Local Government Overview

Local Government in Northern Ireland has relatively few direct powers.

Local authorities are responsible for a range of direct services.Councils receive significant capital aid and grants from the central government.

The majority of a District Council’s expenditure, more than half, is related to the maintenance and management of the physical environment. These services include:

• Planning
• Building Control
• Refuse collection and disposal
• Street cleaning
• Recreation parks and spaces
• Leisure and community services

Due to the relatively small size of many councils, specialized functions are grouped together. Councils employ staff on behalf of others, resulting in shared costs. Group committees, comprising members from relevant councils, coordinate these services.

Building Regulations

District Councils enforce building regulations and inspect plans to ensure compliance.

The District Councils operate in five groups concerning building regulations, mirroring those applied in the planning service, centered respectively in Ballymena, Derry, Omagh, and Craigavon.This is likely to change and develop over time as the Assembly starts to roll out

The Planning legislation  enhances the roles of District Councils.

District Councils enforce a wide range of public health legislation, including:

• Noise control
• Air and water pollution
• General food safety
• Meat inspection
• Health and safety standards in offices and shops
• Water purity
• Control of environmental health education
• Caravan sites

Council environmental health officers also act on behalf of other public bodies in various functions, including the housing authorities.

Community Services

Councils provide social, community, and recreational facilities. The majority of capital costs are funded by the central government.

Services are offered through community centers catering to different groups. Many private groups receive grants for running costs, administration, and special events. In some areas, councils employ community workers and officers.

Direct council services include refuse collection, street cleaning, beach training, recycling, property maintenance, parks, and cemeteries.

Councils also manage licensing and registration for public entertainments, dogs, kennels, street trading, ice cream vans, caravan sites, and waste disposal. Many of these are carried out under a grouped structure.

Additionally, District Councils handle the registration of births, deaths, marriages, and civil marriages.

Leisure Facilities

Councils provide an array of leisure facilities such as swimming pools, leisure centers, golf courses, and tennis courts. Special sports facilities are also provided.

Councils offer various tourist amenities, including tourist information, maps, caravan sites, and picnic areas. Some larger tourist attractions and projects are supported by councils. Several councils manage art galleries and local museums. For instance, Belfast City Council has a theater and supports other theaters.

District Councils collaborate with central government agencies such as the North Ireland Tourist Board. Partnerships like the Northwest Passage involve several councils in both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland.

Councils also play ceremonial roles, hosting civic receptions, occasions, overseas visitors, civic celebrations, and memorial ceremonies.

Councils nominate councilors to statutory bodies, overseeing functions like consumer watchdog activities, health and service boards, drainage councils, water councils, fire authorities, arts advisory committees, tourist development associations, and sports councils.

District Councils have a consultative role concerning certain functions and services provided by the central Northern Ireland executive and administration. The Department of Environment serves as the planning authority for Northern Ireland, consulting District Councils for planning applications. Councils can request reviews or further investigations if unsatisfied, but the planning authority has the final say.

Local authorities have a consultative role in housing matters. The housing council consists of representatives from each local council, making recommendations to the housing executive, holding meetings with the housing minister, and interacting with tenants’ groups.

The housing council conducts conferences and seminars as a consultative group.

The Department of Environment consults District Councils concerning the preparation of development plans for its area. A draft plan is discussed, and the final draft must be presented to the council. The Department consults councils regarding roads, sewage, water supplies, and conservation.

District Councils must be consulted by the Northern Ireland Housing Executive regarding the district housing plan and strategy. Senior housing executives attend to hear representations and deal with queries. Consultation is required for housing action area plans and land acquisition. The housing executives have established liaison committees with District Councils.

The Environmental Health Department of councils implements the following:

• Council bylaws, animal meat and meat products regulations
• Construction project regulations, food hygiene regulations, general product safety regulations, meat inspection regulations
• Clean air, consumer protection, hairdressers regulations, food safety, pollution control
• Poisons, private tenancies, public health acts, rent order, shops order, smoking order

Leisure Services:

Technical building services include refuse collection and disposal, street cleaning, licensing enforcement, including entertainment licensing, cinemas, petrol, street trading license for dangerous premises.

The District Policing Partnerships are partnerships between councils representing communities. The purpose is to identify local policing issues, establish priorities for local policing plans, monitor police performance, and develop practical ways of gaining public cooperation.

Councils run economic and rural development programs, part of the EU Agricultural Fund for Rural Development. These programs support local businesses.

The provision of economical development service is a relatively new function. The economic developments unit manages EU and central government-supported schemes, infrastructure initiatives, and regeneration projects.

Food businesses must register with the local authority. Food safety officers enforce legislation, inspect premises, deal with complaints, and investigate instances.

Councils assess, monitor, and implement air pollution standards, declaring air quality management areas based on monitoring.

An amusement permit is required from the council under betting, gaming, lotteries, and amusement legislation. The councils approve venues for civil weddings.

Caravan and camping site license applications are made to the District Councils. Permission is required to use land as a caravan site, with licensing applying to owners under the Caravans Act (NI 1963).

Councils responsible for parks and cemetery services manage council-run cemeteries.

Environmental health services monitor and prosecute failed and unsafe products. Cinemas must be licensed under the Cinemas Northern Ireland Order 1991.

Councils have powers concerning dangerous buildings, walls, and structures, with both advisory and enforcement capacities.

Councils undertake dog licensing under the Dogs Amendment Northern Ireland Act 2011.

Under the Local Government Miscellaneous Provisions Northern Ireland Order 1985, an entertainment license from the council is required for public indoor or outdoor entertainment.

The environmental health sections ensure hairdressers are registered under the Hairdressers Act 1939.

Councils regulate the fitness of privately rented accommodation, while state housing is regulated by the Northern Ireland Housing Executive.

Environmental health officers investigate infectious diseases and sources of infection, along with commercial and residential noise complaints. Statutory action may be taken, followed by prosecution if unsuccessful.

Under the Petroleum Consolidation Act NI 1929, petrol stations and other premises storing inflammable substances must hold a petroleum license from the local authority.

The Planning Bill Act 2011 aims to transfer the majority of planning functions to District Councils within an agreed timeframe. See our separate sections on Planning Law.

Local authorities issue property certificates that enable prospective purchasers or solicitors to determine the approved work on a property and its compliance with statutory requirements. It includes identification of outstanding breaches.

Northern Ireland councils are not responsible for roads; this falls under the responsibility of the Regional Development.

Road services maintain roads, manage street lighting, traffic control, grass cutting, abnormal loads, low bridges, and disabled persons’ badges.

The Rural Development Programs are administered by rural area partnerships under the EU rural environment program, formed by local authorities across council areas.

Street lighting falls under the responsibility of the Roads Service.

Under the Street Trading Act NI 2001, anyone trading from a street must hold a Street Trading license.Owners of larger shops in designated areas must give notice to open on Sundays. This legislation applies to large shops in specific designated areas.

Responsibilities regarding unfit houses are enforced by the Northern Ireland Housing Executive.

Councils in Northern Ireland are not responsible for water and sewage; this is the responsibility of the Northern Ireland Water.