Ashford a supporter of five-authority system
Infrastructure Minister Ray Harmer deserves 'the benefit of the doubt' over his approach to local government reform, says an MHK who favours a five-authority system.
In November 2017, David Ashford asked Tynwald to establish a committee to investigate the issue - the then backbencher was unsuccessful, but promised to revisit the subject every year unless progress was made.
Three months later, the member for Douglas North became the health minister, following the resignation of Kate Beecroft.
Mr Ashford admits local authority reform has been 'on the back burner' since then due to the demands of his current role, but says he remains passionate about the subject.
He favours a five-authority model for joined-up delivery of services, and decentralising functions from government, with boards for the North, South, West, East and Douglas.
The former Douglas councillor concedes he's been frustrated with the rate of reform; other politicians have recently expressed the same views.
However, despite being cynical of the efficacy of minister Harmer's 'hands off' method to transforming local authorities, the MHK says this approach deserves a chance.
Local Democracy Reporter Ewan Gawne spoke to Mr Ashford, and started by playing him a clip of his earlier self, back in 2017:
If you'd like to here the full interview with Mr Ashford, you can listen to it in the second half of this week's Agenda:
https://www.manxradio.com/podcasts/agenda/episode/agenda-19-august/
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