A Programme for Local Government 2016-2021

The failure to bring forward a Regeneration Bill in the last Assembly may have served as a set back to local councils. However, with input into the new Programme for Government for the first time ever, there is hope for the promotion of smaller and better government going forward.

Over a year after the introduction of 11 new councils with enhanced powers in Northern Ireland, the creation of a new Executive and reform of government departments has created a perfect space to increase responsibility and power in the future successes of Northern Ireland.

As Minister for Social Development, Mervyn Storey, shelved plans that would have seen further devolution of powers from central government allowing for local councils to make decisions directly applicable to their locality, including powers to tackle regeneration, social need and deprivation. It was a setback for the Northern Ireland Local Government Association (NILGA) but not a deterrent as they strived for a larger role for councils as a formal partner with the Assembly.

In September 2015, NILGA issued a consultation on proposals for a programme for Local Government entitled ‘Strengthening democracy, sustaining communities’ aimed at establishing and maintaining a strategic alignment between the Executive’s Programme for Government and the 11 council community plans. With the consultation concluded, the local government programme has now been released including guiding principles and specific asks.

Key among the requests from the 11 authorities is to secure the transfer of regeneration powers, which was expected to take place in April prior to the removal of the Regeneration Bill. They have requested a “critical review” of the functions and new powers transferred to date, “particularly within the context of the resource allocation which accompanied them”. Looking forward there is a plan to build an evidence base and business case to transfer a number of powers from central to lower government.

Of the specific asks NILGA and the 11 councils have of the new Programme For Government, they include the power to pool the budgets of departments, public bodies and councils to implement community plans and agreed outcomes. They have also requested a greater fiscal flexibility to ensure that councils are consulted on a sector-wide basis on financial decisions impacting local budgets, while lobbying for a transformation fund for local government, similar to the fund handed out to the old Executive departments and to the health and social care sector.

The local programme emphasises the need for the ring-fencing of funding for emergency planning and climate change measures through a Civil Contingencies Bill, with a commitment from the Department of Finance that Landfill Tax revenue returns directly to councils for investment in waste management infrastructure.

It argues that the devolution of skills and employment would support the creation of jobs based on local economies and business needs, when tied in with local economic development and regeneration, while requesting control of traffic management powers similar to Wales.

A place for local councillors from each of the 11 councillors on the new Education Authority and appropriate representation on the boards of arms length bodies such as the Housing Executive (NIHE) and Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service (NIFRS) is to be discussed by the Executive, as is a single code of conduct shared across government.

Finally, the local authorities aim to develop a Northern Ireland Policy and Investment Forum which will see greater knowledge of structural and non-structural funds available through investors passed from the Executive Office to the principal department and on to local government.

The final Programme for Government is expected to be released by the end of 2016.

Guiding principles

• Collaborative working and joint accountability

• Sustainable finance and investment

• Simplified regulation, audit bureaucracy

• Community planning

• Public sector improvement

• Protection for local democracy

• Strengthening local democracy

• Strong councils and councillors

• Hard work with clear intent

• Outward-looking and innovative

• Ensuring probity and good conduct

 

Local government wishlist

• National, European and transnational programmes for investment in infrastructure

• Local roads and transport, including planning of local bus and ferry services and on-street car parking

• Maintenance of the public realm

• Economic development including co-ordinating skills development

• The built environment with an enhanced policy and influencing role on housing

• Libraries, arts, culture and sport

• Environmental services, including conservation of natural and built heritage

• Fishery harbours

• Other services carried out in partnership with or on behalf of departments and other bodies e.g. certain health promotion and protection functions