SDLP election candidate for the Moor ward, Emmet Doyle, has lauded the potential of the new community planning powers that will be available to the new “super councils,” stressing the new Derry-Strabane council will have the opportunity to mould local services from right across the public service to improve and adapt them to suit the needs of communities.
Mr Doyle said the new Community Planning powers being granted to the new “super councils” by SDLP Minister for the Environment Mark H Durkan, gave Derry the opportunity to tweak services that would serve the community in the best possible way for “unique issues” that were prevalent in the city.
He added: “I am particularly heartened by the confirmation from the Minister that in utilising the new powers, councils ‘may wish to consider options to provide additional services such as enhancing health service provision where a need is identified.’
“I want to see these new powers focussed on a range of mental health services in our city.
“Those who work in the public sector in this field do a fantastic job, and it would be foolish of us not to support them further by looking into how we can improve services.
“Following many meetings with carers and service providers over recent times, I am delighted that councils would have the opportunity to identify gaps in mental health provision and possibly procure extra services to address problems with accessibility and perhaps even staffing in conjunction with Trusts.
“It is personally an issue that I would want our new super council to focus specifically on so we can liaise with partners to look into the whole realm of mental health services across the area and in conjunction with users, families and communities, act to improve them for those who need them now, and for the future.”
Mr Doyle concluded: “These powers will give our local government authority to really adapt to the concerns and wishes of residents on a range of services, it truly is a revolutionary measure and one that must be used to bolster not just confidence in services, but confidence in the voice of our communities to bring about the changes to public services they want to see.”
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