Local Government Amendment Bill 'solving the wrong problem', says Peel Commissioners

Ray Harmer believes if introduced it could have a 'significant impact' on residents

The chair of Peel Commissioner claims the Local Government Amendment Bill is 'solving the wrong problem'.

This afternoon, members of the Legislative Council will be hearing from nearly all 21 local authorities before deciding whether to support the House of Keys and progress the bill or reject it.

Ray Harmer says if the bill is approved by the Legislative Council, it could have a 'significant' impact on ratepayers.

A consultation was initially created in 2017, under former Department of Infrastructure minister now Peel Commissioner Ray Harmer, to improve the delivery of local services and increase transparency within local authorities.

It was introduced following a Tynwald Select Committee.

However the bill, which was created in 2021, was shelved numerous times and was brought back in 2023 with updates relating to interests, minute taking and expenses.

An amendment to the bill was then added by departmental member Lawrie Hooper which said would mean new functions could be imposed without providing extra money and introducing 'standards' for work carried out. 

This was introduced without consulting local authorities.

Mr Hooper, who introduced the amendment said in March this year that the bill is not a ‘particularly contentious’ piece of legislation.  

His amendment also included making individual members of local authorities personally responsible for failures – but this has since been removed from the bill.

Mr Hooper says he introduced this amendment because he wanted to ensure there is 'parity' of service provision in each constituency and believes there shouldn't be a 'postcode lottery' for people to get what they need:

Another former DoI minister Chris Thomas, called the bill ‘a mess’ and had asked local authorities to contact him for their opinions.

The hearing this afternoon will see the members of Legislative Council take evidence from each of the local authorities about their opinions on the bill and its clauses.

Each local authority has had the opportunity to submit written comments to the hearing.

It will then form a decision and refer the bill back to Tynwald.

Peel Commissioner Ray Harmer, who’s local authority has been one of the bigger authorities leading the charge against the bill, says if it’s approved by the Legislative Council, it could have a 'significant' impact on ratepayers.

Concerns include having to increase the rates to pay for services imposed, no monetary compensation proposed for taking these on and the lack of consultation on the bill carried out by the DoI.

Mr Harmer says it gives the department a ‘blank cheque’ to modify what local authorities do:

That hearing gets underway at 2pm.