Infrastructure Minister Phil Gawne MHK says he is encouraged by the positive response to proposals for more local services to be delivered at a local level.
The Minister last month wrote to all 24 local authorities to start a discussion on the possible transfer of functions such as hedge cutting, street sweeping and off-street parking.
He described the move as having the potential to be a ‘defining moment in the development of a stronger system of local government for the Manx people.’
Many local authorities have indicated a willingness to take on additional responsibility for a range of services that are currently provided by central government. Others have made a commitment to further explore the opportunity.
Minister Gawne has held meetings with Town, Port, Village and Parish Commissioners this month to explain the proposal in more detail, respond to questions and gather feedback.
He said:
‘Delivering more local services in the community is something I feel passionately about. I believe that local authorities should be given the power to make decisions on functions that we all agree would be better delivered at a local level. The current exercise is aimed at discussing the options and seeing if there is an appetite for change.’
He added:
‘The initial response has been encouraging. I have followed up my letter with a series of face-to-face meetings with local authority members and many have already signed up to the idea. It is important to point out that no firm decisions have been made, but there appears to be a general desire to take these discussions to the next level.’
Minister Gawne is continuing to assess the preliminary feedback on the possible transfer of services, including:
- Hedge cutting
- Street sweeping
- Gully emptying
- Public toilet provision
- Minor local road safety matters
- Minor pavement repairs
- Weed spraying, verge trimming and tidying
- Off-street parking
The Department of Infrastructure would retain responsibility for these services on strategic routes around the Isle of Man – the ones that carry the highest levels of traffic between the main towns. In all other areas it is proposed that the functions could be undertaken by the local authorities.
In order to minimise the impact on ratepayers, Minister Gawne has agreed that any increase in costs from the transfer of services would be offset by freezing the previously agreed rise in waste disposal charges for local authorities for 2015-16.
The Minister said:
‘These discussions build on the work I have been progressing with Ministers Robertshaw and Ronan. We will now enter more detailed talks and if agreement can be reached some of the services currently undertaken by my Department will be transferred to local authorities by April 2015. We have set ourselves a tight timescale, but with goodwill on all sides we can make this happen. I believe this is the start of a generational shift in the relationship between central and local government.’
