Local Government Policy Division

The Review of Public Administration has had a major impact on the work of the DOE in relation to local government.  Local Government Policy Division (LGPD) has been established to develop policy and legislation for restructuring and modernising local government.

Local Government Policy Division was formed by the merger of two divisions – Local Government Division and the Local Government Reform Division. The process of this merger was completed in December 2007.

The newly formed Local Government Policy Division provides the legislative and policy framework under which district councils operate and provide local services for the citizens of Northern Ireland.  In addition to developing policy to inform the restructuring and modernisation of local government, the Division is responsible for:

• developing, with local government organisations and district councils, policies, procedures and legislation for improving the administration, finance and audit of local government; and
• monitoring compliance of the Local Government Staff Commission (LGSC) and the Northern Ireland Local Government Officers’ Superannuation Committee (NILGOSC) in line with the requirements for Executive Non-Departmental Public Bodies.

If you have any queries regarding any of the functions of councils in your area please contact your district council directly.

Reform of Local Government

Environment Minister Arlene Foster on 31st March 2008, made a statement to the Assembly giving further detail on the future shape of local government. This follows the announcement on 13th March 2008 of the key decisions of the Review of Local Government.

The Minister announced that there will be 11 new local government districts, and set out the range of functions which will transfer to local government, including aspects of planning, as well as rural development, the public realm aspects of local roads functions, urban regeneration and community development, a range of housing related functions, and local economic development and tourism.

The Minister's decisions are set out in the accompanying statement to the assembly.

Updates

To help inform on the process the Local Government Reform Division has produced the following newsletters.

LGPD Newsletters: -

Keeping You Informed - Issue 1 (553KB)

Keeping You Informed - Issue 2 (157KB)

Keeping You Informed - Issue 3 (184KB)

Keeping You Informed - Issue 4 (137KB)

Keeping You Informed - Issue 5 (165KB)

Modernisation Seminars

LGPD, in partnership with councils and other organisations runs Modernisation Seminars flowing from the ongoing work of the two sub-groups of the SLB.

Public Appointment of Local Government Boundaries Commissioner.

The Department of the Environment is currently advertising for the post of Local Government Boundaries Commissioner.