Local authority 'mini cabinets' to give more powers to councillors 

Cork County Hall, where councillors meet. 

"Mini cabinets" to give councillors more power are to be established in every local authority, as part of a major shakeup of local democracy.

Councillors are to receive devolved powers, including budgetary oversight mechanisms that will allow them to curb the power of unelected executives and managers.

A report by the Government’s local democracy taskforce, seen by the Irish Examiner, contains a litany of proposed reforms, including allowing councils to become more financially independent by introducing tourist taxes and congestion charges.

The plans will see a rebalancing of power away from unelected council executives towards elected councillors.

Among the reforms are the establishment of council oversight and governance committees, which will be headed up by the cathaoirleach of the council, or the priomh-chomhairleoir in Limerick.

These committees would be akin to mini cabinets and oversee the performance and governance of the local authority, holding the executive to account on behalf of all councillors.

The report states that the committees must “reinforce the primacy of the plenary council as the ultimate policy-making, governance, and decision-making body”.

In particular, the chief executive of a council would be required to report back to the oversight committee on the implementation of policy and the overall performance of the local authority.

There will be a separate review of existing local government legislation to ensure the role of councillors in setting policy is “appropriately underpinned”.

Beefed-up finance committees will also be established within each local authority to allow councillors to better oversee spending, funding, and performance throughout the year.

Municipal councils

The report also gives details on the establishment of new municipal councils to replace the existing municipal district structure, but stops short of recommending a return to town councils.  

Town councils were abolished in 2014 by then-environment minister Phil Hogan, as a cost-saving exercise.

The report says re-establishing town councils would be a “retrogressive step” and possibly undermine parity between urban and rural areas.

New municipal councils will represent all residents within their area, rather than just towns. 

This addresses a major criticism of the previous town council system, where only around 14% of people lived in a town council area.

The municipal councils ill not be a separate entity from the main council but will be granted enhanced budgetary and decision-making powers.

Municipal councils will be required to develop new "town priority programmes" while also ensuring rural areas remain revitalised.

Reforms also include more financial autonomy for councils, allowing them to set new income sources such as a tourist tax or congestion charges, and greater discretion when setting the Local Property Tax rates.

The report also states that income from the derelict sites tax and vacant homes tax should be redirected back into council coffers, to address the objectives of reducing dereliction and vacancy.

The taskforce also calls for the establishment of a National and Local Government Forum, which will facilitate a “two-way dialogue” between the government and elected councillors.

Other reforms include:

• Statutory timelines for executive responses to councillors; 
• Consider devolving responsibility for rural transport services to local councils; 
• Undertake a review of local electoral boundaries in advance of the 2029 local elections, to provide for more councillors.

Jim Breslin, who chaired the local democracy taskforce, said there are “growing and competing policy demands” on national Government, such as foreign affairs, improving national infrastructure, and ensuring equity in social programmes.

“Devolving decisions on local services to the representatives of communities who use these services can free up central government for this growing body of work which only it can do on behalf of citizens,” Mr Breslin said.

The taskforce was established by local government minister John Cummins, and is being brought to Cabinet on Wednesday by housing minister James Browne.