Department of Infrastructure to fund £48k financial gap at Northern Civic Amenity Site

FOI request has confirmed how much each local authority is paying

The Department of Infrastructure will cover the gap left in Northern Civic Amenity Site's finances following its takeover by the government. 

A Freedom of Information request has revealed that £48,950 will be paid from the department's 'internal budget resources', with each northern local authority now paying a new fee. 

The NCAS was threatened with closure after Bride Commissioners pulled out of the committee which operates it and refused to pay its contribution, but the DoI has since taken over.

Ramsey Commissioners is now operating the site on behalf of the department.

Bride Commissioners will now be paying the least at £11,900 whilst Ramsey Commissioners is paying £255,948, which is the majority of the cost. 

The other local authorities are contributing:

 

  • Andreas Commissioners - £36,715
  • Ballaugh Commissioners - £27,242
  • Jurby Commissioners - £20,587
  • Lezayre Commissioners - £39,152
  • Maughold Ward - £29,866

In an email, Deputy Chief Officer of the DoI Jefferey Robinson, said it made a 'pragmatic' decision to keep the site open until a more 'sustainable' option has been found. 

In a separate email, Mr Robinson also told local authorities that if not all of them agreed to the costs, then the planned closure would've stood.
He also said he wants to continue working with the local authorities to find a 'practicable solution' for the rate payers of the north.
The FoI also revealed that contracts for the revised payments were sent out on Friday 28 March and Bride Commissioners sent its back to Mr Robinson on 31 March, the day before the site was due to close to the public. 

 

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