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NILGA Call for real RPA progress to drive efficiency in light of the recent debate on rate rises.
17 February 2010
Cllr J Mathews, President of the Local Government Association today reacted to the public debate about council rate rises.
He said “I know all Councils are committed to keeping their rates as low as possible in this economic downturn. “
“Members are in constant contact with the public and they are well aware of citizens needs at this difficult time. Every member will be at pains to balance providing the services people need and limiting the costs”
However he explains “Significant rate rises in some areas are due to the circumstances beyond council control. What the public need is the real information. Rate rises are due in large part to wider issues such as, unmanaged debt by the Land and Property Services, closure of premises resulting in reduced income, lower interest and single status issues.”
He went on to say that “This debate is the thin edge of the wedge. We need to concentrate on the big picture. We need final decisions on the way forward for Reform, to allow us to focus on what will genuinely deliver better services and better value for money for the citizen.”
He went on “I am proud to say that councils in the rest of GB have been proven to be the most efficient part of the public sector. I see no reason why councils in N Ireland will not be able to do as well. We are therefore delighted to be working with the Minister to make better use of IT, to agree a performance management framework for local government, and we are currently working on proposals to support councils work together to drive out efficiencies. These are the projects that will realise real efficiencies.”
I therefore again call on the Minister not to frustrate councils any longer. We must see an end to this intolerable uncertainty. We have been calling for political direction to be agreed on the RPA for months now. The boundaries must be agreed as well as the policy for the supporting legislation to allow us to move forward to allow us to establish 11 new councils in 2011
“We for are part are committed to driving change – when we get an agreed way forward.
“I again call on the Minister and his colleagues in the Executive to agree the way forward on local government reform. We want to deliver 11 new councils in May 2011 – it is central government holding things up.”
