Cutting number of local authorities would make them more effective, says MHK

Douglas North member will bring motion on local authority reform to next month's Tynwald

Reducing the number of local authorities on the Island would allow them to take more services from central government.

That's the belief of Douglas North MHK David Ashford who will bring a motion to next month's Tynwald calling for local authority reform.

There are 21 boards on the Island dealing with issues like refuse collection and parks maintenance.

Mr Ashford believes reducing this to five - north, south, west, east and Douglas - would make authorities more effective: