Reform of local government in Northern Ireland
{{EngvarB|date=November 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2024}}
Reform of local government in Northern Ireland saw the replacement of the twenty-six districts created in 1973 with a smaller number of "super districts". The review process began in 2002, with proposals for either seven or eleven districts made before it was suspended in 2010. On 12 March 2012, the Northern Ireland Executive published its programme for government, which included a commitment to reduce the number of councils in Northern Ireland to 11.{{cite web|url=http://www.northernireland.gov.uk/pfg-2011-2015-final-report.pdf#page=54|title=Priority 5: Delivering High Quality and Efficient Public Services; Key Commitments|date=12 March 2012|work=Programme for Government 2011–15|publisher=Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister|access-date=15 June 2012|location=Belfast}} The first elections to these new councils were on 22 May 2014.[http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/debateni/news/european-parliament-and-council-polls-on-same-day-29408229.html "European Parliament and council polls on same day"], belfasttelegraph.co.uk; accessed 8 August 2015.
{{multiple image
| align = none
| width = 350
| header = 26 councils reduced to 11 in April 2015
| image1 = NI26.jpg
| alt1 = 26 Northern Ireland local government districts, 1971–2015.
| caption1 = The 26 old districts
| image2 = NI11w.jpg
| alt2 = 11 Northern Ireland local government districts, operating in shadow form 2014–2015.
| caption2 = The 11 new districts
}}
Background
Compared to unitary authorities in England, the Northern Ireland districts had small populations, with an average of about 65,000. In June 2002 the Northern Ireland Executive established a Review of Public Administration to review the arrangements for the accountability, development, administration and delivery of public services. Among its recommendations were a reduction in the number of districts.{{Cite book|title=Planning law and practice in Northern Ireland|others=McKay, Stephen,, Murray, Michael, 1953-|date = 3 February 2017|isbn=978-1317079996|location=Abingdon, Oxon|oclc=971613765}}
=Situation before reform process=
{{anchor|Districts}}
File:Northern Ireland - Local Government Districts.png
There were 26 districts, each with a district council, which were created in 1973.
class="wikitable"
! District ! Council ! No. on |
Antrim
| 1 |
Ards
| 2 |
Armagh
| Armagh City and District Council | 3 |
Ballymena
| 4 |
Ballymoney
| 5 |
Banbridge
| 6 |
Belfast
| 7 |
Carrickfergus
| Carrickfergus Borough Council | 8 |
Castlereagh
| 9 |
Coleraine
| 10 |
Cookstown
| 11 |
Craigavon
| 12 |
Derry
| 13 |
Down
| 14 |
Dungannon and South Tyrone
| Dungannon and South Tyrone Borough Council | 15 |
Fermanagh
| 16 |
Larne
| 17 |
Limavady
| 18 |
Lisburn
| 19 |
Magherafelt
| Magherafelt District Council | 20 |
Moyle
| 21 |
Newry and Mourne
| Newry and Mourne District Council | 22 |
Newtownabbey
| Newtownabbey Borough Council | 23 |
North Down
| 24 |
Omagh
| 25 |
Strabane
| 26 |
First scheme: seven districts
On 22 November 2005 Peter Hain, the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, announced proposals to reduce the number of councils to seven.{{cite news | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/4459516.stm | work=BBC News | title=Major reform of local government | date=22 November 2005}}
The new authorities were to have a number of new powers in such areas as planning, local roads functions, regeneration, and fostering community relations, which were to be transferred from the existing joint boards and other bodies, that are much closer in size to the proposed local authorities. Legislation was to be introduced to prevent serving councillors also being Members of the Northern Ireland Assembly (the so-called dual mandate that was also recently abolished in the Republic of Ireland).
Initial reaction from Northern Ireland's political parties, except for Sinn Féin, was hostile, emphasising the reduction in local representation and frequently expressing a fear that the region would be carved up on sectarian lines. Three councils would have had substantial Ulster Protestant majorities, while three would have had Catholic majorities, with Belfast very nearly equally balanced. Former Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Paul Murphy, criticised the proposals as too severe.{{cite news | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/4472194.stm | work=BBC News | title=NI councils overhaul 'too sharp' | date=26 November 2005}}
The Local Government (Boundaries) (Northern Ireland) Order 2006The Local Government (Boundaries) (Northern Ireland) Order 2006, S.I. 2006/1253 (N.I. 8) [http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si2006/20061253.htm] was made on 9 May 2006 providing for the appointment of a Local Government Boundaries Commissioner to recommend the boundaries and names of the seven districts and then to divide the districts into wards. Dick Mackenzie was appointed as Commissioner on 1 July 2006.Local Government Timeline (Review of Public Administration Implementation)[http://www.rpani.gov.uk/local_government_timetable-2.pdf#search=%22The%20Local%20Government%20(Boundaries)%20(Northern%20Ireland)%20Order%202006%22]2006 Review of local government boundaries in Northern Ireland : Procedure Guide (Local Government Boundaries Commissioner for Northern Ireland)[http://www.lgbc-ni.org/procedure-2]
The commissioner announced his provisional recommendations on 7 November 2006:{{cite web |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070720172630/http://www.lgbc-ni.org/index/publications/provisional_recommendations.htm |url=http://www.lgbc-ni.org/index/publications/provisional_recommendations.htm |archive-date=20 July 2007 |title=Provisional Recommendations |publisher=Local Government Boundaries Commissioner |date=7 November 2006 }}
class="wikitable" |
! Name
! Area ! Map of 7 proposed districts |
---|
1.
| Belfast | as present, plus Belvoir, Braniel, Castlereagh (not the borough), Cregagh, Gilnahirk, Glencregagh, Merok, Tullycarnet and Wynchurch (all from Castlereagh) and Colin Glen, Dunmurry, Kilwee, Lagmore, Poleglass and Twinbrook (all from Lisburn) |rowspan= 7 | 200px |
2.
| North East | Ballymena, Ballymoney, Coleraine (apart from Benone Strand), Larne (minus Whitehead Golf Club) and Moyle |
3.
| Inner East | Antrim, Carrickfergus, Lisburn (apart from Colin Glen, Dunmurry, Kilwee, Lagmore, Poleglass and Twinbrook) and Newtownabbey plus the rest of Whitehead Golf Club |
4.
| East | Down, Ards, Castlereagh (apart from Belvoir, Braniel, Castlereagh, Cregagh, Gilnahirk, Glencregagh, Merok, Tullycarnet and Wynchurch), North Down |
5.
| South |
6.
| North West | Derry, Limavady, Magherafelt, Strabane plus the rest of Benone Strand. |
7.
| West |
An eight-week public consultation period on the proposals, during which members of the public could make written submissions, ended on 5 January 2007. Public hearings conducted by assistant commissioners were held in January and February 2007. The assistant commissioners issued reports on the results of the hearings, and the commissioner published revised recommendations on 30 March 2007.{{cite web |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070720172653/http://www.lgbc-ni.org/index/publications/revised_recommendations.htm |url=http://www.lgbc-ni.org/index/publications/revised_recommendations.htm |archive-date=20 July 2007 |title=Revised Recommendations |publisher=Local Government Boundaries Commissioner |date=30 March 2007 }} There were only minor changes to the original scheme. The most controversial aspects of the proposed reform were the names of the new districts.
Second scheme: eleven districts
In June 2007, following the restoration of a power-sharing Executive, it became clear that the plan to create seven "super-councils" was to be reviewed, if not abandoned.[http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/politics/article2647800.ece Councils will not be tied by the Boundary Commission, Belfast Telegraph, 12 June 2007] The following month, in July 2007, Arlene Foster, Minister for the Environment in the Executive, announced a review. A committee was established to report by the end of 2007.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/northern_ireland/6270876.stm|work=BBC News|title=Rethink of super-council shake-up|date=4 July 2007}}[http://www.4ni.co.uk/northern_ireland_news.asp?id=63240 "Review of local government begins"], 4NI.co.uk; accessed 8 August 2015.
On 13 March 2008 the Executive agreed on proposals brought forward by Environment Minister Arlene Foster to create 11 new councils instead of the original 7. The 2 UUP ministers voted against the proposals as their party favoured 15 councils, however the proposals passed by 7 votes to 2.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/northern_ireland/7293553.stm|work=BBC News|title=NI councils reduced from 26 to 11|date=13 March 2008}}[http://www.northernireland.gov.uk/news/news-doe/news-doe-130308-foster-announces-the.htm "Foster announces the future shape of local government"], northernireland.gov.uk; accessed 8 August 2015.
The areas of the eleven proposed councils were to consist of combinations of existing districts as follows:{{failed verification|date=June 2012}}{{cite web|url=http://www.rpani.gov.uk/2005_consultation_doc.pdf |title=The Review of Public Administration in Northern Ireland, Further Consultation|year=2005|page=43, Fig.3, Option 11B|publisher=NI Executive|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090327195241/http://www.rpani.gov.uk/2005_consultation_doc.pdf#page=43|archive-date=2009-03-27}}
class="wikitable" |
! Name
! Population ! Area ! Map of the 11 proposed districts |
---|
1.
| 333,871 | Belfast City Council plus parts of Castlereagh, Lisburn and North Down |rowspan= 11 | 200px |
2.
| North Down and Ards District | 156,672 | Ards and North Down, except for a small part of the Knocknagoney area of North Down District which was to be transferred to Belfast |
3.
| Antrim and Newtownabbey District | 138,567 | Antrim and Newtownabbey |
4.
| Lisburn City and Castlereagh District | 134,841 | Lisburn and Castlereagh, though with the transfer of "the localities of Gilnahirk, Tullycarnet, Braniel, Castlereagh, Merok, Cregagh, Wynchurch, Glencregagh and Belvoir, Collin Glen, Poleglass, Lagmore, Twinbrook, Kilwee and Dunmurry" to Belfast |
5.
| Newry City, Mourne and Down District | 171,533 | Newry and Mourne and Down together with half of Slieve Croob |
6.
| Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon District | 199,693 | Armagh City and District, Banbridge and Craigavon, though with the loss of half of Slieve Croob to Newry City and Down District |
7.
| Mid and East Antrim District | 135,338 | Ballymena, Larne, and Carrickfergus |
8.
| Causeway Coast and Glens District | 140,877 | Ballymoney, Coleraine, Limavady and Moyle |
9.
| 138,590 |
10.
| Derry City and Strabane District | 147,720 |
11.
| Fermanagh and Omagh District | 113,161 |
On 25 April 2008, Shaun Woodward, Secretary of State for Northern Ireland announced that the scheduled 2009 district council elections were to be postponed until the introduction of the eleven new councils in 2011.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/northern_ireland/7367253.stm|access-date=27 April 2008|work=BBC News|title=NI local elections are postponed|date=25 April 2008}} The names of the new districts were announced on 17 September 2008 with revised names recommended on 27 February 2009.[http://www.lgbc-ni.org/press_release_-_revised_recommendations_-_feb_v2.pdf New district names] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721172225/http://www.lgbc-ni.org/press_release_-_revised_recommendations_-_feb_v2.pdf |date=21 July 2011 }}, lgbc-ni.org; accessed 8 August 2015.
A legal framework for the creation of the 11 new District Councils was put into place with the passing of the Local Government (Boundaries) Act (Northern Ireland) 2008 by the Northern Ireland Assembly in May 2008. This act repeals the Local Government (Boundaries) Act (Northern Ireland) 1971 which established the 26 districts used in 1973–2015.Local Government (Boundaries) Act (Northern Ireland) 2008, sec.2 and Schedule
Suspension
In May 2010 it emerged that the process of bringing the new authorities into existence was likely to be delayed, due to the failure of members of the Northern Ireland Executive to agree on boundaries for district electoral areas. The main issue was the inclusion of Dunmurry within the city boundaries of Belfast rather than Lisburn City and Castlereagh. Edwin Poots, Northern Ireland Minister of the Environment, opposed the extension of Belfast, while Sinn Féin members of the executive favoured it. The Northern Ireland Office made it clear that unless the dispute was speedily resolved, elections due in May 2011 would be to the existing 26 district councils.{{cite news|title=Plan to cut Northern Ireland councils may be delayed until 2015|newspaper=Belfast Telegraph |date=7 May 2010|url=http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/politics/plan-to-cut-northern-ireland-councils-may-be-delayed-until-2015-14796633.html#ixzz0oqCDB5Hm|access-date=24 May 2010}}
A decision to delay changes until 2015 was expected to be announced on 13 May 2010, but was postponed, reportedly due to disagreements between Poots and Sammy Wilson, the Executive's Minister of Finance and Personnel.{{cite news|title=Pressure on Poots over changeover|newspaper=Belfast Newsletter|date=15 May 2010|url=http://www.newsletter.co.uk/news/Pressure-on-Poots-over-changeover.6296804.jp|access-date=24 May 2010}} On 15 June 2010, the proposed reforms were abandoned following the failure of the Northern Ireland Executive to obtain cross community support. Ministers from the Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP), Sinn Féin and Alliance Party voted in favour of the reforms, Democratic Unionist Party ministers voted against and Ulster Unionist Party ministers abstained. Accordingly, elections to the existing 26 councils took place in 2011.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/northern_ireland/10314865.stm|title=The executive fails to agree a deal on council reform|date=15 June 2010|work=BBC News|access-date=8 July 2010}}
The president of the Northern Ireland Local Government Association noted that "Local Government Reform will not take place at all, with no notification that it is simply put off to 2015 which was one of the options the Minister was to put forward to the Executive", and angrily denounced the decision as "clearly not acceptable on any level".{{cite web|url=http://www.nilga.org/news_detail.asp?id=360&parent=0&pid=1&area=2&aNAme=Public|title=Local Government Association Incensed as Minister Stops the Reform Process|date=15 June 2010|publisher=Northern Ireland Local Government Association|access-date=8 July 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20240525054835/https://www.webcitation.org/5wZrLoYNn?url=http://www.nilga.org/news_detail.asp%3Fid=360|archive-date=25 May 2024|df=dmy-all}}
Programme for Government 2011–2015
After the 2011 elections, the new executive drew up a programme for government for the assembly's four-year term, which was published on 12 March 2012.{{cite web|url=http://www.northernireland.gov.uk/index/work-of-the-executive/pfg.htm |title=Programme for Government |publisher=Northern Ireland Executive |access-date=15 June 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120518114741/http://www.northernireland.gov.uk/index/work-of-the-executive/pfg.htm |archive-date=18 May 2012 }} Under "Priority 5: Delivering High Quality and Efficient Public Services", one commitment was "Establish the new 11 council model for Local Government by 2015", under the responsibility of the Department of the Environment. The milestones laid down for this are:
;2012/13:Progress legislation (to include Local Government Reorganisation Act) and a programme structure necessary to manage change
;2013/14:Arrangements in place for the shadow Councils. Deliver Year 2 of implementation programme
;2014/15:Arrangements in place for the transfer of powers to councils
A draft Local Government (Boundaries) Order (Northern Ireland) 2012 was published, specifying eleven districts with names and boundaries similar to the previous proposal.{{cite book|url=http://www.legislation.gov.uk/nidsr/2012/9780337987786|title=Local Government (Boundaries) Order (Northern Ireland) 2012 [Draft] |work=UK Statute Law Database |isbn=978-0-337-98778-6 |access-date=21 June 2012|last1=Ireland |first1=Northern |date=26 April 2012 |publisher=Stationery Office }}
On 12 June 2012, the Northern Ireland Assembly approved the draft Order by 59 votes to 26; the DUP, Sinn Féin, and the Alliance Party voted for, while the Ulster Unionist Party and the SDLP voted against.{{cite web|url=http://www.niassembly.gov.uk/Assembly-Business/Official-Report/Reports-11-12/12-June-2012/#a6|title=Local Government (Boundaries) Order (Northern Ireland) 2012 (continued)|date=12 June 2012|work=Hansard|publisher=Northern Ireland Assembly|access-date=19 June 2012}} The Order (2012 No. 421) was made on 30 November 2012.
Legislation
= Licensing of Pavement Cafés Act (Northern Ireland) 2014 =
{{Infobox UK legislation
| short_title = Licensing of Pavement Cafés Act (Northern Ireland) 2014
| type = ni act
| parliament = Northern Ireland Assembly
| long_title = An Act to make provision for the regulation by district councils of the placing on public areas of furniture for use for the consumption of food or drink.
| year = 2014
| citation = 2014 c. 9 (N.I.)
| introduced_by = Nelson McCausland, Minister for Social Development
| royal_assent = 12 May 2014
| status = Current
| collapsed = y
}}
The {{Visible anchor|Licensing of Pavement Cafés Act (Northern Ireland) 2014}} gave district councils the power to grant permission for restaurant owners to place chairs and tables in public places.{{Cite news |date=2013-06-17 |title=New Licensing Proposals For 'Cafe Culture' |url=https://www.4ni.co.uk/northern-ireland-news/164447/new-licensing-proposals-for-cafe-culture |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20250606125852/https://www.4ni.co.uk/northern-ireland-news/164447/new-licensing-proposals-for-cafe-culture |archive-date=2025-06-06 |access-date=2025-06-06 |work=4ni.co.uk}}
= Off-street Parking (Functions of District Councils) Act (Northern Ireland) 2015 =
{{Infobox UK legislation
| short_title = Off-street Parking (Functions of District Councils) Act (Northern Ireland) 2015
| type = ni act
| parliament = Northern Ireland Assembly
| long_title = An Act to transfer to district councils certain functions in relation to off-street parking places; and for connected purposes.
| year = 2015
| citation = 2015 c. 3 (N.I.)
| introduced_by = Danny Kennedy, Minister for Regional Development
| royal_assent = 12 March 2015
| status = Current
| collapsed = y
}}
The {{Visible anchor|Off-street Parking (Functions of District Councils) Act (Northern Ireland) 2015}} gave distict councils the power to manage the off-street parking.{{Cite news |last=Hughes |first=Brendan |date=2024-08-20 |title=Low parking fees in NI councils 'laughable' |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c93p9knkdx3o |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20250606131109/https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c93p9knkdx3o |archive-date=2025-06-06 |access-date=2025-06-06 |work=BBC News}}{{Cite news |last=Hughes |first=Brendan |date=2023-02-25 |title=NI councils unable to change parking charges due to Stormont's collapse |url=https://www.belfastlive.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/ni-councils-unable-change-parking-26324379 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20250606132328/https://www.belfastlive.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/ni-councils-unable-change-parking-26324379 |archive-date=2025-06-06 |access-date=2025-06-06 |work=Belfast Live}}
See also
References
=Sources=
- {{cite web|url=http://www.legislation.gov.uk/nia/2008/7/contents|title=Local Government (Boundaries) Act (Northern Ireland) 2008|date=23 May 2008|work=legislation.gov.uk|access-date=6 January 2016 |author=Northern Ireland Assembly |author-link=Northern Ireland Assembly }}
- {{cite web|url=http://www.legislation.gov.uk/nisr/2012/421/made|title=Local Government (Boundaries) Order (Northern Ireland) 2012 |author=Department of the Environment (Northern Ireland) |author-link=Department of the Environment (Northern Ireland) |date=30 November 2012|work=legislation.gov.uk|access-date=6 January 2016}}
=Citations=
{{Reflist|2}}
{{Northern Ireland districts}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Reform of local government in Northern Ireland}}
Category:History of local government in Northern Ireland