Arbory and Rushen Commissioners held an historic first meeting last week, four months after a merger of the two was approved by Tynwald.

The newly-formed authority, which officially came into being on May 1, sat virtually and hosted its inaugural annual general meeting.

Jane Glover was elected chair along with David Radcliffe as vice-chair.

Graham Clucas was assigned to the role of ’community champion’, a new position that the local authority hopes will harness the community support generated in the parishes resulting from Covid restrictions.

In the wake of the coronavirus outbreak in the island, Arbory and Rushen launched a ’Connect’ initiative, which looked to assist those in the area who may be in need.

With the help of more than 100 volunteers, the ’traffic light’ scheme involved food deliveries, phone calls to self-isolating residents and virtual appointments with therapists from mental health charity Quing.

’We all knew that there were strong communities within our parishes,’ said Mrs Glover.

’But we’ve actually been surprised at the depth and the breadth and the extent of the way the community has pulled together.’

She added: ’Graham will be working on the back of what we’ve done and developing connections with people.’

Mrs Glover said she was hopeful that the local authority would be able to build on the community engagement it had initiated during the Covid outbreak.

’I would like to hope that the role of the commissioner could probably go back to its roots,’ she said.

’We’re out in the community more, we’re in connection with the community more.

’I like the fact that people come to us with an issue: that’s what we’re here for.’

In Tynwald last week, amendments to the Local Government Act 1985 recognised the online hosting of meetings as legitimate, making the decisions reached within these meetings - held while the island is in a state of emergency - valid.

The main settlements in the authority’s area include Colby, Ballabeg and Cregneash.

There is a currently a boundary dispute with Port Erin, whose commissioners want to annexe the Rushen side of the Ballakilley estate.

The merge of Rushen and Arbory means there are now 21 local authorities.

They have always resisted reform imposed by central government. But mergers such as Rushen and Arbory’s have been welcomed.

In recent years, Laxey, Lonan and Maughold merged to form Garff Commissioners.

The largest local authority by population is Douglas, with 29,300 people. Bride is the smallest, with 401 at the last census.