Written Answers to Questions - Northern Ireland Assembly
Written Answers to Questions - Northern Ireland Assembly
Written Answers to Questions - Northern Ireland Assembly
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Friday 20 July 2012 <strong>Written</strong> <strong>Answers</strong><br />
Review of Public Administration<br />
Mr Hamil<strong>to</strong>n asked the Minister of the Environment what conditions he has placed, or intends <strong>to</strong> place,<br />
on councils in relation <strong>to</strong> capital investment, in advance of the implementation of the Review of Public<br />
Administration.<br />
(AQW 12758/11-15)<br />
Mr Attwood: Councils need <strong>to</strong> act responsibly and prudently in considering whether or not <strong>to</strong> incur<br />
capital expenditure in the period leading up <strong>to</strong> local government re-organisation. Indeed, the Regional<br />
Transition Committee, which I chair, is arranging for the provision of guidance encouraging them <strong>to</strong> do<br />
so and <strong>to</strong> liaise closely on this matter with the councils with which they will be amalgamating in 2015.<br />
This inter-council liaison will be initially managed through the Voluntary Transition Committees, which I<br />
have reinstated, in order <strong>to</strong> promote a pragmatic and responsible approach <strong>to</strong> the future needs of the<br />
enlarged councils.<br />
Provision has already been made, in the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act (<strong>Northern</strong><br />
<strong>Ireland</strong>) 2010, which will enable the Statu<strong>to</strong>ry Transition Committees <strong>to</strong> exercise control on capital<br />
expenditure contracts, non capital contracts, and the disposal or acquisition of land owned by the<br />
existing councils. The key requirement is for the councils <strong>to</strong> seek the written consent of their relevant<br />
Statu<strong>to</strong>ry Transition Committee before entering in<strong>to</strong> contracts or disposal / acquisition of land which<br />
exceed sums <strong>to</strong> be specified by the Department.<br />
The Regional Transition Committee will also be reviewing these controls and considering whether or not<br />
they need <strong>to</strong> be extended <strong>to</strong> embrace the use of council reserves and loans.<br />
Review of Public Administration<br />
Mr Weir asked the Minister of the Environment whether there are any plans <strong>to</strong> restrict the capital spend<br />
of councils prior <strong>to</strong> the implementation of the Review of Public Administration.<br />
(AQW 12770/11-15)<br />
Mr Attwood: Councils need <strong>to</strong> act responsibly and prudently in considering whether or not <strong>to</strong> incur<br />
capital expenditure in the period leading up <strong>to</strong> local government re-organisation. Indeed, the Regional<br />
Transition Committee, which I chair, is arranging for the provision of guidance encouraging them <strong>to</strong> do<br />
so and <strong>to</strong> liaise closely on this matter with the councils with which they will be amalgamating in 2015.<br />
This inter-council liaison will be initially managed through the Voluntary Transition Committees, which I<br />
have reinstated, in order <strong>to</strong> promote a pragmatic and responsible approach <strong>to</strong> the future needs of the<br />
enlarged councils.<br />
Provision has already been made, in the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act (<strong>Northern</strong><br />
<strong>Ireland</strong>) 2010, which will enable the Statu<strong>to</strong>ry Transition Committees <strong>to</strong> exercise control on capital<br />
expenditure contracts, non capital contracts, and the disposal or acquisition of land owned by the<br />
existing councils. The key requirement is for the councils <strong>to</strong> seek the written consent of their relevant<br />
Statu<strong>to</strong>ry Transition Committee before entering in<strong>to</strong> contracts or disposal acquisition of land which<br />
exceed sums <strong>to</strong> be specified by the Department.<br />
The Regional Transition Committee will also be reviewing these controls and considering whether or not<br />
they need <strong>to</strong> be extended <strong>to</strong> embrace the use of council reserves and loans.<br />
Town Centre Development Programme<br />
Ms Lo asked the Minister of the Environment, in light of the <strong>Northern</strong> <strong>Ireland</strong> Independent Retail Trade<br />
Association’s recommendation for a five-year mora<strong>to</strong>rium on out-of-<strong>to</strong>wn supers<strong>to</strong>re developments,<br />
whether a new Town Centre Development Programme will be introduced <strong>to</strong> ensure that new multiple<br />
s<strong>to</strong>re complexes are located in <strong>to</strong>wn centres.<br />
(AQW 12835/11-15)<br />
WA 516