NILGA will be expanding and updating our provision of online materials on a regular basis, so please check back regularly for updates.
From September 2014 to January 2015 the Department of the Environment carried out a number of capacity building and training events for elected representatives in preparation for the transfer of planning functions to the new 11 councils on 1 April 2015. The presentations, notes and leaflets from this intensive period of training are available on the NI Planning Portal but not immediately accessible. Further to discussions with Department for Infrastructure officials, it has been agreed that NILGA can provide this information on our website, where it may be easily located by users. Links are provided to the presentation slides and, where available, speaking notes. A number of other useful documents that were circulated at the events are also included. NILGA is aware that not all members were able to attend the training sessions, and that a number of members have been co-opted into councils more recently, particularly after the 2016 Assembly elections. Even those members who did attend the training are likely to benefit from a fresh look at the materials provided as revision of the key planning issues for councillors, since members now have practical experience of working within the new system.
Some of these materials have been produced via the NILGA Planning and Regeneration Working Group and Member Network; others are from a variety of sources, including the Department for Infrastructure.
