Causeway Coast & Glens Council to raise lack of Partnership Panel meetings with NI Executive
Causeway Coast and Glens Council is to write to the Northern Ireland Executive about the Department for Communities’ (DfC) lack of engagement in 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.
According to the DfC website, there has not been a Panel meeting since September 2024.
During September’s Council meeting, Chief Executive, David Jackson, informed members that he had been in contact with DfC and there were no current Panel meetings planned.
In response, UUP Councillor Richard Holmes successfully proposed that Council write to the Executive about the “state of the Partnership Panel”.
“Given that no meetings seem to be held, and obviously it’s [DfC’s responsibility], but do we need to kick this up a level, and possibly ask for feedback on the items we have raised in the last five years?” he asked.
Mr Jackson replied: “Contacting the Executive is an option, I know NILGA are pushing quite hard but I spoke to senior officials in DfC and there is no meeting scheduled.
“The Executive Office, I suppose, might be able to bring leverage on it.”
Sinn Féin Councillor Leanne Peacock seconded the motion and said that, as Council’s representative on the Panel, she has had “very limited opportunity to go”.
She concluded: “Maybe if we can get it a wee bit more scripted too while we’re at it, we would make it a bit more fruitful experience when you do get a chance to go.”