AFTER 'far too many years of cuts', the Isle of Wight Council wants to move away from the 'ingrained' approach.

Five months into their new roles, the Alliance administration has published its four-year corporate plan, subject to cabinet approval, setting out how they would like to take the Isle of Wight Council forward.

Speaking about the plan, to the corporate scrutiny committee, leader of the council, Cllr Lora Peacey-Wilcox, said it is a new direction for the council; moving away from the 'process of managing decline and ongoing cuts'.

Cllr Peacey-Wilcox said it would not be easy to change the approach but it was something they must do, and hoped the 50 point plan would help do just that.

The plan says since 2010, the council has been required to make savings of nearly £130 million and has been required to substantially reduce the level of service offered to the community in 'almost everything it does'.

An aim of the Alliance Group, to address the funding shortfall the authority faces, is by 'replacing the current failing approach to securing the Island Deal' and will try to achieve that by 'actively pursuing' legislation changes, working with the Island's MP, to secure that by December 2024.

Another aim is to 'actively pursue' a government-imposed public service obligation on Cross-Solent services.

Other aims included in the 50 point list include investing as much money as possible on the Island, reintroducing CCTV monitoring where needed to support public safety and finding a 'permanent working solution' to the Floating Bridge problems, which may 'if appropriate' be done by scrapping and replacing it.

Overall, the corporate plan has three key targets: to increase the provision of affordable housing for Island residents; respond to climate change and enhancing the biosphere and support economic recovery and growth.

Actions have been set against each target which the Alliance administration hopes will improve aspects of Island life.

The plan was due to go before cabinet yesterday (Thursday) for approval, before being presented to the full Isle of Wight Council in November, but the meeting was been postponed.