Radical electoral and administrative reforms proposed by the Northern Ireland Secretary, Peter Hain, have generated a storm of political criticism. Some of the ideas, such as the ending of dual mandates for councillors and the restructuring of health boards and education authorities, are sensible. But the plan to replace 27 district councils with seven super-councils is so dramatic that it will have to be handled with particular skill. The mechanisms designed to prevent abuses of power will have to be transparent and acceptable to the communities involved.
The major political parties, with the exception of Sinn Féin, have categorised the proposals as disruptive, partitionist and playing to sectarian divisions within the communities. Certainly, the new super-council structure - three councils east and three west of the Bann, with Belfast making up the seventh - is likely to provide a crude division between orange and green. But the likely concentration of political power in this way should not necessarily lead to an increase in sectarian politics.
A series of checks and balances, such as already exist in relation to the operation of the Northern Ireland Executive and Assembly, have been proposed for the super-councils. These are likely to be run by executives, numbering from eight to 10 members, and drawn from different political parties. A weighted-voting form of decision-making is favoured. There would be scrutinising powers. And a commission may be established to run things if councillors fail to co-operate.
People do not like dramatic change. Mr Hain should exercise caution in restructuring public administration. It is not just politicians who require assurance. Local voters, council officials and many other employees have valid concerns. Northern Ireland has come through difficult times. And whatever is said about excessive government and administration compared to other regions of the UK, a purely cost-saving exercise at this time is not helpful. The number of local government and other bodies running health, education and social services is to be reduced from 67 to 20. Cutbacks in the number of quangos will be announced next March. And savings may exceed £200 million.
Jobs are at stake here. And while council reforms, due to be implemented in four years' time, may feed into the larger political picture of a successfully-working Assembly and Executive, care should be taken not to damage public confidence. In his efforts to restore power-sharing and devolved government under the terms of the Belfast Agreement, Mr Hain should also keep the balance of employment firmly in mind.