Putting People First Guide - Department of Environment and Local ...

Putting People First Summary_Layout 1 16/10/2012 10:50 Page 15• a critical review of the possible merger of the local government audit service and the office of theComptroller and auditor general is being carried out.• in line with the programme for government, the position of local authority manager will be replaced bya chief executive post, and consideration will be given to strengthening the statutory position of theelected council and the reserved functions of elected members in that context. legislative provisionwill also be given to revised terms and conditions for chief executives of local authorities.• strengthening the local government ethics code, involving integration into a strengthened, unifiednational legislative framework.• powers of Councillors under section 140 of the local government act 2001 will no longer apply inrespect of planning functions and consistent with this, these powers will not apply to any decision by alocal authority involving financial or other benefit to an individual or a specific organisation.• the structures and levels of all payments to councillors will be reviewed by the national oversight andaudit Commission, having regard to the reformed sub-county structure and regional governance, andthe need to ensure sufficient incentive for high quality representation of the community. this reviewwill be completed to provide for the revised payments for councillors elected in 2014, at the latest.• the overall maximum expenditure in respect of attendance by councillors at conferences will besignificantly reduced. to help improve the relevance of such conferences, attendance will be limitedto conferences organised by the proposed new amalgamated councillor representative body, by aregional assembly, or by professional bodies (such as planning bodies) operating in the localgovernment sector.• there will be a review of the structure, role and operational mechanisms of local authority strategicpolicy Committees.• mechanisms to promote citizen engagement with local government will be considered includingparticipative democracy arrangements.• to complement the steps taken by political parties to promote and assist women candidates, localauthorities will make appropriate arrangements, including the timing of meetings, to ensure that theway they conduct their business encourages the greater participation of women in politics.15