North Down Borough Council Town Clerk & Chief Executive, Trevor Polley

Trevor Polley spoke on the future of local governance

Firstly, Mr Polley began his presentation by making a passionate defence of local government in the face of reforms under the Review of Public Administration.  Under the review North Down will be amalgamated with Ards, Castlereagh and Down Borough Council to form one of seven supercouncils for Northern Ireland.

Mr Polley’s concerns were that the changes proposed would sacrifice local identity and sovereignty.  "People in North Down do not identify with people in Castlereagh, just as people in Downpatrick do not identify with us," he said. "Supersizing is not always for the best, as McDonalds have found out. "We have seen what happens in the so-called supersize Belfast, which is held up as the ideal model for these new bodies - business rates are 30% higher there than in North Down.”

He added the review would only serve to increase sectarianism in the province as three councils would be dominated by unionists, three by nationalists and one mixed.

Mr Polley felt that should reforms take place then the only acceptable alteration would be to merge with Ards and Ards only or to match the parliamentary constituency lines.  This he added would save the new supercouncil from the problem of having further education arranged inconsistently with their sphere of influence.

He then gave his view for the future of local governance, which is “a local government responsible for local people at a local level and funded by local funds.”

Closing his presentation Mr Polley added,  “I believe that Bangor already has a super council, with super councillors whom are all doing their level best to work for the people of this Borough. That is not a situation I want to see ruined."