Concerns over the future funding of Isle of Wight Council were raised directly at a meeting between Joe Robertson MP and the Local Government Minister this week, amid plans to reduce local authority funding over the next three years.
Joe Robertson said, "I met with the Local Government Minister to make the case for an improved financial settlement for our Isle of Wight Council over the next three years. The Government are planning to reduce funding when they should be increasing it in order to recognise the increased cost of delivering services on an island. The previous Government gave modest increases on a year-by-year basis: £4 million in the year before the election. The current Government is doing the opposite. The Council Leader has written to the Government highlighting a £13.4 million shortfall and warning of the "profound financial consequences". I put his letter directly in front of the Minister. The Government will be making a final decision within days, but I am not optimistic."
