Local government bill is 'death to democracy'

Proposals that would give the Isle of Man government the power to impose functions from local authorities without financial aid would symbolise "death to democracy", a legislative council hearing has heard.

Evidence from 16 of the island's 21 local authorities was put forward to Members of the Legislative Council (MLCs) regarding the Local Government Amendment Bill 2023.

The legislation includes clauses that would strengthen the publication of minutes, declaration of interests and expenses.

All 21 local authorities called for a clause giving the government such powers - which Braddan Commissioner Andrew Jessop referred to as "death to democracy" - to be struck out from the bill.

During the Legislative Council hearing, chairman of Marrown Commissioners, Eliza Cox, said: "If major functions were passed to us, we would be unable to handle it effectively, and the weight of funding them would be passed on to rate-payers."

Douglas Council lead, Devon Watson, said after the hearing that the change would "completely undermine the local autonomy and independence of local authorities and would rewrite their relationship with national government."

Infrastructure Minister Michelle Haywood, Ramsey Member of the House of Keys (MHK) Lawrie Hooper, who proposed the controversial clause, and Chief Officer Emily Curphey were in attendance on behalf of the Department of Infrastructure.

Tony Brown, chairman of Castletown Commissioners, said the move was "extreme" and argued local authorities were being criticised by government, "who themselves don't have a great track record for providing the services that the public want".

He added it "flies in the face of democracy".

Chairman of Arbory and Rushen Commissioners, Kirrie Jenkins, argued the move would replace collaboration with "command and control" – and the current clause was "wholly" out of step with "neighbours" in the UK and Channel Islands.

Haywood said it was "obviously" something that local authorities felt "threatened by", but questioned why if they were providing services they knew residents wanted.

"I don't think all of our communities are solid in the levels of services they are getting," she continued.

"I think there is universal understanding that the rest of the bill needs to go through, which there were very few concerns about, and they are measures that we need, to bring local government into the 21st Century," she said.

She added she would work with local authorities if the bill was approved, and said she championed local authorities.

Following the evidence session, the Legislative Council voted unanimously to move the bill to the clauses stage where it will decide whether to keep, amend or remove the controversial clause from the bill.

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