Our spending plans

The council's spending plans are set each year by full council usually at a February meeting. This follows consultation with the public on budget priorities and savings plans.

In 2024/25 the Isle of Wight Council plans to spend £408.2 million on providing services for the Island.

Portfolio Expenditure

2024-25 (£000's)

2023-24 (£000's)

Adult Social Care and Public Health

107,775

104,338

Children's Services, Education and Corporate Functions

55,907

54,479

Climate Change, Biosphere and Waste

7,845

7,332

Deputy Leader, Housing and Finance

88,276

75,471

Economy, Regeneration, Culture and Leisure

8,227

10,003

Leader, Transport and Infrastructure, Highways PFI and Transport Strategy, Strategic Oversight and External Partnerships

25,692

28,692

Planning, Coastal Protection and Flooding

2,620

4,364

Regulatory Services, Community Protection and ICT

11,336

11,388

Schools Budget

100,516

105,247

Strategic Finance, Transformational Change and Corporate Resources

83,957

63,493

Schools Budget

102,637

97,746

Total Expenditure

408,193

401,313

Contribution (to)/from Balance and Reserves

-1,180

-928

Business rates, grants, fees and charges

-286,825

-272,264

Estimated collection fund (surplus)/deficit b/f (Council Tax)

-1,266

725

Council Tax Requirement

-103,830

-98,309

In additional to its day-to-day budget, the council also plans to invest in capital schemes which support the delivery of its overall objectives. The council has budgeted a total of £195 million over the next 5 years for projects including:

  • maintenance and improvement of schools building and equipment, £12 million
  • provision and adaptions of housing, £51 million
  • coastal defences, £42 million
  • highways and transport infrastructure, £29 million
  • regeneration, £31 million

Further details can be found in the budget setting report taken to February 2024 full council for approval.

The council's treasury management strategy is taken to Audit and Governance Committee for approval. The Isle of Wight Council defines its treasury management activities as “the management of the organisation’s investments and cash flows, its banking, money market and capital market transactions, the effective control of the risks associated with those activities, and the pursuit of optimum performance consistent with those risks”. Treasury risk management at the council is conducted within the framework of the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy’s Treasury Management in the Public Services: Code of Practice 2017 Edition (the CIPFA Code) which requires the council to approve a treasury management strategy before the start of each financial year. This strategy fulfils the council’s legal obligation under the Local Government Act 2003 to have regard to the CIPFA Code.