Final Number Of NI Councils Argued Over

There's discord today at the Stormont Executive as the SDLP Environment Minister Alex Attwood argues a case over retaining more local councils in NI than has previously been envisaged.

Speaking on the future of local government on Thursday, the Minister told a Stormont committee which monitors his Environment Department that the Executive must "debate and [reach] proper conclusions" rather than simply "dictate outcomes".

But his Stormont Castle-based Executive colleagues, the DUP Leader and First Minister Peter Robinson and his Sinn Fein Deputy, Martin McGuinness yesterday reaffirmed that the current 26 will be shrunk to 11 new authorities.

Minister Attwood (pictured) insisted 15 could secure greater savings - up to an extra £150m - and makes more sense overall.

He said he had also told the First Minister and Deputy First Minister that the way the issue had been handled, as a whole was "unfortunate".

Mr Robinson's party colleague, DUP MLA Peter Weir has also responded to the comments. Speaking today, he said: "The Minister of the Environment is fully aware that certainty already exists in relation to the number of councils in the new local government scenario.

"The Executive decided, conclusively, on 16th November, that there will be 11 councils. Therefore the matter has been decided and one way or other there will be 11 councils regardless of what the Minister of the Environment might have hoped for."

Sinn Fein MLA Alex Maskey has also welcomed the decision by the Executive to push ahead with reform of local government by reducing the number of councils from 26 to 11.

"This is about streamlining local government, making it efficient, effective, democratic and value for money for the rate payers.

"The antics of Department of Environment Minister Alex Attwood are negative and obstructive. Just several months ago his party published proposals supporting a change to 11-councils and now he has stood that policy on its head just to cause obstruction and play party politics.

"This is a necessary reform that is long overdue and something that the general public have been asking for. Reducing the councils will enable more authority to be transferred to local government from Assembly departments and ultimately unelected quangos.

"At the heart of this local government reform will be the principle of equality with a variety of safeguards to ensure that councils are run on a fair basis and deliver services to the whole community," he added.

"Equality is the watchword and removing duplication will lead to more accountable, efficient and value for money services for all the ratepayers."

(BMcC)