UUP meet with Rooker to voice concerns over RPA
Ulster Unionist Spokesperson for the Review of Public Administration Jim Wilson has restated the Party’s opposition to the seven-council model and voiced his concerns relating to administrative checks and balances during a meeting with NIO Local Government Minister Lord Rooker.
A Party delegation consisting of Party Leader Sir Reg Empey, RPA Spokesperson Jim Wilson, Cllr Vera McWilliam and Cllr Stephen Nichol met with the Minister yesterday afternoon.
Describing the exchange as “open and constructive”, Mr Wilson said: “We took the opportunity of reiterating in the clearest possible terms our emphatic opposition to the seven-council model proposed by government.
“We also raised our concerns over proposals on local government checks and balances as contained in a paper commissioned by the RPA team.
“While we are in favour of a code of practice for councillors containing the appropriate safeguards, the proposals circulated by the RPA team are neither workable nor practical. In my view they would fundamentally undermine democracy. Present proposals on checks and balances unfairly favour appointed members and lack the transparency necessary for effective oversight.
“We feel that the paper circulated by the RPA team is impractical and unworkable. We intend to go back to the government to put forward our views on how to achieve the proper balance.”