If you can't wait until members are back in October, here's Manx Radio's Political Correspondent with a look back at what happened in July for the final sitting of this legislative year.
Manx Newscast
Missing Tynwald already?
So, July 10 what happened? Lots of things actually. There were some lively exchanges in question time. We began with assumptions being made in relation to the onshore wind farm. Chief Minister has asked what his assumptions were and of course he said well I'm not really making that many assumptions. That's for the MUA to do. But yeah, there was some interesting discussion on that. Then Mr. Speaker, Mr. Speaker, generally he considered to be mild mannered and easy going when it comes to attacking the government but he certainly has got his teeth into this one about the economic benefits expected from the government subsidy of the luxury flat input air. Of course that elicited quite a lot of debate. It appears a little like an own goal for government in as much as there's so many other priorities that government might have in terms of our infrastructure. It seems strange to pick on luxury flats. It's fair to say that the Department for Enterprise, the Minister there, Minister Tim Johnson made a valiant attempt at defence. And of course what he reasonably points to is that these places that they have given support for have been lying empty for a long period of time. And there are relatively well off people in the Isle of Man who are looking for places to live just the same as there are poorer people. So the idea of these flats is not necessarily a bad thing. I still find it difficult to see how government can reasonably defend all of this when so much more needs doing. No doubt it makes economic sense to do this but it's always going to be a difficult one that are hiding to nothing really in terms of defending us with the public. And then the other one was the ending of the mid-rent pilot scheme. That these were the three starred questions on the question paper. There were a variety of other questions of course as ever. The recruitment to the steam packet was one in which it's fair to say was a forerunner or forewarning of a lively debate to come. There was various other questions about the steam packet, immigration, school suspension policy, what action is being taken in relation to diseased ash trees and a range of other items. The president started off well by suggesting to members that rather than making statements and having debates that they stick to asking questions. However, the 35 questions on the order paper, sadly only 22 of them were reached when the allotted time ended. The chief minister was then successful in putting forward a motion that the remaining questions be taken after the main business of the tinelled order paper was complete and that was agreed. So up to question 22 was asked and we'll cover some of the other questions later on. There was a little spent on the last question in relation to the sexual assault referral centre. The minister for justice and home affairs quoted a figure as edge who asked the question rebuked her for that and said no, no, the figure given in evidence was substantially lower. It subsequently proved that it has been proven that the minister was correct with her figures. So we'll leave the question paper while we then go back onto the order paper and there were again some interesting items there. The independent review of funding for schools, the minister was reasonably confident and upbeat in saying that they'd accepted pretty much everything apart from the closure of the, I think there were six or eight primary schools that had been suggested for closure because they could be, the services they provide could be done more efficiently from larger schools. That was the only recommendation that the department appeared to reject. However, there were many members piling in on that particular debate and as one of the first debates the minister had to defend in relation to her new role as education minister. She certainly wasn't given an easy ride from the members. Then the development viability study that was a relatively short debate. That was basically saying that we're not quite ready yet for the community infrastructure levy to be introduced. The development market is not strong and it was felt that introducing this levy which effectively is a levy on the profits of developers to allow for the development of the various bits of infrastructure required. So for example, if you build a larger state you'll need, certainly you'll need to provide facilities for the people who live in that estate and whereas the developer takes the profit and the money from developing the estate, the government is left with the price tag of developing new facilities such as doctors, facilities, dentist facilities, playgrounds, all the associated stuff that comes from having large housing developments. A much more subdued debate and rightly so, certainly I felt a well considered debate. Lots of reflection was the council minister's response or further response to the Isle of Man independent COVID review report by Kate Brunner. The chief minister was apologetic in relation to those people who had been most affected, people who had lost loved ones, the people who had ended up having to pay for their enforced isolation at the Comas Hotel and of course particularly I think the impact of the various deaths that had occurred. Although being a little more beat, the chief minister pointed to Kate Brunner suggesting that's actually compared with others the Isle of Man hadn't done too badly. Then we started to see a mood of rebellions appearing, the allocation and renewal of public sector housing fixed-term tendencies was discussed and six members voted against that. The minister for infrastructure basically said just hang on, there's lots going on behind the scenes and members were less eager to believe that. The minister quite rightly called out some members who aren't members of the department and said okay, if you think you can do better, why don't you come along and join the department and actually pull your weight and try and get some things done in the department. But none of the members, I think particularly Mr Muahouse was had those charges directed at him. He wasn't biting the minister's hands off, it's fair to say. Then quite a controversial debate in relation to the appointment of non-executive directors to the Isle of Man's steam packet and I think in particular the concern was former MHK William Schimmons who one member in particular, Chris Thomas, spoke out against. Perhaps not against but raised a number of queries about Mr Schimmons appointment and also suggested that these appointments were being made so that Treasury would get a better control over the board. Of course, the Isle of Man's steam packet is now wholly owned by the Treasury and there was a strong rebuke, it's fair to say, from a number of members, not least the deputy chief minister because by this stage the chief minister had left with approval from the president of Timl to attend the opening of Parliament in the UK. So yes, ultimately there was only one member, Jason Muahouse, who voted against this motion because four members left the chamber and this had resulted in quite excited whispering exchange between the speaker and the president. Speaker obviously not happy that four members had chosen not to take part in the vote and those members were Chris Thomas, Claire Christian, Julie Edge and I think it was Anne called it was the fourth. Then we moved on to the bus terminal discussion that that received the support that Ms Fariga was hoping for. There were a few minor amendments to that but in essence Ms Fariga got Timl's support that Timl does the opinion that re-establishment of facilities for bus passengers in the island's capital is a priority and it probably has been for a decade or more. Then Dr Haywood was hoping to get private members bills placed on the government consultation hub. Now there is an issue here in relation to government and Parliament, government being a separate very much separate from Parliament or Timmled in this case and whilst Dr Haywood did her best to persuade members that this was a pragmatic response and that other facilities that Timmled provides were also actually provided through government sources not least the IT service so there was already a little bit of a blurring of the lines between government and Timmled. David Ashford won the day with an amendment it was 14-7 in in Keys 7-1 in Ledgco and his amendment effectively said actually no we'll stick with the status quo so Dr Haywood's attempt was was scuppered. Then Mr Thomas didn't move the sea services agreement because the Minister for Infrastructure promised to publish the necessary documentation on the sea services section of the department's website. Mr Thomas was convinced that the Minister was an honourable man and so chose not to move that. The island plan and economic strategy that was amended and if I can find the amendment I think I've still got the amendment here somewhere. Let me have a quick look no I've got the consultation hub but I don't seem to have the oh yes here we are so Dr Haywood's amendment I think was successful indeed it was 17-4 in Keys and 8-0 in Ledgco and this was to effectively remove Mr Christian's clear Christian's motion that the substance of it and replace it with acknowledge that the medium term financial plan was published in February as part of the 24-25 annual budget and the Treasury Minister intends to provide a full update on economic and fiscal position at the October 24 setting of Timmled and I suspect Michelle Haywood in that instance was acting as a member of Treasury because the Treasury Minister also had leave of absence for that part of the setting. Ms Edge had an item on the ordered advisory division and then we got into the orders and the orders went through without much concern. Then we got back to the question paper and it is fair to say that at that point because I had another commitment I had to duck out and Christian Jones took over from me in the Timmled Chamber but there were a range of questions and it is fair to say that with T time approaching the members were a lot swifter in getting that through the remaining, what are we, 12 questions? Yes, 12 questions, maybe 13 questions. Those questions were answered. One of the questions, in fact the first question up was from Mr Muahouse about what support would be in place to compensate neighbors, landowners and residents in relation to the onshore wind turbines. Mr Wallenberg, the chair of the MUA, basically said well there is no compensation scheme in place but he said and he said I'm being completely sincere in this. I will ensure that a proper process is followed as chair of the MUA. I will ensure that we take seriously the findings of any economic impact assessment and if the economic impact assessment says that we can't develop here then we won't. So those were very strong words I think from the chair of the MUA. That was I think where my covering of the questions ended and Christian Jones took over but there were again a range of questions including a question and I will mention this as the final parting shot, a question from Mrs Collet who doesn't often raise questions but she was concerned about the to know from the Minister of Infrastructure what action is planned in response to the Living Street scheme in Douglas Douglas Central consultation carried out in 2023 and of course because I did hear this on the way home in the car the there was quite a lively exchange the Minister said oh well we're very busy and things will be will be happening I think it was in 25-26 but Mrs Christian, Mrs Christian, Mrs Collet was was quite adamant that there had been long enough here the the consultation had been carried out in 2023 the main finding was there was a need for 20 mile an hour speed limit residence and many of her constituents basically were saying well why can't you just get the 20 mile an hour speed limit introduced and of course the Minister responded by saying well it's not quite as simple as just putting a few signs up you have to then it makes you it's enforceable and you have to make sure that drivers actually pay heed of the 20 mile an hour limit and that in a nutshell was what happened in the July 2024 setting of tinmled thank you for making it to the end of the Manxeradian newscast you are obviously someone with exquisite taste may I politely suggest you might want to subscribe to this and a wide range of Manx radio podcasts at your favorite podcast provider so our best bits will magically appear on your smartphone thank you (gentle music)