Executive back in business and making a difference

The Executive has decided there will be no water charges next year, saving the average household here around £160.

At a time when families are already under mounting financial pressure Ministers said it would be unfair to add a further burden.

The Executive was also brought up to date on the successful financial negotiations in Downing Street earlier in the week, the nett effect of which has been to remove pressures facing the Executive amounting to up to £400million in this and next year, allowing water bills to be deferred next year. In terms of the wider issues facing the Executive, the Prime Minister also agreed to make available access to £100million to address a range of issues.

There was a lengthy discussion at the Executive meeting about the credit crunch and the global economic downturn and it was decided the next meeting on Thursday, November 27, would be entirely devoted to finding ways to help cushion the effects of the recession. Ministers have been asked to submit their costed proposals to that meeting.

The Executive agreed to ramp up the number of meetings between now and Christmas at which the economy will be a key agenda item and the December monitoring process is to be accelerated so that decisions can be debated in the Assembly before Christmas.

The Assembly is to be asked to delay its recess to consider those decisions.

There was good news for people living in rural areas when ministers approved new planning guidelines that will both protect the rural environment and provide a boost for the building trade which has been under enormous pressure for some time.

Planning Policy Statement (PPS) 21 will replace PPS 14 and remove some of the restrictions imposed by Direct Rule Ministers. The new policy will allow some planning applications previously recommended for refusal under PPS 14 to be reversed.

The Executive also agreed the establishment of the Education and Skills Authority (ESA) which is a key part of the Review of Public Administration and heralds a wholesale reform and modernisation of the education system.

The creation of a single authority will raise standards and deal with underachievement. The objective is to achieve savings of £20million by the third year of its existence and will shift resources from administration into the classroom.

Ministers also approved the scrapping of prescriptions charges proposed by the Health Minister which will also make a financial difference.