Budget 2007-8 COUNCIL ANNOUNCES UP TO £11M INVESTMENT IN ISLAND SERVICES THE IW COUNCIL has allocated millions of pounds for a series of schemes designed to make a positive and immediate impact on Island life. The One Island projects have been drawn up as a result of recent consultations with Islanders and will, therefore, address the key issues of concerns expressed by residents. They are designed to bring about improvements across all walks of Island life long the themes of Pride, Value and Respect. Details of the projects were outlined in the budget speech made on Wednesday night by IW Council leader Cllr Andy Sutton. They include the appointment of town managers, a massive overhaul of public toilets, the creation of a new company to ensure the successful running of the IW Games, free homecare packages, a new strategy to tackle homelessness, and a major audit of the Island's publicly-owned buildings. Also announced were the handing of more powers to town and parish councils and a major initiative to raise standards in Island schools. Other schemes - such as massive investment in road safety schemes and the One Million Blooms initiative to create imaginative and striking floral displays at sites across the Island - have already been announced but form part of the One Island campaign. After the budget meeting, Cllr Sutton said: "Our message has always been that consultations are not an exercise in lip service - not only do we listen to what we are told, we then act on it. These projects are a direct response to what residents have told us are the issues that they want to see addressed. It is also important to stress that we are able to invest so heavily in these worthwhile projects because of the prudent manner in which we conduct our financial business. We believe these One Island projects will make a big difference to the lives of residents as well as making the Island a better place for people to visit. And what is more, they have all been achieved while setting one of the UK's lowest council tax rises." | 
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