Council Accused of Operating Behind Closed Doors, Sparking Concerns Over Transparency and Damaging Public Trust

Green Party Councillor Áine Groogan Criticizes Lack of Transparency in Council Business, Warning of Erosion of Public Trust

The increasing amount of council business conducted behind closed doors is damaging public trust in politics, according to Green Party councillor Áine Groogan. Concerns over transparency in Northern Ireland's councils have escalated after figures revealed that nearly a fifth of council business is being handled privately, away from public scrutiny.

Áine Groogan, a Green Party representative in Belfast, voiced her concerns, stating that the lack of transparency is doing "real damage" to the public’s confidence in local politics. “We need a clear and consistent approach to restricted items in order to restore faith in our institutions and build trust between elected representatives and the people we represent,” Groogan emphasized.

She also highlighted inconsistencies between councils in how the rules for confidential matters are applied, with some councils offering little clarity about how or if these restrictions could be lifted. According to Groogan, these inconsistencies only deepen the public’s mistrust.

Inconsistent Application of Rules

Mid and East Antrim Borough Council also held two meetings during which half of the agenda was debated in private. Councils defend the practice, citing adherence to local government legislation, which permits the restriction of certain issues, including staffing, financial, and legal matters.

However, Groogan stressed that greater clarity and consistency are required, warning that the increasing secrecy around council business was eroding public faith in elected representatives.

Controversy Over Council Meal Provision

Public concerns around transparency were heightened earlier this year when The Impartial Reporter newspaper revealed that Fermanagh and Omagh District Council had voted in a closed session to increase the provision of free meals for councillors. The decision, which was made in private, attracted widespread criticism, with many questioning why such a matter had to be debated behind closed doors.

When a reporter and photographer attempted to question councillors about the issue as they arrived for a subsequent meeting, the council filed a complaint with the Independent Press Standards Organisation (Ipso), citing harassment.

This clause, introduced following concerns over paparazzi activity after Princess Diana’s death in 1997, was invoked by the council to justify its complaint, raising further questions about the transparency of the process.

Councils Urged to Prioritize Public Accountability

Groogan and other critics argue that the public has a right to know how their money is being spent, and that the current level of secrecy is undermining the democratic process. "People should know how their money is spent, and decisions that affect local communities should be debated openly," Groogan stated.