Jenkins says rates reform must be agreed with local authorities, not imposed

Kirrie Jenkins, one of the two candidates for Chief Minister, has said changes to the island’s rates system should be agreed with local authorities rather than handed down to them by government.

She was speaking at the Chief Minister hustings, where Ramsey MHK Robert Cowell asked both contenders how they would approach rates reform, according to Energy FM.

Her opponent, Chris Thomas, set out a faster timetable. He said a Rates Amendment Bill had already been drafted and could be put to the House of Keys, the elected chamber of Tynwald, by November.

Mr Thomas said the bill would bring zero-rated properties back within the rating system and create a discount scheme for ratepayers. Energy FM reported that he described it as a chance for the new House to show it could “do something” rather than only debate.

He added that rateable values and other parts of the system could be looked at in a later stage.

Ms Jenkins said she was in favour of change, but at a slower pace. “I think bite-sized pieces is the way to do this,” she said.

She indicated support for tackling vacant properties and for discount schemes. However, she said a full overhaul would be “a step too far” for local authorities at the moment.

She pointed to earlier disagreements between government and councils and said those experiences should inform any new approach. She added that local authorities must have a hand in designing future changes.

“I think there is scope for future rates reform but it needs to be done in a proportionate way,” she said. She added that the work should be done “with local authorities on side, not dictating to them”.