Former Minister Comments - Castletown Governance

Summary

A request for documents regarding governance failures and corruption allegations at Castletown Town Commissioners was largely refused as the Department of Infrastructure stated it does not hold the specific briefing papers, audits, or policy assessments requested.

Key Facts

• The Department of Infrastructure confirmed it holds no briefing papers, emails, or reports claiming corruption or conflicts of interest regarding Castletown.
• Clause 5 of the Local Government (Amendment) Bill was introduced via a Private Members Amendment, not as a primary justification based on specific local authority failures.
• The Local Government Team has been seeking to remain neutral in an ongoing dispute within the Castletown Commissioners.
• Some information was withheld under Section 35 of the Act to prevent prejudice to the effective conduct of public business.
• The authority stated that internal notes often relate to live matters and disclosure could disrupt negotiations or correctional actions.

Data Disclosed

• 29 January 2026
• 1st April 2025
• 27 January 2026
• 26 February 2026
• Clause 5
• Local Government (Amendment) Bill 2024
• Local Government (Amendment) Bill 2023
• Section 35
• case_id: 5264797

Exemptions Cited

• Section 35 of the Act (prejudice to the effective conduct of public business)

Original Request

I am requesting all information held by the Department of Infrastructure (DoI) relating to governance standards and administrative stability within local authorities between January 1st April 2025, and the date of this request. This request is made in light of public comments by the former Minister for Infrastructure today (29th Jan 2026) on a Facebook past regarding 'ongoing concerns' and the 'prospect of corruption' within local authorities. Specifically, I request: 1. As the former minister specifically identifies Castletown as an authority of concern in her Facebook post, any internal reports, audits, or briefing notes held by the Local Government Team or the Department regarding failures in 'good governance' or statutory duties specifically at Castletown Town Commissioners. 2.Any briefing papers, internal emails, or reports prepared for the Minister or senior Department officers that support the claim made by the former Minister in the House of Keys (January 27, 2026) regarding the 'prospect of corruption' or 'conflicts of interest' in the spending of ratepayer money. 3. Copies of any internal 'Options Papers' or 'Policy Impact Assessments' that cite specific local authority failures as the primary justification for the introduction of Clause 5 of the Local Government (Amendment) Bill 2024. 4. Copies of any formal 'Letters of Concern' or 'Directions' issued by the Department to Castletown Town Commissioners regarding their adherence to governance standards during the requested timeframe."

Data Tables (1)

Full Response Text

Department of Infrastructure Sea Terminal Building, Douglas, Isle of Man, IM1 2RF

Contact: FOI Response Team Telephone: (01624) 686785 Email: dpo-doi@gov.im

Our ref: 5264797 26 February 2026

Dear ###

We write further to your request received 29 January 2026, which states:

"I am requesting all information held by the Department of Infrastructure (DoI) relating to governance standards and administrative stability within local authorities between January 1st April 2025, and the date of this request. This request is made in light of public comments by the former Minister for Infrastructure today (29th Jan 2026) on a Facebook past regarding 'ongoing concerns' and the 'prospect of corruption' within local authorities.

Specifically, I request:

1. As the former minister specifically identifies Castletown as an authority of concern in her Facebook post, any internal reports, audits, or briefing notes held by the Local Government Team or the Department regarding failures in 'good governance' or statutory duties specifically at Castletown Town Commissioners.

2.Any briefing papers, internal emails, or reports prepared for the Minister or senior Department officers that support the claim made by the former Minister in the House of Keys (January 27, 2026) regarding the 'prospect of corruption' or 'conflicts of interest' in the spending of ratepayer money.

1. Copies of any internal 'Options Papers' or 'Policy Impact Assessments' that cite specific local authority failures as the primary justification for the introduction of Clause 5 of the Local Government (Amendment) Bill 2024.

2. Copies of any formal 'Letters of Concern' or 'Directions' issued by the Department to Castletown Town Commissioners regarding their adherence to governance standards during the requested timeframe.""

While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance the public authority does not hold or cannot, after taking reasonable steps to do so, find some of the information that you have requested.

The Department holds no briefing papers , emails or reports that claimed corruption or conflicts of interest. The references are part of an ongoing continuing dispute within

the Commissioners in which the Local Government Team has been seeking to remain neutral on.

There are no documents held that cite specific local authority failures as the primary justification for the introduction of Clause 5 in the Local Government (Amendment) Bill 2023. Clause 5 was brought in as a consequence of a Private Members Amendment during the Clauses sitting of the House of Keys in early 2025. The Local Government Team does not have any options papers or Policy impact assessments on this subject.

Furthermore, while our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance some of the information is exempt under section 35 of the Act, as disclosure would be likely to otherwise prejudice the effective conduct of public business.

As section 35 is a qualified exemption, it is subject to a public interest test. The public interest must be something that is of serious concern and benefit to the public at large.

Factors in favour of disclosure • Disclosure improves understanding of how the Department handles concerns about local authorities and its decision-making process. • Public interest in local government oversight is strong, especially where issues involve safety, service quality or use of public funds.

Factors in favour of withholding • The Department needs a private space to debate ideas, challenge assumptions, and consider options without being inhibited by possible public release. • Internal notes often relate to live matters. Disclosure could disrupt negotiations, prolong disagreements, or complicate correctional actions being taken. • The Department’s internal notes may contain preliminary thoughts, rough observations, or working drafts that are easily misunderstood if taken out of context. • Material written for internal use may lack background detail or contain tentative views. If released, these could be taken as definitive statements and cause unnecessary concern

In taking these factors into account the Department of Infrastructure determined that the factors in favour of maintaining the exemption outweigh the factors in favour of disclosing the information.

Please quote the reference number 5264797 in any future communications.

Your right to request a review

If you are unhappy with this response to your freedom of information request, you may ask us to carry out an internal review of the response, by completing a complaint form and submitting it electronically or by delivery/post.

An electronic version of our complaint form can be found by going to our website at https://services.gov.im/freedom-of-information/Review . If you would like a paper version of our complaint form to be sent to you by post, please contact me and I will be happy to arrange for this. Your review request should explain why you are dissatisfied with this response, and should be made as soon as practicable. We will respond as soon as the review has been concluded.

If you are not satisfied with the result of the review, you then have the right to appeal to the Information Commissioner for a decision on; 1. Whether we have responded to your request for information in accordance with Part 2 of the Freedom of Information Act 2015; or 2. Whether we are justified in refusing to give you the information requested.
In response to an application for review, the Information Commissioner may, at any time, attempt to resolve a matter by negotiation, conciliation, mediation or another form of alternative dispute resolution and will have regard to any outcome of this in making any subsequent decision. More detailed information on your right to a review can be found on the Information Commissioner’s website at www.inforights.im. Should you have any queries concerning this letter, please do not hesitate to contact me. Further information about freedom of information requests can be found at www.gov.im/foi.

I will now close your request as of this date.