(L-R) NILGA Vice President Ald Alan McDowell, NILGA Head of Policy & Governance Karen Smyth, NILGA Vice President Ald Danny Kinahan, NILGA President Cllr Frances Burton, Minister of State for Northern Ireland Rt Hon Nick Hurd MP and NILGA Vice President Cllr Matt Garrett
Commenting following a meeting with Minister of State for Northern Ireland Rt Hon Nick Hurd MP, Northern Ireland Local Government Association (NILGA) President Cllr Frances Burton said:
“This meeting has come at a crucial time for local government in Northern Ireland. We need clarity from central government over Brexit and we need immediate financial and administrative support to ensure high-quality service provision. In the continued absence of an Executive at Stormont, local councils here have been the only form of fully functioning and politically directed government here for nearly three years.
“While councils should be commended for continuing to provide first-class public services under extreme pressure, they urgently need greater finances, resources and powers to ease the strain and best meet the demands of local people. NILGA is a willing partner and is ready to work with Mr Hurd and the Northern Ireland Office in the continued absence of Stormont to ensure we can make Northern Ireland more accountable, sustainable and well-governed.”