Latest news with #IsleofWightCouncil
Yahoo
5 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Scam warning over Household Support Fund
This article is from Sally Ash, IW Against Scams Partnership, and relates scam warnings connected to the Household Support Fund: The recent extension of the Department for Work and Pensions' Household Support Fund will indeed bring much-needed relief to vulnerable island households, but it also comes with the risk of scammers exploiting the situation. It's crucial for residents to be vigilant and verify the authenticity of any communication they receive regarding support. The Isle of Wight Council has been actively administering genuine support schemes through this fund. In recent months, they have assisted over 1,100 pensioner households with £75 towards utility costs and provided £25 supermarket vouchers to 290 households in financial crisis. If you have applied for utility or food support through the Isle of Wight Council or a partner organisation, you will receive a pre-paid card or voucher via email from noreply@ If you do not redeem the support, a reminder will be sent from support@ Personal details will never be requested via text or email, and bank details are not required for genuine support. For any doubts about the legitimacy of a message, you can contact the Partnerships and Support Services team at 823644 or via hsf@ A list of partner organisations involved in the scheme can be found on the Isle of Wight Council's webpage, Food vouchers and housing, HSF. You can also call the council's main contact centre on 821000 and ask for the team, if you are unsure. Stay safe and ensure you verify any communication to protect yourself from potential scams. Reporting a scam • For advice on scams call - Citizens Advice Consumer Helpline: 0808 250 5050 • To report a scam call - Action Fraud: 0300 123 2040 For more information on scams visit
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Re-elected council leader motivated by devolution
A council leader who survived a narrow re-election has said he is motivated to "finish the job" he started on devolution. Councillor Phil Jordan stays in charge of Isle of Wight Council following a tied vote on Wednesday. Councillor Ed Blake, leader of the Conservative group of councillors, received the same amount of support but lost out on a casting vote. East Cowes Councillor Karl Love was ousted as chair of the council after being replaced by Binstead and Fishbourne's councillor Ian Dore. Mr Jordan, the head of County Hall's Alliance group, has been a keen supporter of devolution and local government reorganisation. The changes will transfer powers and funding away from central government and allow decisions to be made locally. Portsmouth and Southampton city councils, along with Hampshire County Council and the Isle of Wight, voted to accept the government's offer to create a combined mayoral authority earlier this year. Mr Jordan said it was "vital" to maintain "consistency and continuity in our relationships and establish the best deal for our island in our negotiations with government". He continued: "This is a pivotal moment for our Island, and we have less than a year to get the best outcomes, the best funding, the best transfer of powers and the key asks I have already made, such as oversight of the ferries and additional funding for the island in a fair funding settlement. "It is not the moment for someone to be learning on the job or having doubts about the past two years of intense work. "Our island comes first, before personal wishes or aspirations and I am confident, and best placed, that I can deliver the best outcome for the Isle of Wight." You can follow BBC Hampshire & Isle of Wight on Facebook, X, or Instagram. Differing views as devolution plans progress Council mergers a 'threat', Portsmouth leader says Island must retain own council, devolution plan says Councils to submit joint mayor and devolution plan Isle of Wight Council
BBC News
22-05-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Isle of Wight council leader to 'finish the job' on devolution
A council leader who survived a narrow re-election has said he is motivated to "finish the job" he started on Phil Jordan stays in charge of Isle of Wight Council following a tied vote on Ed Blake, leader of the Conservative group of councillors, received the same amount of support but lost out on a casting Cowes Councillor Karl Love was ousted as chair of the council after being replaced by Binstead and Fishbourne's councillor Ian Dore. Mr Jordan, the head of County Hall's Alliance group, has been a keen supporter of devolution and local government changes will transfer powers and funding away from central government and allow decisions to be made and Southampton city councils, along with Hampshire County Council and the Isle of Wight, voted to accept the government's offer to create a combined mayoral authority earlier this year. Mr Jordan said it was "vital" to maintain "consistency and continuity in our relationships and establish the best deal for our island in our negotiations with government".He continued: "This is a pivotal moment for our Island, and we have less than a year to get the best outcomes, the best funding, the best transfer of powers and the key asks I have already made, such as oversight of the ferries and additional funding for the island in a fair funding settlement."It is not the moment for someone to be learning on the job or having doubts about the past two years of intense work."Our island comes first, before personal wishes or aspirations and I am confident, and best placed, that I can deliver the best outcome for the Isle of Wight." You can follow BBC Hampshire & Isle of Wight on Facebook, X, or Instagram.
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
"Fantastic news": council abandons community pantries funding cut
County Hall has made a U-turn on a decision cutting funding for Isle of Wight community pantries, described as 'fantastic news" for those dependent on them. Household Support Fund 7 (HSF) investment worth £295,000 has been allocated for the support hubs in a revised decision by cabinet member Cllr Debbie Andre, following a call-in of a prior decision denounced as 'cruel and heartless'. HSF 7 is a £742 million government funding package to support vulnerable households, distributed through unitary and county councils. Cllr Geoff Brodie, with the support of eight other councillors, called-in Cllr Andre's previous April 24 decision – a delivery plan allocating £1,994,369.25 in Isle of Wight HSF. Read more: Community pantries funding cut branded "cruel and heartless" They asked why community pantries were facing a 46 per cent funding cut despite overall Whitehall funding 'only being reduced by 12 per cent'. The council's revised Isle of Wight HSF delivery plan supports a range of initiatives including £530,000 in community grants, £400,000 in supermarket vouchers and a utility, food and white goods support scheme worth £350,000. Cllr Brodie described the updated decision as 'fantastic news for all those dependent on support from community pantries and larders'. Read more: Isle of Wight community pantries funding could be slashed Monique Gallop, a coordinator for Cowes Community Pantry, welcomed the change of plan, adding that the cut would have 'taken people's dignity away'. She said: 'It (the cut) would be huge. Between all the pantries, I'd say we have at least 300 people visit a week. Out of that 300, that's going to be at least a minimum of probably 900 people a week that survive off the food from the pantries. 'It would have had a dramatic effect.' The Isle of Wight Council have been approached for comment.
BBC News
19-05-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Isle of Wight road closure 'could end my pub', says landlord
A pub landlord has said the effect of a two-month road closure "could see the very end" of his major route on the Isle of Wight has been closed one-way to traffic travelling northbound from Newport to Cowes since last Westwood, landlord of the Stag Inn, said over three days "we saw two people through the doors".Isle of Wight Council said it "does not have the facility to provide for financial assistance to businesses due to roadworks". 'Catastrophic effect' Vehicles have been forced to take a more than seven-mile diversion to avoid the works, which aims to widen Horsebridge Hill and install a junction to a new housing estate."It's had a massive impact," Mr Westwood said."There's more tumble weeds than there are cars using the main road as everybody is using the diversion road in both directions, taking business seven miles out of the way..."He said compared to figures from last year at the same time it was having a "catastrophic effect". Mr Westwood has contacted the local authority to enquire about receiving some support but said the "answer I got was no, there won't be any business relief at all".He wants people to know businesses are still open and accessible on the main arterial Isle of Wight Council spokesperson said: "During temporary roadworks there is no facility for business rates relief to be claimed from the utility company or developer who is carrying out the work."The council does not have the facility to provide for financial assistance to businesses due to roadworks."For example, Ventnor businesses did not receive payments of this nature when Leeson Road was closed for six months as alternative routes were available."Horsebridge Hill has a diversion in place where the business is still accessible from Cowes to Newport by passing traffic and also local traffic flowing north of Nicholson Street."The council added for any form of compensation to be considered a report from an insurer's loss adjuster would have to demonstrate the roadworks alone were having a detrimental impact on a business. You can follow BBC Hampshire & Isle of Wight on Facebook, X, or Instagram.
