At the Northern Ireland Local Government Association (NILGA) conference, members and experts discussed ‘practical priorities for stronger local delivery’.

The event yesterday saw members, council officers, leaders and partners in the public sector discuss next year’s local government election, as well as the next council mandate.

It focused on ‘how councils can protect essential services, strengthen public trust and make better use of limited resources amid financial pressure, rising expectations and political uncertainty’.

Priorities outlined at the conference included a call for earlier local authority involvement in policy development, a strengthened partnership between central and local government, more flexibility over resources, boosted investment in councillor and officer capacity, and a broadened use of evidence, innovation and collaboration.

A report titled ‘The Future of Local Government in Northern Ireland’ was rolled out following the discussions, with the aim of influencing sector priorities in advance of the election next May.

It argues that while local government is ‘a stable, resilient and vital part of Northern Ireland’s public sector’, its potential is limited due to the structure of a ‘highly centralised system in which councils are too often consulted only after policy decisions have been made’.

Alongside the key priorities it sets out, the research urges that councillor capacity is strengthened, as well as emphasising the importance of ingraining ‘evidence-led strategy’ and long-term reform.

A further aspect of the conference saw delegates investigate the use of data, digital tools, artificial intelligence, service redesign and partnership working. It said that these tools were applied to help enhance ‘outcomes, efficiency and responsiveness while protecting local values, transparency and public accountability.’

NILGA President Alderman Hazel Legge said: ‘Councils understand their communities because they serve them every day. The outcome we need from today is a stronger partnership in which local government is involved earlier, trusted with greater flexibility and equipped to deliver better services and place-based solutions.

‘The conference helped the sector identify practical priorities: protecting essential services, investing in leadership and capacity, using evidence and technology responsibly, and collaborating where that delivers better results for communities. We now need to turn those priorities into action.’