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| NI councils reduced from 26 to 11 | |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| The NI Executive has agreed a plan to create 11 new councils by 2011. | |
| The DUP and Sinn Fein said the compromise plan, passed by seven votes to two, would build a firm foundation for strong local government. | The DUP and Sinn Fein said the compromise plan, passed by seven votes to two, would build a firm foundation for strong local government. |
| It creates four nationalist-dominated councils in the west and south, and six predominantly unionist councils in the north, east and centre. | It creates four nationalist-dominated councils in the west and south, and six predominantly unionist councils in the north, east and centre. |
| The UUP opposed the plan, with MLA Fred Cobain saying he feared it would mean a mainly nationalist Belfast council. | The UUP opposed the plan, with MLA Fred Cobain saying he feared it would mean a mainly nationalist Belfast council. |
| Click here to see the planned council areas | Click here to see the planned council areas |
| The current 26-council system dates back to the 1970s but, after a review, former secretary of state Peter Hain opted to cut these to just seven. | |
| What the Provos couldn't do in 40 years, she has done with a stroke of a pen to turn this city green - it's an anti-Belfast agenda Fred CobainUlster Unionist Sinn Fein supported that plan but the other major parties said they would be too big to preserve local identity and backed a 15-council model. | |
| A Sinn Fein/DUP compromise of 11 new councils has now been agreed. Elections are expected to be held in 2011. | |
| It is understood the SDLP minister Margaret Ritchie, who is in the US, had written to Mrs Foster indicating she was happy with the plan. | It is understood the SDLP minister Margaret Ritchie, who is in the US, had written to Mrs Foster indicating she was happy with the plan. |
| However, UUP assembly member Fred Cobain said: "Belfast has been sacrificed by a DUP minister. | |
| Whilst we welcome the transfer of planning, regeneration and some further housing functions, we remain disappointed with the limited nature of the overall package Arnold HatchNILGA "What the Provos couldn't do in 40 years, she has done with a stroke of a pen to turn this city green - it's an anti-Belfast agenda." | |
| Sinn Fein assembly member John O'Dowd said Mr Cobain's comments "clearly exposed the sectarian and undemocratic underbelly of a party that fails to recognise that it has no supreme right to rule". | |
| Since the restoration of devolution, the shake-up in local government has been the responsibility of the environment minister, who said it was "a very good day, not just for local government, but for this executive as well". | Since the restoration of devolution, the shake-up in local government has been the responsibility of the environment minister, who said it was "a very good day, not just for local government, but for this executive as well". |
| Mrs Foster added: "In order for local government to fulfil its role as leader and shaper of communities, a range of functions will be transferred to the new local councils. | |
| "These include aspects of planning, as well as rural development, the public-realm aspects of local roads functions, urban regeneration and community development, a range of housing-related functions, and local economic development and tourism." | "These include aspects of planning, as well as rural development, the public-realm aspects of local roads functions, urban regeneration and community development, a range of housing-related functions, and local economic development and tourism." |
| A spokesman for the Northern Ireland Local Government Association, which has been campaigning for greater powers for councils, said they preferred the 15-council model but were happy with 11. | A spokesman for the Northern Ireland Local Government Association, which has been campaigning for greater powers for councils, said they preferred the 15-council model but were happy with 11. |
| "Whilst we welcome the transfer of planning, regeneration and some further housing functions, we remain disappointed with the limited nature of the overall package," said Arnold Hatch. | "Whilst we welcome the transfer of planning, regeneration and some further housing functions, we remain disappointed with the limited nature of the overall package," said Arnold Hatch. |
| "However, we are committed to working in partnership with the executive in the long term to find new ways to maximise the benefits to our citizens." | "However, we are committed to working in partnership with the executive in the long term to find new ways to maximise the benefits to our citizens." |
| Click here to return | Click here to return |