AQW 38676/11-15
Ms Claire Sugden
Independent
East Londonderry
Tabled Date: 12/11/2014
Answered On Date: 01/12/2014
Priority Written: No
Question:
To ask the Minister of the Environment how his Department is addressing the risks associated with the transfer of power to local government; and what preparation has been taken to ensure the competent transfer of these powers in April 2015.
Answer:
My Department has established a regional delivery structure for the local government reform programme which was endorsed by the Executive. The structure reflects the partnership between local and central government and is designed to bring consistency, clarity of purpose, and direction to this complex programme. The Regional Transition Operational Board, chaired by my Permanent Secretary, includes officers and officials from central and local government and coordinates the operational delivery of the reform programme. Progress is monitored by the Regional Transitional Operation Board which tracks achievement against a comprehensive Gantt chart which clearly identifies all dependencies, milestones, key tasks and a critical path. The Board monitors work streams, their delivery and the management of associated risk and provides assurance on the progress of the programme. All of the transferring departments have been working closely with councils to ensure the smooth transition of functions. Ensuring continuity of services for all transferring functions has been paramount in these considerations. Extensive work has been carried out to provide detailed assessment of the functions and powers to transfer to local government and to verify the associated budgets, staff, assets and liabilities. My Department has also provided councils with practical and financial support to ensure that new councils will have the capacity to effectively provide transferred services. Through the Transfer of Functions Working Group, councils have been given specialist practitioner support through a best practice approach to organisational design, to help inform future service delivery models. My officials are continuing to work closely with councils to review and revise their training plans and ensure they are cost effective and relevant to the emerging needs of elected members and council officers. The next few months are critical in terms of capacity building and in particular the need for know-how which will enable councils to be effective planning authorities. I would therefore encourage all councils to fully utilise the funding set aside by the Executive for capacity building in a meaningful way. In addition to these practical considerations, councils will be provided with the legislative powers to enable them to exercise their new and wider authority. My Department has overseen the enactment of the Local Government Finance (Northern Ireland) Act 2011 and the Local Government (Northern Ireland) Act 2014 and a large amount of subordinate legislation to create councils that are more effective, more efficient and more responsive to the needs of their communities. The provision of regeneration powers from DSD, albeit deferred for a year, and the off-street car parking functions from DRD will also require primary legislation, and it is crucial that the necessary Bills pass through the Assembly process without delay. I will continue to support Ministerial colleagues in their efforts to ensure that all the necessary legislative provisions are introduced in the Assembly to deliver local government reform.
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