Council welcomes funding

This morning (Tuesday) Communities Minister, Deirdre Hargey, informed the Assembly that the Executive had agreed to provide a total of £20.3 million to Northern Ireland’s 11 councils by way of an “immediate intervention”.

Speaking after the announcement was made, ABC Lord Mayor, Councillor Mealla Campbell said: “As a Council it is our priority during this crisis to protect and ensure the delivery of our basic services but like many other councils at this time, the future of these essential services such as bin collections, burials and street cleansing are threatened by loss of income

“I therefore welcome this announcement of funding, which will provide some interim assistance from now until the end of June.”

Communities Minister, Deirdre Hargey MLA said: “Despite the current COVID-19 pandemic, councils continue to play an essential role in delivering public services, such as waste collection and disposal, community support, and provision of registration and cemetery services.

“The restrictions that have been introduced, with the clear purpose of protecting life and ensuring out health service has not been overwhelmed, have created a severe financial challenge for our 11 councils as they have lost practically all of their self-generated income through the closure of council facilities.

“This funding will help assist councils with their cash flow and support them in the delivery of the vital services they are providing to the community at this time.

“It will also help ensure that they are ready to play their key role in our post-pandemic recovery and limit the financial impact on ratepayers going forward.”

While the additional funding is welcomed, Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council’s Lord Mayor said more will need to be done to ensure council’s can help communities to recover.

“It is a first step but it is clear that further investment in local government will be required to ensure that Council are not only in a position to provide continuity of service to our ratepayers but that we are able to help our communities recover,” said the Lord Mayor.

“The executive must look at longer term investment to support the financial resilience of our councils so that we are resourced to deliver on strategies for bespoke economic recovery and community support.

“Councils will be in the frontline of transformation post COVID-19 and it is a priority that we are equipped to deal with the significant body of work ahead.“

Meanwhile a spokesperson for Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council said Council will continue to ensure vital public services are protected.

“Council welcomes the announcement by Communities Minister Deirdre Hargey, and will continue to work with the Minister, and colleagues across councils, to make the case for support of local government to ensure vital public services are protected,” said the spokesperson.

Adam Morton , Local Democracy Reporting Service