The future of Local Government in NI

The Future of Local Government

The Executive has now considered all of the issues around the delivery of the local government reform programme and have concluded that it will not now be possible to create the 11 new councils together with their new functions in 2011 as planned. The Minister wrote to Assembly members on 15 June 2010 through a letter (PDF, 147 KB) to the Assembly Speaker, William Hay MLA, to inform them of the situation.

Whilst an alternative delivery timetable for the reform programme has not yet been agreed, work is progressing. The Environment Minister met with local government on 23 June 2010 and called on them to work with him to move forward with local government reform.

The Minister held further constructive discussions with the sector on 15 July on the next steps to reframe the delivery timetable for local government reform. During the meeting Minister Poots re-iterated his commitment to reshaping local government in the most effective and efficient manner possible.  

A further meeting with local government is planned for early September with the Minister aiming to put proposals for the way forward to the Executive as soon as possible after this to provide clarity on the delivery timetable for all those affected by or with an interest in local government reform.