The Isle of Wight is a “postcode lottery” when it comes to young people accessing vital youth services, a Liberal Democrat councillor told County Hall yesterday evening.
Cllr Michael Lilley, representative for Ryde Appley and Elmfield, probed council leader Phil Jordan on what his Alliance administration would do to get “equality” for young people so they have “out of school youth provision right across this Island”.
He said:
“The youth services on this Island were cut in 2017 by the previous administration (Conservative).
"But a number of town, parish and community councils took action and provided services – in Ryde, Newport, Sandown, and also the voluntary sector in lots of ways.
“What you now have on the Island is a postcode lottery. If you’re lucky to go to Ryde or live in that area, you get extremely good youth services.
“But there are parts of this Island that do not.”
Cllr Jordan responded:
“Of course it’s a budgetary question because one of the reasons that the previous administration didn’t manage to continue is because of the financial position it was in, which we inherited.
“And unless we’re successful in additional funding, will continue into the committee system council.
“So it’s a question of can we find the money to fund youth services in a wider way than we do already?
“With the budget process coming up shortly, it will be an opportunity, if we can find the money, to put some money into it.”
The Isle of Wight Council is due to adopt a committee system of decision-making in May 2025 which will replace its current cabinet form of governance.
Following up, Cllr Lilley queried whether County Hall had any plans to work with parish, town and community councils to access money from national youth funds – something he said had happened in Sandown.
Cllr Jordan replied:
“We continue to work with the Isle of Wight Association of Local Councils (IWALC), and directly with town, parish and community councils.
“We do all we can to attract and be successful in grant funding, whether it’s youth services or any other grant funding availability.”
Cllr Clare Mosdell, Conservative group leader, said:
“Actually, the Conservatives did do a balanced budget – we only left because we didn’t get a majority at the election.
“The Alliance is still limping along at the moment, getting votes where you can.
“There is only one administration that walked away when they couldn’t balance the budget. Let’s try to be correct and not inflammatory please.”
National body the Local Government Association (LGA) described youth services as providing ‘essential support’ to young people, giving them a ‘safe place’, ‘trusted relationships’ and preventing them from getting into ‘negative situations’ in a publication from May last year.
The LGA added the services could reduce demand for ‘acute services’ later down the line and had potential economic value through improving education, employment and mental health.
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