New local government laws 'undemocratic', says council

Douglas Council has accused the Department of Infrastructure of sneaking clauses into new laws without consulting local authorities.

The Local Government (Amendment) Bill 2023 is currently progressing through Tynwald, and the council says three new clauses inserted in January could put an extra burden on local authorities.

It says it doesn't know what the government plans to hand over, or how those extra duties would be paid for.

The council has now written to the DOI saying the changes are undemocratic because there was no opportunity to comment on them.