Strategic Policy Committees - Summary Proposals

One of the key elements of the proposed reform of local government is a new internal committee structure in local authorities. The central feature of this involves the establishment of Strategic Policy Committees, details of which are outlined below.

• Under the new proposals each local authority will establish Strategic Policy Committees, which will mirror the functions of the local authority and which will replace existing committees.
• The SPC’s will operate a partnership model with not less than one third of places will be allocated to bodies relevant to the committee’s work.
• The number of SPC’s will be tailored to the size of the local authority, but should be between two and five. In smaller authority areas each SPC could cover several policy areas.
• Each SPC will be supported by a Programme Manager for the relevant service who will operate under the general direction of the committee and submit policy review papers for the service in question.
• The chairperson of each SPC will be paid and allowance and will be an elected representative.
• The SPC’s will meet at least quarterly and submit a written report to the full council.
• The chair of each SPC will form a Corporate Policy Group (CPG) under the Chairpersonship of the local authority which will co-ordinate overall policy development, strategic management, produce financial estimates and develop performance review procedures.

* Initially the proposals included the establishment of Community & Enterprise Groups to replace and carry out the role of the County Strategy Groups. However, the timescale for the establishment of CEG’s has been put on hold by the Minister and is currently the subject of an examination in both the Dept. of the Environment & Local Government, and the Dept. of Tourism, Sport & Recreation.

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