To ask the Minister for Communities whether he intends to introduce a statutory obligation on statutory partners committing to deliver local government community plans.

The statutory community planning partners are specified in subordinate legislation, namely the Local government (Community Planning Partners) Order (NI) 2016. Statutory obligations regarding community planning are provided by Part 10 of the Local Government Act (NI) 2014 (“the Act”). Section 66 of the Act states inter alia that community planning partners must participate in community planning to the extent that such activity is connected to that partner's functions, and must assist the councils discharge of functions of initiating, maintaining and facilitating community planning.

Section 66(5) of the Act describes the "actions to be performed" and "functions to be exercised" in connection with community planning, as those lying within the powers of the council or the partner in question.