Archives for March 13, 2008

As indicated here last month 7, 11 or 15? eleven is the magic number when it comes to our councils. I am just heading around to Stormont Castle for what I expect to be Arlene Foster's official confirmation of a DUP-Sinn Fein deal on local government. UUP ministers were irked they only got the paperwork at the last minute, but the two big parties have the votes to push their proposal through. See our main website for the map of the proposed council boundaries.

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Whatever happened to the old Civic Forum, the body which was meant to sit alongside the Assembly representing interest groups like the trade unions, business, and the churches?

After devolution was restored the Executive asked members of the original 60 strong body if they'd like to reform. According to an Assembly written answer to the DUP's Stephen Moutray, 32 of them said yes please and 6 said no. The rest wanted to await the outcome of an Executive review of the forum, or else didn't reply.

But the OFMDFM has decided not to take the 32 up on their kind offer. They argued that "although about half of the original members of the Forum were willing to serve while the review was underway, this was not representative of some of the smaller sectors and, given the short remaining lifespan of the existing Forum, it was decided not to recall the members but to concentrate instead on pressing ahead with the review."

I am keeping an eye out for any street protests demanding the Forum's immediate restoration....

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