Environment Minister, Arlene Foster, today asked MLAs to agree the Local Government (Boundaries) Bill which reached its Final Stage in the Assembly
The legislation will set the broad boundaries of eleven new local government districts. It will also provide for the appointment of a Local Government Boundaries Commissioner to recommend the boundaries and names of the eleven new districts, as well as the number, boundaries and names of the wards into which each district will be divided.
The Minister said: “The Bill is the first step towards implementing the Executive’s decisions on the local government aspects of the Review of Public Administration.
“It will give effect to the decision which I announced in the Assembly on 31 March 2008 concerning the reduction in the number of district councils in Northern Ireland to eleven.
“The purpose of the Bill is to set the context for a review in 2008 of local government boundaries in Northern Ireland and to provide for the appointment of a Local Government Boundaries Commissioner to carry out that review. This is the first step in moving towards the reorganisation of local government.
“This Bill is an important step in modernising and reforming local government in Northern Ireland. Reorganisation will result in stronger local government with enhanced functions, and will provide for the more effective delivery of local public services.”
The Bill is expected to come into operation in early July 2008 as the Local Government (Boundaries) Act (Northern Ireland) 2008.