Code of Conduct Insurance Following lobbying by the National Association of Councillors, all eleven councils have now arranged Code of Conduct insurance for councillors. This means the councils will pay any legal costs incurred in contesting Code of Conduct complaints, provided the councillor is subsequently found not to have breached the Code. If a breach is confirmed however, the councillor will have to reimburse the council.

Tax exemption on travel expenses Tax exemption for councillors’ travel expenses came into effect from April 2016. The exemption applies to both income tax and national insurance contributions. Please check with your Finance Department if you think the exemption is not being applied.

DCA carers – widened eligibility

The Department for Communities has agreed on a broader definition of eligibility for paid carers under the Dependants’ Carers’ Allowance. Previous guidelines stated that no family member is eligible to be a paid carer. New guidelines permit as paid carer any family member who does not normally live in the household and is not a parent/guardian of the dependent child. This means siblings, grandparents, non- resident children and other family members are now eligible. This change follows lobbying by the National Association of Councillors.

WHAT WE DO

Reimbursement of GDPR Fees Prior to elected members becoming exempt from payment of Data Collection fees from the 1st April 2019, the NAC attempted to get all councils to reimburse GDPR fees that had been paid by their councillors. This campaign started in 2018 when we surveyed all councillors, at that time there were nine councils not reimbursing fees. Following letters sent by the NAC, the number of councils not reimbursing fees was reduced to five. Work on this campaign ceased when the new legislation came into force.

The NAC is the only organisation whose agenda is to represent councillors. It is the only all-party voice for elected members which makes it unique in the political world. We provide advice and signposting to councillors with individual problems relating to ethics, elections, role responsibilities, remuneration, tax, expenses, pension, welfare benefits and any other concerns that are raised. We work to resolve problems that councillors experience within their role, by bringing the details to the attention of the relevant bodies whilst ensuring confidentiality. We provide information on changes in legislation, revised allowances, government consultations and other matters affecting councillors. We offer a forum for councillors to voice opinions and concerns, and exchange information and experience through our bi-monthly members’ meetings. We communicate regularly with our members by sending out information emails, newsletters and keeping our website updated.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

2023 UPDATE

ACHIEVEMENTS

As a result of Councillors acting collectively for their common interests, we have managed to achieve major improvements to councillors’ pay and conditions, such as: • Increases in Councillors’ allowances and faster payments • Implementation of a pension scheme for Councillors • Arranged for Councillors’ travel expenses to be exempt from Tax and National Insurance • Represented Councillors’ interests during the local government reorganisation by the formation of an Independent Remuneration Panel with increased councillors’ allowances for the new councils • Achieved severance payments for Councillors

• Councillor Equality – to make representation on behalf of NAC members with the aim of achieving equality for all councillors across the Northern Ireland region. • Councillor Wellbeing – to address matters that affect councillors’ wellbeing and provide appropriate information and advice accordingly. • Councillor Training – to strive for adequate and appropriate training to be available for councillors that will assist them with carrying out the councillor role.

Councillor Equality I

Commons Photo Credit: Source

The NAC Executive Committee (EC) has been working over several years to address the problems and concerns raised by NAC members in relation to the evolvement of the Councillor role and the additional responsibilities and difficulties that Councillors across the Northern Ireland region have been experiencing. The Department for Communities (DfC) Minister, Deirdre Hargey MLA, agreed in December 2021 that it was now timely for an independently led review of the councillor role. This was a positive step forward but with the collapse of the Northern Ireland Assembly in February 2022 there followed a period of uncertainty as to whether a review can be progressed. The NAC will continue to make representation on behalf of its members, working towards getting the long-awaited review of the councillor role and in February 2023 an NAC delegation met with DfC departmental officials and discussed if elements of the review can be progressed. Updates will be provided on this in due course, for further information please view our last update by clicking here. Councillor Wellbeing Whilst it is understandable that during these difficult times many members of the public have become concerned and frustrated with government and local councils, but social media abuse directed at councillors is a growing concern and many of our members have been affected or are aware of others who have had to deal with this. Councillors primarily take on the role to assist as public representatives for their communities, and act accordingly on their behalf and in their best interests, therefore, to be blamed, targeted, and attacked through social media for issues that are outside of their control can be very difficult for many councillors to cope with and this can have a negative effect on their general wellbeing and mental health. The NAC ask all members to continue to keep the officers informed of problems they are encountering so that experiences can be shared, and advice sought and circulated to help resolve issues and benefit all members. Councillor Training NAC members should be offered on- going training for updating their knowledge and skills and have regular access to courses and workshops relevant to the work they are carrying out. The NAC UK have a series of conferences arranged for 2023 which are being facilitated by the NAC National Secretary, Cllr Brian Nelson. The list of these events is on the Meetings Page of the NAC NI Website and further details and booking forms are circulated by NAC NI to all members and councils prior to each event. The NAC NI Region are hosting a keynote event in March 2023 on Developing Leadership and Change in Local Enterprise, through our Councils and Councillors, this FREE event – the first in the NAC’s Leadership Series for Councillors, for further details please click here.