and rebuilt, and both our levelling-up bids have been accepted. We have also saved shipbuilding in East Cowes and got £20 million from the towns fund for Ryde.
“We have £175 million in total, which is buying good things like a better health service, better jobs and better life chances for our constituents. I am proud of that record, but that £175 million is a capital sum. The issue is the annual funding settlement to the council. It is an element of getting a better deal. We have a better deal in many areas, but I want a better funding settlement for my council.”
