A Douglas councillor believes central government needs to work with local authorities to improve the standard of social housing.

It comes after the Infrastructure Minister told the House of Keys his department has ’no explicit powers’ to assess the condition of public sector homes.

Devon Watson was elected to serve Derby Ward on Douglas Council in October, with housing at the forefront of his campaign.

He said that it is important the issue is kept in the spotlight, explaining: ’I think that the department of infrastructure does have a lot more power over Douglas Borough Council - I mean we can’t even write our own by-laws without approval by the Department of Infrastructure.

’I think that rather than passing responsibility around all levels of government need to work pro-actively together to solve this problem.’

Asked about whether he was pleased that this issue was being raised in central government following comments by Infrastructure Minister Tim Baker about the standard of public sector housing, Mr Watson said: ’Yes, 100%.

’I want everybody to be discussing this issue.

’For a very long time, campaigns or politics is focused on hyper-local issues - like dog poo, or the state of a specific park, or the state of the fireworks - and these things are deeply important.

’But we also need to have government that pro-actively takes a big measure in dealing with massive social issues that affect all people in the Isle of Man.

’And if every single MHK, when they go up for election, is asked "what is your stance on housing, and how are you going to make housing more affordable, accessible, and higher quality in the future?" - then these are the sort of questions that our politicians need to have front and centre in their minds.’