Deirdre Hargey
South Belfast · Sinn Féin · Northern Ireland
“His double standards, including his condemnation of and opposition to equality and rights for our LGBTQ+ citizens, have caused real harm to others. The revelations about his double life expose the staggering hypocrisy of the DUP's moral facade. We need to know whether failing to act sooner left more vulnerable people at risk.”
“One week ago today, Jeffrey Donaldson was found guilty of 18 child sexual offences, including rape. That conviction was made possible only by the strength and resilience of the two victims who came forward and reported the abuse. Donaldson was an abuser. He abused children, but he also abused his position in politics and faith.”
“They now say that they knew about his behaviour, but, crucially, they did nothing to expose his inappropriate hypocrisy and double life. The 'Spotlight' programme and other reports have shown that senior members of the DUP — its most senior figures, including the then leader, Edwin Poots — were aware of serious issues and allegations abou…”
“It is therefore not credible to suggest that the intelligence agencies were blind to his compromised double standards and double life. <BR /> <BR />Those questions demand answers from the DUP leadership. They demand answers in the House from the deputy First Minister, who was closely associated with Donaldson.”
“It is clear that there is a huge disconnect between Whitehall and the reality that is being felt by people on the ground. A British Treasury policy that is managing decay, real-terms cuts and disastrous policy decisions such as Brexit or the funding of wars over public services comes on top of existing disparities between how public servi…”
“The answer is not the short-term fixes or cash injections that we have had in the past, which have allowed for the repeated Treasury script of record settlements and inability of the Executive to manage their finances — scripts that are often parroted in the Chamber.”
The complete record
Every one of 2,594 lines we hold for Deirdre Hargey, in date order, each linked to its source. Free to read, in full, without an account. Page 31 of 52.
“Charities are the lifeblood of our communities. We have seen this, particularly over the last 15 months, in how the community and voluntary sector organised on the ground and stepped up to help to support those most in need — our neighbours, friends, families and communities — during a time of uncertainty. <BR /> <BR />Many of us in the Chamber volunteer with charities or support them through donations or advice. Many of us and our loved ones are the beneficiaries of charities, which enrich our lives through their work in such diverse areas as health, animal welfare, children and young people, sport, human rights, the protection of the environment and much more.”
“I would like to see a fiscal commission follow up on a broader piece of work looking at putting our public finances on a more substantial footing so that we are not just relying on a block grant from Westminster. You can cut that cake only in so many ways. Taking the funding from hospitals or schools would not be acceptable options, and there should be no question of doing that anyway. <BR /> <BR />We have a duty to secure the long-term financial sustainability of the Housing Executive. I know that all Members will agree that the threat of the loss of 40,000 homes is just not acceptable. We need to build more homes —.”
“They are also involved in the engagement on any new legislation. Those are issues that we need to look at. <BR /> <BR />One thing is clear: the Housing Executive simply cannot afford to fund the investment that is required in its stock purely from rental income and the reserves. It can afford only about half the total investment needed, so the Housing Executive needs a substantial capital injection. From where should we take the funding required? We cannot just do it on a stand-alone basis or take it from the existing budget. Where do we take it from? Do you take it from hospitals? Do you take it from schools? <BR /> <BR />We need a broader approach to allowing the Housing Executive to borrow to invest. We need to look at the work that DOF is doing on a fiscal council and at how we raise finance.”
“More consultation and engagement needs to happen, but a good part of the legislation that will be introduced in this mandate will be on health and safety in the private rented sector. I acknowledge that it is a huge area. We are not building enough social homes and therefore we now have more children and families living in the private rented sector than in the social homes sector. That is why revitalisation is key. We need to allow the Housing Executive not only to borrow to invest in existing stock but, importantly, to start building homes again. That is a critical priority for me. <BR /> <BR />Some Members touched on the independent advice sector. I agree that Housing Rights and others are excellent organisations. That is why the Department funds them to do the work that they do.”
“There is no mistaking that we are in a crisis with waiting lists, the availability of more social homes and stock maintenance. That is why I am calling on all parties to support a stand-alone housing outcome in the Programme for Government. I know that all housing associations and those working in the housing sector support that call. It would really show the importance of addressing the huge challenges that we have and how they impact on our residents in communities. <BR /> <BR />Some Members mentioned the private rented sector. I will bring forward legislation shortly — it has passed through the Executive — to look at the private rented sector. It is one part of the legislation, because huge changes are needed in that sector.”
“That major investment from the European Union is being match funded by the Housing Executive and will significantly deliver for the tenants of those properties. <BR /> <BR />Some Members raised a review of fitness standards. Preliminary work has started on that. That review and bringing forward the legislative changes that will need to be made will take about a year. Some Members touched on the fact that you cannot fix just one problem, because that has a knock-on effect on the others. As part of addressing the challenges, we need to look at a whole-house approach to making the necessary changes and to ensuring that we upgrade the properties as a whole for those who live in them. <BR /> <BR />I completely understand, and I hear it in my constituency office, that housing is one of the major issues for us.”
“<BR /> <BR />The Housing Executive's future energy efficiency strategy will help to address any occurrence of damp and mould. As I discussed, the fabric-first approach is aimed at improving heat retention, airtightness and ventilation. As with the cavity wall insulation programme, the energy efficiency strategy will require significant funding and will similarly be a medium- to long-term programme. However, in the interim, the Housing Executive has begun to address a number of non-traditional stock through the energy efficiency in social housing programme, which is funded by the European regional development fund and through which external wall installation and other thermal improvement measures are being installed.”
“Having access to reserves significantly aids the Housing Executive in its delivery of long-term stock investment, allowing it to smooth its investment spend over the medium or longer term. That flexibility allows it to strategically plan for the future, as it gives certainty to future programming and effectively deals with the natural peaks and troughs associated with maintenance cycles that do not always fit within the boundaries of each financial year. <BR /> <BR />Although the reserve balance has increased significantly over the past few years, procurement issues and the COVID lockdown, which stopped the Housing Executive delivering anything except emergency maintenance for some time, mean that the total held is nothing more than a tiny down payment on the huge investment challenge that I addressed earlier.”
“In 2014-15, Savills endorsed a response maintenance approach to cavity wall insulation issues — a fabric-first approach. Looking at heat retention, airtightness and ventilation is the right way to go about property maintenance. <BR /> <BR />Members will be aware that the Housing Executive has a substantial sum held in its reserve. The reserve was established to provide the Housing Executive with the flexibility to plan and manage the financial implications of large planned maintenance schemes that start and finish in different accounting periods without detriment to vital rental income. That allows it to carry forward and set aside funding to make provision for future liabilities and commitments, as well as providing some contingency for the unexpected.”
“From that information, the Housing Executive will prepare the final action plan for approval in late summer or early autumn this year. <BR /> <BR />The draft cavity wall insulation action plan notes that a remediation or replacement programme will be required at some point for all cavity wall stock. That will be an integral part of the Housing Executive's future energy efficiency strategy. It is estimated that such a programme will cost in the order of £150 million to £175 million. As things stand, the level of funding required for a comprehensive cavity wall insulation remedial package is not available, due to the combination of other competing priorities, rental income not being adequate and the Housing Executive's inability to borrow to invest in its stock.”
“<BR /> <BR />What the report terms as class 1 — incidentally, it should be noted that this is exactly the same for private sector housing. Further to that, the BBA report highlighted that 84% of Housing Executive stock surveyed demonstrated evidence of external facades not being adequately maintained and showing various levels of stress. The Housing Executive and I both acknowledge that cavity wall insulation and external fabric issues in its cavity wall stock were identified by the BBA, and the draft cavity wall action plan was put out to public consultation in December 2020, setting out proposals for addressing the BBA's findings and recommendations. The Housing Executive is considering the responses from the public consultation and from the industry.”
“As was stated earlier, the 2019 BBA report on cavity wall insulation rightly found that 63% of Housing Executive properties surveyed had cavity wall insulation that was not compliant with modern industry standards, and around 1% exhibited issues of damp that may have been a result of water penetration in the external wall and defects in the cavity wall insulation. The fact that there may be defects in the cavity wall insulation, in that it is not compliant with modern industry standards, does not necessarily translate into problems for the home. It is a combination of the physical condition of the property, the external walls and the defects in the cavity wall insulation that create the problem. The report highlights that 1% of Housing Executive properties fall into that category.”
“If investigation shows that it is a one-off problem specific to an individual property, it will most likely be addressed through the Housing Executive's response maintenance programme. However, if there is a clear cluster of problems in an area, consideration may be given to addressing that through a remedial works scheme. Those works could be a combination of improved ventilation, insulation and heating. Where the source of the dampness is identified as condensation, advice will be provided to tenants on its causes and how to avoid a reoccurrence. <BR /> <BR />Cavity wall insulation was specifically raised in the debate.”
“In all instances, the circumstances will be inspected and assessed on what the cause of the dampness may be and the action that will be taken as is necessary. <BR /> <BR />In February, I answered a question for written answer on this issue and said:”
“That is why I intend to introduce proposals for the revitalisation of the Housing Executive to the Executive for consideration by March next year. <BR /> <BR />On looking at the issue of damp, the Housing Executive acknowledges that there is dampness and mould in its stock. It is not widespread, with a large proportion of the stock meeting the decent home standards. However, I completely acknowledge and understand that, if you live in one of the homes with dampness and mould, that is the most important issue for you and that issue needs to be resolved. Through the engagements that I have had with the Housing Executive, I have been assured that it takes issues of dampness and mould seriously.”
“That is just to bring the existing stock up to standard; it does not deal with anything new going forward. <BR /> <BR />It also does not deal with increased prices or the issue of moving to zero carbon, which the House is debating. On the challenges with climate change, that is the direction of travel that we need to go in, particularly around housing. For the building and safety work that is required, that figure of £7·1 billion will be much higher when you start to look at all the issues in the round. The importance of tackling the Housing Executive investment challenge has never been more critical, and that was recognised through the commitments set out in NDNA, which committed the Executive to tackling this challenge.”
“<BR /> <BR />I am glad that the statement that was laid out in November of last year said that I am firmly putting down a way forward for dealing with those decades of problems. We know that, in 2018, the deficit stood at £7·1 billion being needed over the next 30 years. We knew from that period that, if we did not deal with this challenge, the Housing Executive, because of the very issues that we are discussing about not maintaining and not having the ability or the resources to maintain the stock, could potentially lose nearly 40,000 homes. Obviously, the Assembly does not want that. As the Minister, I do not want that. I am sure that the previous Ministers who held this portfolio did not want that either. We need to deal with the huge investment challenge and hole of £7·1 billion.”
“As I have said, I grew up in a working-class community where social housing is the main provision of housing. I grew up in a social home, and I have asthma. On Friday, I met the Housing Executive on constituency business, and I completely understand the issues of residents living in substandard homes. That is why I have said that we are in a housing crisis, not just in that people are waiting for a home and we do not have enough social homes for the number of people who re waiting but regarding the condition of those homes and the fundamental investment deficit that we have. That was reported widely in 2018. This is not a new phenomenon but one that has been building over the past couple of decades.”
“Obviously, I came into post in January last year. We were hit with the biggest global health pandemic, which nobody could have foreseen. That having been said, following the housing statement that was made in the Chamber in November last year, work is ongoing to fundamentally deal with the issues that we are discussing and to look at housing more broadly.”
“I thank the Members who tabled the motion. It provides an opportunity to discuss a really important issue. It is not a surprise. The party that brought the motion to the House and the party on the Benches to my left held the portfolio for this Department for almost two decades, from 1999 until 2017, so they are acutely aware of the fundamental challenges that face housing.”
“I thank the Chair and members of the Communities Committee for their consideration and support. As has been said, this is about providing certainty for schemes, particularly for those that have been impacted. The LCM is needed to ensure that we do not fall behind England, Scotland and Wales and to make sure that people here are protected. I commend the motion to the Assembly.”
“Clause 2 contains a beneficial measure to support the FCF and other reparations to pension savings that have been financially impacted on by fraud or dishonesty. While I seek to avoid using the LCM process in all circumstances, in this case it seems sensible to agree the LCM to secure the benefits of the Secretary of State loan for scheme members here. The use of the LCM procedure in this case should not be seen as a precedent or an indication of how we will proceed in the area in the future. I am aware of the Assembly's role, and I am just asking Members to understand that we are making sure that protections are brought in here in line with those being brought in for scheme members in England, Scotland and Wales.”
“Again, as we know, given the demands on the legislative programme, it is by no means certain that a slot could be found in this mandate. <BR /> <BR />The intention is for the Westminster Bill to be enacted as soon as possible, with the clause 2 provisions coming into operation on Royal Assent to allow the Secretary of State loan to be made. It would therefore be beneficial timewise and for ensuring that the affected scheme members here can receive compensation from the fund to agree to extend to here the relevant provisions in the Westminster Bill. <BR /> <BR />Pension scams are a scourge on society, robbing people of their hard-earned nest egg that was meant to support them in their later years.”
“That will provide legal certainty for schemes and allow fraud compensation payments falling from pension liberation fraud to be made here and ensure that the going concern status of the FCF will be maintained. It will also ensure that scheme members here are not put at any disadvantage compared with those in Britain and are able to enjoy the benefits of the loan. <BR /> <BR />If it is not agreed to extend the provisions in the Westminster Bill to here, it will be necessary to introduce a separate Assembly Bill to ensure that parity is maintained and that the FCF can continue to function. Timing, however, will be critical. It is likely that an Assembly Bill would not be introduced until September at the earliest, and it would then be subject to the Assembly's Bill procedure and timetabling.”
“Compensation payments from the fund here are a devolved matter. While the FCF was established under the 2004 Act, the Pensions (NI) Order 2005 makes provision for fraud compensation payments to be made here. The money allocated on foot of the Bill will allow compensation payments to be made to any affected pension scheme members here. The Secretary of State loans provided for in the Bill will, over time, be repaid from the FCF using money derived from the fraud compensation levy. <BR /> <BR />The amendments made by clause 2 of the Bill to the 2004 Act will have repercussions for how the FCF operates here, as provided for in the 2005 Order. If it is agreed that clause 2 should be extended to here, that will allow its important provisions to be enacted in Britain and here at the same time.”
“The FCF assets will be exhausted by October of this year. At that point, the PPF will be unable to comply with or implement the judgement. There are 122 pension schemes within its scope, with a total of 8,806 members. Of those, 3,900 are within pension or retirement age. <BR /> <BR />Clause 2 enables the Secretary of State to make a loan to the board of the PPF. The money lent will go into the FCF and be used to pay out claims. That will ensure that the PPF and the FCF can maintain provision of service and continue to provide a safety net for pension scheme members. <BR /> <BR />The Bill makes provision for the allocation and spending of money through the FCF. It is considered that that will impact on devolved competence on the basis that it will be used to fund compensation payments from the FCF.”
“The value of the current claim is £350 million, which compares with assets of approximately £26 million. The funding pressure is therefore around £324 million. <BR /> <BR />The fraud compensation levy is currently capped at 30p for master trusts and 75p for other eligible pension scheme classifications. Under current limits, it would therefore take approximately 30 years for the fraud compensation levy to secure the income required. The FCF balance sheet is not sufficiently capitalised, and sufficient funds cannot be collected via the levy to accommodate the immediate funding pressure. Without intervention, the FCF will be unable to comply with the court ruling and may lose its going concern status. A condition of being a going concern is that the FCF is able to maintain continued provision of service.”
“<BR /> <BR />Following receipt of an unprecedented number of applications to the pension liberation scheme, the PPF, which administers the FCF, sought guidance from the High Court in England on which schemes should be eligible for the FCF. The court, in its judgment in the case of the Pension Protection Fund Board v Dalriada, held that the representative scheme in the claim had an employer for the purposes of satisfying the FCF's eligibility requirement for an employer's insolvency. The effect of that judgment is that, provided that a scheme meets other entry criteria, liberation schemes similar to the representative scheme will be eligible for FCF compensation. The FCF, since it was established in 2005, had previously paid out compensation totalling approximately £5·4 million in respect of 14 claims.”
“Pension liberation fraud involves members being persuaded to transfer their pension savings from legitimate schemes to scam schemes that promise a high investment return; that they would be able to cash in all or part of their pension fund; or that they would receive a loan from their pension fund before the age of 55 without incurring a tax charge. Fraudsters charged high administration costs and then drained any remaining scheme funds, often moving them abroad. <BR /> <BR />The Pensions Regulator has placed professional pension trustees in charge of the affected schemes. The trustees are seeking compensation on behalf of the affected members through the fraud compensation scheme.”
“The parts of the 2004 Act that extend here establish the PPF and FCF. The FCF provides compensation if a workplace pension scheme has had its assets reduced due to an offence involving dishonesty and there is no solvent employer to make good the shortfall. Payments are made from the FCF and paid for by a levy on all eligible workplace pension schemes. The levy is collected by the Pensions Regulator annually, and the fund is transferred to the PPF as scheme manager of the FCF. <BR /> <BR />When the FCF was established, pension liberation fraud did not exist, and, therefore, it was not the policy intent of such schemes to be eligible for entry.”
“Although pensions are generally a devolved matter, pensions policy and legislation here operate in line with corresponding pension provision in England, Scotland and Wales and in line with section 87 of the NI Act 1998. Private pensions are subject to a somewhat complex web of tax law, which is an excepted matter; financial services law, which is a reserved matter; and general pensions law, which is a devolved matter. Given the nature of the private pension sector, most bodies in this area, such as the Pensions Regulator, the Pensions Ombudsman, the Pension Protection Fund and the Fraud Compensation Fund, operate across these jurisdictions.”
“The Compensation (London Capital & Finance plc and Fraud Compensation Fund) Bill was introduced in the House of Commons on 12 May. Clause 1 provides for the British Treasury to incur expenditure for a compensation scheme regarding London Capital & Finance plc. However, that is a reserved matter and does not require a legislative consent motion (LCM). <BR /> <BR />Clause 2, which relates to the pensions Fraud Compensation Fund (FCF), makes provisions for devolved matters and requires an LCM. Clause 2 amends provisions in the Pensions Act 2004 that extend here. The amendments allow the Secretary of State to make a loan on the bond of the Pension Protection Fund (PPF). The loan will fund compensation payments from the Fraud Compensation Fund to those who have suffered financially due to pension liberation fraud.”
“That said, I have already clarified that it has no overwhelming weight with regard to the Bill's main purpose. I am not particularly hung up on those two issues or the amendment. <BR /> <BR />Clauses 6 and 7 are technical and consequential to the rest of the Bill. <BR /> <BR />I have nothing to add. There will be ongoing work with the Committee. Hopefully, we can find consensus on the way forward on an addendum to what clause 2 initially sought to do. I accept and understand completely that Members want further scrutiny of the other two issues. That is it from me, as we move to the next stage.”
“Thanks to all who contributed, including in Committee, to the consideration of the Bill. I know that there will be ongoing work with the Committee on a further amendment around the provisions in clause 2, which is to be removed, to see whether we can bring in those changes as part of this legislation. <BR /> <BR />On clauses 3 and 5, which, I know, have been highlighted by three Members who spoke — I recognise that the legislation has not gone through the normal scrutiny process — clause 3 is an attempt to tidy up or align the arrangements that already exist, and clause 5 would only be used in the second year if COVID impacts were still there, so it would be under a strict set of circumstances.”
“It is important to stress that the power was only ever intended to be used if it proved absolutely necessary as a result of possible future impacts of the pandemic. If agreed, the amendment would mean that regulations could not be made promptly to set aside or amend performance improvement in statutory duties for 2022-23, if this were to be required. All that being said, again, if the amendment were agreed, it would not hinder the overall intention of the Bill.”
“However, further amendment is needed to sections 93 and 94 to provide the same flexibility as in section 95, which will allow the move to a risk-based audit approach in future. That being said, if the amendment were agreed, it would not hinder the overall intention of the Bill. The change could wait until some future time when a full review of the 2014 Act is being undertaken. <BR /> <BR />Finally, I have considered the amendment tabled by Jim Allister to remove clause 5(2). The intention behind 5(2) was to create a time-limited enabling power to allow the Department to produce regulations to amend or set aside for the 2022-23 year any performance improvement duties in Part 12 of the 2014 Act.”
“Section 95 already provides that the Department, in consultation with the local government auditor, must determine the councils for which the auditor will issue an audit and assessment report each year in respect of performance improvement. The amendment to sections 93 and 94 would bring those sections into line with the approach already included in section 95. It is in no way intended to erode the accountability of councils, and the duty placed on councils to publish an assessment of their performance would remain. <BR /> <BR />As I stated during the Second Stage debate, the move to a risk-based audit approach was discussed during the Committee Stage of the Local Government Act 2014. An amendment was subsequently tabled and agreed at Consideration Stage, which is now section 95.”
“Taking all that into account, I plan to table an amendment at Further Consideration Stage to introduce a new clause to allow further regulations to be made for council remote meetings. This will be subject to a draft affirmative resolution, which would allow robust scrutiny of any such future legislation. However, I am opposing clause 2 standing part of this Bill. <BR /> <BR />I have considered Jim Allister's intention to oppose clause 3. The intent of clause 3 was to amend sections 93, 94 and 95, and Part 12 of the Local Government Act (NI) 2014, to allow the Department to determine each year, after consultation with the local government auditor, councils for which a section 93 performance improvement audit or section 94 performance improvement assessment must be completed.”
“That briefing took place on Thursday 24 June, during which allowing council meetings to be further extended or even to become a permanent fixture was discussed. Officials indicated that, whilst I would oppose clause 2 at Consideration Stage, I would like to explore the possibility of tabling a further amendment at Further Consideration Stage to provide a suitable enabling power to extend or make permanent the remote meetings provisions and, indeed, for those to be discussed with the Committee before that. From Members' comments during the Second Stage debate and from queries raised by the Committee for Communities, it would seem that there is some support for continuing the flexibility for remote working for council meetings post pandemic.”
“That could mean that a further Bill would need to be introduced and would need to proceed via accelerated passage, something we all want to avoid. Using that route could still leave a further gap in the legislative provision to allow councils to hold remote meetings post-25 March 2022, when the Coronavirus Act expires. Giving the timings and the number of Bills in the legislative programme, it may not be possible for a second Bill to be progressed during the current mandate. <BR /> <BR />At Second Stage, I indicated that, whilst I would give notice of my intention to oppose the Question that clause 2 stand part of the Bill, I would also give further consideration to whether a further amendment was needed to deal with any unintended consequences. At First Stage, I agreed that officials would brief the Committee for Communities on the Bill.”
“The intention was not to change the voting, speaking rights or participation in meetings by regulations; rather, it was to provide flexibility for councils to hold meetings remotely and to make provision on how the legislation governing council meetings should apply in the context and to facilitate meetings held remotely. The aim was not to restrict the rights of councils but to enable them to hold remote meetings. Removing clause 2 will mean that councils will not have cover to hold meetings by remote hybrid after 25 March 2022, when the Coronavirus Act 2020 is scheduled to expire, or sooner, if that Act is to be suspended earlier. <BR /> <BR />The removal of the clause would result in another piece of primary legislation being required if future provisions on remote meetings are deemed essential.”
“Due to Members' concerns, I gave a commitment at Second Stage to remove clause 2, following which I tabled a notice of my intention to oppose the Question that clause 2 stand part of the Bill. I acknowledge Members' concerns about clause 2, including concerns regarding the level of Assembly scrutiny that subordinate legislation made under the clause would be subject to. <BR /> <BR />The intention behind clause 2 was to create an enabling power that would allow provisions for remote meetings to be further extended or even made permanent by means of subordinate legislation, should that be considered necessary or desirable after the regulations being extended by clause 1 end in March 2022.”
“Between now and next week, we need to look at whether there will be a further amendment to make sure that there are no unintended consequences based on where we are here and now. Again, my officials and I are more than happy to engage not just with the Committee but with individual Members who want to have a direct conversation with me or the officials. We can facilitate that ahead of moving to the next stage next week. Members may table amendments as well, and that is fair enough. <BR /> <BR />I am keen to move to the next stage to make sure that we have the engagement. There will a briefing at the Committee on Thursday. I commend the Bill to the Assembly.”
“At that time, the amendment was made to section 95 so that the Department, after consulting the local government auditor, could determine, on an annual basis, the councils for which the audit would be required and issue an audit assessment. The original amendment to section 95 covered only audit reports and did not modify the audit requirements under section 93 and the assessment requirements under section 94. The changes to sections 93 and 94 in the Bill are to provide similar flexibility as in section 95, when that is deemed appropriate in the future, and to clarify the position relating to a risk-based audit approach. <BR /> <BR />As with clause 2, I have recognised that it is a difficulty for people, and it is being removed.”
“There is a commitment that we start to look at that and that we work with councils and the Association of Councillors to do that in the time ahead. I am due to meet them again in the autumn to touch base on those issues. <BR /> <BR />Issues have been raised around audit, and it is crucial to have a key tool for risk management. There is no doubt about that. Issues have been raised to do with sections 93 and 94. There will be further discussion of it at the Committee, but, at the outset, the amendment was identified when consideration was being given to the performance improvement duties that should have been set aside due to the impact of the pandemic. The move to a more risk-based approach was originally raised at the Committee Stage of the Local Government Act in 2014.”
“All those issues will have to be taken in the round, but it will not be done through this Bill.”
“It could be incorporated: I am saying that people do not want to rush it. There needs to be careful consideration of the points that people have raised about clause 2. I did not feel that it was appropriate to bring it through under the current draft legislation, because this responds to the pandemic and does not look at the wider issues that have rightly been raised, for example, about women, parents or carers attending council meetings. Work needs to be done to ensure that there is flexibility for councillors on the ground for whom it is not a full-time job — I say that as a former councillor — so that they can participate fully in meetings and that the regulations allow them to do that. Consistency of approach across councils has also been raised.”
“As it has rightly been said, the Bill will proceed with accelerated passage. We want to give time to consider any unintended consequences of something that may seem to be a good idea. Again, there are differences between urban and rural settings. All that needs to be worked out and assessed. We need to engage with and consult people and try to find a co-design approach on what a future amendment to the legislation would look like. Through my engagement with the Association of Councillors and others, I have committed to working with councils and, ultimately, the Assembly as we move through that.”
“We worked to deliver over £9·5 million through the vital community support fund, which was about getting out into grassroots communities and providing a safety net for them at the height of the pandemic. We want to continue to work with them to deliver on all those commitments and to make sure that we do that as quickly as possible. <BR /> <BR />People have raised the need for a more permanent change or hybrid solution. I have discussed that with NILGA and the Association of Councillors, with whom the issue was raised recently, and with Ministers at the Executive meeting where we brought this through. My Department wants to look at that proactively and work with councils. However, it was not the correct course to take it through this legislation. That is why it is not in it.”
“There has been engagement on the issues, as was referenced by the Chair of the Committee. There are resources and funding to ensure that councils are not negatively impacted financially through the support that we have given. It is important that we have worked closely with local government, particularly during the pandemic. Over £85·3 million has been given in financial support. I secured an additional £10 million in COVID money from the Executive at our meeting on 20 May to continue to work with councils. We put in £12 million for revitalisation to allow councils to work with business and the wider community to revitalise town and city centres.”