Councillor's Guide
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Councillor’s Guide Information and resources to support you in your role as a Councillor in Northern Ireland’s Local Authorities 13/05/2014 12:01 34951A lc Opportunity advert.indd 1 34951A lc Opportunity advert.indd 1 13/05/2014 12:01 13/05/2014 12:01 13/05/2014 1 advert.indd Opportunity lc 34951A 34951A lc Opportunity advert.indd 1 13/05/2014 12:01 13/05/2014 12:01 34951A lc Opportunity advert.indd 1 © 2014 Deloitte LLP. All rights reserved. © 2014 Deloitte LLP. All rights reserved. 3 rights reserved. rights All LLP. Deloitte 2014 © © 2014 Deloitte LLP. All rights reserved. www.deloitte.co.uk © 2014 Deloitte LLP. All rights reserved. www.deloitte.co.uk For further information please contact Jackie Henry on 028 9053 1197 or [email protected] For further information please contact Jackie Henry on 028 9053 1197 or [email protected] www.deloitte.co.uk www.deloitte.co.uk www.deloitte.co.uk innovating, designing and delivering for Local Government in Northern Ireland. a significant and real difference in the quality and scope of advice we provide. Deloitte is focused on thinking, innovating, designing and delivering for Local Government in Northern Ireland. For further information please contact Jackie Henry on 028 9053 1197 or [email protected] or 1197 9053 028 on Henry Jackie contact please information further For For further information please contact Jackie Henry on 028 9053 1197 or [email protected] For further information please contact Jackie Henry on 028 9053 1197 or [email protected] Local government reform creates new opportunities to enhance services and be more impactful. We believe there is a significant and real difference in the quality and scope of advice we provide. Deloitte is focused on thinking, Local government reform creates new opportunities to enhance services and be more impactful. We believe there is innovating, designing and delivering for Local Government in Northern Ireland. Northern in Government Local for delivering and designing innovating, innovating, designing and delivering for Local Government in Northern Ireland. Opportunity awaits innovating, designing and delivering for Local Government in Northern Ireland. thinking, on focused is Deloitte provide. we advice of scope and quality the in difference real and significant a a significant and real difference in the quality and scope of advice we provide. Deloitte is focused on thinking, Opportunity awaits 34951A lc Opportunity advert.indd 1 13/05/2014 12:01 a significant and real difference in the quality and scope of advice we provide. Deloitte is focused on thinking, 153 References is there believe We impactful. more be and services enhance to opportunities new creates reform government Local Local government reform creates new opportunities to enhance services and be more impactful. We believe there is Local government reform creates new opportunities to enhance services and be more impactful. We believe there is Opportunity awaits awaits Opportunity 13/05/2014 12:01 34951A lc Opportunity advert.indd 1 Opportunity awaits Central Government Departments and their Agencies their and Departments Government Central 100 7 © 2014 Deloitte LLP. All rights reserved. Personal Development Personal 82 6 © 2014 Deloitte LLP. All rights reserved. www.deloitte.co.uk Local Government Issues Government Local 66 5 For further information please contact Jackie Henry on 028 9053 1197 or [email protected] www.deloitte.co.uk innovating, designing and delivering for Local Government in Northern Ireland. For further information please contact Jackie Henry on 028 9053 1197 or [email protected] Council Functions Council 52 4 a significant and real difference in the quality and scope of advice we provide. Deloitte is focused on thinking, believe there is Local government reform creates new opportunities to enhance services and be more impactful. We innovating, designing and delivering for Local Government in Northern Ireland. is focused on thinking, a significant and real difference in the quality and scope of advice we provide. Deloitte Elected Member Support Member Elected 38 Opportunity awaits 3 believe there is Local government reform creates new opportunities to enhance services and be more impactful. We Opportunity awaits Being a Councillor a Being 20 2 The New Local Government Local New The 10 1 Summary Executive 6 4 Welcome Contents direction. in the right right the in Guiding you you Welcome to the Councillor’s Guide This Guide has been co-ordinated by Care has been taken to ensure the NILGA officials and approved by the accuracy of the information; however, as Elected Member Development Steering the content has been compiled from various Group as a key introduction and guide to sources and contributors, the Elected your role as an elected member. Member Development Steering Group cannot accept liability for any errors or It will provide the information that will omissions in the text. help establish and develop your role as an elected representative. It has been NILGA is keen to amend any information updated from the June 2014 version, within the guide which may be incorrect so experienced councillors as well as and would encourage users to inform new ones may refresh their knowledge the Association’s Chief Executive of any on current local government and wider proposed amendments which you may feel representation issues. This Guide can be appropriate. downloaded from the website of NILGA (www.nilga.org). Your role as a councillor will develop according to your personal work style, the needs of your particular District Electoral Area (DEA) and the council you represent; however, certain duties will be common to all elected members. Contact At the time of compiling the Guide (May & NILGA: June 2015) there are a number of aspects of reform legislation which are still in draft form. The Elected Member Development Steering NILGA’s main office on028 9079 8972 Group wishes to thank the Northern or by emailing [email protected] Ireland Local Government Association; the Local Government Training Group and The Elected Member Development the National Association of Councillors for Steering Group will review this guide their input into the compilation, editing and periodically. production of this guide. The Elected Member Development Steering Group is also indebted to the Councillors, officers, and representatives from outside bodies that willingly assisted in supplying material. 4 5 Statutory requirements, applicable to all Information and Support Executive Summary elected members in Northern Ireland include In recognition of your commitment to your attendance at council and associated role, support has been made available to meetings; a requirement to act fairly and allow you to claim compensation for the This guide introduces you to your role and The major functions transferring reasonably when making decisions related necessary expenditure of your personal responsibilities as a councillor within the to councils include: to council business; and compliance with time and resources as you undertake world of Northern Ireland local government • local planning the Council activities (details of which can be and wider public sector environment. The Northern Ireland Local Government • urban regeneration (due in April 2016) (which is found in Part 3). guide’s contents have been sourced from Code of Conduct for Councillors • community development (due in April 2016) currently in draft form). a range of public sector organisations, and • local economic and tourism development outlines broad statutory requirements that Your Council will advise you on how • off street parking. Your role in representing your electorate all Councillors must adhere to (for instance, to complete forms in order to claim may not be limited to acting on its behalf acting within the restrictions of your compensation via a range of allowances, Councils will also lead a community at your council’s monthly and committee council’s legislative remit). which include: planning process. This will be done in meetings, but could also involve partnership with other public service representing your council as a collective A basic allowance which incorporates an This guide also contains factual details 1. providers in order to collectively address unit on external bodies, NILGA and central element to cover incidental costs of procedures that many councillors are local issues. government working groups, partnership incurred in the performance of your commonly required to follow (such as organisations and with other stakeholders. duties; ‘Standing Orders’ which may differ slightly In addition, councils will have an enhanced Special responsibility allowances. between councils); and basic practical role in the delivery of the rural development 2. Councils make additional payments to advice to consider as an individual programme on behalf of Department As a consequence of the wide-ranging members who carry out additional duties councillor (for example, ways in which you of Agriculture and Rural Development functions you will fulfil as a councillor, through being nominated to particular might prioritise your workload). (DARD). you are obligated at all times to consider the following: positions within the council or on Councils will have a new General Power external bodies; This Executive Summary is intended to of Competence. This will allow a council 1. The impact that any personal financial Travel and subsistence allowances. assist with your orientation through the 3. to act with similar freedom to an individual, interests held by you or your family A travel allowance is payable where a guide, and provides an overview of the unless there is a law to prevent it from doing members might hold on your dealings Councillor incurs additional expenditure topics that are described in detail within so. It would allow a council to act in its own within public life; and accordingly, travelling on approved council business. each section. interest and develop innovative approaches removal of yourself from situations Similarly, allowances for meals and to addressing issues in its area.