Tynwald target to register entire government estate by 2030 'unrealistic' 

Department representatives give evidence to Constitutional and Legal Affairs and Justice Committee

A target set by Tynwald aiming to register the entire government estate by 2030 was 'unrealistic' and meeting it is 'unlikely'.

That's the belief of the departments tasked with undertaking the exercise - the Department of Infrastructure and Treasury - who've been giving evidence to the Constitutional and Legal Affairs and Justice (CLAJ) Committee.

The committee has been hearing evidence regarding adverse possession - better known as 'squatter's rights' - where someone acquires legal ownership of land or property based on continuous possession or occupation of it and without the permission of its legal owner.

HISTORY

In November 2019, a Petition for Redress of Grievance presented by Mr Mark Cleator on the law of adverse possession was referred to the Committee by Tynwald.

Mr Cleator spoke to Manx Radio as recently as November last year on the issue of adverse possession and vexatious litigation.

In July 2021, the CLAJ Committee published a report on Adverse Possession [PP 2021/0106] in response to his petition.

The recommendations within this report focused on the way in which improvements could be implemented within the land registry process and was debated in Tynwald on 22 July 2021 - which led to the pledge that the entire government estate would be registered by 2030.

NOW

Addressing the CLAJ Committee yesterday (16 September) were DOI Minister Tim Crookall, joined by his Chief Officer, Emily Curphey and Head of Commercial within the Public Estates and Housing Division, Brett Woods, and Treasury Minister Alex Allinson, joined by Deputy Chief Financial Officer, Sarah De Yoxall​​; along with Director of Strategic Asset Management and Valuation, Andrew Sidebottom.

They were quizzed on the progress made since the publication of that report by the former iteration of the committee.

They revealed it is currently unclear what percentage of government land is actually registered, and whether or not a projected cost of £7.88 million (estimated back in 2021) will be enough to complete the work.

The DOI Minister also revealed not even all of his department's own housing stock is currently registered.

Ministers Tim Crookall and Alex Allinson were asked whether or not it was a fair assumption that there isn't currently the money or resource to keep Tynwald's promises: