Councillors can walk by the end of the year

If it happens and local councillors avail of it, more unelected representatives will be making decisions about your bins, swimming pools and civic festivals, as parties can parachute favoured replacements in by co-option. To qualify politicans must have served for 12 years at least. Several here have.

A second peiod will run from New Year’s Day until the end of nominations for the 2014 elections.

Environment Minister Alex Attwood was asked by erstwhile Londonderry Alderman Gregory Campbell when councillors wishing to avail of the package could go.

Mr Attwood replied: “I want, to be fair to councillors - particularly the longest serving - with flexibility to decide when they wish to leave public office. The consultation which is currently underway proposes a prescribed period for the severance arrangements from the date the regulations come into operation (anticipated as August 2013) until March 31, 2015. It is proposed to have two periods during which councillors can apply for severance. Both periods will be before the next local government elections in 2014.” Councillors who avail of the second period will have to resign by the end of March 2015 when Derry City Council will cease to exit.

Derry City and Strabane District Council will run in tandem with pre-existing local authorities from mid 2014 until April 1, 2015. The shadow body will be entrusted with striking rates and naming the new body.