The Mayor of Douglas, Councillor Carol Malarkey, stressed the importance of local and central government working together for the benefit of Douglas and of the challenges faced by local authorities to deliver 'more for less' when she hosted the annual Mayor's business lunch at Douglas town hall.

Guests drawn from the Douglas business community heard that to secure a resilient economic future for the town the Council, in partnership with the private sector and central government, all had 'crucial roles to play, despite mounting pressures on budgets that are already stretched and continuing economic uncertainties at home and abroad.'

‘These are exceptional times and exceptional times demand exceptional measures,' she said, referring to the government's scope and structure ambitions and its drive to pass on more services to local authorities.

The Council was 'working smarter', developing its online and social media presence and investing in Douglas, refurbishing existing and building new homes, upgrading street lighting and committing around ?1million in other aspects of the town's infrastructure. 'All of which is no mean achievement given the increased costs government is putting on to local authorities, not least in matters of waste management,' she said.

She went on to refer to the Council's commitment to town centre regeneration - to which it had pledged ?1.9 million - its support of Island of Culture 2014 and its central role in reviving the Douglas Carnival taking place on July 19th. In closing she said: ' Douglas is a town proud of its past...and confident of its future. A future that will be stronger and better if we work together.’

Image: The Mayor of Douglas Councillor Carol Malarkey with Brent Thomas, Trevor Kirk, Andrew Thomas and Maureen Quayle. Picture Andrew Barton

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