The Chair of the Ulster Unionist Councillors' Association, Trevor Wilson, has hit out at the continued failure of the DUP Social Development Minister Mervyn Storey to transfer regeneration powers to local councils. 

Councillor Wilson said:

“The Minister of Social Development has announced that the legislation which would have transferred regeneration powers to local councils will not now proceed. 

“This is bad enough in itself, but the truth is that that these powers were supposed to be transferred last year and the move was delayed by 12 months. Now one year on, Mervyn Storey has again failed to deliver what was supposed to be a major component of the reform of local government.

"The reason given by the Minister for the delay - that it is due to the restructuring of Assembly Departments and a reduction to nine - is a red herring. The fact is that these powers were due to transfer to local government no matter how many departments remain at Stormont.  

“Local Councils are indeed best places to deliver local solutions. The Regeneration Bill would have transferred powers for town and city regeneration; area based regeneration; support for the voluntary and community sectors at a local level; and Laganside, which was to transfer to Belfast City Council.

“The failure to proceed with this important bill is both a slap in the face for and a vote of no confidence in local councils. The Ulster Unionist Party has no such doubts. We want to see these powers transferred to local government and we want to see councillors taking decision to regenerate our cities, towns and communities for the benefit of all our citizens.”