Transition Committee 'a load of nonsense'

Ulster Unionist representative Willie Graham said the committee is no longer needed as local government reorganisation has been indefinitely postponed.

Cllr Graham said spending the money is “a load of nonsense” but Council Chief Executive Richard Lewis said supporters of the Transition Committees said they were of benefit for promoting subject areas upon which local councils can collaborate.

But Cllr Graham insisted: “It is far past its sell-by-date and should be closed”.

Independent councillor Randal McDonnell said: “I think there never will be reorganisation of local government. It is a complete waste. I don’t think it will happen, even in 2014.”

Cllr Graham said cash paid to councillors for sitting on the Transition Committee is “money for old rope”.

Cllr McDonnell said the Transition Committee is only a ‘talking shop’.

Sinn Fein councillor Cara McShane said there was a lot of good positive work going in the cluster of councils which involves Moyle, Ballymoney, Coleraine and Limavady.

Just days after the comments were made at Moyle Council, Environment Minister Edwin Poots said he is suspending 1.65m in annual funding for committees set up to prepare for a reduction in the number of councils.

The current 26 councils were to be replaced by 11 following a local government election in May next year.

However, the failure of the Stormont Executive to agree on the plan means the target date has been put back indefinitely.

Mr Poots said funding for the 11 "transition committees" could not be justified in the current climate.

Each cost 150,000 a year and the funding will be suspended from October 31.

Mr Poots said that from recent meetings with local government representatives, he had decided that there was no "significant role" for the committees.

He added: "Many of the transition committees no longer meet as they consider that they can carry out no useful function towards re-organisation."

The minister stressed that he "remained committed to reforming local government".

"Once we have determined a new delivery timetable, it can be decided what role transition committees will play in delivering the reform programme,” said Mr Poots.