Municipal Knowledge Networks Chances for Self Government

Nicolaus DrimmelAustrian Association of Municipalities

Lucas SobotkaKommunalnet Austria

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Austrian Association of Municipalities

• Roof-organisation of Associations of municipalities on regional level

• it covers 99% of Austrian municipalities (2341 out of 2354)

• based on voluntary membership (mediated by organizations on Land level)

• meeting the needs of its members since 1947• fulfilling the appointment of the Federal

Constitution since 1988 (Art 115 Abs 3 B-VG)

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Tasks of AAMMeeting needs of the members, special focus on ruralmunicipalities • Communication and Information• Support for members

Assessment of Legal Acts on national and European levelRepresentation of municipal interests in legal advisory bodies• Financial Adjustment Negotiations• Consultation mechanism (screening legal acts for their financial

implications)• Spatial Planning Conference• Governmental Reform• Committe of the Regions (EU), Congress of Local and Regional Authorities

(Council of Europe)• etc.

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International NetworkingAAM is dedicated to fostering communities in their independence and economical capability. This lead to the adoption European Charter of Self

Government in the 1960 ies. (AAM as initiative and redactional partner)

From 2004-07 AAM launched international ProjectInternational Communal Network (ICNW)• Network of European associations of municipalities and regions • EU programme INTERREG IIIC EASTNetwork providing a framework of municipal knowledge and cooperation to strengthen rural communities particularly in the CEEC. This by means of • improving municipal development strategies• improving municipal infrastructure • cooperation with SME• Made feasable by a knowledge management system

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Tradition of C4

Cooperation and ConsultationThe practice of a cooperative federal state involves Austrian municipalities in mostdiverse policy strategies. Besides the Financial Adjustmentnegotiations of the Federal State, Länder and Municipalities, the 3 tiers of government agreed as well on a Governmental Reform II, mainly basing on following topics.• To ease governmental cooperation leading to reduction of public expenditure• No excessive and cost-intensive standards, this lead to aan Austrian stability pact and

a consultation mechanism• To gain cost reduction by means of E-Government Connectivity and Communication• enhanced work for intercommunal cooperation (IKZ), • developing a municipal connective E-Government strategy, which led to a crucial

assessment of municipal competencies, work-flow and the necessary adjustment of administrative processes.

• This also created a high need of communication and formation.• Aim: capable and efficient municipalities facing the needs of their citizens.

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Why Best Practice CollectionBP for Formation and DevelopmentBP proved as the most effective tool to foster self government and development.

• Legal framework and directives render a low scope of action• Guidelines mostly lacking identification moment• BP are freely chosen by Communities and adapted to the local environment and

conditions, due to the strength and weaknesses of municipalities; tailor-made solutions; highest identification moment

AAM actions• Collection of BP in order of priority (eg communal cooperation)• enhanced and eased communication, not like the Law Gazette (Közlöny) or the

Standards Journal, but on a level they are used to work on a day to day basis• This also created a high need of a canal of communication and formation.• Aim: capable and efficient municipalities facing the needs of their citizens.

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Launching e-Gov toolAAM initiated www.kommunalnet.at as a PPP-model with the following strategy:• utmost convenience: kommunalnet.at offers access to all

relevant applications and databases with a single login (116 public applications, 18 private sources)

• relevant content: editorial staff selects and prepares daily news for municipal employees and decision makers (best practice, legal news ...)

• commercial benefits for members (i.e. reduced rates at certain services)

• a push channel (electronic newsletter service) accompanying the pull channel (the intranet itself)

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Municipal E-Gov-Landscape

The fast adoption rate of www.kommunalnet.at led to a number ofchanges within the e-government landscape as well as commercialservices:• accelerated deployment of single sign on applications• establishment as the direct communications channel from/to

central administration, Länder and municipalities• consolidation of formerly dispersed information• new products/services geared towards small and medium sized

municipalities (i.e. for credit ratings, revenue prognosis, ...)• collection and assessment of best practice in Austria and abroad• deployment of services that foster networking

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E-Gov Examples

• Public Registers (Registration office, building and lodging, address register)

• Tax-and Revenue applications• E-Standard-forms• Public Procurement Portal• Payroll accounting• Etc.

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Kommunalnet Facts & Figures

KN – the biggest portal for Austrian municipalities:

• 12.000 officials are registered at KN• in 2.200 municipalities (94 %) KN is used on a daily

basis• 6.000 users online per day• 22.000 people get informed through Newsletter

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Why a social Network

• Before June 2014 - Information was provided exclusively top-down

• transfer Know-how• enable communication• strengthen collaboration• deepen cooperation We want them to learn from each other

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Key – Functions of the Network

• Knowledge Management: Make the communicated knowledge available to everybody else in the network.

• Project Platform: create project groups, save information and invoice colleges from other municipalities

• Expert Finder: find expert for certain topics quick and easily allover Austria

• Community: Create a custom community with the features of a social network

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Future prospectsmunicipal Knowledge-Management, Institution building and Formation Tool for Municipalities and municipal Associations in the Danube Region

• promoting cooperation, communication and networking of prosperous municipalities

• supporting the local communities in their efforts of rendering living perspective

The creation of favourable conditions for economy and life-quality is a common task of municipalities. By means of cooperation and networkingcommunities and municipal associations can become messengers and incubators of a sustainable socio-cultural and economic development of our immediate living environment. Communities create living space!

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