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BBC News
11-03-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Newest members of the Isle of Man's Legislative Council sworn in
The Isle of Man's four newest politicians have been sworn in to take on scrutiny roles in Gary Clueit, social worker Kirstie Morphet and former finance worker Peter Reid will serve on the Legislative Council, the upper branch of the Manx parliament, until took their seats for the first time a a swearing-in ceremony on Tuesday, alongside Rob Mercer who successfully secured re-election to the council in early said he was delighted to return and was "keen to get back to work". Much of the work of Members of the Legislative Council (MLCs) involves scrutinising new also take part in the monthly sittings of Tynwald and can also serve on government departments and scrutiny committees. Clueit said for the first six months of his term he would be in "learning mode" to understand the workings of the "truly historic institution". He said he believed there was an "awful lot of work that needs to be done" as the challenges facing the island were "not insignificant", including issues with housing. The businessman was formerly a lay member of the government's Housing and Communities Board, which he said gave him "a voice in the room".Clueit said he was now looking forward to "having a voice in parliament". Morphet said she was "overwhelmed but excited to start seeing where I can be of most use".The new MLC has a background in social work and she said was interested in "how adult social care was funded and how people receive that care"."Homelessness is also a big issue for me. As a nation I don't think we should have no provision", she Isle of Man's only overnight shelter for homeless people closed in 2022. Mercer, who was was first elected to the council in 2020, said he was "just as nervous" during Tuesday's ceremony as he was five years on his first term, he said he was proud to have been a member of Tynwald throughout the Covid pandemic, which had been a "very, very difficult time". The former IT professional said he had really enjoyed the role of "scrutiny and oversight". Reid, who stood unsuccessfully for the Legislative Council in 2020, said he was "really looking forward to getting stuck in to the role".He said hoped to "try and make a small difference" using his expertise from a career in finance, and wanted to focus on moving forward insolvency legislation."Overall I want to listen and understand... people have put a lot of faith in me so I want to do good job for them", he added. Read more stories from the Isle of Man on the BBC, watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer and follow BBC Isle of Man on Facebook and X.
BBC News
19-02-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Douglas Council tenant rent payments to be standardised
Rents payments are set to be simplified and standardised for public sector housing tenants in the Manx capital from 7 April, the local authority has change would see rent payments calculated over a 52 week period rather than the existing 50 week period. Chairman of Douglas Council's Housing and Communities Board Devon Watson said it would provide a "more straightforward yet flexible way to pay and collect rent".The change would also offer the option for tenants to increase their payments to take a two week rent break during a particular time of year. 'Straightforward yet flexible' Watson said as there was now a "wide range" of payment options, there was "no longer any need to divide a year into a 50 week collection system", which dated back to when payments were made in means tenants would pay the weekly rent instead of the previously inflated rent that was required to cover two non-collection weeks at the end of the year, which the authority said would help households with budget the changes, existing interval choices such as weekly, fortnightly, four-weekly, monthly or yearly rent payments would remain the same. As more than 60% of tenants already paid over 52 weeks, the move would standardise the approach, the councillor change would also reduce the council's £228,755 rent arrears figure, some of which has been caused by the confusion between the 50 and 52 week system, he said: "This is all about providing a more straightforward yet flexible way to pay and collect rent, with the main purpose to better assist families with their budget management across a full year, alongside the benefit of offering a 'rent holiday' for those who want it. "Essentially, it places control back in the hands of our tenants," Additional reporting by the Local Democracy Reporting Service. Read more stories from the Isle of Man on the BBC, watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer and follow BBC Isle of Man on Facebook and X.
