1. 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

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

3. NI Context
What is a small town?

4. 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

5. NI Settlements

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

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

8. Hierarchy of Settlements Infrastructure Wheel

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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

12. Bellaghy, County Derry

13. 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

14. 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

15. 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

16. 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

17. 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

18. 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