Local Government Structures under RPA

DOE is responsible for implementing the local government aspects of the RPA.

This section contains information on:

• New structures for local government
• New powers of local government
• Implementing the changes

7 New Councils to replace the existing 26.

1. Belfast

2. North East Local Government District - Ballymena; Ballymoney; Coleraine; Larne; Moyle.

3. Inner East Local Government District - Antrim; Carrickfergus; Lisburn City; Newtownabbey.

4. East Local Government District - Ards; Castlereagh; Down; North Down.

5. South Local Government District - Armagh Cityand District; Banbridge; Craigavon; Newry and Mourne.

6. North West Local Government District - Derry; Limavady; Magherafelt; Strabane.

7. West Local Government District - Cookstown; Dungannon and South Tyrone Borough;Fermanagh; Omagh.

New powers for new councils

• planning
• conservation of natural and built heritage
• local economic development
• local tourism
• urban and rural regeneration
• rural development
• future European programmes
• environmental services
• application of building regulations
• community planning
• environmental health
• leisure and recreation
• arts and culture
• community development
• community relations
• emergency planning
• planning of bus services
• local roads functions
• maintenance of the public realm

Implementing the changes to local government.

The initial phases of implementation was guided by a political panel and a number of sub groups. The next phase will be led by three new fora:

Strategic Leadership Board
The Strategic Leadership Board will act as the pinnacle and driver of the implementation process, and include 10 political party representatives nominated by NILGA and the political parties. It will be chaired by the DoE Minister with the NILGA President as Vice-Chair.

The Policy Development Panels
Policy Development Panels will be established to lead the policy development and implementation process on key areas, commissioning research, task and finish projects and taking their lead from and reporting back to the Strategic Leadership Board.

The areas that each Panel will address, which have been linked thematically, are as follows;

• Human Resources and Capacity Building,
• Central/Local Government Relationships and Performance Management,
• Shared Services, Finance and Estates,
• Community Planning and Governance, and
• Transfer of Functions.

Each Panel will be chaired by a political representative who, for continuity purposes, will be drawn from the Strategic Leadership Board. The membership of each panel will include a further 9 political representatives, drawn from the 5 main parties.

The Social Partners Forum
A Social Partners Forum will also be established to facilitate the involvement of social partners (i.e. voluntary, community and private sectors) in all aspects of the implementation process.

The Forum will provide the opportunity for regular meetings between the social partners and the Chair, Vice Chair and other representatives of the Strategic Leadership Board. Department of Environment senior officials will also be exploring with the social partners the potential for one or two individuals to represent the interests of the Forum on the Strategic Leadership Board.

These forums have not yet been established. Keep an eye on Community NI for more developments.