Printed (by Authority) by CORRIE Ltd., 7, Circular Road, Douglas, Isle of Man. REPORT OF PROCEEDINGS OF TYNWALD COURT DOUGLAS, Tuesday, 25th October, 1983 at 10.30 a.m. Present: The Governor (Rear Admiral Sir Nigel Cecil, K.B.E., C.B.). In the Council: The President of the Council (the Hon. J. C. Nivison, C.B.E.), the Attorney-General (Mr. T. W. Cain), Messrs. R. J. G. Anderson, R. E. S. Kerruish, E. G. Lowey, R. MacDonald, W. A. Moore and P. Radcliffe, with Mrs. J. E. M. Brown, Acting Clerk of the Council. In the Keys: The Acting Speaker (Mr. G. V. H. Kneale), Messrs. W. K. Quirk, W. A. Gilbey, J. D. Q. Cannan, J. N. Radcliffe, Mrs. C. M. Christian, Dr. E. J. Mann, Messrs. A. A. Catlin, D. G. Maddrell, R. A. Payne, N. Q. Cringle, C. H. Faragher, Dr. D. L. Moore, Mr. C. A. Cain, Dr. H. D. Teare, C.V.O., Messrs. G. A. Quinney, M.B.E., B. Gelling, A. C. Duggan, E. M. Ward, B.E.M., D. F. K. Delaney, D. Martin, J. A. Brown, with Mr. T. A. Bawden, Acting Clerk of Tynwald. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE The Governor: Hon. members, we have apologies from the hon. member for Garff, Sir Charles Kerruish, the hon. member for Council, Mrs. Hanson and the hon. member for Rushen, Mr. Walker, who are away on Commonwealth Parliamen- tary Association business. We now revert to the Agenda where we left off last week and we come to item 26. My hope is, hon. members, that we can complete the Agenda today. RATING — FOURTH INTERIM REPORT OF THE SELECT COMMITTEE — RESOLUTION DEFEATED The Governor: I call on the hon. member for West Douglas, Mr. Kneale. The Acting-Speaker: Your Excellency, as I have an interest in the item on the Agenda and as I have to move it, I ask that the hon. member for South Douglas, Mr. Ward, take the seat as the Acting-Speaker. Apologies for Absence Rating — Fourth Interim Report of the Select Committee — Resolution Defeated. T212 TYNWALD COURT, 25th OCTOBER, 1983. The Governor: Is that agreed? It was agreed. Mr. Ward took the Speaker's Chair. Mr. Kneale: Your Excellency, I beg to move — That the Fourth Interim Report of the Select Committee on the Rating of Domestic Property be received and the following recommendations be adopted — (a) The abolition of all existing combination authorities. (b) The establishment of four new combination authorities, constituted as suggested in paragraph IV.5, to execute those major duties of local government for which responsibility has not been assumed by Central Government. (c) (i) Onchan Village Commissioners and Onchan Parish Commissioners be amalgamated; and (ii) Michael Village Commissioners and Michael Parish Commissioners be amalgamated, but otherwise all existing local authorities be retained to function within the framework of the proposed combination authorities. (d) Subject to further consideration there be no redevolution of powers which have been assumed by Central Government other than the transfer of first stage planning and housing to the new authorities, always subject to the right of the Local Government Board to intervene. (e) The Local Government Board to consider introducing legislation to provide for local authority elections to be conducted by postal ballot. In this report the Rating Committee has concentrated on an analysis of the local government structure of the Island. That does not mean that we have lost sight of the main objective which is to bring about the abolition of the domestic rate. It was felt that, as rating is so inexplicably related to the functions of local authorities and as the recession has depleted the money to bring about a quick abolition of the rating system, we should take the opportunity to examine the present system of local government. As you will see from the earlier part of our report, the belief that we have too many rating authorities in this Island has been around for a long time, and several committees have been set up to examine the question during the past 50 years. In 1933 a committee was set up to consider the desirability of reducing the number of local authorities in the Island by establishing a Board of Commissioners Rating — Fourth Interim Report of the Select Committee — Resolution Defeated. TYNWALD COURT, 25th OCTOBER, 1983. T213 for each sheading or larger area to take over the function of the parish commis- sioners. Every time that suggestion is made there are those who tell us we should stick to the ancient boundaries. It is as well to remind them early on in our deliberations that in the distant past the Island was divided into six sheadings, these being the chief tribal units of the Island, each having its own meeting place similar to a local Tynwald. During the Norse period the areas were better organised and the boundaries were precisely defined, very much as they have persisted to the present day. As can be seen from our report, the 1933 Committee, which was under the chairmanship of Deemster Farrant, reported to Tynwald the recommendations falling well short of their original remit, and their report was simply received. On 17th May 1945 the Isle of Man Municipal Association unanimously carried the following resolution — "In view of the proposals put forward for the reform of our constitution and of the coming reform in our social security, and our education system, and more especially in view of the proposed schemes of post-war reconstruction and development, it is imperative that our system of local govern- ment should be overhauled and made more effective and up to date, so that it might take its proper part in making our Island worthy of the sacrifices made by our people, especially the younger ones in the services and in industry of national importance during the period of the war." This resolution was sent to the Lieutenant-Governor with the suggestion that a commission should be set up to consider the whole question. This request was accepted by Tynwald on 20th March 1947, and on 8th August 1947 a commission of five persons, under the chairman- ship of Mr. James Corrin, M.L.C., was appointed with the following terms of reference: To inquire into and make recommendations relative to the best methods to be adopted for securing the most efficient and economic development of the administration of local government districts, having regard to:— (1) the growing importance of the efficient development and administration of the public health services; (2) the preservation of the amenities of the Island; (3) the increased obligations to be borne by local authorities with small rateable values; and (4) the request of the Isle of Man Municipal Association for a rearrangement and reduction in the number of local government districts. After over two years of careful consideration, during which the views of all local authorities and the United Kingdom Ministry of Health were obtained and four public meetings were held, the committee report, dated 27th October 1949, was presented to Tynwald on 16th May 1950. That is over three years after the Municipal Association had moved its resolution. One member of the commission had died and one presented a minority report. This was Mr. R. C. Cannell, who just happened to be a member for Ayre. The three remaining members of the commission recommended:— (1) boundary extensions for certain town authorities; (2) amalgamation of village and parish authorities into rural district authorities elected by postal ballot and exercising full powers of local government; (3) the institution of parish meetings and parish committees, the committees to be composed of the members of the rural district authorities elected by the parish; (4) the introduction of legislation to give effect to these proposals. Once again the report was received by Tynwald and nothing further was done until 17th January 1961 when Tynwald passed the following resolution - "Whereas the Local Government Districts Administration Commission issued its Rating — Fourth Interim Report of the Select Committee — Resolution Defeated. T214 TYNWALD COURT, 25th OCTOBER, 1983. report on 27th October 1949, recommending inter alia the reduction of the number of local authorities and the extension of the boundaries of certain of the local authorities in the Isle of Man, and whereas following a debate on 16th May 1950 Tynwald received, but did not adopt, the said report; and whereas there is now a continuing and growing need to effect economy and greater efficiency in local government in view of the ever-rising costs of labour and administration, the capital expenses of modern labour-saving equipment and the greater variety and complexity of public services, Tynwald requests His Excellency the Lieutenant- Governor to appoint a commission of five persons to examine the said report in the light of present-day conditions and future trends, and to take such further evidence as they deem necessary and to report whether the recommendations contained in the said report, with or without modifications, should now be imple- mented and to make sure further or additional recommendations as are deemed desirable." On 6th March 1961 a commission consisting of five members under the chairmanship of Deemster MacPherson was appointed. They obtained the help of Mr. Richard Marshall, County Treasurer of Gloucestershire, to advise on the financial implications of any recommendations they might make. After over two years of investigation they prepared two reports, one dated June 1963 and the other November 1963. These reports were not considered by Tynwald until 18th and 19th February 1964, nearly three years after the commission had been appointed, and once again these reports were simply received.