UUP gather cross-party support to warn Rooker that ‘7′ Plan has no support
Ulster Unionist Members of the Local Government Taskforce Group today gathered cross-party support to give Lord Rooker the clearest indication that there was no support for a 7 super-council plan.
At this morning’s meeting to establish the terms of reference of the Taskforce, UUP Councillor and NILGA representative Arnold Hatch and Samuel Gardiner MLA, the UUPs Local government spokesman, gathered cross-party support for a motion stating that the taskforce was not prepared to work towards a seven council model.
In a statement Mr Hatch said:
“Lord Rooker may believe that he can push ahead with the seven council model but the UUP, with the support of other parties, has ensured that he is in no doubt as to the level of opposition towards this model . It is now clear to him that we are not interested in setting up working groups to enable the transition to seven councils.
In typical cavalier fashion Lord Rooker noted our objection and moved on to the next item of business. However, I feel that the parties have managed to fire a strong warning shot across the government’s bows.”