Key priorities of NILGA’s new President

In this article, NILGA’s new president, Cllr Alison Bennington, shares her key priorities, emphasising the importance of addressing central and local government relationship challenges to tackle financial pressures on public services.

The new President of the Northern Ireland Local Government Association (NILGA) has said that addressing the challenges in achieving balanced and respectful central/local government relationships is a main priority for her in the year ahead.

Cllr Alison Bennington (DUP, Antrim and Newtownabbey) has said that current financial pressures on public services provided by councils, shows that central and local government must work together in delivering the transformation needed to put Northern Ireland on a sustainable footing long term.

During her inauguration speech online Cllr Alison Bennington added:

“It is hard to remember a more challenging time regarding the financial position of public services. Difficult days are still to come, and serious transformation is needed across the board with funding to go alongside it.  Local government has a lot to offer these discussions given that councils are politically led, complex multi-disciplinary organisations.

Councils still continue to deliver despite these challenges and the financial pressures and have shown innovation, flexibility, and resilience.  Other parts of public service can learn from our experience, and we are willing to play our part in wider discussions.

It is apparent that given the scale of challenges at central government level that tough decisions are and will continue to be made on funding at local government level.

However, the funding to local government is but a minute fraction of the challenges and given the nonfinancial added value brought to this funding by councils it is short sighted to say the least to continue cutting our funding.

What is needed without a doubt is serious transformation of local government with communities at the heart.”