Ann McGauran 11 February 2019

NILGA: Give councils the power to change Northern Ireland

Councils with more resources and powers can bring a stronger economy and greater democracy to Northern Ireland, says NILGA.

The Northern Ireland Local Government Association (NILGA) has made a call for the role of councils to be formally reviewed and strengthened after the elections in May, giving greater decision making powers to local people and places.

It wants an independent panel set up to take forward how devolution is progressed and funded below Stormont, to councils and communities.

NILGA also wants a Brexit Support Fund, offered to all councils in England, Scotland and Wales, 'to the tune of over £60million to date, to be provided to all 11 councils in Northern Ireland'.

NILGA's cross party all council team has met with minister of state for Northern Ireland John Penrose to look at how councils' additional pressures to deliver are funded, as well as forward planning how Northern Ireland's £21bn public purse is given local democratic scrutiny until the Assembly returns.

President of NILGA Cllr Dermot Curran said: 'Councils in 2019 are faced with huge expectations on their time and expenditure, in part due to the suspension of the Assembly. These include Brexit, and transfer of responsibilities like event traffic management – costing around £900,000 this year alone to ratepayers – without being offered budgets to deliver.'

He added: 'Similarly, senior management teams in councils are meeting weekly to determine how they can respond to diverse performance management demands of many Government departments, despite calling for a Single Performance Framework where all public bodies work to national goals and standards. All 11 councils in Northern Ireland take performance management extremely seriously but seek to operate in a citizen driven performance regime, aligned to Scotland and Wales.

'During the continued political impasse, councils are delivering more with less, taking on major infrastructure work as well as substantial, community led, preventative health work. Coupled with the burden of meeting arbitrary targets, councils, the smallest part of the public sector, are being asked to take on more responsibility as the only functioning level of government in Northern Ireland, without the offer of additional resources required.'

A new four year electoral term begins for councils in ten weeks times. In this context, NILGA's elected members and chief executives are calling for an immediate review of their ability to deliver against 'often outmoded targets, sparse funding and unrealistic expectations'.

They also want a 'more effective and equitable rating system and clear guidance on standing orders of councils'.

Chief executive of NILGA Derek McCallan said: 'This is a reality check and a plea for normality. When our counterparts in England, Wales and Scotland are allocated over £60m in Brexit support and we are offered an empty purse and a wish list, it's time to wise up and give councils and communities the tools and the autonomy to get on with it.

'Local government is a resilient, democratic anchor in Northern Ireland, but cannot be expected to bear burdens which are sent to us without cash and in a manner which is neither efficient nor necessary. Let's use these elections to give choice, voice and control to communities, through councils.'

  

SIGN UP
For your free daily news bulletin
Highways jobs

Chief of Staff

Borough Council of King's Lynn and West Norfolk
up to £126,615
We’re transforming services with ambition and community at the heart of our work. Norfolk
Recuriter: Borough Council of King's Lynn and West Norfolk

Director of People

Lancashire County Council
£108,697 - £117,998
As a leader at Lancashire County Council, you’ll join an authority with real scale, courageous ambition and deep pride in place. County hall
Recuriter: Lancashire County Council

Director of Strategy and Transformation

Lancashire County Council
£108,697 - £117,998
As a leader at Lancashire County Council, you’ll join an authority with real scale, courageous ambition and deep pride in place. Preston, Lancashire
Recuriter: Lancashire County Council

Care and Support Assistant -Longlands

West Northamptonshire Council
13.52ph
About the role We are looking for a dedicated Care and Support Worker to join our team at Longlands Care Home in Daventry. In this rewarding role, you will provide compassionate, person-centred care to older people and those living with dementia, includin Daventry
Recuriter: West Northamptonshire Council

Highway Design and Construction Manager

Bolton Council
Grade N, scp50 £62,443 to scp53 £65,663 per annum, plus essential car user allowance
We embrace AI to enhance our operations and to innovate our services. Bolton, Greater Manchester
Recuriter: Bolton Council
Linkedin Banner