Engagement Hub

Consultation helps shape our work to inform the development of policy, projects and legislation. It helps us to find out your views and lets us know about any ideas or suggestions you may have. 

Eaisht lesh dagh cleaysh, eisht jean briwnys
Listen with each ear, then decide

Featured activities

  • What will care cost YOU?

    The Island’s population is aging and the cost of caring for an older society is increasing. We know that people worry about the cost of care. Care will become unaffordable if we don’t change how the system works and we need to find a fairer way of paying for it. This consultation introduces two alternative options of paying for care. Both options being considered increase Government’s contribution towards the cost of care. This would allow those receiving care...

    Closes 12 January 2024

We asked, You said, We did

Here are some of the issues we have consulted on and their outcomes. See all outcomes

We asked

In July 2023 Cabinet Office published the Preliminary Publicity for the Strategic Plan review. The Strategic Plan sets the high-level planning policy framework for the sustainable development of the Island, and the Preliminary Publicity stage represents the first statutory step in a comprehensive review of this important statutory planning document.  

Aside from a focused review in 2016, the Strategic Plan remains largely unchanged since its original adoption in 2007. The Strategic Plan review provides the opportunity to review the Island’s Spatial Strategy and embed climate change policies in the Plan, as well as to reflect some of the core strategic objectives set out in ‘Our Island Plan’ to build a secure, vibrant and sustainable future for our Island and specifically deliver one of the key elements identified in the ‘Building Great Communities’ Programmes. 

Because of the wide-reaching implications of the Strategic Plan review for all members of the Island community, Cabinet Office invited comment from interested parties and stakeholders on the published Preliminary Publicity documents. These documents comprised a Main Consultation Document as well as a series of Evidence Papers which looked at specific topic areas in greater detail. All published evidence papers were available on the Consultation Hub and via the Cabinet Office website.

You said

The Strategic Plan Preliminary Publicity consultation ran between 21 July and 29 September 2023 and attracted 209 responses. The vast majority of responses were received either via email or online via the Consultation Hub. A small number of physical response forms and letters were also received.

The 209 respondents comprised:

  • 153 members of the public
  • 5 private companies (excluding developers and built environment professionals)
  • 11 developers or built environment professionals
  • 14 Local Authorities or politicians
  • 6 Government Departments or Statutory Bodies/Boards
  • 8 special interest or community groups
  • 7 who identified as ‘other’

We did

Cabinet Office has analysed all responses received and is in the process of producing a consultation summary report which will look at the themes which emerged as part of the consultation responses.

Schedule 1, Paragraph 3, of the Town and Country Planning Act (1999) requires Cabinet Office to publish a Draft Plan no more than 12 months after the completion of the Preliminary Publicity. This means a draft plan shall be published by 28 September 2024.

The responses received as part of the Preliminary Publicity consultation will directly inform the Draft Strategic Plan which will, in turn, be subject to a further round of consultation ahead of public inquiry.

We asked

The Department of Infrastructure received two petitions from local residents in 2020, identifying problems and seeking the implementation of traffic calming and pedestrian safety measures in the area, including 20mph restrictions. A feasibility study was carried out with a number of options suggested. Feedback was sought from key stakeholders, the general public particularly residents and businesses in the scheme area about the proposals and any other issues that are affecting the area regarding making our streets suitable for all residents, pedestrians and road users.

You said

592 responses were received by the Consultation Hub. Responses were also received by email, paper copies and from the drop in sessions.  These are reported on in a separate section in the consultation response document which is available as a downloadable document on this page.

To what extent do you support the introduction of a 20mph speed limit within the area?

77% of respondents said they supported the introduction of a 20mph speed limit within the area in some form.

The scheme proposes traffic calming measures on Alexander Drive and Mount Bradda. To what extent do you support the use of traffic calming in these areas?

  • 33% supported the idea of traffic calming on Alexander Drive and Mount Bradda
  • 15% said they supported the idea but would suggest other areas in addition
  • 10% said no but would like to suggest alternative areas
  • 41% did not support traffic calming in these areas

To what extent do you support the addition of new road crossings, including zebra-like side road crossings, in the area?

  • 57% were supportive
  • 30% said no
  • 11% unsure to the addition of new road crossings including zebra-like side road crossings in the area

Please indicate below the extent to which you support the improvements to popular walking and cycling routes in the area:

  • Improvements to the existing walking route from Ballakermeen Drive to Ballakermeen High School:
    • 55% yes
    • 24% no
    • 17% not sure
  • Walking route improvements on entry to Ballakermeen High School:
    • 58% yes
    • 19% no
    • 19% not sure
  • Footway improvements on Hawarden Avenue:
    • 58% yes
    • 20% no
    • 18% not sure
  • Traffic-free zone linking into residential and school area from Peel Road:
    • 29% yes
    • 50% no
    • 18% not sure

Please indicate below the extent to which you support the one-way road and no entry treatments:

  • No entry treatments on residential streets (two-way traffic on street itself):
    • 27% yes
    • 49% no
    • 17% not sure
  • One-way restriction on the access road next to Woodbourne Square:
    • 33% yes
    • 43% no
    • 13% not sure

We did

The Department would like to thank the public, particularly the residents in the scheme area, for their engagement and welcomes all the free form comments giving their reasons for supporting or not supporting any of the suggested options.

The Department has considered the responses to the engagement carefully and has published a consultation response which is available as a downloadable document on this page. This consultation report summarises the responses received and sets out the next steps the Department intends to take following the engagement.

We will use the feedback given by all stakeholders to help us develop a Living Streets Scheme for the area. It is hoped that the detail design stage will start this year, but this will be dependent on funding.

We asked

The Department for Enterprise asked for views on specific proposals to temporarily remove the requirement for Work Permits across all roles, occupations and economic sectors given the ongoing skills shortages and low levels of unemployment.  Feedback was also sought on a replacement registration process, the level of fee to be charged for such registration and maintaining the current position on persons with certain criminal convictions being required to still follow the full Work Permit process.

You said

253 responses were received (250 via the consultation Hub and 3 separate written responses).  The majority of respondents supported the proposals as set out in the consultation.

  • 170 respondents (67%) expressed their views that there were no specific sectors or occupations where the requirement for a work permit needs to be retained
  • 205 respondents (81%) supported the principle of requiring an employer to register non-Isle of Man Workers in replacement of a work permit application
  • 233 respondents (92%) supported the principle of maintaining the existing provisions in respect of persons with certain criminal convictions
  • 163 respondents (64%) supported the retention of a fee, to be paid at the time of registering a non-Isle of Man worker
  • 151 respondents (60%) supported, on balance, the overall proposed approach.  Of those respondents who did not support the proposed approach, a further 26 (10%) expressed views that the proposals did not go far enough and the whole process should be removed / revoked.

Therefore, overall, there was a significant majority of respondents in support of further reform to the Work Permit system, with the specific proposals of the Department also receiving majority support.

We did

The Department has considered the responses to the consultation carefully and has published a consultation response which is available as a downloadable document on this page.  This consultation report summarises the responses received and sets out the next steps the Department intends to take following the consultation which concluded with a significant majority of respondents expressing the view that further reforms to the work permit system were required, with the specific proposals set out by the Department also receiving majority support.

The required legislative amendments will now be prepared and the Department intends to bring these forward at the October 2023 sitting of Tynwald.

Subject to the will of Tynwald, the Department intends to implement the revised process as soon as practicable following approval and clear guidance will be made available for both employers and employees, with the changes widely publicised ahead of implementation, if ultimately approved.