Community

Thinking of standing as a Commissioner in the forthcoming Local Elections on 22 July?

Basic qualifications to be a Commissioner

· There are no qualifications required to be a Commissioner but we would like Commissioners to bring with them enthusiasm, their own unique perspective and knowledge and an interest in the community, whilst being aware of the bigger political picture.

· Being a Commissioner, although not a full time position, does still require a commitment to give your time freely to deal with the business of the authority, by preparing for and attending regular meetings, and to engage with the local community.

· All ages and backgrounds are welcome

· You do not have to live in Braddan to be a candidate, but to be eligible to stand for election you must be on an electoral register for a voting district on the island.

Remember, your nominator, seconder and assenters must be on the voters list for the area you are nominated in.

11th June 2021 in Community, News

Thinking of standing as a Commissioner in the forthcoming Local Elections on 22 July?

What could you gain from becoming a Commissioner?

We asked our existing Board members how they have found the role of Commissioner over the last 5 years:

“Being a Commissioner is a bit like doing Jury duty, with an unusual mixture of people trying to come together in agreement, as representatives of society”.

“I found it rewarding and stimulating. Enjoying my time spent and the debates and activities involved. I have learnt considerably about areas of the Island and Manx concerns. Overall, I found the whole experience both Cathartic and inspiring”.

“I did not have a clear understanding of the scope of activity that involved Commissioners and was pleased by the variety”.

“It’s not boring. You get to meet interesting people and see what they are doing to develop the Island.”

“Being a Commissioner can make a difference to your local area and the services you receive by your involvement in the decisions made by the Board.”

11th June 2021 in Community, News

Local Elections – 22 July 2021

The next Local Authority General Election will be held on Thursday, July 22nd 2021.

Prior to this, on 15 June 2021 the Department of Infrastructure will publish a notice of election, which will highlight the number of Commissioners (FIVE in Braddan) and will also set out the deadline dates people need to be aware of if intending to submit an absent vote.
Whether you are interested in standing as local authority member or wish to vote at the local authority general elections, the starting point is being on the register of electors.
The final date to register to vote is Friday 18 June 2021.
In Braddan, we need to elect FIVE people to fill the vacant seats on the Board of Commissioners this July. All candidates will serve for four years, until the next elections in 2025.
Nominations for the 5 seats on Braddan Parish Commissioners will close at 5pm on Tuesday 29th June 2021.
If you are interested in standing as a candidate in Braddan, please contact the Clerk, Colin Whiteway on 852808 or by email: colin@braddan.im

Alternatively, you may contact any of the existing Commissioners to talk about their experiences of being a board member. Contact details for all the current Commissioners can be found on our website: https://www.braddan.im/commissioners

8th June 2021 in Community, News

LOCAL ELECTIONS 22 APRIL 2021

LOCAL ELECTIONS 22 APRIL 2021

  • Do you have lots of ideas about how to improve your community?
  • Do you have the time to make a difference?
  • Do you enjoy debating important issues?

By serving as a Braddan Commissioner you can make your voice heard and influence decisions that will help shape the future of Braddan

THE ELECTION PROCESS

Local Authority Elections will take place on Thursday 22 April 2021 and there are 5 vacant seats available on the Board of Braddan Commissioners.

To stand as a local authority member, you must appear on the Register of Electors as of 1st January 2021 — you do not have to be registered in the Constituency for which you are standing. To check you are registered, visit www.gov.im/registertovote  or call the Crown and Elections Unit on 685754.

The term of office is 4 years.

Nomination forms and information packs will be available in March 2021 for collection from Braddan Commissioners’ Office.

If you are over 18 and interested in standing, to find out more, you can:-

  • Attend Commissioners’ Meetings – generally held every two weeks.
  • Read the Agendas and minutes which are available at:- facebookfacebook.com/braddancommissioners and our website — www.braddan.im
  • Speak to one of our existing Commissioners to find out more about the role
  • Contact the Clerk to the Commissioners, Colin Whiteway on 852808 or colin@braddan.im

 COMMISSIONERS’ MEETINGS

Elected members are required to attend regular Commissioners’ Meetings together with other meetings from time to time.

Board meetings may be held during working hours and rarely last longer than 4 hours. An attendance allowance can be claimed as follows:-

  • Daytime rate — £12.50 per hour (to a maximum of £50 per session
  • Evening rate – £7.50 per hour (to a maximum of £30 per session
  • The maximum allowance payable to a member per annum is £6,000
  • Travel allowance may also be claimed if agreed by the authority

 WHAT WE DO AS A LOCAL AUTHORITY

 Refuse & recycling collection

  • Street-lighting
  • Housing
  • Car-parking
  • Street Cleaning
  • Gully emptying
  • Public conveniences
  • Public information and advice
  • Environmental health
  • Parks, playgrounds and other leisure facilities
  • Control of dogs
  • Hedge maintenance
  • Weed spraying
  • Street-cleaning
  • Planning
  • Abandoned vehicles
  • Byelaw enforcement

All these activities are funded from the rates which are fixed by the Board of Commissioners each year.

ISSUES WE’RE CURRENTLY DEALING WITH INCLUDE:-

  • Strang Corner Field Community Development
  • Allocation of tenants into new 30 unit housing development at Mullen Doway
  • Declaration of a Climate Change Emergency
  • Construction of public toilets in Cronk Grianagh Park
  • Recycling campaign
26th February 2021 in Community, News

COVID 19 Update

COVID UPDATE – BRADDAN PARISH COMMISSIONERS
Following the announcement from the Chief Minister yesterday, Braddan Commissioners would like to update residents on how they are going to manage the situation with regard to services:-
• The Commissioners’ Office Public counter has been closed with immediate effect. We have written out to all tenants directly affected by this today with alternative arrangements for rent payments.
•The staff are working remotely and can be contacted by phone on 852808 or via email at braddan@braddan.im
• Routine and non-urgent Public Sector Housing repairs are suspended with immediate effect. Only repairs assessed to be an emergency will be undertaken in line with our strict Covid working arrangements.
• Domestic and Commercial Refuse collections will continue as normal but please ensure that your wheelie bin handles are cleaned prior to and after collection. Side waste will not be collected. Assisted collections will continue as normal.
•The fortnightly recycling collection will proceed as normal unless advised otherwise. Please ensure that your trolley or box handles are cleaned prior to and after collection.
• Local bring banks will remain open.
• All play areas will be closed with immediate effect.
•The Memorial Hall in Union Mills is no longer available to hire for the time being. We will contact anyone with booking to arrange a refund.
• Please ensure that 2m social distancing is always observed.
The most up to date and accurate health guidance on Covid-19 is available on the Government’s website:-
6th January 2021 in Community, News

Braddan Commissioners and the Family Library

Braddan Parish Commissioners and the Family Library

L-R – John Quaye (BC), Sally Hardman (Family Library), Neal Mellon (BC), Kerry-Ann Mitchell and Graeme Jolly (both from the Family Library)

Braddan Parish Commissioners have made a generous contribution to the Family Library for its services to the children and the elderly of the Parish.  These funds will be directed towards Large Print books for the Mobile Library, children’s Audiobooks for the Family Library, and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) books for the Schools Service. Each item will be identified by a label “A contribution from Braddan Parish Commissioners 2020”.

Large Print books are essential for borrowers who struggle with ordinary print; audiobooks can be shared with the family both at home and in the car; resources for the Schools Service, which visits almost every Island school, are always in great demand by teachers.

John Quaye and Neal Mellon who presented the cheque on behalf of Braddan Commissioners were extremely impressed with the facilities provided on the Mobile Library. They were delighted to hear that the Team had kept in contact with their vulnerable service users during the lockdown by handwritten correspondence.  The Mobile Library visits Braddan fortnightly and the Commissioners would encourage residents to use the services provided. Details of times and locations of the Mobile Library visits can be found on their website: https://www.familylibrary.im/

Based on Westmoreland Road, Douglas, there are five available services: Family Library, Schools Service, Mobile Library, Home Library Service for those unable to access other libraries, and the Bibliotherapy service for group sessions aimed at alleviating loneliness.

Residents who would like more information about our services should call 640650 or email sally@familylibrary.im

15th December 2020 in Community, News

Braddan Commissioners’ Bulb Planting

Would you like to see Braddan covered in more flowers next spring?

Braddan Commissioners are going to plant lots of spring bulbs this autumn in different areas around the parish and we would love to hear from any groups, schools, companies or clubs that would like to help with this project 😊

Bulb planting is always a really satisfying exercise as the results can be seen for years to come.

If you would like to assist, please contact the Commissioners’ Office on 852808 or email us on braddan@braddan.im

4th September 2020 in Community, News