12th September Edinburgh

OXYMORONS: DEVOLUTION & EXCELLENCE IN A

VACUUM

NORTHERN IRELAND 2018

Derek McCallan, NILGA Chief Executive

YOU CAN’T ALWAYS GET

WHAT YOU WANTLOCAL COUNCILS IN

NORTHERN IRELAND –THE BEGGAR’s

BANQUET?

All (Quite) New, All (Mainly) Working

Today• Consideration of what’s been done to unfetter councils • How we practically meet expectations of citizens and

partners • How councils civic, investor and public service roles can be

an antidote• How we provide political scrutiny and impetus to TWO

strands of government amidst a crisis and a half• How we’ve designed a means to achieve (SOME) success

regarding Brexit locally, despite political and institutional constipation & complexity.

PITY THE CITIZEN

NILGANILGA

Executive Office

Executive Office

Maze/ Long Kesh 

Development Corp 

Maze/ Long Kesh 

Development Corp 

NI Judicial Appts 

Commission

NI Judicial Appts 

Commission

NI Memorial Fund

NI Memorial Fund

Victims & Survivors Service

Victims & Survivors Service

Comhairle na 

Gaelscolaiochta

Comhairle na 

Gaelscolaiochta

Transport NI

Transport NI

Dept of Infrastructure

Dept of Infrastructure Dept of 

JusticeDept of Justice

Attorney General for 

NI

Attorney General for 

NI Planning Appeals 

Commission

Planning Appeals 

Commission Water Appeals Commission

Water Appeals Commission

NICCYNICCY

Commissioner for Older People

Commissioner for Older People

Community Relations Council

Community Relations Council

Commission for Victims & Survivors

Commission for Victims & Survivors

Equality CommissionEquality 

Commission

TranslinkTranslink

Transport NI

Transport NI

Education AuthorityEducation Authority

Public Records Office

Public Records Office

PCSPsPCSPs

PSNIPSNI

NIHENIHE

Northern Ireland Office

Northern Ireland Office

Tourism NITourism NI

NISRANISRA

Invest NIInvest NI

FHE CollegesFHE 

Colleges

Sport NI Sport NI 

Libraries NILibraries NI

Rivers AgencyRivers Agency

Forest ServiceForest Service

Dept of HealthDept of Health

Dept for Agri, Env & 

Rural Affairs

Dept for Agri, Env & 

Rural Affairs

Dept of FinanceDept of Finance

Arts CouncilArts CouncilVoluntary & Community Groups

Voluntary & Community Groups

NI Assembly

NI Assembly

Department for CommunitiesDepartment for Communities

Dept of EducationDept of 

Education

Business & Private SectorBusiness & 

Private Sector

NI ScreenNI Screen

11 local councils11 local councils

NI Council for 

Integrated Education

NI Council for 

Integrated Education

NICCEANICCEADept for the 

Economy

Dept for the 

Economy

Youth CouncilYouth Council

DVADVA

NI Environment Agency

NI Environment Agency

Historic Monuments Council

Historic Monuments Council

DVTADVTA

Labour Relations Agency

Labour Relations Agency

Health & Safety 

Executive

Health & Safety 

Executive

Strategic Investment 

Board

Strategic Investment 

Board

Land & Property Services

Land & Property Services

NI Blood Transfusion Service

NI Blood Transfusion Service

NI Fire & Rescue Service

NI Fire & Rescue Service

Local CommunitiesLocal Communities

NI Social Care 

Council

NI Social Care 

Council

NI Prison ServiceNI Prison Service

NI Policing Board

NI Policing Board

NI Police OmbudsmanNI Police 

Ombudsman

Health TrustsHealth Trusts

General Teaching Council

General Teaching Council

Probation Board for 

NI

Probation Board for 

NI

NI WaterNI WaterChild 

Maintenance Service

Child Maintenance 

Service

Social Security Agency

Social Security Agency Rent 

Assessment Panel 

Rent Assessment 

Panel  Charity Commission

Charity Commission

Public Prosecution Service

Public Prosecution Service

Electoral Office for 

NI

Electoral Office for 

NI

NI Human Rights 

Commission

NI Human Rights 

Commission

Parades CommissionParades 

Commission

Home OfficeHome Office

UK Passport Agency

UK Passport Agency

UK Visas & ImmigrationUK Visas & Immigration

Boundary Commission 

for NI

Boundary Commission 

for NI

Food Standards Agency

Food Standards Agency

NI Audit OfficerNI Audit Officer

NI Ombudsman for ComplaintsNI Ombudsman for Complaints

HMRCHMRC

Electoral CommissionElectoral 

Commission

NI Courts & Tribunal Service

NI Courts & Tribunal Service

OFCOMOFCOM

Historic Buildings Council

Historic Buildings Council

ICOICO

North South Ministerial Council

North South Ministerial Council

European CommissionEuropean Commission

NI Audit OfficeNI Audit Office

AFBIAFBI

Rural Development Partnerships

Rural Development Partnerships

Drainage Council Drainage Council 

NI Fisheries Harbour Authority

NI Fisheries Harbour Authority

Armagh Observatory & Planetarium

Armagh Observatory & Planetarium

Public Health Agency

Public Health Agency

Advocate General for 

NI

Advocate General for 

NI

Commissioner for Public ApptsCommissioner for Public Appts

Youth Justice Agency

Youth Justice Agency

CCMSCCMS

National Museums 

NI

National Museums 

NI

NI Housing AssociationsNI Housing Associations

TBUC, SkillsNet, etc

TBUC, SkillsNet, etc

Autism NIAutism NI

Enterprise Bodies

Enterprise Bodies

Sustainable Development Commission

Sustainable Development Commission

QPANIQPANI

How much do different levels of government spend?

A democratic deficit even with the Assembly

Local Democracy Matters

• Councils are a £2 billion p.a. investment• Conveners of local people• Shapers of local places• Strategic, informed development & community

planners• Investors and representative• Scrutineers, entrepreneurs, custodians• Three productive but constrained years• Innovators and integrators (not about money)

WHEN? Now

WHO? NILGA, COUNCILS, SOLACE, GOV DEPARTMENTS, PARTNERS

WHAT? (i) UK Parliament - completed 2018 Inquiry into “Devolution & Democracy in NI –Dealing With the Deficit”.(ii) NILGA has- Programme for Local Government- New Burdens Framework - Elected Member Strategic Training Programme (2018 – 2023) (iii) Devolution Bill must be considered, here or in Westminster.(iv) Devolution = strengthening democracy & responsibility, its not just about money(v) An APPG (All Party Parliamentary Group) has been approved.

WHY? Neighbouring jurisdictions are moving ahead = new powers, incentives & “localism”. City & Region “deals” are at proposal stages. Brexit is leading to fundamental shifts in governance and policy delivery terms in NI. The NI Assembly whilst suspended means numerous barriers to resources and progress exist and are legally and fiscally increasing. Local Government’s trajectory is upward. It gets things done. It is good for legislators.

What’s to Come?

Removing Barriers forCouncils and the Public

Realising the full potential of the limited devolution to date has been exacerbated by gaps in the delivery of the 2014 Local Government Act and failure to complete the intended policy direction:• Preventing necessary actions e.g. Emergency / Contingency Planning, Paying

Teachers• Preventing effective council working e.g. failure to deliver Standing Orders

Regulations, call-in• Preventing/hampering modernisation activity e.g. limits on councils

exercising general power of competence• Preventing review/necessary amendments to existing legislation e.g. code

of conduct, performance management• Failure to complete anticipated/unsatisfactory transfers e.g. Regeneration

Bill• Drip-feed of new functions without resources e.g. HMO & landlord

registration • Inability to progress the proposed ‘augmentation review’ - to deliver NILGA

Programme for Local Government, new financial tools (NBD etc)

Excellence in NI LG:

• NPI Evidence of June 2018• City and Region Deals• Devolution within Northern Ireland• Politics Reconnecting with communities and

businesses • Local Government Elections of May 2019 >• Regional Leadership and Accredited Learning for all

Councillors…..but what about

Integration, calm crisis management and being a David amongst Goliaths

Global politics become LOCAL

• Economy & Growth WG – pragmatic assessment & knowledge hub

• Sustainable Communities & Demographics WG –migration & skills needs for the future

• WLGA, COSLA, LGA – Brexit preparedness, Shared Prosperity Fund – should remain devolved

• Maintaining EU links - EU Week of Regions & Cities, iEER / EER, CoR

• Building relationships with international partners – CLGF trade & investment

The NILGA Response

THANK YOU

NILGA Conference

2018

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your place?