Episodes
'It was like a courtroom' say some who took part in the Eastern area Plan inquiry, we hear from those who felt they were up against it. A housing development in Marown has left residents feeling sorely disappointed. Is the fracking debate a distraction? And all change at Malew Commissioners, but the new chairman insists there’s no lack of experience.
A new skate park in Castletown is just weeks away from completion. We speak to the commissioner behind the project, and those building the 'world class facility' at Poulsom Park.
Residents in Port St Mary fear a main road could collapse if development on the Underway continues – and Douglas Council wants to see changes to the way social housing is funded.
Villagers in Laxey demand answers from Manx Utilities and government ministers over flooding which devastated homes along Glen Road. We get the reaction of residents, commissioners and MHKs from last week's public meeting.
And what impact will the 'climate emergency' have on plans to zone swathes of greenfield sites under the Eastern Area Plan?
Garff Commissioners say the devastating floods in Laxey could’ve been avoided, and want government to take action. Policy and Reform Minister Chris Thomas puts forward a plan to modernise rates, but critics aren’t sure it’s any better than the current system.
How does looking for gas in the Manx seabed fit into the government’s commitment to make the Island carbon neutral? MHK Ralph Peake and MLC Jane Poole-Wilson, members of the climate change transformation team, attempt to answer that question.
And they could call men to arms, quell riots and light beacons to warn of invasion – we speak to a new Captain of the Parish.
Good planning recognises the latest data – those the words of our guest on this programme, author of the 2016 Isle of Man Population Atlas, Paul Craine.
He’s questioning figures in the Eastern Area Plan which could lead to swathes of Greenfield land zoned for development in expectation of a growing population.
But is the Island’s population really going to grow? Or are government hopes a distant reality? The statistician seeks to answer those question and more on this episode of Agenda.
The Isle of Man Green Party is gearing up for its first conference this weekend, with community, clean energy and climate change all on the bill. We hear from party leader Andrew Newtown, and deputy leader Lamara Craine.
Plans to turn Ramsey Courthouse into a community hub get the green light from planners.
And there’s now a full set of Malew Commissioners after a by-election last week, we speak to the winners.
We hear from the five candidates vying for the three vacant seats on the board of Malew Commissioners. With a by-election taking place on Thursday, the five hopefuls explain why they're standing. And in the second half of Agenda, foodbank users speak out about poverty on the Isle of Man, whilst the government insists steps are being taken to address the issue.
Do you know how much local authority members claim? Should they take allowances for attending meetings? Some do, and some don’t, we hear why.
Commuters are 'fed up' with the TT access road, but changes aren't likely to be made until 2022.
Finally, residents by Ballakermeen High School fear traffic calming measures could lead to further congestion despite claims to the contrary.
Commissioners in Castletown feel planners are frustrating efforts by developers to build new homes in the ancient capital. Those behind plans for glamping in Groudle explain more about the project, and we speak to the MHK, turned Health Minister, who promised to bring the issue of local authority reform to Tynwald every year unless 'sufficient progress is made'.
The roll out of Bus Vannin’s 'dial-a-ride' minibus service has caused a stir in the north, where Jurby residents are unhappy with the loss of regular, timetabled buses, and a taxi driver leaves Kirk Michael due to ‘unfair competition’.
And should the Tynwald ombudsman be able to investigate complaints against local authorities and statutory boards?
A local authority merger special, as Arbory and Rushen Parish Commissioners investigate a possible union.
We look at the experience of Laxey Lonan and Maughold which merged to form Garff in 2015.
And are local authority mergers a sign of government led reform, or complete inaction? We hear the opposing views of Infrastructure Minister Ray Harmer, and Ramsey MHK Lawrie Hooper.
Who should compensate businesses suffering from works along Douglas promenade? Onchan Commissioners are wary of major development under the Eastern Area Plan, and a play park revamp in Port Erin has come at an unfortunate time.
'Unparliamentary language' and 'institutional bullying' - criticism for the education minister. And why is the Douglas promenade refurbishment scheme costing an extra £6.5 million?
The Treasury Minister discusses the £3.7m airport trading deficit
On this episode – new data on how many homes are needed in Douglas, Onchan, Braddan, Marown, and Laxey has sparked debate among politicians, It's ahead of the pre-inquiry meeting into the Eastern Area Plan, a document which once complete, will set out how land is zoned in the most populated part of the Island. Middle MHK Bill Shimmins is at odds with Policy and Reform Minister Chris Thomas on the issue of housing need, we hear from both of them.
A commemoration of the voyage of the Odin's Raven will be held this Tynwald Day ( 5 July).
It's the 40th anniversary of the expedition, where a Manx and Norwegian crew sailed the replica Viking long-ship between Trondheim and Peel to celebrate the millennium year of the Manx Parliament.
We speak to the man behind the voyage, Robin Bigland, and President of Tynwald Steve Rodan.
The Manx government has promised to make more information available on who owns the companies registered here, in a bid to improve transparency. But a critics say the commitment is vague. Ramsey Courthouse appears to have a clearer future, and we speak to the politician of the year.
The Cabinet Office is developing an area plan for the North and West of the Island. Patrick Commissioners can't support Manx Utilities chosen site for a sewage treatment plant in the parish, and Onchan MHK Rob Callister weighs in on the residents' 'boundary confusion'.
On the programme – we speak to the Island’s two homelessness charities, Graih and Housing Matters, about grassroots work to tackle the issue. They tell me of a lack of suitable accommodation on the Island and what can be done to improve the situation for those without a home.
A finance watchdog has labelled the Isle of Man one of the top 20 most aggressive tax havens, but the chief minister has dismissed the findings as irrelevant. We hear from both Howard Quayle and the Tax Justice Network.
An NGO calls on the Manx government to ban Saudi Pilots from using Ronaldsway Airport. We hear from the One World Centre and the Celtic League. A councilor is concerned there’s not enough people recycling, and an MHK explains her experience of standing for elections in Douglas.
Is planning enforcement improving? A committee hears evidence from the DEFA Minister, Douglas Council and MHKs on the subject – and a report which could lead to fundamental reforms of the Manx NHS is published. We hear from Sir Jonathan Michael.
Bride and Ramsey Commissioners weigh in on the rates reform debate. Are council tenants given support before evictions? And a local politician questions whether the DEFA Minister should have so much planning power.
An all-Island business rate; a good idea or bad idea? We hear from both Chris Thomas, and David Christian. And could the public buy shares in the nationalised Steam Packet? LibVann say it’s a way of ensuring taxpayers have a direct stake in the £124 million investment.
Does government allow local authorities to spend enough on housing maintenance? Should a 25% cap be lifted? We hear from those who think so. The Mayor of Douglas says he’s here to stay and worth every penny, and two local authorities express their climate commitments.
On the programme tonight, getting doctors to prescribe medicinal cannabis is a problem, according to one UK medical expert,tram lines are laid as the promenade scheme inches forward and we hear from the organisers of the community push against development plans in Peel.
A new push by government to address climate change, with a sixty-nine question consultation launched to gauge public opinion - we hear from those behind the drive, a planning application irks residents Peel, and does the collection of business rates need to change?
A Jurby special - we look at the changes to bus services in the area, and investigate the allocation of £1.8 million in the Pink Book for the 'Jurby Development Initiative'.
Tim Baker is confident plans to move contaminated silt from Peel Marina are up to scratch, Mec Vannin receives a spike interest, and Manx Utilities is keen to address Douglas Bay water quality.