Liberal Vannin says that the government’s Draft Island Plan is ’too focused on process’.

The party held a public meeting in November to consider the legislation and has now published the results.

In a statement it said: ’The resulting conclusion was that the draft plan is too focused on process, instead of delivery of service improvements to meet residents’ needs and our aspirations.

’The final version should demonstrate how central government intends to work with local authorities to improve service delivery throughout the island and how government plans to deliver improved outcomes for people over the next five years.

’We want to see targets to be achieved within the lifetime of this administration, so that they can be held to account at the next general election in 2026.’

They set out a number of targets they would like to see the government achieve including:

Health and wellbeing:

-Reduce waiting lists for people requiring diagnosis and treatment;

-Increase opportunities for health professionals to qualify and receive in-service training on-island;

-Commit to permanently set the Manx Living Wage as the Legal Minimum Wage by 2025/26;

-Improve state pensions and benefits in proportion to the Manx Living Wage.

Housing:

-Reduce waiting lists for social housing;

-Increase numbers helped to buy their first home;

-Targets for numbers of homes meeting up-to-date energy efficiency standards;

Education:

-Increase support provided for children with special needs;

-Target support for apprenticeships / higher education and opportunities for re-training to meet identified skills gaps.

Climate Change:

-Commission renewable energy generating capacity;

-Decide on how the Pulrose gas-fired power station will be replaced;

-Set a target for the number of existing homes to be converted from fossil fuel heating systems.

Lawrie Hooper MHK, the leader of Liberal Vannin and Minister for Health and Social Care said he is ’confidently optimistic’ that further consultations with the public will lead to sufficient changes made to the actual Island Plan that the party would then fully support.

The final version of the Island Plan is due to go before Tynwald in January.

To gauge the public’s support, the government has been hosting ’Meet the Ministers’ events.

Two events planned in Ramsey and Peel on Tuesday were postponed due to severe gales.

The events at Ramsey Town Hall and the House of Manannan have been postponed until January 2022.

Events held in the south and east yesterday (Wednesday) went ahead at the Erin Arts Centre in Port Erin and the Villa Marina in Douglas.

In addition to the drop-in feedback sessions, individuals and groups wishing to submit their views can do so on the government consultation hub at

https://consult.gov.im/cabinet-office/our-island-plan-2021-2026/, by emailing [email protected], or in writing to Island Plan, Third Floor, Government Office, Buck’s Road, Douglas, ensuring submissions are received by Monday, December 13.