Commissioners Out of Tune as Summer Stage Plans Stall

What exactly is going on in Peel Town Hall? Nobody’s quite sure anymore, and the poor people just trying to put on some summer music are stuck in the middle.

Mannin Music Shop, the Market Street legends behind the plan to bring live tunes to Peel’s beach stage this summer, says it’s waiting on the Town Hall to get its act together.

In a post this week, they said they ‘hope the Town Hall can resolve their issues and communicate with us, so that we can get the necessary licences and permissions that are needed within the next week, so we can ensure that the stage is ready for TT weeks.’

Simple enough, right? Apparently not.

You see, there’s a disagreement about whether the Commissioners actually voted on the beach stage back in February.

Clerk Derek Sewell and a few commissioners say, ‘Nope, no vote happened.’

Local Democracy Reporter Emma Draper and Infrastructure Minister Tim Crookall, who was at the meeting, insist it did, twice.

Meanwhile, former Peel commissioner and MHK Hazel Hannan says this is just one tiny example of the wider chaos she’s seen in local authorities, especially Peel.

And then there’s Commissioner Katryna Baptist, who’s been waving the governance and transparency flag, and has lost her committee roles for it.

In a social media video, she claimed official minutes are often ‘inaccurate or incomplete,’ conflicts of interest get ignored, and correcting mistakes is like trying to herd cats.

She cited the beach stage vote as proof, saying a ‘six in favour, one against’ outcome didn’t make it into the official record.

Peel Town Commissioners, naturally, have hit back, calling her claims ‘inaccurate and do not reflect the views of the Board.’

They’ve also booted her from committee roles for what they describe as ‘continual inappropriate disruptive behaviour,’ and now an internal investigation is underway.

Meanwhile, Mannin Music Shop just wants to put on some tunes.

‘We just want what’s best for Peel, whether our business benefits or not,’ they said.

‘A beach stage will provide free, quality entertainment for Peel residents, and will also attract more people to Peel. We have tons of great plans… and lots of people excited about it!’