Council plan collapse

Ulster Unionist MLA Robert Coulter has publicly questioned the Executive Minister for Regional Development Conor Murphy about the financial implications "now that local government re-organisation has collapsed.

Rev Coulter used Oral Question Time in the Stormont Chamber to press the Minister for Regional Development what discussions he has had with the Minister of the Environment in relation to the devolution of functions to local government.

In his response to Rev Coulter, Minister Murphy said the devolution of functions to local government was part of the wider proposals to reform local government under the review of public administration (RPA).

The Minister added: "That includes the transfer of a range of functions from several Departments across the NICS (Northern Ireland Civil Service). As a member of the RPA's Executive subcommittee, I am in regular contact with the Minister of the Environment, who chairs that subcommittee, as part of our role to oversee the implementation of the reforms."

Rev Coulter further pressed Mr Murphy now that local government re-organisation had collapsed, would the Minister indicate whether the Minister of Finance and Personnel had expressed to him any views on the devolution of functions to the 26 councils?

Responding to Rev Coulter's probing question, Minister Murphy said: "There has been a general discussion about that at the Executive over a number of meetings.

"Obviously, I was disappointed with the final result of the discussions, which was a decision not to proceed with the 11-council model.

"Ministers exchanged views across the Executive table on a wide range of matters relating to that. I have not had any specific discussions directly with the Minister of Finance and Personnel about transferring functions.

"But I certainly would not be supportive of the idea of transferring functions to the 26 councils, particularly given that some of the councils already abuse some of their powers.

"In the absence of proper governance models being introduced, I would certainly not be minded to transfer functions from the Department for Regional Development (DRD) to the 26-council model," Minister Murphy told Rev Coulter.