Council Reform – damp squib or new dawn?

NILGA – TODAY AND TOMORROW1. Vision for Local Government2. Sustainability of Local Government3. Development of elected members in Local Government4. Lobbying for Local Government5. Communicating on behalf of and within Local Government6. Improvement and representation of Local Government7. Collective development and capacity building for Local

Government8. 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– Governance– Ethical Standards– Performance Improvement– Central – Local Partnership Panel

• LOTS of Subordinate legislation & guidance

New functions - transferring

• 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:•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!