Discussions are continuing to take place to pave the way for the transfer of additional functions from central to local government.

A total of 65 local authority representatives joined the Department of Infrastructure on Friday for a series of policy development sessions on issues such as housing, waste management and governance. The potential to devolve responsibilities in these areas will be further explored during regional meetings starting on Tuesday 28 July.

The latest talks are part of the drive towards modernising the relationship between central and local government. The initial phase of the process is working well, with local authorities taking over responsibility for a range of highway maintenance functions.

Infrastructure Minister Phil Gawne MHK says he has been encouraged by the strength of support for the basic principle of local authorities providing local services at a local level. He added that transferring additional functions could generate many benefits, including cost efficiencies through the removal of duplicated effort.

It is also hoped that giving local authorities a bigger say in how towns, villages and ports are run will stimulate greater public engagement in the decisions that matter within their communities.

Minister Gawne said: ‘The policy development sessions continued the collaborative approach that has helped to achieve such enormous progress over the past 10 months. This is not about Government trying to impose its ideas and structures on local authorities, it is an opportunity for us all to work together to deliver real and sustainable change.’

He added: ‘There is obviously a lot more to be done, but the response from the local authorities has been very positive and there is a general awareness of the need to modernise. The meetings taking place in Peel, Castletown, Ramsey and Laxey next week will allow us to look at some of the proposals around housing and waste management in a local context to see what would be appropriate for each area. We have established a strong level of trust and the Department will continue to listen to local authorities’ ideas, comments and concerns.

‘I believe the local delivery of services will better reflect the needs of our communities, add to the sense of local pride and provide scope for securing savings for the tax and rates paying public.’

Minister Gawne confirmed that the Department of Infrastructure will be launching a public consultation in August to invite feedback on the principles of local authority reform and to identify which functions people think could be transferred in future.

He said: ‘I want to give people a voice in this process and to gauge the public appetite for a stronger system of local government. I hope we can agree a clear direction of travel that will enable us to achieve much-needed modernisation while allowing local authorities the freedom to organise themselves to best meet the needs of their communities.’