Laurence Vaughan-Williams is the new chairman of Port St Mary Commissioners after a vote of no confidence in chairman Alan Grace was carried.

The vote came following an extraordinary general meeting held in private on Wednesday (March 14).

Mr Vaughan-Williams, who was only recently elected to the authority, said he ’would be a safe pair of hands until the annual general meeting (in May)’.

He said he could not reveal why the motion about Mr Grace had been brought and said: ’I want transparency, but some items must be in private.’

The village authority is troubled at present, the clerk Alastair Hamilton has been on sick leave since January and a police investigation is ongoing into how information about two EGMs concerning the clerk were leaked to the press. Also, ratepayers have concerns - expressed at a surgery convened by commissioners Michelle Haywood and Andy Phair last Wednesday - about the 5.2% rate rise and purchase of Manxonia House.

Mr Vaughan-Wiliams held a surgery last Saturday and said: ’ The surgery went relatively well, there were a lot of questions. People are interested in Manxonia House. There is some misleading information. People believe it is the reason for the rate increase, it is not. I believe in transparency; when I can say something, I will.’

He added his new status as a commissioner is an advantage: ’I’m totally even-handed and not aligned to any faction because of being new, I just listen.

’We are there for one purpose, to serve the people of Port St Mary. We all share that view, but we have to be unified to get things done.

’Not keeping the rates down was not possible. If at all possible, I will do everything I can to see if the increase can be reversed in forthcoming years.

’There will be an item relevant to this at the next meeting (on March 28). We need to get a grip.’