Strong progress is being made on work towards the new Fermanagh and Council after the latest meeting of the joint Statutory Transition Committee (STC).

The group met in Omagh District Council Offices recently, the first meeting chaired by new head, Thomas O’Reilly.

Members noted the progress of the work plan developed to achieve a smooth transition to the new Council in April 2015.

Tasks within the work plan include the development of three core strategic plans for the new Fermanagh and Omagh district, namely the community plan, the council’s corporate plan and the local development plan.

And, they looked at issues such as the new council’s increased planning functions.

The development of a community plan will be led by the council in partnership with other statutory agencies and the community and voluntary sector. It will set the long-term shared community vision for the social, economic and environmental well-being and development of the new council area.

A draft vision and mission statement for the new council was agreed by the members at their ‘transition’ meeting earlier this month.

The local development plan for the district is a strategic document. It relates to the planning function that will transfer to them in 2015. The new council will make the majority of planning decisions, except those considered to be of regional significance. It will also have responsibility for enforcing planning decisions.

And its members will have an increased role in shaping how the district will grow and develop in a way that responds to the needs of its local community. This will include

The transition committee also approved the revenue expenditure for Fermanagh and Omagh District Councils for the 2014/2015 financial year, as well as the 3-year capital expenditure plans for each of the Councils.

And, it agreed to the collective procurement of electricity in partnership with the other councils across the north.

Fermanagh Sinn Fein councillor Thomas O’Reilly, who chairs the statutory transition committee, commended the progress made.

Their next meeting will take place in the Townhall, Enniskillen, on Thursday 6th March at 7:00pm. Meetings are open to members of the public.

Following the local government elections in May this year, the statutory transition committee will be replaced by the new council operating in ‘shadow mode’.