Local Government

Local Government Policy Division aims to support councils in the delivery of a system of strong and effective local government.  This means that we will lay the foundations for a system of local government which meets the needs of ratepayers and users of district council services and facilities.  

The Division is also responsible for the restructuring and modernisation of local government, giving effect to the Executive’s decision following the Review of Public Administration, to reduce the number of councils in Northern Ireland from 26 to 11.

Background

Local Government Policy Division was established in December 2007, through the merger of two Divisions:

• Local Government Division; and
• Local Government Reform Division.

Functions

Local Government Policy Division is responsible for:

• developing policy and legislation to facilitate the transition from 26 to 11 councils;
• providing a legislative and policy framework to allow councils to guide local public services (including issuing Local Government Circulars);
• consulting on new local government policy and legislation;
• paying the General Grant to councils;
• developing methods to improve the administration, finance and audit of local government;
• oversight of, and liaison with, councils;
• oversight of the Local Government Staff Commission (LGSC) and the Northern Ireland Local Government Officers' Superannuation Committee (NILGOSC) and
• liaison with the Chief Local Government Auditor.

Further Information

If you have any queries regarding any of the functions or work of your council, you should contact the relevant council for the area in which you live.

Local Government Boundaries Commissioner

A Boundaries Commissioner was appointed to define and name the new councils.  The Commissioner released a Final Recommendations Report (PDF, 30 KB) on 26 June 2009.