Causeway Coast and Glens DUP man criticises lack of engagement in Partnership Panel
A Causeway Coast and Glens alderman has criticised the Department for Communities for what he says is their lack of engagement with a partnership forum.
Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council DUP representative Aaron Callan hit out at recent correspondence about engagement with the Partnership Panel.
The Partnership Panel is a forum comprised of Executive Ministers, local councillors, and office bearers from the Northern Ireland Local Government Association (NILGA), and chaired by the Communities Minister, which was set up to allow members to discuss regional and local government matters.
In September, members agreed to write to the Northern Ireland Executive about the Department for Communities’ (DfC) lack of engagement with the Panel, noting that a meeting has not taken place since 2024.
A reply from DfC, presented to members at November’s Council meeting said they ‘recognise the importance of constructive engagement between central and local government’ and the Panel’s valuable role in ‘facilitating discussion on matters of shared strategic interest’.
The correspondence noted that while there are no ‘firm arrangements’ at present, officials are considering future arrangements for including the timing, format and potential areas for discussion.
Ald Callan said the response was ‘highly disappointing’ as Council has a ‘number of key issues’ to discuss, including planning matters and the Rates Support Grant, but have not had a Panel meeting for two years.
He requested that council write to DfC again about the issue.
“It has got to be one of the poorest responses in terms of, they’re taking interest in developing a partnership with councils, yet they’re not interested in making sure the Partnership Panel actually meets and actually discusses the key issues that affect local government,” he added.
“But it reflects back on the fact that [in] central government there seems to be an attitude of ‘do as we say and not as we do’, and unfortunately it shows that they don’t really value what we offer.
“So I think we should be writing back, highlighting the fact that [the response] is very disappointing and the the relationship seems to be non-existent when it comes to the Partnership Panel.”