The local authorities that pay for and operate the eastern civic amenity site are considering an option to buy land to develop a new eastern amenity site.

Minutes from the joint committee, chaired by Garff’s Nigel Dobson, reveals that members are looking at options for the future of the eastern amenity site as the current lease, on land at the Middle River Industrial Estate, approaches expiration.

The committee is made up of a representative from Douglas (Ritchie McNicholl), Braddan (Andrew Jessopp), Onchan (Derek Crellin) and Santon (Neil Young) local authorities.

At its meeting on January 22, the committee heard that it had not yet been possible to finalise the costs for continuing the lease, for extending the site into the adjoining plot or to confirm if the owner was willing to sell the land.

As such, the committee is seeking to purchase a plot of land ’from a developer’. It is also noted that development of that, unnamed site, on a turnkey basis had been explored and that ’costs were clearer, with the benefit of ownership of the site’.

The committee also discussed whether it, as a body, could incur capital expenses in the same way that local authority’s can. It was agreed that the committee’s officers will ’prepare a report setting out the options and costs for purchase and development of a new site at the joint committee’s preferred location’.

However, while this is going on, the committee secretary will also ’press the owner of the current site for comparative costs for the current site for comparison’.

The minutes were revealed during the February sitting of Douglas Council, where they were passed with little debate.

Only the trial into milk carton recycling was questioned at the council, with Councillor Ian Clague asking Mr McNicholl if he was aware that Isle of Man Creamery is now composting its plant based cartons.

Mr McNicholl said he does know about the scheme but that he was ’surprised’ to learn that the cartons are being taken off island for composting.