Local authority meetings for service takeover

Local authorities have been invited to a series of meetings about services they may soon take over.

The Department of Infrastructure has written to councillors and commissioners inviting them to the gatherings.

Local authorities will take responsibility for sweeping streets, emptying gullies, controlling weeds and hedge and grass cutting.

Four meetings will take place around the Island to introduce the civil servant in charge of the project, Sian Christian.

The first of the meetings takes place next Monday at the Laxey Working Men’s Institute, while the week after will see events at St Paul’s Church in Ramsey, Douglas Town Hall, Castle Rushen High School and the Philip Christian Centre in Peel.

Infrastructure Minister Phil Gawne says the extra £800,000 needed for local authorities to run the services will be balanced by a freeze in waste disposal charges.

It had been hoped the transfer might be completed by the start of this financial year, but the department says it has yet to receive some signed deeds of delegations from commissioners.