» Australian Local Government Association » Subscribe » Archive » Feedback » Email a colleague

Community Infrastructure Ideas Register

ALGA has set up a database so councils and other interested parties can register examples of the types of community infrastructure that could be funded under a proposed Local Community Infrastructure Renewals Fund (LCIRF). The ideas register has been developed for councils to assist ALGA in putting the case for support for such a program. It gives councils the opportunity to identify specific examples of local community infrastructure that would benefit from this initiative.

The LCIRF was a major recommendation of the PricewaterhouseCoopers report into the financial sustainability of local government which was launched in December. This fund of $250m over 4 years would assist councils to renew aged and failing community infrastructure such as swimming pools, community halls, libraries, sporting facilities and council-run meals on wheels kitchens. For further information on the PwC report and to submit an idea on the register go to www.alga.asn.au/communityInfrastructure

Your input will be included as part of our proposal to the Australian Government in the lead-up to and following the 2007-08 Budget process. "I urge all local government representatives to do a stock take of existing community infrastructure, determine what needs upgrading, take photos and submit on the register," ALGA President Cr Paul Bell said today. "You will be helping your communities in a very practical way in the fight for better facilities. We are particularly interested in hearing about ovals, swimming pools, walking tracks and sporting facilities as these are important in improving community health and wellbeing and combating the obesity epidemic."

Airports Amendment Bill passes through Parliament

The Australian Parliament passed the legislation this week with the only change from the original Bill being the increase in the consultation period from 45 to 60 working days proposed by ALGA in its submission to the Senate Inquiry that examined the legislation.

While the Bill provides for improved consultation arrangements for developments on airport land it does not address the fundamental concern of local government that non aviation developments are not subject to state and local government planning regimes.

The legislation requires airport lessees to make their planning and development documents readily available online and free of charge, and provide better information about aircraft noise levels and flight paths.

The Federal Government, supported by the Opposition, has not shifted in its basic policy position that planning for both aviation and non aviation parts of airports will stay under the control of the Australian Government.

ALGA had argued that non aviation developments on airport land should be subject to the same state and local government planning regimes and should pay the equivalent in rates and developer contributions, as similar developments on non airport land.

State premiers, supported by the ALGA President, Cr Paul Bell, have indicated that they will take up the issue with the Prime Minister at the April meeting of COAG.

Cr Paul Bell said: "The Government's decisions on airport development around the country have result in inappropriate developments that are inconsistent with state and local government planning and the interests of local communities, such as brickworks in Perth and retail developments in Adelaide and Essendon."

The ALGA submission to the Senate Committee that considered this legislation can be found at: www.aph.gov.au/Senate/committee/rrat_ctte/airports/submissions/sublist.htm.

Federal Opposition raises the stakes in high speed broadband

story3

The Federal Opposition has announced plans to revolutionise Australia's internet infrastructure if it wins the next Federal Election by creating a new world class National Broadband Network.

A Labor Government would invest up to $4.7 billion to establish the National Broadband Network in partnership with the private sector. This would be over a five-year period.

This commitment would be financed from existing government investment in communications, including the $2 billion Communications Fund and through the Future Fund's 17 per cent share in Telstra, which will earn dividends and be sold down to a normal market level after November 2008.

Labor's National Broadband Network would connect 98 per cent of Australians to high speed broadband internet services - at a speed more than 40 times faster than most current speeds.

Under Labor's plan, the rollout of a new 'Fibre To The Node' network would increase speed to a minimum of 12 megabits per second - meaning that household entertainment, business communication and family services could happen in real time.

The remaining two per cent of Australians in regional and remote areas not covered by this network would have improved broadband services.

New services and benefits of the network - particularly in rural and regional areas - would include:

  • cheaper telephone bills for small business
  • enhanced business services such as teleconferencing, video conferencing and virtual private networks
  • enhanced capacity for services like e-education and e-health, and
  • high definition, multi-channel and inter-active TV services.

The Opposition has stated that Labor's broadband network will generate productivity gains of up to $30 billion per year.

Federal Labor contends that these productivity gains would help Australia deal with the ageing population through increasing economic growth, strengthening government finances and potentially allowing for larger contributions to Future Fund.

Labor's broadband policy can be viewed in full at: http://www.alp.org.au/policy/index.php
From the President

ALGA's State of the Regions report will celebrate its 10th anniversary at this year's National General Assembly.

The latest report for 2006-07 has proved invaluable in helping to shape the social and political landscape on the issue of telecommunications and broadband in this crucial election year.

The report commissioned annually by ALGA from National Economics focuses on the 'hot' issues facing Australia's regions and presents a snapshot of the challenges they face through detailed economic research and data.

The State of the Regions has becoming an important tool for government, policy-makers and social planners. It is often quoted extensively from in Parliament and in Government and Opposition media releases. The current edition is timely and more than a little prophetic in its wisdom.

The 2006-07 report highlights the widening gap between rich and poor regions. The resource boom means that there is accelerating population growth and a housing affordability crisis in some regions whilst others are experiencing population drift and an erosion of their skills bases.

The key to reversing this vicious cycle is to reverse the flow of skills and to improve connectivity - both transport and communication - between relatively disadvantaged regions and successful regions as well as international markets. The report says Australia's local government areas could resemble California's Silicon Valley, given a boost to regional innovation, and cite Bendigo's Community Telco as an example.

It points to how better telecommunications can enhance regional competitiveness by providing the infrastructure to attract knowledge-based businesses to the regions and create opportunities for new knowledge-based enterprises. As well as supporting rural economies, agricultural enterprises and local businesses, other benefits are online learning, and education and training, which improve the skills and capacities of our regional communities to meet the challenges of our increasingly global economy.

From local government's perspective, our vision is for high-speed, low-cost broadband delivered to rural, regional and metropolitan areas throughout Australia.

In this context, it is pleasing to see the Australian Government and the Opposition come up with substantial commitments to address this issue - the Australian Government with its Broadband Connect Program and Labor's announcement last week of a National Broadband Network.

Our position is clear. ALGA, which is represented on the On-Line Ministerial Council will continue to argue for the best deal for local government and local communities throughout Australia in terms of broadband infrastructure. We are focused on the best possible outcomes and these will determine which technologies are employed. The issue here is that whatever the technology, it must deliver 'true' broadband capable of supporting 21st century business applications for councils and their communities. The fact that this debate is shaping up to be an election issue shows its importance for all Australians and it is encouraging to see this recognised by our political leaders. We must continue to point out the fact that broadband access changes lives, has the potential to reinvigorate communities, and allow regions to perform to their full capacity and with the State of the Regions report we have the hard evidence to back up our case. A copy of the report is available on the ALGA website

Cr Paul Bell AM
ALGA President

Extended Deadline to Meet Aged Care Reporting Requirements

ALGA welcomes the recent decision by the new Minister for Ageing, Christopher Pyne, to extend the deadline for the aged care sector to meet the compulsory requirements.

The revised deadlines will now see the new complaints investigation arrangements in place by 1 May 2007, and the compulsory reporting and whistleblower protection requirements will now start on 1 July 2007.

These changes will go some way to recognise the concerns previously raised by the sector regarding the time and resources required to adequately implement the necessary requirements.

Labor's ageing spokeswoman, Senator Jan McLucas, had urged Mr Pyne to extend the deadline.

"The bipartisan recommendation of the Senate inquiry was that the elements of the Bill that are in front of the Senate to do with compulsory reporting should be deferred until the Government has got its house in order and can provide the sector with the appropriate legislation so that they know what they have to do," she said.

Availability of Sporting Infrastructure in Australia

The Australian Sports Commission is currently undertaking some interesting work that will be of relevance to local government around Australia. The Commission is seeking input from local government and other stakeholders into the supply and demand for sporting infrastructure across a range of local government areas in metropolitan, rural and regional Australia.

In particular, the Sports Commission is hoping to get information from Councils on any unmet demand for sporting facilities, and in what locations and types of facilities this unmet demand may exist. They are also interested in why this may be happening and what, if anything, may be being done to address the demand.

Ideas on what could be done in the future, or the adequacy of current planning to meet future demands would be welcomed.

The information will be utilised by the Commission to provide a more informed understanding of community needs for the Commission, and may be utilised in appropriate forums such as the Sports and Recreation Ministerial Council and the Standing Committee on Recreation and Sport. This in turn will enable better representation of the views of local government and other stakeholders in this important area.

The deadline for comments is the 18th of April 2007 and any comment should be provided by email to sportinfrastructure@ausport.gov.au

Have your say on Cycling

ALGA has joined forces with the Australian Bicycle Council (ABC) to survey the extent and nature of local government bikeways planning and facilities. The on-line survey is the first nation-wide analysis of cycling planning and infrastructure.

The Australian Bicycle Council is responsible for the National Cycling Strategy, which was launched in December 2005. This strategy calls for the development of resources that will assist local government to encourage cycling in their communities.

The survey will provide a useful indicator of how cycling is positioned in local government, and will highlight areas of need. Feedback will be provided on the results of the survey, together with an analysis of various funding options which can be accessed for local governments.

Its time to have your say on cycling. Recently the City of Sydney's Lord Mayor, Clover Moore, said "Reducing road congestion and introducing cycleways encourages cycling and walking, improves pedestrian amenity, enables public spaces to be upgraded, humanising a city and adding to the quality of life."

The survey is located on-line at http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.asp?A=171059215E60733.

ALGA and the ABC are asking if the survey can be completed by 10th April. If you have any questions on the survey, please contact Alton Twine from Brisbane City Council (ph: 07 3403 4529), who is the ALGA representative on the ABC.

Coastal councils stretched to the limit: National Sea Change Taskforce

Australia's coastal areas are struggling to cope with a large influx of new residents, according to the National Sea Change Taskforce.

The population in non-metropolitan coastal areas grew by a million people over the past decade, but this was not matched by services and infrastructure, according to the National Sea Change Taskforce.

Councillor Joe Natoli, chair of the taskforce which represents over 60 Australian councils, said growth areas were being denied the resources needed to match the huge rise in demand for services.

"Over the past 10 years the percentage of taxation revenue provided to councils has declined significantly," Mr Natoli said.

"(But) the range of essential services local government is called on to deliver has increased enormously."

The taskforce says that based on latest Australian Bureau of Statistics figures, the population of non-metropolitan coastal areas swelled from 4.9 million to 5.9 million from 1996-2006.

And by the end of this decade, another million are estimated to start migrating to the coast as the baby boomer generation hits retirement.

Cr Natoli said coastal Australia continued to grow at a rate faster than the rest of the country, but while Commonwealth and state governments derived money from taxes such as the GST, the local government sector had no similar revenue source.

Cr Natoli said a new funding formula for the local government sector was desperately needed as it was "seriously underfunded" and falling further behind.

"Since 2001, the cumulative rate of growth for coastal local government areas outside the metropolitan areas has been 9.8 per cent," he said.

"This compares with a national growth rate of 6.1 per cent for Australia during the same period."

Cr Natoli said the taskforce was creating policies to address challenges faced by coastal communities and added the major political parties would ignore the issue at the upcoming federal election at their peril.

The taskforce says based on latest figures from the Bureau of Statistics the population of non-metropolitan coastal areas swelled from 4.9 million to 5.9 million from 1996-2006.

It also says by the end of this decade another million are estimated to start migrating to the coast as the baby boomer generation hits retirement.

All of Victoria's farm land now drought declared

In a stark reminder of the severity of the current drought, for the first time ever, drought declarations cover all of Victoria's agricultural land.

Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Peter McGauran, has said that interim Exceptional Circumstances (EC) drought assistance had been extended to farmers and farm dependent small businesses in South and West Gippsland.

Today's interim EC declaration covers the Local Government Areas of Baw Baw, Yarra Ranges, Southern Gippsland, Cardinia, Casey and Bass Coast that have agricultural production.

"I wish to stress that this decision does not automatically lead to a full EC declaration. Such a declaration will depend, in large measure, on how much rain the region receives over the next couple of months," Mr McGauran added.

"The EC application has now been referred to the National Rural Advisory Council (NRAC) an independent group of primary producers and agribusiness professionals for a comprehensive assessment. NRAC will recommend to the Government whether or not the criteria for full EC are met.

"I urge farmers and small business operators not to self assess but to contact Centrelink or the Drought Assistance Hotline on 13 23 16 to discuss their eligibility for assistance as soon as possible."

Meanwhile Victoria's parched sporting grounds will receive $4.7 million in drought relief.

Premier Steve Bracks said that local councils could apply for grants of $50,000 to pay for drought relief measures such as collecting or recycling water, or improving turf conditions and watering systems.

The AFL, Tennis Victoria and Cricket Victoria have contributed $200,000 each and the Football Federation of Victoria has given $75,000 to the Drought Relief for Community and Sport Recreation Program.

AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou said he was worried about the impact the drought was having on competitions across Victoria.

"We just think it's terribly important to have communities involved in sporting clubs, whatever they may be," Mr Demetriou said.

WA: New system to deal with complaints about local government conduct

A new system for dealing with complaints of improper behaviour by elected local government members will soon be introduced following the passage of the Local Government (Official Conduct) Amendment Bill 2005 through the Upper House of the WA Parliament.

WA Local Government Minister Ljiljanna Ravlich said the new system would provide a disciplinary process for complaints about the conduct of elected members.

"The power to deal with the misconduct of individual councillors is an important part of this legislation. Previously the only remedy was to suspend the entire council," Ms Ravlich said.

"The new system will not only provide more effective disciplinary measures, but will protect the interests of individual councillors who consistently do the right thing."

"I thank the WA Local Government Association, Local Government Managers Australia (WA) and local government for their support of the introduction of these new laws."

Key features of the new system include:

  • a uniform Code of Conduct for elected members;
  • the referral of serious breaches such as contraventions of the Local Government Act 1995 or Regulations to the State Administrative Tribunal (SAT), which will have strong powers to suspend or disqualify an elected member;
  • the appointment of a complaints officer and the establishment of a standards panel consisting of people not directly involved in the local government to hear complaints about minor breaches such as contraventions of the new Code of Conduct;
  • and a standards panel, which will deal with minor breaches and will have the power to issue penalties such as public censure, public apology or an order to undertake training.

The legislation is expected to be operational in time for the October 20 local government elections.

SA: Garbage collections to go fornightly

Recycling's proved such a success in South Australia the weekly garbage collection is tipped to be replaced with fortnightly pick-ups.

SA's Local Government Association says recent studies suggest a new system of separating organic material like food scraps from general waste could allow for the change.

Association president John Rich says it'd also help reduce the cost of garbage collection.

A recent trial in Adelaide has found residents were prepared to put their food scraps in a special corn starch bag which could then be recycled with other green waste like lawn clippings.

With food scraps accounting for about 46 per cent of household waste, this would allow garbage collections to be pushed out to every second week.

Councillor Rich says once food scraps are regularly recycled it'd mean about 77 per cent of domestic waste could be diverted from landfill.

World Environment Day Awards 2007 - Call for Nominations

Nominations for the World Environment Day Awards 2007 are now open nationally. The World Environment Day Awards is a national award program that recognises and promotes Australian initiatives which protect, manage or restore the environment.

The Award categories include Local Government Awards for excellence in overall environmental management; and Best specific environmental initiative.

For complete guidelines, entry criteria and nomination forms, please visit our website: www.unaavictoria.org.au or contact the UNAA Victoria office on ph: (03) 9670 7878 or email: info@unaavictoria.org.au. Nominations close Wednesday 9 May, 2007.
National Climate Change Summit

ALGA President Cr Paul Bell will attend the National Climate Change Summit in Canberra tomorrow. Cr Bell said he was looking forward to contributing to the debate which will focus on a number of key issues including the environmental, economic and social impacts of climate change and local government's role of representing local communities by helping to design programs that meet expectations and needs and in leading and shaping attitudinal change. "Local government is already playing a major role in working through strategies to respond to the threat posed by climate change and we are well-placed to provide advice and assistance in terms of developing solutions," he said. Keynote speakers will include climate expert Tony Haymet from the University of California's Scripps Institute of Oceonography, and Tom Burke, Environmental Policy Adviser to global corporations including Rio Tinto and BP.

National Frameworks for Local Government Financial Planning and Reporting Endorsed by Ministers

Federal and State Local Government Ministers meeting in Auckland on 26 March have formally endorsed a set of nationally consistent frameworks for assessing the financial sustainability of local government, asset planning and management and financial planning and reporting by local government. The frameworks have been under development for the past twelve months and have been the subject of consultation between State Governments and local government sectors. Further consultation is expected within each State on how the frameworks can be implemented a report will go back to Ministers in 2008.

Major Airports Planning Remains on the Agenda for Local Government and the States

Local government and the State Governments have again expressed their concerns about the impacts of non-aviation development on metropolitan strategic planning and surrounding communities directly to the Federal Minister responsible for planning, the Hon Jim Lloyd MP, at the Local Government and Planning Ministers Council meeting in Auckland. This has been a major sore point between governments as substantial retail and commercial developments at airports cause problems for surrounding areas. ALGA President Cr Paul Bell and State and Territory Ministers called on the Australian Government to put in place a process under which airport master plans will be assessed against State and local planning policies and to amend relevant legislation. The Australian Government remains unmoved on the issue.

Ministers to Oversee Implementation of and Compliance with the Local Government Intergovernmental Agreement on Cost Shifting

Local Government Ministers will receive an annual report on compliance with the Local Government Cost Shifting IGA following agreement at their meeting in Auckland. Ministers heard how jurisdictions had worked to implement the IGA since its signing last April and also agreed on the need to evaluate the IGA close to the end of its 5 year term. The IGA is a major achievement for local government and ALGA has pushed for a robust mechanism to ensure its implementation and compliance by all parties.

ALGA President talks on Leadership to Major International Conference on Local Government

Cr Paul Bell, President of ALGA, attended the Commonwealth Local Government Forum Conference held in Auckland between 26 and 30 March. The opening of the Conference, attended by 550 delegates from throughout the Commonwealth, was addressed by the Prime Minister of New Zealand the Hon Helen Clark, and the Conference focused on promoting and strengthening effective democratic local government in more than 40 Commonwealth countries. Cr Bell, a member of the Forum's Board, spoke as part of a panel on strengthening leadership at the local government level, noting in particular the work done in Australia to improve the capacity of individual councils and to strengthen the position of local government as the third sphere of government, especially through ALGA's 'Three Fs' campaign - fair funding, fair treatment and formal recognition.

Review of Financial Sustainability of Local Government in Tasmania

A new report into the financial sustainability of Tasmanian councils was released this week by the President of the Local Government Association of Tasmania, Mayor Mike Gaffney.

In 2006, Access Economics was commissioned by the Local Government Association of Tasmania to undertake the study. The report follows similar studies undertaken in NSW, SA and WA by Access Economics and is in keeping with the recent work completed by PricewaterhouseCoopers, for the Australian Local Government Association, which looked at the overall financial sustainability of councils across the country.

Six Tasmanian councils have been found to be under some pressure in terms of broad financial health and while this does not impact on their ongoing financial viability, there will be a need to address issues associated with their long-term finances. These councils serve approximately 8% of the population which is less than the significantly 20%+ population figures that resulted from The SA, NSW and WA studies.

In line with the recent National Financial Sustainability Study of Local Government undertaken by PricewaterhouseCoopers, these councils are generally likely to exhibit minimal (or negative) growth; have limited access to rate revenue due to relatively small populations; have limited access to essential asset management skills; and are facing expanding service provision due to rising community demands.

Mayor Mike Gaffney said there is no need for councils to press the panic button at this stage and communities should be well pleased with the independent report card of councils across the state.

"Expenditure savings will certainly help some councils and I expect that each council will consider their relative spending patterns and assess where savings may be possible."

"The report has identified the need for councils to more closely scrutinise rates and charges, including developer charges, with a view to resolving the appropriate mix of revenue raising and expenditure savings options," Mayor Gaffney said.

The PricewaterhouseCoopers report found that there was a significant need for cash injections from other levels of government and specifically recommended the pursuit of a community infrastructure fund to assist councils with their ageing infrastructure.

Access Economics has also recommended a series of actions for the Local Government Association of Tasmania to pursue, in terms of financial governance policies and processes.

Mayor Gaffney said the Association will be moving quickly to establish a Steering Committee, comprising elected members and officials, to work through the recommendations and develop a program of action to implement those that are supported.

"Issues such as the development of 10-year financial plans, improved asset management practices, the establishment of audit committees and the development of service policy statements, provide a wide range of opportunities for Tasmanian councils to enhance their overall financial sustainability," he said.

The Steering Committee will also be looking at ways and means by which councils can work together to enhance their financial sustainability and will draw on the experiences and actions taken in other states.

Climate Change

The Urban Research Program (URP) at Griffith University has released two new reports looking at Local Government and Climate Change. Climate Change: What are Local Governments Liable For? By Phillipa England examines Local Government's responsibilities at law to deal with climate change considerations when exercising their functions and powers. Another report Evaluating Climate Change Mitigation Strategies in South East Queensland by Donovan Burton attempts to fill a gap in knowledge about the capacity for local governments to mitigate climate change by assessing the ability of current mitigation strategies in South East Queensland to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to acceptable levels. Visit the URP website to view these reports.

Research into Peri-Urban Development

Land & Water Australia has commissioned research on peri-urban development in Australia. The work is being carried out by RMIT in Melbourne and Griffith University in Brisbane.

The aims of the research are to:

  • Investigate the nature and extent of contemporary peri urban regions in Australia. This will involve an examination of environmental, social and economic trends in two peri-urban areas, and a description and analysis of current governance, institutional, policy and management arrangements and an evaluation of their adequacy.
  • Outline the implications of social, economic and environmental changes for future land use and management; identify likely future patterns of socio-economic, agricultural, cultural, natural resource development, environmental and land use change in peri-urban landscapes.

The website for the research is http://www.periurban.org.au

Estimation of Vehicle Kilometres traveled on local roads

The ARRB Group is currently undertaking a survey on behalf of the National Transport Commission (NTC) to estimate the vehicle kilometers traveled by different types of vehicles on local and arterial roads.

The information from the survey plays a major role in the determining how much heavy vehicles are charged nationally for the use of the road system.

The ARRB Group has been in contact with the 121 councils selected for the survey in writing and by phone.

ALGA supports the survey being undertaken by the NTC as it is gathering the data that in the longer term has the potential to impact on the level of funding that might be provided to local government for roads.

Councils selected for the survey are urged to complete their survey forms. Councils that were not selected for the survey and would like to be part of the survey should contact Will Hore-Lacy on 03 9881 1633 as to how they can become involved.

Advertising ban

A Sydney council has issued a ban on wall-to-wall shop front advertising and flashing retail signs, just weeks after Mosman Council banned smoking on council owned land in the municipality.

Ku-ring-gai Council amended the advertising section of its Development Control Plan, specifically prohibiting signage that dominates the shop front windows and detracts from the visual amenity of the shop front. The new law also requires that real estate placards, such as sold signs must be removed from private properties after they were bought and that no flashing lights were allowed on shop advertising.

Culture & Recreation statistics

The March 2007 edition of the National Centre for Culture and Recreation Statistics (NCCRS) newsletter is now available on the ABS website

Changing cities are driving our world

The second United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG) World Congress will meet in Jeju, Korea, from 28-31 October, 2007.

With the title 'Changing cities are driving our world', the themes of the next UCLG World Congress are organised according to the priorities of local and regional officials and the challenges they face, notably:

  • Cities the future of humanity: addressing climate change.
  • Local governments as peace makers.
  • 2015: a fairer world is possible. Towards a new model of governance.

More details are available on the UCLG website

Recycling website

RecyclingNearYou.com.au contains details for recycling and safe waste disposal in all 672 council areas around Australia. Searchable by postcode, it is supported by Yellow Online content to allow users to find local businesses that provide recycling services. The site also offers users the ability to email questions about recycling.

Quote of the week

"I've got to say this, I don't have anything to be arrogant about - not at the moment, politically, nothing at all."
Prime Minister John Howard's response to a poll that found seven out of 10 voters find him arrogant.

International news  

After a history of dashed hopes, peace has once again broken out Northern Ireland.

In a historic compromise the loyalists and republicans have agreed to share power with each other in a devolved Northern Ireland Assembly from 8 May.

The agreement is the culmination of 10 years of protracted peacemaking by British prime minister Tony Blair and his Irish counterpart Bertie Ahern.

The words nobody thought they would ever hear from the mouth of Unionist Ian Paisley were uttered: "We have agreed with Sinn Fein."

Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams said Monday's accord "marks the beginning of a new era of politics on this island."

"The relationships between the people of this island have been marred by centuries of discord, conflict, hurt and tragedy. In particular, this has been the sad history of orange and green," Adams said, using the local labels for the British Protestant and Irish Roman Catholic sides in Northern Ireland, which has a population of 1.7 million.

The conflict over Northern Ireland has claimed more than 3,600 lives since the 1960s - when Adams was an up-and-coming IRA member from Catholic west Belfast and Paisley the province's most infamous opponent of a Catholic civil rights movement.

Emergency legislation was introduced in the Commons earlier this week to enable a smooth transition.

State of the Regions report 2006-07