Manifesto
HOUSE OF KEYS ELECTION 2006 (RUSHEN)
Dear voter (& prospective voter)
I would like to introduce myself as a candidate for Rushen in the forthcoming House of Keys election expected to be held on Thursday 23rd November 2006.
My name is Adrian Tinkler. I have been married to Frances since 1978 and we have five children. I was born in Dublin in 1953 and moved to the Isle of Man with my family in 1989 to take up a position as an accountant for a financial services company in Douglas. Prior to 1989 I lived and worked in Ireland. My parents were originally from Warrington, Cheshire. I am a Chartered Secretary and Chartered Insurer and currently work as a Company Secretary and Client Compliance Officer for an insurance management company in Douglas. This role brings me in to day-to-day contact at a senior level with major business clients and representatives of the business community in the Isle of Man. During a long and varied business career I have held senior management roles in both Finance and Administration and have held many varied committee posts related to community, primary school and sports organisations. I have been a Rushen Parish Commissioner since 2001 and I have lived in the South for over 16 years.
I believe this experience equips me well to serve the voters of Rushen as your Member of the House of Keys and I would very much welcome your support in November. I feel that there are many problems that need to be addressed by Government and many serious mistakes have been made by some of our politicians during the 2001-2006 Tynwald. It is vital therefore that great care is taken to elect politicians who can identify the problems, seek the solutions and be brave enough to speak out and tackle them. I believe that I can fulfil this role.
I can be contacted by e-mail at adrian(at)voteatrushen.net, by mobile on 07624 404458, or using the contact form on this web site. I hope to visit as many homes as possible between now and Election Day and would be pleased to discuss any issues you might wish to raise. I will deliver a manifesto nearer to the Election. I believe that many of the principal issues that need to be addressed by the new Tynwald include the following:
- Finances: The 2006/07 Government budget projects net spending of 522m, an increase of 8.2% over 2005/06, to be funded from higher taxes. I support an independent Public Accounts or Audit Commission that can assess value for money in all areas of Government and thus hopefully reduce the tax burden for all.
- Transparency of Government: Does anyone remember glasnost (Openness) & Perestroika (Reconstruction) following the collapse of the Soviet Union? We need this urgently in Government for 2006-2011, to ensure that the many financial and political scandals that have taken place since 2001 are never repeated. We need elected politicians that are prepared to make a difference I believe that I can!
- Housing: We need:
- The existing Government loan scheme maximum limit to be increased to a more realistic level.
- The existing system of localised housing lists to be abolished and replaced by a regional one, say for the Sheading of Rushen.
- More affordable housing needs to be built.
- More local authority & retirement housing for the South.
- Health: We need:
- More dental facilities and elimination of the current waiting lists.
- More respite facilities for carers and their families.
- More Day-care & Respite facilities for Special Needs and Geriatric patients.
- Full utilisation of the New Southlands complex for its original purpose.
- separation of Health Services, Social Services and Social Welfare into more manageable units.
- Education: The second-most expensive Department of Government is facing severe budgetary constraints - this impacts on all our educational services. However the needs of our schoolchildren, particularly those with Special Needs, must not be compromised for financial reasons. The Special Unit in Jurby is an excellent example of top-level decisions being made on cost-cutting grounds without due regard for those affected by these decisions. For Special Needs pupils, I would like to see formal statementing by the Department of Education, so that individual targets and aspirations can be properly defined and assessed.
- Decentralisation: There should be a policy adopted that would see some Government departments moved to other towns on a phased basis.
- House of Keys Reform: I support the provision of fairer representation for the people by a review of the existing structure to a 2 x 12 model for the 24 elected MHK s. Elections should be held in August/September.
- Legislative Council: There are pro s and cons with the present system but as this is a contentious matter I would support the matter be put to a referendum.
- Local Government Reform: I support reform of Local Authorities provided that some of the powers and responsibilities they have lost in the past are given back.
- Rateable valuation: I support the reform of our existing system of rates, which is based on an outdated methodology. The proposed Banding of properties, debated by Tynwald in late 2005 may partially address this issue but the matter appears to have been shelved until after the November election.
- Water Rates: Domestic water rates should be based on usage. I would support a scheme that introduces water metering on a phased basis.
- Transport: Government must ensure when licensing new carriers or new air links that the airlines commit to providing services for a minimum period of time. The recent upgrade of the railway line should have led to provision of a modern commuter rail service for the South, but this idea was shelved and should be revisited.
- Policing: An All-Island speed limit is not the answer to traffic accidents. More police officers on patrol are what is needed and greater attention paid to educating people about speeding and driving under the influence of drink or drugs. Drugs are a major problem. I support doing more to prevent drugs coming into the Island by greater use of sniffer dogs and random searches at points of entry.
- Tourism/Leisure: I support a Southern Area Leisure facility, possibly at Ballakilley, A BMX course should be laid out in the south. The proposed adoption of the Meuyll Peninsula as a National Heritage Area is to be welcomed, provided that collective management is entrusted to a representative committee of interested parties.
The above are only some of the many issues that come to mind that have influenced, and will continue to influence, our everyday lives in this wonderful community we live in. I would ask everyone to use their vote and help make a difference. You will have an opportunity to vote for three candidates and I hope you will have sufficient confidence in my candidacy to give me one of these valuable votes! For further information on the function of the House of Keys and Tynwald, please refer to the tynwald.org.im website.
Adrian Tinkler
Published by Adrian Tinkler, Surby, Rushen IM9 6TE. Representation of the People Act 1985.
(Adrian Tinkler is licensed under the Data Protection Act 2002 Reference N001426).