looking local revised version:la 1 04/01/2016 15:33 pae … · · 2016-01-04m7:-7>-:

Looking Local

Help shape the futureof your community

This newsletter has been produced by the Department of Infrastructure, Sea Terminal Building, Douglas, Isle of Man, IM1 2RF

January 2016

Ynnydoil as Scanshoil

>>>>> Local authority provisionis important. For instance, theservices involved are increasing innumber and extent and the cost isaround £60 million, a largeramount than the expenditure ofseveral government departments.

Moreover the scope, structure andfinancing of local and nationalgovernment are changing.

This means that each localauthority is in transition to a greater orlesser extent, as are its relationshipswith the other local authorities aroundit and with national government.

This is an ideal time to make yourcontribution in your local communityand to try to influence decisions thatwill help to shape the future where youlive.

Of course you are always able tomonitor provision and participate in the

debate about local authority decisions,but on 28th April 2016 you will havetwo additional opportunities whichnormally come around only every 4years.

It seems people who are elected ascouncillors and commissioners nextspring will have even moreresponsibility than they had in thepast. Why not stand as a candidate oruse your vote to elect someone youthink will do the job as you would likeit done?

Recently turnout in the localelections has been on average around30%, in one Local Authority as high as57%; but disappointingly it has fallenin some parts of our Island and has

been as low as 15%.

In some local elections more thanhalf of the local authorities have haduncontested elections.

How does that square with anaspiration to provide local services at alocal level, as surely local people knowtheir own communities better thananyone else?

This leaflet is produced in part inresponse to thisissue.Uncontestedelections andpoor voterturnout shouldbe a thing ofthe past.

Introduction from Mr Chris Thomas MHK, Member ofthe Department of Infrastructure with responsibilityfor local authorities

LOOKING LOCAL REVISED VERSION:Layout 1 04/01/2016 15:33

Andreas Commissioners

Telephone: 897686

Email: No email

Website: No website

Arbory Commissioners

Telephone: 823896

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.arbory.org

Ballaugh Commissioners

Telephone: 897686

Email: No email

Website: No website

Braddan Commissioners

Telephone: 852808


Website: www.braddan.im

Bride Commissioners

Telephone: 819235


Website: No website

Castletown Commissioners

Telephone: 825005


Website: www.castletown.gov.im

Douglas Borough Council

Telephone: 696300


Website: www.douglas.im

German Commissioners

Telephone: 816112


Website: www.germancommissioners.im

Jurby Commissioners

Telephone: 897686

Email: No email

Website: No website

Laxey Commissioners

Telephone: 861241


Website: www.laxey.org

Lezayre Commissioners

Telephone: 890183


Website: www.lezayreparish.org

Lonan Commissioners

Telephone: 861321


Website: www.lonan.org

Useful contacts More about whatlocal authorities do>>>>> These are certainlyinteresting times for localauthorities and their role isevolving, but what do they donow?

Recently there have been 24 town,district, village and parish authorities plusadditional bodies for things like housing,waste management and regionalswimming pools, which are constituted asjoint committees and boards.

Currently their responsibilities vary, butmay include waste collection, housing,street-lighting, public toilets, parks,playgrounds and other leisure facilities, carparking, environmental health, control ofdogs and the enforcement of localbyelaws.

This wide disparity in services providedby different authorities is one reason thatlocal authorities also vary widely in termsof their size and cost.

The largest, Douglas Borough Council,has gross expenditure of around£30million — half the total of all localauthorities — and more than 200employees, whereas several of the smallerparishes have expenditure under£100,000.

Local authorities all operate within thesame legal framework, but they have

chosen to deliver services in differentways, for instance some using outsidecontractors more than others.

All local authorities receive rates butthey differ greatly in terms of whatproportion rates represent of their totalincome.

Some have additional income fromhousing rents, from providing other publicservices, from grants and from what aretermed ‘deficiency’ payments from nationalgovernment, for instance for housing.

The domestic rating system wasreviewed by a Tynwald committee whichreported at the end of 2014, and Treasuryis developing a new system and re-valuingproperties.

Unfortunately this work is delayed dueto pressures on legislative drafting timeand will not now be completed in 2016.

The various Commissioners and theCouncil work in different ways althoughthe structure itself is universal.

Some authorities meet in the daytime,but most meet in the evening. Some of theauthorities have committees, others just amain Commissioners meeting. Somepolitical members receive attendanceallowances, others choose not to do so.

It is hoped that this leaflet willencourage interest and participation.

>>>>> You cannot vote inHouse of Keys or local authorityelections unless you are on theelectoral register.

And if you don’t vote, you can’t makeyour voice heard!

The register is revised every threemonths, with updates effective fromJanuary 1, April 1, July 1 and October 1.Applications for inclusion on the electoralregister need to be made before 18thMarch.

You also need to be on the electoralregister to stand as a candidate in a localauthority election.

Further information is available fromthe Electoral Registration Unit, Crown andElections, Cabinet Office, GovernmentOffice, Bucks Road, Douglas, IM1 3PN,email [email protected] or call 685754.

Make sure you register to vote


Malew Commissioners

Telephone: 823522


Website: www.malewparish.org

Marown Commissioners

Telephone: 851630


Website: www.marown.im

Maughold Commissioners

Telephone: 819690


Website: www.maughold.org.im

Michael Commissioners

Telephone: 878836


Website: www.michaelcommissioners.com

Onchan Commissioners

Telephone: 675564


Website: www.onchan.org.im

Patrick Commissioners

Telephone: 803031


Website: No website

Peel Commissioners

Telephone: 842341


Website: www.peelonline.net

Port Erin Commissioners

Telephone: 832298


Website: www.porterin.gov.im

Port St Mary Commissioners

Telephone: 832101


Website: www.portstmary.gov.im

Ramsey Commissioners

Telephone: 810100


Website: www.ramsey.gov.im

Rushen Commissioners

Telephone: 834501


Website: www.rushen-commissioners.com

Santon Commissioners

Telephone: 822761


Website: www.santon.org.uk

Useful contacts

>>>>> For more than a centurylocal authorities have usedratepayer funds to provideservices within their local areas.In more recent years theprovision of some of theseservices has been transferred toGovernment or other bodies orpart-financed by taxpayers.

Proposals for comprehensive localauthority reorganisation have been aroundsince at least the Second World War, buthave typically been less than fullyimplemented, usually following disputebetween government and one or morelocal authorities.

Recently the focus has been on givingthe opportunity to local authorities to havea bigger say in how their towns, villagesand parishes are run.

For instance last year some highwaymaintenance functions were transferrede.g. hedge cutting, street sweeping, vergeclearing and weed spraying; and the old‘sheading’ name of Garff is being re-usedfor a new local authority which merges thevillage and parishes of Laxey, Lonan andMaughold.

Policy development sessions andregional meetings are taking place toexplore the potential to identify the currentminimum standards for waste collectionacross the Island. This includesconsideration of policies on reuse andrecycling, as well as on the operation ofcivic amenity sites.

Peel Town Commissioners and the fourwestern parishes worked together with theexisting western sheltered housingprovider to develop a business case for aproposed Western Housing Authority in2014.

Regional housing working groups areinvestigating options for reducing the 14public housing waiting lists and alsoconsidering what synergies exist inhousing provision and how they could beconsolidated.

Beyond that Ramsey TownCommissioners worked with nationalgovernment housing officers and a privatedeveloper to expand and broaden theamount of affordable housing in the north,one example of several similar affordablehousing initiatives.

Local authoritymodernisation

JOINING FORCES: The Garff Initiative

In June 2015 the operation of twoDouglas car parks – Chester and DrumgoldStreets – was transferred to DouglasCouncil which is now leading a workinggroup including national government,business and other representatives toconsider Douglas access and parkingissues more generally.

The Municipal Association, whichincludes most local authorities asmembers, is now regularly discussingmatters with national politicians and civilservants.

A local authority Clerks Forum hasbeen established where good practice canbe shared.

These are just some examples of hownational government and local authoritiesare now exploring the potential to agreenew arrangements, the standards thatwould apply to delivery, and what valuewill arise.

This collaborative approach to localauthority transition has achieved solidprogress in a relatively short time.

Getting round a table to work throughissues and identify pragmatic responses isworking.

The process is aimed to encouragetransition and to allow local authorities toorganise themselves to best meet theneeds of their communities.

Collaborative working among organisations


>>>>> The local authorityelections on 28 April 2016 arewithout doubt the most importantfor many years.

This could be a defining moment inlocal government and will no doubt havean impact on the House of Keys election.

The range and scope of transformationalready under way, combined with thepotential for many more exciting initiativesaimed at modernising the relationshipbetween central government and localauthorities, restoring local pride,enhancing service delivery and leveragingreal cash savings mean this is too good anopportunity to miss.

Make sure you don’t.

Everyone involved appreciates feedback and yours is valuable.

1. Do you think the transfer of highways maintenance functions from national tolocal government progressed smoothly, and are the new arrangements working?

2. Are national and local government making sufficient information andanalysis available to see how the provision you are getting compares withthat which others are getting?

3. Is the move to pass responsibilities to modernised local authorities likely toencourage you to vote or stand for election?

4. How effective and efficient is your own local authority in terms ofusing the rates and charges you pay to provide the services you want? Doyou have any suggestions for making improvements?

5. What practical implications are there for governance and finance?

In the first instance, please send comments, together with your name andaddress to the Local Government Unit, Department of Infrastructure, Sea TerminalBuilding, Douglas, IM1 2RF email: [email protected]

General Election for

Local Authorities

Local Government is YOUR Government

Have your say and make a difference to

your community and to our Island’s future

Local A

uthority

Elections

28th April 2016

Use your vote on

28th April 2016

For further information about Local Authorityelections, including guidance for candidates and

helpful advice on how to vote, search LocalAuthority Elections on the Government website

or contact your Local Authority

/IOMLocalAuthorityNewsandElections @iominfra

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What do you think ..?The next steps


looking local revised version:la 1 04/01/2016 15:33 pae … · · 2016-01-04m7:-7>-:

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