Anthony Tohill Mid Ulster District Council Revitalising Small Towns on the Island of Ireland The Role of Local Government Anthony Tohill Mid Ulster District Council

Content Northern Ireland Context Traditional Role of Councils New Opportunity Future Prospects

NI Context What is a small town?

Settlement Classification Settlement Band Population Small Town E 5,000 – 9,999 Medium Town D 10,000 – 17,999 Large Town C Above 18,000

NI Settlements

Mid Ulster Towns Dungannon – 14,300 Cookstown – 11,620 Magherafelt – 8,819 Coalisland – 5,700 Maghera? – 4,217

Small Towns What amenities would you expect to find in a small town?

Hierarchy of Settlements Infrastructure Wheel

Small Town Amenities What amenities would you expect to find in a small town? Skills – Library, Post Primary School Health – Health Centre, Pharmacy, Day Care Social – Community Centre, Sports Facility Environmental – Recycling, Water and Sewers Supply Commercial – Retail Mix, Supermarkets, Restaurant Justice – Police Station Productive - Enterprise Centre, Tourism Office Networks - Trunk Road, Bus/Rail Links

Traditional Role of Councils The Local Authority is an enabler/catalyst Street Cleansing, grounds and parks maintenance, leisure and entertainment facilities, and cemeteries Delivery partner on major Public Realm Schemes Living over the Shops initiatives Shop front/Improvement schemes Dereliction schemes

Traditional Role of Councils Delivery of a range of Events & Festivals Installation of Wi-Fi Branding, marketing and promotion Partnership working with Chamber of Commerce and Town Centre Trader Forums

Bellaghy, County Derry

Challenges Changing retail landscape Brexit Living Wage Apprenticeship levy Burden of taxation on retail 1 in 7 shops in towns are vacant Out of town centres Car parking

New Opportunities Local Government Reform 2014 Larger councils Transferred functions Planning Business Start Up Off Street Car Parking New Powers Community Planning General Power of Competence

New Opportunities Planning Off Street Parking Council will shape its area based on local need Support both urban and rural business/housing Town Centre first policy for retail Off Street Parking Income generation v accessibility Potential for development of key town centre sites

New Opportunities Community Planning General Power of Competence A way for public sector bodies to plan and deliver services that make sense locally Responsive to local need Statutory link to local development plan Link with Programme for Government General Power of Competence

Future Prospects More needs done Minimise bureaucracy for business Investment required Small Business Rate Relief Business Rate Retention Business Improvement Districts Transfer of urban regeneration powers and budget

Future Prospects Civic Leadership Identify the key people in your towns who care and work with them Use the tools at our disposal and make it happen