Maughold Parish Commissioners have concerns with the implications of some of the recommendations in the recent consultation on the Scope of Government. The consultation document contains a good indication of central government’s thinking on changes to local authority structures and the further transfer of charges for services onto the household rates.

Chairman of Maughold Commissioners, Robert Moughtin, says, “It is the duty of the Commissioners to attend to every aspect involved in running the Parish in the most efficient and cost-effective manner. The quality and value of the services provided to the ratepayers are crucial in maintaining the overall quality of life enjoyed in the Parish.

As a Board we feel that we have a duty to our ratepayers to inform them of any proposed changes that could impact on the level of rates and this quality of life.

In many respects the operational model followed by a smaller authority like Maughold allows us to provide services to the ratepayers at a much more efficient and cost-effective level than the models followed by some of the larger authorities.

It would be a great shame if these efficiencies were lost in what appears to be ‘a race to amalgamate, whatever the cost to the ratepayer’. 

I would encourage all Maughold residents to attend one of the two meetings so that they can be informed of the nature of the proposals in the consultation document”.

One meeting will be held at the Dhoon Church Hall on Wednesday 26th of September, the second being at the Church Hall in Maughold Village on Thursday 27th of September; both meetings begin at 7.00 pm.