Community planning in Northern Ireland: Participative Democracy in Practice?

Abstract

Local Government in Northern Ireland entered a new phase of its development in April 2015 when 26 pre-existing councils were reduced to 11 local authorities with a range of additional functions. This structural change is significant for a number of reasons. First, the new councils represent the culmination of a process of reform which commenced in 2002 under the Review of Public Administration whose remit incorporated wider changes to health, education and functions delivered through non-departmental public bodies. Second, the original intention of the Review was to create ‘more powerful councils with responsibilities for an increased range of functions’ (Pearson, 2004:1). Given the history of local government in Northern Ireland, such a move signalled a renewed confidence in councils to deliver services in an impartial way (Tomlinson, 1980). Third, in recognition of the complexity of devolved governance arrangements at Stormont, with 12 government departments created primarily to meet the requirements of power-sharing, local councils offer the prospect of integrated public services provision which are more responsive to users. This paper provides a brief overview of local government (1972-2015) up until the most recent structural changes– a retrospective narrative. It also considers the potential for the 11 larger councils to improve the quality of life of its citizens through new statutory powers of community planning – a prospective analysis. The paper concludes with a case study example of one new council (Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon Council) to illustrate how community planning can, in practical terms, be used to hold central government departments to account for service provision at the local level.