Clerk keen to contribute to town's 'greater good'

The new town clerk for a northern local authority has said he wants to contribute to the "greater good" of the area by driving forward the modernisation of services.

Former police inspector Derek Flint said he hoped residents had already noticed small improvements since he took up the role at Ramsey Commissioners in January.

Mr Flint said having lived in the area for 23 years before moving to the UK to lecture in policing and the law, it was "very much in my DNA".

He said the priorities of the board of commissioners had become his priorities and it would therefore be his job "to turn their policies into actions".

He said he applied for the position because the opportunity to "bring the town on" with the likes of the harbour redevelopment and other regeneration projects was "pretty much irresistible".

Improving things so that residents could "genuinely see that uplift around the town, in the parks and in general open spaces", whilst keeping costs to a minimum was his ambition, he continued.

Mr Flint took on the role from Tim Cowin who had held the position from January 2022 and stepping down last year.

Speaking to the Local Democracy Reporting Service after taking part in his first public meeting earlier this week, he said it was evident the current members "really care".

"The resolutions they bringing forward really are for the betterment of the town," he said.

But he conceded there would be "challenges ahead" with island-wide local authority elections due to take place in April.

The creation of a new board was "always a big watershed for any commission" and he would work with the newly elected collective "to help them find their feet", he added.

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