Transcript Refreshing the Vision - Chartered Accountants Ireland

Council Reform –
damp squib or new dawn?
NILGA – TODAY AND TOMORROW
1. Vision for Local Government
2. Sustainability of Local Government
3. Development of elected members in Local Government
4. Lobbying for Local Government
5. Communicating on behalf of and within Local Government
6. Improvement and representation of Local Government
7. Collective development and capacity building for Local
Government
8. Working with members and councils to determine a
Programme for LOCAL Government
RPA has risen from the dead!
The Current Context
• Councils with limited powers and influence
• Complex public sector picture at local level – too many cooks
• Reform programme gathering speed - very different capacities
between and within councils
• Devolution and a developing regional legislative Assembly
• Economic downturn – limited resources
• Reform is a target in the Programme for Government
• Changing social agenda – e.g. welfare reform
• Wanting more, delivering with less, ratepayer, media and
government demands on the increase with 50% resource cuts
and job losses in GB and similar draconian cuts in Ireland for
councils
The Existing Vision (2008!!)
A vision for Strong Local Government, where
the council will be
“A dynamic, responsive and accountable leader
in shaping, maintaining and promoting inclusive
communities that are healthy, prosperous, safe,
vibrant, sustainable and people-centred”.
March 2008, NILGA Corporate (and Ministerial)
Local Government Reform Timetable
• Statutory Transition Committees: August 2013 – May
2014
• Local Government Bill scheduled for introduction to the
Assembly on MONDAY?? – Passed by Executive
• Elections to Shadow Councils (22nd May 2014) – NIO
legislation now out for consultation
• Shadow councils May 2014 – end March 2015
• 1st April 2015 – new councils ‘go live’ (and existing
councils wound down + accounts closed off)
Statutory Transition Committees
• Duties
– Draft corporate plan
– Develop proposed governance arrangements
– Financial, HR and ICT tasks (Awaiting
guidance on borrowing!)
– Draft service delivery arrangements for
existing and new functions
– Appointments of new Chief Executives
Local Government Bill
• New duties and powers
– Community Planning
– General Power of Competence
• Key policy proposals
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Governance
Ethical Standards
Performance Improvement
Central – Local Partnership Panel
• LOTS of Subordinate legislation & guidance
New functions - transferring
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Area planning & development management
Urban regeneration and HMOs
Local economic development
Local tourism
Off-street car-parking
Delivery of EU rural development programme
Key Opportunities
•Community Planning
•Better integration
•General Power of Competence
•Local and central government working in partnership
•Northern Ireland NEEDS a Programme for Local Government
•Greater collaboration e.g. through ICE programme,
systems convergence, procurement toolkit
Community Planning
FROM THIS....
TO THIS?
Themes such as economy, health, education, community safety
Councils are...
• Closer to people and best placed to meet community
needs
• Democratically accountable at local level
• Providers of a sense of place and local identity, with
an in-depth understanding of local needs, priorities
and difference
• The ‘junction box’ of local delivery – at the centre of
transformation and improvement
• Providers of local and tailored interventions, that
are innovative, efficient and effective.
Outcomes focus
Local councils will work together with local people,
organisations and businesses to improve quality of
life and economic competitiveness, to create
places which are:
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Active, inclusive and safe
Well run, with accessible services
Environmentally aware and sustainable
Well-designed and built
Well connected
Economically thriving
Well-served - participation and governance
Fair for everyone
Council Role
To create the conditions for growth and
sustainability, supporting the key characteristics of
competitiveness, councils will perform a number of
key roles:
• Leader - helping create local ambition and confidence
• Service provider - local service provider and integrator
• Partner of choice - convening and co-ordinating joint
solutions to the big issues impacting on communities
• Place-shaper - improving quality of life for everyone
• Investor - helping to stimulate the economy
Central - Local Partnership
• Local Government has never been better placed to be an
active partner in delivering the outcomes that all parts of
public service must work together to achieve for Northern
Ireland.
• Councils will play a key part in the solution required to
address the current challenging economic climate.
• Local Government’s vision is for a statutory central/local
partnership which enables meaningful collaboration in the
achievement of shared outcomes, facilitated and
underpinned by a strong approach to community
planning.
Key Reform Issues
•Funding reform – cost implications of change
•Rates convergence
•Clarity on Transferring functions – assets, budgets, staff,
funding mechanism
•Capacity building – need for skilling up of members and
officers e.g. planning finance
•Making community planning WORK
Problems can be overcome more easily if we all work together!
• Councils improvement, collaboration and
efficiency initiatives preceded and will succeed
Reform. “RPA” is a legal process to a mechanical
end. “ICE” is a culture change which will
transform based on the biggest change factors in
history:
• Austerity
• Leadership
• Customer demand
Conclusion
•Reform IS going to happen
•Substantial progress has been made so far
•There is still a long way to go, with some key
issues outstanding
•NILGA is taking a positive approach:
•Strong liaison with STCs and members
•On-going liaison with DOE Minister and
Officials
THANK YOU!