NORTHERN Ireland’s former network of 26 councils, phased-out in a cost saving shake-up of local government, spent more than £300,000 on farewell parties and events.
The switch to an 11 ‘super council’ system on April 1 this year resulted in publicly funded receptions for councillors and staff, exhibitions, commemorative books, a concert and community carnival.
Information on the costs, obtained by the Belfast-based Detail Data journalism project, emerged after it was revealed the combined council debt and liabilities across the north rose from £367 million in 2008 to over £1 billion for the 2013/14 financial year.
The £308,248 spent on farewell events, plus the scale of council debt, comes against a background of forecasts by the Stormont administration that the new super-council system would save as much as £438 million over 25 years.
The Department of Enviroment (DoE), which implemented the local government reforms, responded to the findings by claiming the savings could still be made, depending on the decisions of the 11 new councils.
“It would be for councils as, autonomous bodies, to answer any questions regarding their expenditure on farewell events,” the DoE said.
“The reform of local government is estimated to deliver projected savings at £20million per year over 25 years.
“The actual savings achieved will depend on key decisions that each of the new councils will make relating to future costs and service delivery models.”
The reform of local government was first launched in June 2002, but after a series of delays and set-backs the super-council project was finally implemented in 2015.
At one stage a seven council system was proposed, while debates over new electoral boundaries and funding packages to cover the estimated £118 million transition cost, also threatened delivery.
The majority of outgoing councils spent less than £15,000 on farewell initiatives, but three spent considerably more, with the highest individual bills lodged by Craigavon (£44,500), Down (£48,858) and Newry & Mourne (£44,460).
Only one of the former councils, Magherafelt, did not incur any expenditure on initiatives or events to mark the life of the council.
Update - Ballymena Council spent over £36,000
Ballymena Borough Council have now responded to The Detail.
The council, now part of the new Mid and East Antrim Council, undertook three farewell initiatives costing £36,120.
These include a 'ratepayers commemorative magazine' issued to all households in March 2015, at a cost of £17,638.
A £15,840 ‘recognition ceremony’ was also at The Braid centre to honour exceptional achievements and outstanding contributions of citizens across the Ballymena Borough Area.
In addition to this all Ballymena Borough Council Staff recieved a 'Ballymena Borough Council' mug, at a cost of £2,642.
