Against the background of the growing diversity of the island’s population Lloyds Banking Group’s Isle of Man operation has formed a branch of its Group Ethnic Minority (GEM) network.

The aim of the network is to serve as a voice for the group’s ethnic minority colleagues, help shape recruitment processes and, at a community level, bring together co-workers to support local causes.

Its chairman is Jean-Paul Nguegang of Scottish Widows, part of the Lloyds Banking Group.

Mr Nguegang, who works in the finance department, was born in the Republic of Cameroon and has lived in the Isle of Man for 14 years, having previously worked in the UK and Cyprus.

He said: ‘We have around 15 members and that number’s growing all the time.

‘It’s been very well received and is gathering momentum, not least thanks to the support of our senior management, Lloyds Banking Group island director Peter Reid and Scottish Widows managing director Juan Clarke.

commitment

‘Their commitment is really helping GEM flourish and deliver on diversity.’

Mr Reid said: ‘Seeing GEM establish itself in the Isle of Man over the past year and being involved in the activities and meetings has been a real highlight for me.

‘It’s a credit to all the colleagues involved that they have achieved so much in the local community as well as supporting colleagues in a truly diverse and international workforce.

‘As we grow our international business I look forward to the GEM network welcoming new colleagues and building on its success.’

Mr Clarke said: ‘Lloyds is committed to helping realise colleagues’ potential and removing barriers to their professional and personal development. There is also a clear economic argument for diversity and equality; helping our colleagues be the best they can be makes for a stronger business.

‘Jean-Paul and his fellow GEM members have my full support. They are not only advancing the causes of diversity and equality but also, through their volunteer work, are great ambassadors for the Lloyds Banking Group.’

supporting

As well as focusing on diversity and inclusion GEM has an important role to play in supporting the business.

Mr Nguegang explained: ‘As a business we aspire to be the best bank for customers and the best bank for colleagues.

That means understanding the needs of our customers in an increasingly ethnically diverse society.

‘It also means being recognised as an employer that is sensitive to and values talent regardless of ethnic background.

And these are areas where GEM can make a very real difference, especially when you consider that around 11 per cent of the UK working population comes from ethnic minority communities.

‘GEM is at the forefront of diversity, be that gender or age equality, sexual orientation or disability, and the diversity of our customers must be reflected in our people.’

GEM is also galvanising colleagues to volunteer for a wide range of community projects as part of the group’s Day to Make a Difference programme.

These include transforming the play area at St Thomas’s School by painting the sheds and boundary walls and, at Scoill yn Jubilee, clearing a section of overgrown ground in preparing for its use as a teaching garden and inputting data for the school’s library.

Volunteers have also completed some external painting at Peel Clothworkers’ School, while the Henry Bloom Noble School’s Fairfield Road site benefited from two Days to Make a Difference volunteering projects at the end of last year.

GEM is also looking beyond the Lloyds Banking Group to work with charities and volunteer organisations on community schemes.

Not all GEM members are from ethnic minority groups.

All do, however, share the same vision to increase cultural awareness, engage with the local community and help create a working environment that reflects the changing face of the UK and the Isle of Man.

Specialist long term savings provider Hansard Global said it won 13 per cent more new business in the second quarter of its financial year than in the first quarter.

But new business for the whole of the half year was down 47 per cent on the year following a Japanese distributor suspending operations in October.

The business is based in Lord Street, Douglas, and is a full FTSE listed company .

It has now announced plans to expand its range of single premium products.

The company said sales had fallen in the last six months of 2014, the first half of its 2015 financial year, dropping 47 per cent to £29.4m over the period, compared to the same period in 2013.

But this sharp drop is exaggerated by the termination of a lucrative distribution agreement in Japan in October 2013 after the distributor suspended operations. In the first three months of 2014, the regular premium new business brought in by the Japanese distributor was worth £10.9m.

In April last year, Hansard announced a strategy to turnaround its fortunes, with plans to build new distribution agreements and to penetrate into markets it had largely left untouched.

Part of this strategy saw it re-price some of its products and it now says it plans to extend its range of single premium products.

It said it experienced a particularly encouraging response in the Middle East and Africa, which accounted for £4 million of the present value of new business premiums in the half.

Chief executive officer Gordon Marr said the strategy should begin to yield results in the months ahead.

He said: ‘Since the launch of our strategic plan last year, we have entered into 53 new relationships with IFA networks,’ said Marr.

‘We anticipate that these new relationships will begin to deliver increased levels of profitable new business, and diversify our exposure across a range of distributors and countries, in the second half of the financial year.’

Hansard Global reports that: ‘Through the implementation of the Group’s strategic plan and the introduction of new products, the Group will be better placed to deliver increased levels of profitable new business, and diversify its exposure across a range of distributors and countries, in the second half of this financial year.’

If the police station in Castletown doesn’t move into the Civic Centre, Chief Constable Gary Roberts said he could not guarantee a continued police presence in town.

The comment was made in an email read out at a public meeting attended by around 80 people held last week to discuss the proposed refurbishment of the centre.

The centre will have extensions, new toilets and a lift, the police station will move into what is currently the library and the library will move into a new extension on the first floor.

Commissioners’ chairman Richard McAleer said: ‘For a community to thrive it needs to be able to go about its business safe in the knowledge it is protected by law and order provided by community services, over the past month this has been highlighted by the spate of burglaries across the island. It is essential Castletown and the south maintain a police presence.’
He is ‘100 per cent committed to supporting neighbourhood policing in this town and the south … it is only possible if this scheme goes ahead … Budgetary constraints on the force are biting hard, this community partnership ensures we have bobbies on the beat.’

Commissioners Alwyn Collister and Kevin Weir explained further details and the history of the proposal that was first discussed in 2011.

Mr Weir said the Department of Home Affairs will give the authority a ‘disposable asset’ to offset the cost of incorporating the police in the centre. This will cover half the cost of the extension.

He also pointed out the authority is taking over certain services from central government and this extension will enable them to accommodate any future expansion requirements.

He added it is ‘crucial to keep a police presence in Castletown ... crime figures are low but Castletown is always the highest in the south.’

Questions raised in a letter by former commissioner Jerry Ludford-Brooks (who is off island) were answered.

Mr Ludford-Brooks wrote that at a police consultative forum, held last August, ‘the Chief Constable clearly stated that if the police did not move into the Town Hall (Civic Centre) they would not move out of Castletown.’

Chief Constable Roberts emailed: ‘Mr Ludford-Brooks has not quoted me completely accurately. In the short term, the constabulary will continue to use the existing station, but the possibility of moving to the civic centre will help to guarantee a police presence in town for a longer term, but if the move does not happen I cannot offer any guarantees about the policing of the town for the medium and long term.’

Mr Weir pointed out Mr Ludford-Brooks was a town commissioner when the authority discussed the extension in 2011, so he already knows the answer to his other questions.

One member of the public congratulated the authority on ‘a performance of spin’. He said: ‘I do not believe moving the police into the Civic Centre will have any impact on burglaries.’ He added the police ‘have a statutory obligation to supply a service to the tax payers and rate payers of the Isle of Man. The chief constable’s email should be discounted as bullying tactics.’

He asked for specific details on cost.

The project will cost £400,000, £100,000 will come from the authority’s reserves and the remaining £300,000 from a loan spread out over 20 years (at £18,000 per annum). The DHA asset which will be given to the authority, has a rental income and once sold should raise around £200,000. 
This will have no impact on rates.

Another resident asked: ‘Why [do the work[ now when things are so bad with the economy?’

Mr McAleer said: ‘We have money available to do this, our reserves are so good we may as well use it for good purpose.’

Why not use the money to upgrade the hall, asked another resident.

Mr McAleer said the hall will get a new floor and they have discussed installing a screen to show films and upgrading the wi-fi and sound system.

He added police could park at the fire station (which is moving to Balthane).

The owner of a run down house in Douglas has been fined by magistrates after failing to act on an order from the council to finish off repairs.

Howard George Osborne, who is aged 53 and lives at Brighton Terrace, admitted failing to carry out repair, restoration or demolition works under a notice issued by Douglas council in April last year.

Tim Swift, prosecuting on behalf of Douglas council, said the house had a neglected appearance with missing slates, an unpainted front door, fascia board and sills, and rusty scaffolding erected outside.

Work had not been completed when the notice expired in July. The property was reinspected, a summons was served and subsequently a warrant issued when the defendant failed to attend court.

He told the bench the maximum fine for non-compliance was £2,500 plus a daily penalty of £40 while the work remained uncompleted. He also requested costs of £1,500.

Osborne’s advocate Roger Kane told the court: ‘Until last week he had no idea a summons or a warrant had been issued. He had been trying to contact Douglas council after discovering the matter had been in court. There is a sense of grievance on the part of the defendant: he thinks the actions ofthe corporation are hypercritical as the state of the property is not that bad. But he did not carry out the work or appeal, so he is guilty of the offence.’

Mr Kane said the main eyesore was the rusty scaffolding, which was there to allow work to be done. Other than that, the front door was sanded down and needed repainting.

‘It’s not as if there’s a pile of rubbish attracting vermin. No doubt local residents are just getting fed up of the scaffolding.’

He added Osborne had limited income at present which made it harder for him to complete the work and he would need extra time to address the problems. Mr Kane said there was no physical impact on neighbouring properties and the matter was simply aesthetic. ‘It’s not that bad, it’s just the scaffolding,’ he said.

The magistrates’ chairman told him the fine and costs of £100 each would be nominal so he could complete the work. ‘The ball is in your court. If you do not complete the work there will be a substantial fine,’ he said.

Liberal Vannin MHK Peter Karran has called for a Public Accounts Committee investigation into the upgrade of the Tetra emergency communications system.

Tynwald voted in November to approved spending just under £5m on a replacement system.

This was despite a letter being circulated just before the debate from a rival bidder that claimed it could have delivered the upgrade to Tetra at half the cost.

In his letter to PAC chairman Alfred Cannan MHK, Mr Karran said: ‘As a former member of the Department of Home Affairs I do feel there is a need for a full investigation into the procurement and value for money aspect as far as this issue is concerned.

‘I hope that the Public Accounts Committee will carry out a thorough investigation. The investigation should be carried out as to whether it was premature and whether a more effective way could have been employed to resolve the issue in order that the taxpayer has not been short changed by this issue just being “nodded through” by Tynwald.’

Tetra is used by the island’s emergency services, including the police, as well as Civil Defence personnel and marshals during the TT, Manx Grand Prix and Classic TT.

Home Affairs Minister Juan Watterson told Tynwald in November that the upgrade and replacement was needed as the system had reached the end of its life and maintenance and support contracts could not be extended.

Arguments about the pros and cons of a tax cap are a distraction.

The real issue is that our tax system ‘effectively exempts’ wealthy residents from paying any income tax at all - the burden of income tax falls on the less well-off.

That’s the view of former assessor of income tax Mark Solly who has renewed his call for a commission to be set up to devise a new tax strategy ahead of the next general election.

Mr Solly explained that the zero rate of company tax enables some residents, no matter how wealthy, who can channel their incomes into their companies, to pay no income tax at all.

In answer to a question in the House of Keys in December last year, Treasury Minister Eddie Teare confirmed that companies owned or partly owned by Manx resident individuals had taxable incomes for 2012-13 amounting in total to £626m.

Calculated at zero rate, these companies paid no income tax. Calculated at 20 per cent these companies would have been liable to pay income tax amounting to £125m.

For the most part, only workers, small savers and pensioners are now required to pay Manx resident income tax calculated at 20 per cent.

Mr Solly said that not only is the zero rate ‘desperately unfair’, it is unfit for purpose because it can no longer make the required contribution to the general revenue - money needed to pay for public services.

He said: ‘Truly wealthy and, indeed, modestly wealthy individuals residing in the island are no longer liable to pay Manx resident income tax on their incomes which are channelled into their companies.

‘As a result, Manx income tax can no longer be said to be ‘fair’ as it is only required to be paid by those residents who are unable to channel their incomes into their companies.’

He added: ‘The tax cap is a distraction. At least, the few individuals who pay it, pay something. Unlike the tax cap, the effective exemption of company income from income tax is not transparent.

‘On the contrary, the Treasury appears to be at pains to try to conceal its existence by claiming that it will get the tax when the companies pay a dividend when, in fact, it has no power to compel a company to pay a dividend.’

At its peak in 2007-08, 95 individuals benefited from the tax cap.

But the Treasury Minister recently confirmed that only 58 wealthy residents had elected for the tax cap in the current financial year.

Mr Solly questioned why that figure had dropped so dramatically. He asked: ‘Have 37 of the 95 left the island? Or is that some of the 37 have by now so arranged their affairs that they no longer need the tax cap because their incomes are channelled into their private companies and charged to income tax calculated at the zero-rate and thereby pay no Manx income tax at all?’

Mr Solly said a high-powered Commission needed to be set up as a matter of urgency to review options and make recommendations for a new national taxation strategy.

Its recommendations and the necessary draft legislation could be put before the electorate for discussion before the General Election in September 2016, he said.

The ringtone on my mobile phone is George Formby singing ‘Riding in the TT Races’.

Not long ago a friend told me: ‘That’s appropriate for you. TT can also stand for Techno Twit.’

This is true enough. I’m not even low tech.

I value my ringtone because my phone company took a lot of trouble to put it into my mobile when it was given to me by my daughter about 15 years ago on the grounds that I shouldn’t be allowed out on my own and she needed to keep in touch with my movements.

As far as I was concerned George was going to be with me for always.

But the mobile itself is not. Last week it died suddenly from natural causes.

I acquired a new mobile and I took it to the Tech Desk in downtown Douglas for it to be switched on.

But I needed to be assured first that George would be transferred into it. I didn’t think they could do such a thing.

Simon, the man behind the Tech Desk, was unfazed. It took him the best part of half an hour but he managed to do it.

He pressed a button and the sound of George Formby echoed through downtown Douglas. For the likes of me it was nothing short of miraculous.

I was also given a new charger with three-point plug. I found it didn’t fit my three-point plug socket. I took it back to Simon.

With admirable patience he showed me how my new three-point plug could be easily adapted to fit, by just moving one of the point things.

Now he knows what TT really stands for.

-----------------

This week’s Manx crossword clue has come in from Sara Goodwins, Barbara Taylor and Richard Hetherington. It was in the Telegraph cryptic as follows: ‘Islanders with little to look back on (4 4)’.

-----------------

The Examiner carried a story with the headline: ‘Douglas Head accused in court.’

If this was Douglas Harbour it would definitely be in the dock.

-----------------

In one of my Walk and Talk sessions last week I was introduced to the walker who celebrated his 100th birthday a short time ago but has not wished for any publicity.

But I can say it was an honour to meet the man who I will call Stan, no more than that.

I wonder if I will be able to overtake him one day.

-----------------

Crossword: Manx cats.

-----------------

Dementia, the Greek Goddess of Forgetfulness, strikes again. A couple of years ago I climbed into my car and found myself sitting on the passenger seat with no one behind the steering wheel. I have just done it again.

I had forgotten about the previous occasion until now.

-----------------

When you say to people : ‘How are you?’ they often reply: ‘I’m good.’

This goes for young girls as well as anybody else. They are all good girls?

Not from the look of some of them.

-----------------

My Funnies File has yielded a story that was in the Manx Independent years ago about a shares dispute in the High Court which refers to Douglas Bolton as a ‘chargered’ accountant and Tom Whipp as a ‘retired millionaire’.

Horse play?

-----------------

Kids are quick.

Teacher: ‘Glenn. How do you spell crocodile?’

Glenn: ‘K-R-O-K-O-D-I-A-L.’

Teacher: ‘No, that’s wrong.’

Glenn: ‘Maybe it is wrong but you asked me how I spell it.’

Isle of Man Friends of the Earth are always heartened by the number of enquiries fielded from people keen to shop more ‘mindfully’ – that is, in a way that means consumers get good, healthy produce sourced in ways that don’t carry a high price for other people. Last week, there was some great news from the EU on this front – as Ruth Evans, of the Climate News Network, explains

--------------

New rules on food labelling designed to give consumers across Europe more information should help to protect the world’s tropical forests and the climate.

An EU decision to give consumers more information about the food they buy could mean good news for tropical countries whose forests are threatened by the expanding trade in palm oil.

Palm oil is found in many supermarket products,such as soaps and shampoos, and in many sorts of food.

But the EU requirement that food products containing the oil must now be labelled clearly should help to dispel doubts about the damage it can cause.

Producing the oil often involves felling virgin rainforest, reducing biodiversity and destroying the habitat of endangered species such as orangutans, elephants and tigers, and ruining the livelihoods of local people.

It also involves the release of large quantities of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere when carbon-rich tropical forests are cleared for plantations.

The EU move is not expected to change things overnight. Simon Counsell, executive director of the Rainforest Foundation UK, said: ‘We imagine that the impact in the short term will be fairly limited, as it’s hard to see busy people scanning through a long list of ingredients on manufactured foods to see if the product contains palm oil.

‘So we believe there is still very much a need for a clear and simple product guide such as ours, so that people can know to avoid altogether products that contain palm oil.’

Indonesia and Malaysia produce 85 pe cent of the global palm oil supply, and wholesale logging there is a direct threat to some of the last remaining habitats of orangutans. There are thought to be around only 60,000 surviving in the wild.

Elizabeth Clarke, business and biodiversity programme manager at the Zoological Society of London, said: ‘Palm oil production is vital to the economies of countries where it is grown, but it also has serious negative environmental impacts, particularly if grown unsustainably.

‘We are working with the industry to promote sustainable practices and responsible investment through our new Sustainable Palm Oil Transparency Toolkit, SPOTT.

‘More is needed to reduce pressures on wildlife, ensuring a future for the remaining 300 Sumatran tigers whose habitat is at severe risk of being lost from deforestation as a result of irresponsible practices.’

New areas face threats in Africa and Latin America. In the Congo, for example, a million acres are already being cultivated for palm oil, with a further 284 million acres of pristine rainforest currently at risk. The Congo contains the world’s second largest tropical rainforest − after the Amazon − and is one of the most important wilderness areas left on Earth.

Many people living in the forests feel powerless.

Chief André Sayom, head of the village of Nkollo, in Cameroon, told the Rainforest Foundation: ‘We don’t have any space left to farm. We don’t benefit from anything. We’ve been displaced more than once already. Life becomes very difficult when these multinationals set foot somewhere.

‘These projects need to be looked at in the long term, and populations need to be informed and consulted.’

The new EU rules, introduced last December, require companies that use palm oil in their food products to label them with an explicit statement, rather than simply relying on vague, catch-all references to ‘vegetable oil’. They can also now highlight their use of certified sustainable palm oil.

Unilever is one of the world’s major buyers of palm oil, purchasing around 1.5 million tonnes annually − about 3 per cent of global production. It promised that all the oil directly sourced for its European foods business would be 100 per cent traceable and certified sustainable from the end of 2014.

Palm oil production is big business. The industry is worth $44 billion, with the world consuming 55 million tonnes in 2013 − nearly four times the 1990 total. And the World Bank expects today’s global demand to have doubled by 2020.

Cat Turner, co-ordinator of IoMFoE, said: ‘Here at IoM Friends of the Earth, we encourage all shoppers to think about the provenance of what they’re buying – it’s hard, when money’s tight, to do this, we appreciate that. But even higher prices are being paid, right now, by people in other countries – and as their ecosystems are decimated, those costs will in turn also affect us, the price of food in our baskets and the climate we live in.’

Thyme Limited, whose registered office is situated at Top Floor, 14 Athol Street, Douglas, bought land at junction of St George’s Street and Hope Street, Douglas, for £775,000.

It was bought from Hartford Homes Limited, whose registered office is situated at 2 Middle River, Douglas.

Other recent transactions lodged at the General Registry in Douglas are as follows:

Cron Properties Limited, whose registered office is situated at PO Box 544, 14 Britannia Place, St Helier, Jersey, sold a parcel of land situated at Lower Cronk Orry off Minorca Hill, Laxey, for £635,000, to Paul Lloyd-Roach, of 9 Lower Cronk Orry, Laxey.

Donald James Galbraith and Jane Gibson Galbraith, sold 41/43 Malew Street, Castletown, for £399,950, to Harbourside Limited, 8 Douglas Street, Castletown.

Karl James Foden sold 56 King Orry Road, Glen Vine, for £400,000 to Neill David Whyte and Kelly Janet Whyte, of Kildarry, 8 Belmont Road, Douglas.

Martin Lee Linhan and Michelle Jayne Linham sold 42 Baldrine Park, Baldrine, for £380,000, to John Robert Cannell and Lesley Jayne Cannell, of 15 Banks Howe, Onchan.

Stephen Ian Edwards and Victoria Jayne Edwards sold 104 Port-e-Chee Avenue, Douglas, for £283,000, to Andrew Johnston and Kerry Jane Johnston, of 13 St Ninian’s Road, Douglas.

Graham Frederick French and Mildred Eleanor French, of Landsdowne Guesthouse, 102 Bucks Road, Douglas, sold Cronnag, Bowling Green Road, Castletown, for £255,000, to Peter Douglas Cain, of 10 Bowling Green Road, Castletown.

Paul Stewart Graham, Christine Katherine Bradley, Vincent Edward Bradley and Valerie Joyce Lloyd, of 76 Summerhill Road, Onchan, sold 1 Walberry Mews, Douglas, for £180,000, to Caroline Bull, 97 Spectrum Apartments , Central Promenade, Douglas.

Elizabeth Clucas, by trustees, George Ramsey Martin Moore, of 5 Castleward Green, Douglas, as trustee, Mark Stephen Humphrey, of The Old Courthouse, Athol Street, as trustee, and Rebecca Charlotte Kelly, of 30 Devonshire Road, Douglas, sold a parcel of land known as Tosaby, for £17,500, to Ian Cowell, of 17 Slieu Whallian Park, St John’s, Alfred Kermode Collister, of South Tosaby, St Mark’s, and Christopher John Collister, of Lower Tosaby, Tosaby Road, St Mark’s.

We publish details of all sales unless we receive a written request from the police or probation service.

David Land has been appointed general manager at Kingswood Honda.

David, 43, will be responsible for the day to day running of the business.

He says he will maintain a hands on approach and will continue to work directly with his clients.

The appointment comes at what, he believes, is an exciting time for the motor trade, in particular at the only Honda dealership in the Isle of Man.

‘The future is looking good for Kingswood Honda and I am delighted to be a part of that as we grow the business,’ he said.‘Our focus will be on giving our customers precisely what they need and offering the kind of personal service that we pride ourselves upon.’

This year will see the release of a new Honda Civic Type R, a brand new Honda HRV and a new Honda Jazz.

‘It’s an exciting time to be involved with Honda, with these new models coming out towards the end of the year.’

David, who has a staff of 14 based at the sales room in Kingswood Grove, Douglas, added: ‘It is all about the team you have got around you and we are very lucky with those we have here. At the moment we have got a really good business for growth.’

Sheffield-born David has lived in the Isle of Man since the age of three.

sales

He has been in sales for 22 years and has been at Kingswood Honda for the past seven years.

When not keeping up with the latest performances by his beloved Sheffield Wednesday, David likes nothing better than to get out and enjoy the Manx countryside with daughter Charlotte, 13, and partner Hayley.

Kingswood Honda owner Brent Mealin said: ‘I am very excited about David’s promotion, stepping up from sales manager.

‘He has exactly the drive we need at Kingswood Honda to move the business forward and keep pace with the latest trends in the motor trade.’

David takes over from Michael Hollings, who has retired.

Brent added: ‘I would like to place on record my gratitude to Michael for all this hard work and dedication over the years.

‘The good news is that, with David’s appointment, our customers will still see a familiar face at the helm.’

www.kingswoodhonda.com

A 13-year-old girl has had her hair cut to raise cash for two local charities.

Millie Turner, from Onchan, had her long hair cut off at the village’s Vanilla Room on Friday and is donating the money raised to Hospice Isle of Man and Victim Support Isle of Man.

The teenager goes to Ballakermeen High School in Douglas and her hair will be sent to the Little Princess Trust to be used for children who have lost their hair through cancer treatments.

Millie’s mother Kirstie Turner works for Hospice Isle of Man so she said it is a charity close to her heart.

The teenager has so far raised £90 of her £250 target on the ‘Just Giving’ website.

You can still donate to Hospice at www.justgiving.com/Kirstie-Turner or to Victim Support at www.justgiving.com/Kirstie-Turner

Cronkbourne Village opened its doors to the public for what historians fear could be the last time.

The Isle of Man Family History Society held an open day at No 39, Cronkbourne Village, filling the tiny cottage with display boards about the village itself and the industrial works, featuring the sailcloth factory whose existence led to the creation of Cronkbourne itself.

The small cottage also laid claim to the fact that the renowned artist Archibald Knox may have been born there.

However, Braddan Commissioners have revealed that they are intending to sell off the cottages to a potential developer later on in the year, and as such means that this may be the last time the puiblic will be able to view the historic cottages.

‘We’ve got a display of all of the history of the Sailcloth Mills, Clucas’s laundry and the life of the people who lived in the cottages,’ said Priscilla Lewthwaite, from the Isle of Man Family History Society.

‘This house, no 39, we think is the house that Archibald Knox was born in. It was either this one or next door. Braddan Commissioners have let us have it for a couple of days to do the display and it’s been very popular.’

The panels depicted childhood memories of growing up around the village in the early 20th century and also artefacts from some of the villagers were on display.

A medal awarded to Annie Cowin, of the Cronkbourne Ladies’ Choir was there to be seen, alongside a gold locket worn by Edith Kelly, who lived her entire life at No 29. Also, a crocheted Victorian collar, belonging to Sarah Kelly, dated back to around 1850.

Cronkbourne is the only industrial village of its kind in the island, having been created by the industrialist FW Moore to provide housing for the workforce of the huge sail cloth factory during the early Victorian years.

He even created the name of the village himself, joining the Manx word for hill, ‘Cronk’, with the English name for a river, ‘Bourne’.

It later provided housing for the staff of Clucas’s Laundry, once it had established itself in the same area.

‘This will probably will be the last time we can do this,’ said Priscilla.

‘We’re trying to persuade Braddan Commissioners if they would look in to furnishing one in the Victorian fashion, but it would depend on the developer.

‘Cronkbourne is a complete community. It is also the only industrial village on the island. It was built solely fore the sailcloth workers.

‘It is unique to the island. In England you have Port Sunlight, Bourneville and similar industrial villages like that. But this is the only one in the island, so it is important to preserve a cottage like this.’

Health chiefs from the Isle of Man are to travel to New Zealand in search of ideas to help the Manx health service.

They’ve already been to Spain.

This week’s Manx Independent reports on proposals that could radically change the island’s health service.

The paper has also been looking at the effect the £1 parking charge has had at the airport. It seems a lot of people are desperate to avoid it.

Staying at the airport, it’s been more than four years since it got a new radar system. So why isn’t it being used yet? We report the news from the Keys.

Our reporters have been in court too this week covering a number of cases, including one in which a defendant bit a policewoman.

We’ve also heard from the government minister in charge of tourism. He says that, in spite of the Mount Murray’s closure, tourism is booming.

Our Island Life supplement looks forward to comedian Ross Noble’s performance and includes the island’s what’s on guide.

The paper also looks forward to a busy weekend of sport.

The Manx Independent is in the shops now.

The government has renegotiated and extended its major contract with Manx Telecom for telecommunications and network services.

The Cabinet Office says the new contract will generate significant cost savings and optimise the opportunity for competitive tenders where competition exists in the future.

The contract covers six separate lots which were won by Manx Telecom in 2009 through a competitive tender process. It includes services such as wide area networks connecting over 220 sites across the island, local area networks providing infrastructure to more than 5,500 end customers, mobile services to more than 3,000 handsets as well as other fixed line telecoms and internet based services.

Following a lengthy period of market analysis coupled with formal and informal assessment with Manx Telecom and other market providers, the mobile and fixed line services have been extended for a period of up to two years. Manx Telecom’s contract for the remaining services has been extended for a period of up to five years.

Mark Lewin, the director of government technology services, said: ‘This is a major contract allowing us to provide cost effective integrated IT systems across the whole of Isle of Man Government and we are pleased to have completed the negotiations with Manx Telecom.

‘Through this process we have been able to protect the critical services and importantly secure significant cost savings in a number of areas. We have continued the process of broader competitive dialogue where possible which in this case resulted in one of the smaller components in the contract being awarded to another provider. The contract now gives us the ability to take advantage of new technologies which will in time open up further cost saving opportunities.’

Mr Lewin added: ‘Manx Telecom is a strategic partner with a significant amount of depth and breadth in communications services, helping to ensure the Island has a world class telecoms infrastructure.

‘Some critical services are only currently available through Manx Telecom and the original contract recognised this, allowing for the extension of individual components as required. The contract has therefore been extended in line with this provision but with varying terms reflecting our view of market development. We look forward to carrying on our work with Manx Telecom and we will continue to watch how the market and the underlying technologies evolve.

There will now be a full tender for mobile and fixed line services within the next two years and for the other services within the next five years as and when the market is optimised for further competitive tendering.’

Stuart Nelson has been promoted to director at Barclays in the Isle of Man.

Mr Nelson is already head of corporate and intermediaries at the bank but his promotion recognises the importance of this client segment to Barclays and also the growth in the corporate and intermediaries team which now features five key relationship managers.

He will report to Simon Scott, the managing director of Barclays in the Isle of Man, along with Gareth Rowlands, who heads up business banking and captive insurance, and Collette Johnson, head of personal and premier banking.

‘Stuart has over 20 years of experience in the offshore banking industry,’ said Mr Scott.

‘He is particularly experienced in client facing roles, and his knowledge has been instrumental in the development of our local corporate and intermediary offerings.

‘His well-deserved promotion is in recognition of his contribution to the business and his role in growing our local client services.’

‘I’m excited by the potential of the new structure of the client facing team at Barclays,’ said Mr Nelson.

‘Simon, Gareth, Colletteand I will be working closely together to ensure that Barclays continues to meet our clients’ needs. My role with corporate and intermediary clients in particular is a growth area for the bank where we can look to roll out innovative solutions to support our clients and improve the client experience.”

A motorist was cut free from his car by firefighters on Tuesday night after an accident at the Bungalow on the Mountain Road.

The Renault had hit the embankment and rolled onto its side.

Fire crews helped the police investigation by providing lighting and other equipment.

Sub officer David Cowley said it was pleasing to see all three services working together to achieve their goals. Fire, police and ambulance crews regularly train together.

Controversy over the awarding of childcare contracts has resurfaced - amid claims of a private social meeting between government officials and a representative of the charity that went on to win the bid.

The issue was raised in the House of Keys this week by Lib Van leader Kate Beecroft (Douglas South).

Health and Social Care Minister Howard Quayle insisted the allegation has been investigated by Treasury’s head of internal audit who found there was no case to answer.

The Children’s Centres raised serious concerns about the procurement process after it was announced that it lost, or failed to win a series of childcare contracts.

Three out of the four contracts were awarded to St Christopher’s. A fourth tender lot was withdrawn following concerns over an alleged conflict of interest concerning a member of the interviewing panel.

In the Keys, Mrs Beecroft asked whether any private social meetings took place last year between senior officers of the DHSC and St Christopher’s representatives.

Mr Quayle replied: ‘The department can confirm a private meeting which involved DHSC officers and an officer from St Christopher’s as well as another individual not connected to either organisation took place in 2014.

‘This was raised as part of the recent appeal against the award of children and families services by the Isle of Man Children’s Centre.

‘The subject of this meeting was not related directly to services being tendered and took place before requests for expressions of interests were requested. The matter was considered as part of the appeal procedure, the appeal was not upheld.’

Mrs Beecroft suggested it had been a social dinner.

Mr Quayle said: ‘While I can understand her concerns, this has been investigated by the independent head of the audit department and they have found no case to answer.’ He said that if the Lib Van MHK had any new evidence it would be investigated.

The fire service has released photographs of the aftermath of a blaze with which they dealt last night.

They show a severe fire that started in the kitchen of a house in Nursery Avenue, Onchan.

At about 9.30pm crews from Douglas fire atation were sent to reports of the house fire.

Upon arrival crews were confronted with a well established fire in the rear of the semi detached property.

The property owner and his two children had escaped from the premises and were uninjured.

A team of two firefighters wearing breathing apparatus entered the property and made their way to the rear kitchen area where they discovered a fully developed fire.

Crews used a high pressure hose reel and a thermal imaging camera to bring the blaze under control, this task was made more difficult due to the location of the gas boiler which was close to the source of the fire.

A second team of firefighters wearing breathing apparatus entered the building to help ventilate the first floor and roof space area.

There was severe fire and smoke damage to the kitchen area of the property along with smoke damage to the remainder of the property.

The cause of the fire was traced back to a number of lithium battery cells which were being charged in the kitchen.

Crews dealt with several hotpots and cut away parts of the ceiling area to ensure the building was left safe before returning to Douglas fire station at about 11.10pm.

The public are reminded to remain vigilant while charging any type of electrical device.

Even members of the local authorities don’t know the details of the government’s contract with SITA who run the island’s incinerator, an Onchan commissioner has revealed.

Rob Callister said despite the rocketing cost to local authorities for waste disposal charges at the incinerator, the precise details of the agreement between government and SITA had never been published and the costs imposed by SITA per tonne of waste disposed of remained a mystery.

‘These costs should be explained to the rate payer, but even the local authorities don’t know the financial arrangements with SITA. The details should be made public. I also don’t know who sets the so-called ‘‘gate fee’’ (the charge per tonne of waste disposed of),’ he said.

In 2012 the government decided to remove its subsidy towards the costs of waste disposal and by 2018, local authorities will be expected to pay the full government subsidy for the incinerator of around £5.7 million per year.

In 2013 the cost of disposal per tonne was £57 for domestic waste and £120 for commercial waste.

This year the cost is £99 and £160, and by 2018 the price will have rocketed to £161.35, with charges for domestic and commercial waste on an equal footing.

At the time, the DOI admitted the rise equates to an average annual rates increase of £22 per household each year from 2012 to 2018.

‘The DOI sets a rate and charges us per tonne of rubbish disposed of at the Energy from Waste Plant (incinerator), but what we don’t know is how much the DOI is being charged by SITA. I feel the local authorities are being used as a cash cow by the government,’ he said.

‘The government says it is a subsidised rate that is charged but we don’t know that, if we can’t have access to the figures. In 2018 the charge per tonne will be £161. Are you telling me that’s what the government has been paying since the contract with SITA started in 2004 and they only break even or make a profit in 2018?

‘It’s putting extreme pressure on local authorities, particularly those with little or no reserves.’

By 2018, he said rate payers in Onchan could be paying £515,200 per year for waste disposal. The contract with SITA to run the incinerator lasts until 2029.

The policy of placing extra burden on the local authorities who then have to charge through the domestic rating system is also questionable because it is inequitable: ‘Rates are not means tested whereas income tax is, and that’s an important consideration,’ he said.

As a result of the hike in fees. emphasis has been placed on recycling more material rather than disposing of it in the bin. The government’s 10 year waste strategy is to recycle 70 per cent of domestic waste by 2022.

But Mr Callister suggests this may be a flawed strategy because the energy produced by burning waste produces income for the government, which will be lost if 70 per cent of rubbish is recycled.

Since 2004, the plant has processed around 500,000 tonnes of waste, generating an estimated 260,000 megawatts of electricity, equating to £10 million in income. Any income generated via the sale of electricity is used to offset the operating cost of the plant but this could be lost.

The Steam Packet has cancelled tonight’s sailing from the Isle of Man to Heysham and its return after the Ben-my-Chree got into difficulties in Douglas harbour this evening.

The company simply described the problem as a ‘technical issue’ with the propeller which meant the vessel was unable to reach its designated berth.

It meant passengers were stuck on board.

Fire crews and the police were called as a precaution.

The ship finally docked at around 10pm, around four hours after it was due to.

Steam Packet chief executive Mark Woodward said: ‘Engineers are currently assessing the situation regarding the berthing of the vessel. The company has also requested the presence of divers.’

{http://www.steam-packet.com/LatestSailings|For the latest from the Steam Packet click here.}