At the Extra Ordinary Meeting of the Board of Onchan District Commissioners held on Monday 13th January 2025 the Board resolved the following:
• For the Financial Year 2025/26 the Authority continues to offer a 4% discount to ratepayers who pay their Rates by the 30th June 2025;
• The Authority’s District Rate for the 2025/26 Financial Year be increased by 20 pence from 411 to 431 pence in the pound which is equivalent to a 4.87% increase;
• The budgeted deficit to be taken from the Authority’s General Reserve is £52,574.
Anthony Allen, Lead Member for Finance and General Purposes stated on behalf of the Board of Onchan District Commissioners:
“Firstly on behalf of the Board of Onchan Commissioners, I want to thank the staff and leadership team for their hard work in continuing to provide local services for the residents of Onchan. Any cost savings made during the last year are a tribute to the expertise and diligence of the staff involved.
There have been external financial pressures from some of the essential services we buy in, for example, insurance and other increased costs imposed by central government.
As a local authority we continue to invest in improving our assets and stock in line with maintaining high standards of good governance.
Following a meeting with the Clerk/Chief Executive and the Chief Finance Officer, I recommended to the Board an increase of 4.87% which equates to 20 pence and a District Rate of 431 pence in the pound. This is a modest increase and less than the previous year's increase of 10.19% which was a 38 pence increase.
The recommendation was unanimously accepted by all Board Members.
Notable impacts to income received by the Authority include:
• Reduced interest rates on deposit accounts;
• Increased property search fees;
• Additional refuse collection custom;
• Increased commercial garage rents;
• Increased administration allowance associated with social housing rent increase;
• Occupancy of commercial properties.
Notable increases to existing expenditure commitments include:
• Insurance renewal;
• Energy from Waste facility disposal fees;
• Forecasted inflation;
• Utility costs;
• External audit fees;
• Eastern Civic Amenity Site contributions;
• Bank card terminal/transaction fees;
• Staffing costs in relation to pay awards.
Notable planned expenditures include:
• Rates software update;
• Additional tree management and maintenance;
• Replacement play area equipment;
• Commercial garage door replacements;
• Street lighting replacements to King Edward Road, Turnberry Avenue, Wentworth Close, Howe Road, Manor Park, and Links View;
• Local Authority General Election.”