Infrastructure Minister Phil Gawne MHK has this week written to local authorities around the Isle of Man to start a discussion on the possibility of more local services being delivered at a local level.
This is a fact-finding initiative to determine if there is a willingness among local authorities to take on additional responsibility for functions currently provided by central government. The aim is to share views and information and to consider the future of service provision in an open and transparent way.
The letter follows a series of meetings with local authorities attended by Minister Gawne, Chris Robertshaw MHK, Minister for Policy and Reform, and Richard Ronan MHK, Minister for Environment, Food and Agriculture. The Ministers are continuing to explore the options for giving local authorities the power to make decisions on services they believe could be better delivered at a local level.
Minister Gawne said:
‘Local services for local people delivered at a local level is something I feel passionately about. I hope that most, if not all, local authorities will welcome this opportunity to discuss the delivery of more services in the community. The pressure for some kind of reform is becoming overwhelming and this is a genuine attempt to start an honest and objective dialogue.’
He added:
‘At this stage, I am calling for local authorities to take part in an informal gathering of views. No decisions have been taken.’
In relation to the Department of Infrastructure, Minister Gawne is inviting preliminary discussion 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 would retain responsibility for these services on strategic routes around the Isle of Man. In all other areas it is proposed that these functions could be undertaken by the local authority.
It is being suggested that any increase in costs to ratepayers from the transfer of services could be offset by freezing the proposed rise in waste disposal costs for local authorities. This would ensure a minimal impact on rates for 2015/16.
Minister Gawne said:
‘As I have stated, this is the start of a conversation with local authorities on the possibility of transferring appropriate functions from central to local government. If we get this right it could be a defining moment in the development of a stronger system of local government for the Manx people.’
