Politicians attend National Association of Councillors annual meeting in Carlisle

Politicians attend National Association of Councillors annual meeting in Carlisle

29 November 2023

LOCAL councillors Alan Lewis and Terry Andrews were in Carlisle for the recent annual meeting of the National Association of Councillors, the umbrella body for all tiers of local government.

Both men are members of the organisation’s Northern Ireland region with the recent meeting including a members’ workshop.

Topics for conference weekends have included climate change and the environment, health and wellbeing, tackling anti-social behaviour in the community, community engagement, cost of living crisis and fuel poverty.  

The theme of last weekend’s workshop and focus groups were the future of local government finance with guest speaker Politics Professor Dr Simon Henig.

Cllr Lewis said the makeup of the NAC is non-party political, bringing together councillors from across the islands with a wealth of experience.

“I’m very much the junior with some colleagues having served their community in local government for many years,” he said.

“I welcomed the opportunity to discuss and examine common themes and issues which impact constituents in Clough are similar to those faced by residents of Carlisle or Glasgow. It’s also beneficial to network, communicate and discuss these issues with counterparts from other regions, examining and scrutinising best practice.”

Cllr Lewis said the event examined issues and difficulties around local government finance and inflation which has had an adverse impact on council resources.

“Many councils are still feeling the financial impact of the recent Covid pandemic, while many residents and business owners are struggling and feeling the pinch,” he said.

“Across the United Kingdom,  many councils have sought to help which further deflates the outgoing spend on community engagement and civic facilities. These are challenges which need to be examined as they will continue to create difficulties in the years which follow.”

Cllr Andrews said there many interesting debates last weekend, with the spotlight on examining local government finance.

“Delegates were also able to scrutinise how local government funding and financing works in Scotland, England and Wales, while articulating best practices in Northern Ireland. Issues which affect people in Rowallane are reminiscent of difficulties faced by working families and those in need of welfare and support in other parts of these islands,” he said.

Cllr Andrews said he welcomed the opportunity to brief members of the National Association on work which has been ongoing in Northern Ireland to promote the work of local government, the role of local councillors and how best to utilise our position to secure best practice and maximise representation and participation for our constituents.