Chief Minister's Cancellation Causes Consternation The Chief Minister has cancelled his meeting with the Island's Local Authorities set for 29th of January 2014. High on the agenda would have been the proposals contained in the recent consultations and recommendations endorsed by Tynwald on Public Housing changes and Waste Collection. David Talbot, chair of the Isle of Man Municipal Association - which represents 19 of the 24 local authorities - expressed his disappointment on the cancellation in a direct letter to Mr Bell on the 23rd of January. In the letter, Mr Talbot stated that the Member Authorities had been "looking forward to a frank exchange of views on the future structure of local government". Mr Talbot continued, " The Municipal Association is not here to merely resist change but to encourage healthy debate as to how we can contribute to solving a national crisis which is not of our doing...we are prepared to play our part as local authorities, but we had expected better."  ¶ 11:19