BYMICHAEL BRESLIN
A merger between Fermanagh and Omagh Councils now looks on the cards following last week's 7-2 vote in the Stormont Executive to go for an 11-Council model as part of a review of public administration, announced in 2002, to achieving greater efficiency, with extra powers devolved.
The eleven 'super Councils' will replace the present 26 District Councils and, following enactment of legislation, it is expected that the election to the new Councils will take place in 2011.
Announcing the vote, Local Government Minister, Arlene Foster said the decision represented a firm foundation for the development of stronger local government that would deliver a broader range of services for all citizens.
With the exception of Sinn Fein, Fermanagh Councillors opted for a 15-Council model which would have left the Council intact. Sinn Fein chose a 7-Council model which would have lumped together Fermanagh, Omagh, Cookstown and Dungannon Councils.
The decision has had a mixed reaction, locally.
The UUP chairman of Fermanagh District Council, Alex Baird said he and his colleagues believed that any attempt to artificially join them with any of the existing District Council areas would leave local government in Fermanagh 'weak, remote and unrepresentative of the needs of our local communities, and it will damage community relations'.
He went on: "Since 1973, Fermanagh District Council has consistently demonstrated its ability to deliver services at both a quality and at a cost which are the envy of most other Council areas. We are continually at the, 'top of the table' by way of ratepayers' satisfaction with services provided, and our rates are the lowest in Northern Ireland.
"We are firmly of the belief that Fermanagh District Council has earned its place as an integral part of a County renowned for its rich cultural identity and strong sense of community.
"Given that there will be 11 new Councils, we understand that there will be a further review by the Boundaries Commission to determine what the boundaries of each of the 11 new Councils will be. We will now concentrate our efforts on influencing the determination of the new boundaries to best suit Fermanagh".
Omagh District Council, in a statement, welcomed the fact that the NI Executive had come to a conclusion.
'Their decision now sets the direction for moving forward with the reorganisation of Councils and the agenda for change and improvement in public services.
'Omagh District Council will continue to focus on reinforcing Omagh's position as a regional centre.
'The Council welcomes the announcement that responsibility for urban regeneration will be devolved to local Councils in the new administration. The transfer of this function will further enable the Council to drive forward the major programme for the regeneration of Omagh.
However, the prospect of a Fermanagh/Omagh merger has not gone down well with the UUP in particular, either in Enniskillen or Omagh.
Fermanagh Councillor, Tom Elliott, MLA described the decision as 'ludicrous' and his Party colleague in Omagh, Bert Wilson, who is chairman of Omagh Council, described it as, 'a carve-up' between the DUP and Sinn Fein.
Mr Elliott commented: "It would have made much more sense to have joined ourselves and Dungannon District Council, giving the county a direct link to the centre and east parts of Northern Ireland. As things stand, we will simply become more westernly, and more cut off from other parts of the country."
Tommy Gallagher, MLA shared that viewpoint. He suggested that linking Fermanagh with Omagh would leave people very confused.
"A merger between Fermanagh and Dungannon Councils would have at least matched up with the constituency boundary.
"The most serious disadvantage of all for Fermanagh is the loss of our unique identity as the only county covered by exactly the same Council area".
The SDLP, he said, would strive to ensure that the 11-Council model did not also result in any sort of sectarian power carve-up.
"We want to see local power-sharing enshrined in legislation, and we want the Executive to legislate explicit minority protections.
"We would be very concerned, for example, that abuse of the Planning Service could be possible if planning powers were to be devolved without protections."
The chairman of Omagh Council, Bert Wilson recalled that the 11-Council model was not the one favoured at a special meeting of the NILGA, the group of 26 Councils.
"If we had the 15 Councils, it would have meant we would have worked with Strabane and Fermanagh would have remained as they are", Councillor Wilson added.
But, the Minister, Arlene Foster submitted that 15 would allow new Council areas to deliver important services to communities in an efficient and effective manner.
"In order for local government to fulfil its role as leader and shaper of communities", she said, " a range of functions will be transferred to the new local Councils.
"These include aspects of planning, as well as rural development, the public realm aspects of local roads' functions, urban regeneration and community development, a range of housing-related functions, and local economic development and tourism."
