Non-Believer

Underway now at 8.55pm, explanation of a dead engine given, ETA of 00.15 aided by the smooth conditions.

Underway now at 8.55pm, explanation of a dead engine given, ETA of 00.15 aided by the smooth conditions.

It arrived in Lpool about 15 minutes ago.

Mr Scales' photo-shopping equipment in the Hubb?

A bit like Liverpool Terminal, 20 years bit excepted...

Yes, I'm on the (now) 21.00 ex L/pool tonight, just been notified by text. Does Manannan have woes?

It would be interesting to see who/which parties they took representation from.

Worried already that hospitality won't be able to get people for TT because they think that it won't be worth it if it puts them into the higher tax bracket?

Cue the point-by-point rebuttals...once again, "sky-rocketing prices". There is a perception, justified or not, that the Steamie is very expensive.

I like this bit at the bottom of the report....

I think it just goes to highlight the disparity and disconnect between how Govt operates and how the rest of the population operate and exist. We've got sections of the economy expressing deep concern NOW....and yet our Govt is talking about 10 year strategies (whilst dismissing any calls for assistance at present). Extend that attitude/policy out into other areas of Governance (other than Govt's own priorities towards itself, naturally) and people are basically on their own, I'd say. Dog eat dog, survival of the fittest.

You just can't have enough strategies. Especially if they take ten years to compile and/or implement, one wonders what the economy will be like by the time they get it together?

I can see the name of at least one arrogant, self serving nosher in that list. Other than that, how much "Planning Experience and Qualification" exists in that team that should overturn the recommendations of a qualified Planning Officer? There was a time when the TT represented a rare time of opportunity that was promoted for all local concerns to benefit from. Times appear to have changed.

We don't want cheaper competition to Phillips' World of Very Expensive Comestibles at the Grandstand now, do we....?

And with so many members of Govt themselves showing the way by availing themselves in those troubled times, it's hardly unexpected.

After planning officers gave it the green light too. Now why do you suppose....?

They can add on the outstanding £78k overpayment in pensions too.

It's not a problem peculiar to Govt but the difference is, the taxpayers are paying for it in the case of Govt and one wouldn't mind betting that they're a lot more prevalent in the PS. So what is needed is hard-nosed, savvy HR types (an oxymoron in Govt if ever there was one) who are capable of identifying the characters above and swinging the axe without remorse in the right places. Those types do exist in the private sector but will not be currently found in Govt.

What thinning out is Hooper doing, of the at least double-layered Manx Care/DHSC?

All based on 500,000 visitors pa projection? Build it and they will come... Or something.

Hopefully the new "opposition" triumvirate of Edge, Thomas and Christian would like to keep this on the boil...?

Perhaps she'd like to go away and then shortly revert with precisely whose job it is then....

The Town Clerk and his Deputy are both in excess of £75k, the Deputy is almost certainly on more than the TC, courtesy of being employed on the pre-2015 conditions, the post-2015 PSC terms saw a salary cut of @ 1/3rd over existing, the new TC was recruited in January 2022. Plus the extra pay for extra responsibilities such as notary/oaths and registrar duties. At least 2 new other positions have been created within the TH, these will certainly be in the £50k+ bracket.

It's in the published figures and one of the Commissioners I'm acquainted with confirmed it verbally during a conversation a few weeks ago. "Democratic control has been lost" was his expression. Up from the 2 it had been for the last 9 years (and only one before that), presumably this new "Development Manager" with attendant deputy are two of them.