Local Government in Northern Ireland

The current local government system in Northern Ireland was established under the Local Government Act (NI) 1972 and has been in operation since 1 October 1973.  It consists of a single tier of 26 district councils based on the main population centres.  The districts vary considerably in area and resources and populations range from some 16,400 to 267,000.  The total number of staff employed by district councils is approximately 10,000.

Under the provisions of the 1972 Act councils were initially designated as ‘district councils’ but the Act provided for the granting of city or borough status in certain circumstances.  Since then Belfast, Derry, Armagh and Lisburn have been granted city status. (Also Newry has been granted city status, but is still designated as Newry and Mourne District Council).

Thirteen councils have obtained borough status either as a result of the adoption of charters applying in their areas before 1973 or as a result of petitions for the grant of new charters made since 1973.  The borough councils are Antrim, Ards, Ballymena, Ballymoney, Carrickfergus, Castlereagh, Coleraine, Craigavon, Dungannon & South Tyrone, Larne, Limavady, Newtownabbey and North Down.

District councils are sub-divided into 582 wards and a councillor is elected by electors for each ward.  They are elected for a 4-year term of office, under proportional representation, using the single transferable vote system.  Councils are required to elect a chairman annually from among the councillors, in city and borough councils the chairman is known as the Mayor and Belfast City Council’s chairman holds the title of Lord Mayor.  Councils of city and borough status may designate up to one quarter of the number of their councillors with the ceremonial title of “alderman’’.

The Future Arrangements for Local Government

In response to the Review of Public Administration, and other drivers for change, the local government sector is being modernised and reformed.

On 22nd November 2005, the Secretary of State announced that the number of Councils would reduce, with the new larger councils having responsibility for the delivery of a range of functions that will transfer from central government and other public bodies. These functions include the delivery of local planning decisions, tourism, roads and community planning arrangements.