Plans to reform IOM's local authorities progress

Proposed new laws governing the Isle of Man's local authorities, which include a "contentious" clause that has been criticised by them, have cleared their final hurdle in the parliament's upper chamber.

New clause five within the Local Government Amendment Bill 2023 would give the Department of Infrastructure (DoI) powers to impose new functions without financial support.

Although the authorities previously criticised this element, the rest of the bill was seen as an improvement that would support them.

At its final reading in the Legislative Council, Rob Mercer said it had been scrutinised by MLCs and appropriate safeguards had been introduced.

He said it was "an important piece of legislation which will help to modernise local government on the island".

Mercer said it was important to remember that the "main driver" behind the bill was the recommendations made by a Tynwald select committee looking at local authority governance.

That work stemmed from a petition for redress of grievance calling for "robust legally binding guidelines, rules or regulations being introduced to clarify the responsibilities of members of local authorities", including a public register of interests.

He said the bill also introduced amendments relating to codes of conduct and to access to meetings and documents, which would "improve the governance of the island's local authorities and make them more open and transparent".

Other changes to existing laws included updating the provisions on joint boards and changing the way by-laws were approved, Mercer said, so that they would only require departmental approval, thereby streamlining the process.

Ahead of Tuesday's sitting, chairman of Peel Commissioners Ray Harmer – who had previously criticised parts of the legislation – said the changes put forward by the council would "mitigate" some of the issues raised.

The council heard there was some opposition from the Department of Infrastructure to an amendment made by Gary Clueit during the previous stage of the bill in the upper chamber, which would see the operation of the new laws reviewed after three years.

However, Mr Clueit said he would be willing to work with members of the House of Keys to agree any changes to that, rather than withdraw that amendment entirely.

MLCs approved the final reading of the bill, and the changes it made will now be considered by MHKs in the new year.

Additional reporting by the Local Authority Reporting Service.

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