Cost Blamed For Council Reform Failure

The 2011 local council elections in NI will be on the current model of 26.

The news comes as the Stormont Executive again failed to agree a much-debated plan to more than halve the number of Northern Ireland's councils to 11.

SDLP, Sinn Fein and Alliance ministers all voted for the 11 council model but the three DUP ministers voted against. The UUP ministers did not vote.

Michael McGimspey, Sir Reg Empey and Edwin Poots absented themselves from the vote due to their roles as councillors.

The Environment Minister Edwin Poots, (pictured) will now write to the Northern Ireland Office Minister, Hugo Swire recommending that he proceed with elections for the 26 councils.

Sinn Fein Regional Development Minister Conor Murphy said he was angry that an opportunity had been wasted.

Speaking on BBC Radio Ulster this morning he said: "When we were facing a very tight financial situation we had a chance to put our own house in order.

"We could deal with the issue of local government and start driving out some efficiencies and we have fallen at the first hurdle."

However, Edwin Poots said the cost of amalgamating would have "exceeded the financial benefits that would've been derived".

"It was therefore important that we re-identify where cost savings can be made so that we're not sacking teachers and nurses to pay for local government reform."

The 26 councils had already agreed to meet the bill if it was based on 'principles of fairness', with the cost for reducing the number of councils to 11 estimated at £118m.

See: Council Shake-up Fails At Stormont

(BMcC/GK)