NILGA calls for more momentum in public service reforms coupled with greater devolution of powers & resources to the 11 councils.
Local councils are a vital part of the normalisation of government in Northern Ireland and should have a much greater role in delivering public services in NI. The Northern Ireland Local Government Association (NILGA) says real reform of government institutions, following the transfer of economic development, planning and community planning powers to councils is now urgent in order to cope with reduced budgets and a changing society.
NILGA Chief Executive Derek McCallan today (January 18) told a Westminster All Party Parliamentary Group that local government in Northern Ireland successfully completed a transition from 26 to 11 councils last year but central government progress on many matters, now most urgent to councils, is far too slow.
“The reform conferred new powers like planning, developing the local economy of each area, and community investment to the 11 authorities, taking a multi-agency, one public purse approach to delivering services to and representing our all of us in NI,” says Mr McCallan. “But reform in service quantity terms is much, much less than that proposed in 2007 under Direct Rule. Councils have some power and some services, much less so than in other devolved nations, and when compared to the Republic of Ireland. Good government requires local decision taking which is effective, innovative and responsive”.
NILGA says the mechanics of change have worked but a radical push is needed to drive a new ideology and new governance (how and where public services are delivered and by whom) and greater devolution is now required.
“I sense an appetite for change amongst fatigued local businesses and residents, and also from civil service colleagues too. Councils invest six per cent (less than a £1bn) of the £20bn public purse here in NI – compared to 23-26% elsewhere across these islands,” he says. “Some activities which should be in the hands of local government remain, often absurdly, in the grip of central government. Should gullies be emptied by a central body, and on-street parking and libraries still in the hands of a central government department? NILGA’s Programme for Local Government, the findings from which will be published in February 2016, is neither a Manifesto nor a Strategy – we have enough of both. Rather it puts a marker down for how democracy can improve, where and how public services should be best delivered and who’s to pay, with councils receiving redeployed resources if we are to do more, better, for less.
Mr McCallan points to the facts that devolution is gathering real momentum across in England & Scotland, for example, with associated transfer of functions and resources.
“Here, there is no talk of “economic powerhouses” like Manchester and Cornwall. Some would argue that Northern Ireland is simply too small. If Cornwall is big enough, so are we. In the Netherlands, almost 88% of public services, as well as civic leadership, are delivered through councils / municipalities.
“Councils – working collectively as well as on a local basis, are more effective as co-ordinators of key services, enablers of local decision taking, than more remote institutions and bodies.
“They are also – for the simple reason of geography – more connected with local issues and highly accountable to local people.
“With the reform of local government complete in terms of boundary restructuring, with the impending review of the NI Assembly, with a new Programme for Government kicking in after May 2016, government in NI has a once-in-a-generation opportunity to work collectively as well as very locally in partnership, to improve the governance, economy and quality of public services for everyone who lives, works and visits here.
NILGA looks upon this as the exciting first chapter of a brilliant new book.”
