19 July 2004
IMPROVEMENTS TO QUALITY OF SERVICE KEY TO PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION REFORM - PEARSON
Improving services to the public lies at the heart of any new model of public administration for Northern Ireland, Ian Pearson, Minister with responsibility for the Review of Public Administration, said today.
The Minister was speaking after a round of meetings with the main political parties to update them on the developing model of public administration.
He said: "I envisage the Assembly with departments sitting at regional level with responsibility for policy, strategic planning, setting standards and monitoring performance. At a local level, larger more powerful councils could have responsibilities for an increased range of functions such as regeneration, environmental services, some planning functions and possibly local roads.
"I see councils having an important role in ensuring co-ordinated service delivery in their area and this co-ordination could be further enhanced by giving councils a major role in community planning for their local population.
"In my view councils need to be of a size and scale to make a significant difference. To me, and to many experts who have looked at this issue, this suggests around five to eight councils, but I will want to discuss this with the political parties in the coming months.
"I will also be examining the scope for significant reductions in the number of public bodies, in particular, the administrative structures around health and education."
Mr Pearson said he had been encouraged by the support for the RPA provided by the political parties and had listened carefully to concerns they had raised. These included the need for sufficient checks and balances to allow new local government structures to operate in a fair and equitable way.
"I have also heard their fears about the possible loss of local identity in larger councils and I will be looking at ways to ensure local identity and diversity is not lost."
The Minister also discussed the future financing of local government with the parties.
He said: "The Review of Public Administration may lead to major changes and clearly it would be imprudent, at this stage, for councils and other public bodies to commit to significant expenditure that would increase costs and the debt burden on ratepayers now and in the future.
"I was very encouraged by the support for the RPA provided by the main political parties, which, together with other key stakeholders are keen to see work progress. I hope to hold further discussions with the political parties in September before issuing firm proposals in the autumn."
NOTES TO EDITORS:
- Between June and July, Ian Pearson met with representatives of the five main political parties: Alliance Party; Democratic Unionist Party; Ulster Unionist Party, SDLP and Sinn Fein.
- Consultation on proposed models of public administration is expected to begin in the autumn.
- For further information, please contact Clare Baxter on 028 9027 7606 or 07769 603509.
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