1 April 2015 – 11 New Councils

New vision for Local Government:

“ A thriving, dynamic local government that creates vibrant, healthy, prosperous, safe and sustainable communities that have the

needs of the citizens at their core”

Local Government Reform Programme

Benefits of Reform Programme

(i) Improved Service Provision

Councils stronger, more effective and flexible to local need

Better co-ordination of service delivery

Avoid duplication

Leading to more efficient and high quality services

(ii) Long-term Cost Savings

Economies of Scale

Provide for long-term financial benefits

Local Government Reform Programme

PlanningOff Street ParkingLocal Economic DevelopmentLocal TourismUrban Regeneration/Community Development (1 April 2016)New Responsibilities:

- Community Planning

- General Power of Competence

Transferring Functions

Benefits of Local Government Reform

Doing things differently – opportunity to review if there are better ways to do it Transferring functions from central to local government – bringing government

closer to the people and communitiesRe-grouping key functions – Planning, Urban Regeneration, Local Economic

Development, Local TourismIntegration of these functions combined with Councils existing functions –

synergies, removing duplicationJoined up approach and working togetherStrengthened role in meeting local needs

Local Government Reform

Two Stage Approach

- Stage 1 Transition by 1 April 2015 (timebound; operation and activity focused)

- Stage 2 Transformation (spans a longer period; driven by strategy and goals)

Transformation StageOpportunity for Citizen Centric focus in design and delivery

Opportunity for innovation and improved outcomes

Opportunity for Shared Services

Local Government must look to shared service delivery

Shared Services is a means to achieving strategic goals

Local and Regional authorities pooling and sharing service provision, for eg. Emergency Planning, Tourism, Area Promotion

Key drivers at this time

Budgetary Constraints Rate Convergence Meeting Customer Expectations Legislative Requirements – Continuous improvement New vision for Local Government New Central/Local Government Relationships Programme for Government Community Planning Investment in front line services Regeneration Growing the economy = Compelling argument for progressing shared services

What is required during transformation?

New innovative models of service delivery – service redesign

Effective Performance Management

Continuous Improvement

Improved outcomes from diminishing resources

All to be achieved in a new era of openness and accountability

Aim is to improve performance/bringing down costs while preserving quality and front line services

Achieved by:

- More efficiency through common processes

- Economies of Scale - Standardisation

- Shared Expertise - Best Practice

- Independent of core business - Business Focus

- Responsive - Innovative

Purpose of Shared Services

Initiatives in Local Government Regional Initiatives – Property Certificates/AdvertisingCollaborative Procurement – insurance etcShared Recruitment advertisingFramework agreements – stationery and computer consumableGeo Park –Marble Arch Caves (Mgt of an Env. Asset)Blackwater Regional Partnership (Development Group)Strategic Alliances (Newry & Louth)Shared Officers – Specialist OfficersPublic Service CentresRoute optimisation initiativeCommon network – Network NI

But is this enough?

What Next? Identify areas suitable for Shared Services :-

Back Office Services

Vehicle and Building Maintenance

Enhanced Suite of regional services

Enhanced suite of sub regional services

Partnership Models – who are we sharing with?

Multi agency approaches

Cross Border sharing of services

Innovation

What Next? (cont’d)

Do we build on what is already there?

Can we replicate and rebrand?

Or should we aim for much more?

Small steps or giant strides?

What is required?LeadershipBuilding relationshipsShared VisionNew mind setsCan do attitudeChanges to legislationFocus on outcomesBusiness Focussed models Innovation

Concluding RemarksLocal Government - almost there with transition

- still more to doReal work only begins on 1 April 2015 - Transformation stageNew era of Community PlanningNew era of Performance ManagementNew era of Continuous ImprovementDiminishing resources but increased customer expectationsThe environment is right for enhanced cooperation across

sectors and across geographical boundariesShared Services – will feature strongly in the transformation

stage of Local Government Reform