Council Services

Services

The Isle of Wight Council is a unitary authority, meaning it provides all local government services rather than splitting responsibilities between county and district councils. This has been the case since 1995, when the previous two-tier structure was replaced. The council is based at County Hall in Newport.

As a unitary authority, the council handles planning, highways, education, social services, housing, waste collection, environmental health, leisure and libraries. It also manages the crematorium, registration services, trading standards and public health. Council tax bills cover all these services in a single charge.

Waste collection operates on a fortnightly schedule for general waste and recycling. The island has a materials recovery facility and a waste management centre. Green waste collection is available by subscription. The council has faced challenges meeting recycling targets, partly due to the cost of transporting recyclable materials to mainland processing facilities.

Planning is a key council function, with decisions balancing housing need against environmental protection in the AONB and Biosphere Reserve. The Island Planning Strategy sets the framework for development. Parish and town councils operate below the unitary level, managing local facilities and providing a community voice on planning and other matters.

The council's budget has faced significant pressure, like most local authorities. Service reductions and efficiency savings have been necessary, and council tax on the island is relatively high compared to mainland authorities.