Overview of local government reform in Ireland Dr. Seán Ó’Riordáin
Introduction
• Overview of Local Government Reform • The Role • Finance • Prospects?
Sub-National Structures Statutory Local Government
80 Town/Borough Councils 34 County/City Councils 34 County/City Development Boards 8 Regional Authorities 2 Regional Assemblies
Local Administration 60 plus Area based Initiatives 52 Local Development Companies 33 County/City Childcare Committees 35 County/City Enterprise Boards 32 VECs 5 Harbour Authorities
But critically... •15 Government Departments •124 State Companies ...and what about their arms length agencies... ...critical that local government reform be seen within an overarching reform of the Irish public service!
Is bigger better?
NO •Evidence suggests that bigger might be better in a limited range of services •Smaller is better in citizen focused services
Country
Units of Administration
Councillor/ Elector Ratio
France
36,880
116
Ireland
34 Co/City Councils 80 Towns
3,585
Italy
8,215
397
Spain
8,149
597
United Kingdom
472
2,605
711
But what about elsewhere...Finland < 2 000
48
2 001–5 999
ROVANIEMI
134
KEMI
6 000–9 999
66
OULU
75 % 10 000–19 999
45
KOKKOLA
80 %
VAASA
20 000–39 999
31
SEINÄJOKI
KUOPIO JOENSUU
JYVÄSKYLÄ
40 000–99 999
17
100 000 and over 7
PORI
50 %
SAVONLINNA MIKKELI TAMPERE
NOKIA RAUMA HÄMEENLINNA LAHTI
LAPPEENRANTA
KOUVOLA RIIHIMÄKI HYVINKÄÄ TURKU JÄRVENPÄÄ KOTKA NURMIJÄRVI KAARINA KERAVA SALOTUUSULA PORVOO LOHJA KIRKKONUMMI HELSINKI © Municipal
boundaries: Statistics Finland
New Zealand Territorial Councils • 11 Regional Councils • 12 City Councils • 54 District Councils • 6 Unitary Authority Councils • Community Boards • All elected • Auckland City Region-largest pop 1.216 m, 8,000 employees • Chatham Island-population 726 • 3 year electoral cycle • Regional mayors elected by regional councillors • City/district directly elected mayors (non-executive bully pulpit)
Facts not myths please... •Need for a comprehensive overhaul of public management in Ireland •Ireland may need more local elected members to increase access into politics not less •Ireland is not Manchester! •Reform must reflect Irish factors but we must learn from others •The Mayor is not the only answer... •Place-based leadership the crucial role
Key Reform Issues • Lack of meaningful linkage between local authorities and community groups • Comparatively few local authorities and councillors • Local Government should be given a voice in relation to the local government dimension of matters such as the preparation of national economic programmes • More attention should be paid to the policy role vested in the elected members • Structured arrangements to facilitate contact between local authorities and community groups should be devised by each local authority
Better Local Government-1997/98 • BLG was based on four core principles: -Enhancing local democracy and widening participation -Serving the customer better -Developing efficiency in local government -Providing proper resources to allow local government to fulfil the role assigned to it
• Partnership approach to national economic and social planning would be mirrored in the representation on the SPCs • Establishment of Community and Enterprise Groups which would include members drawn from local development bodies
Task Force on Integration: 1999-2000 • Integrated strategies for each county/city involving a wide range of public sector agencies, the social partners, the community and voluntary organisations
• Focusing on social, economic and community development at local level • The major problem with the existing structures was identified as the weakness of the linkages between them • Establishment of Community and Voluntary Fora
Efficiency Review-2010
• • • • • •
Organisational Efficiency Issues Local Government Staffing Value for Money and Audit Shared Services Procurement Local Government Services
Mahon... •Need a system based upon the democratic process •Complementing best international practice • Transparent systems in place which underpin the decision-making • A renewed local political process is central to a renewed planning process •Charter on Local Self-Government
12 Principles for local Government Fair conduct of elections, Representation and Participation
Responsiveness, to ensure the local authority meets the legitimate expectations and needs of citizens
Efficiency and effectiveness, to ensure that objectives are met while
Openness and transparency, to ensure public access to information and
making the best use of resources
facilitate understanding of how public affairs are conducted
Rule of law, to ensure fairness, impartiality and predictability
Ethical conduct, to ensure the public interest is put before private ones
Competence and capacity to ensure that local representatives and officials
Innovation and openness to change to ensure that benefit is derived from
are well able to carry out their duties
new solutions and good practices
Sustainability and long-term orientation, to take the interests of future
Sound financial management, to ensure prudent and productive use of
generations into account
public funds
Human rights, cultural diversity and social cohesion, to ensure that all
Accountability, to ensure that local representatives and officials take
citizens are protected and respected and that no one is either
responsibility and are held responsible for their actions.
discriminated against or excluded
Overview of Party Manifestos •Constitutional Reform •Legislature/Executive Re-structuring •Public Sector Re-structuring •Reduction of public authorities through reabsorption/merger •Greater accountability for individual public servants •Re-balancing of local government and agencies •Re-structured arrangements for public service co-ordination
Local Government Specialist Group Submission • • • • • •
• • • • •
The role of the Public Service The role of local government Resourcing of local government The scope for local flexibility A local-national policy framework Greater integration of local, regional and national planning Integration of local development, community development and enterprise development processes A common set of boundaries across public bodies, locally and regionally Underpinning of development board role Refocusing of Member-Official roles Site Valuation Tax/Water Utility Business Case
What we see modern Local Government as... • • • •
• • • • •
Anticipating future challenges and opportunities for the local area; Building coalitions and looking outside community boundaries for knowledge and collaboration; Advocating powerfully on behalf of the local community with the creditability to negotiate across all sectors; Arbitrating between competing local interests and supporting community cohesion, taking tough choices where necessary; Listening to the views of local residents and other stakeholders and building trust in local institutions; Being open with information and ensuring transparency in decision making; Demonstrating a high level of understanding of local issues and having a strong evidence base which shapes policy priorities; Focusing on service performance for its impact on the community rather than to meet government requirements, looking outward rather than upward; and Championing efficiency and service innovation-getting the best value from public expenditure and maximum impact from private investment in their area
Local Government needs active citizens •Community and societal development is based upon a process of collaborative planning •Social inclusion based on targeted local development needs •Partnership / participation based on the development of governance having real inclusion in decision making capability •Democratic legitimacy based upon an integrated framework of elective and participative forms of governance
Key Finance Issues • • • • • • •
Dependency on central government Cost Shifting: Operations vs capital Limited Range of fees, charges and taxes State Agency Role Block Grant/Specific Grants Limited centralization of collection systems Need for efficiencies-back office opportunities
Per Capita Exp 2009 (â&#x201A;Ź)
Austria
2,687
Denmark
15,122
Finland
7,297
Slovakia
883
Lithuania
843
Ireland
2,791
Quick comparison-2011 Location
Fingal
London
Neuss
Grafing
The Hague
Water charges
Nil
€1,200
€1,000
€1,000
€1,044
Property Charges
Nil
€3,000
€300
€400 plus Fire service charge
€232
Motor Tax
€550
€260
€600
€720
€624
Licences
€12.70
N/Ap
€100-€534
€100
n/ap
Summary points to note • • • • • •
Ireland is not centralised Disaggregated model Local Authorities larger than European norm Lower representation levels Lower Public Service Spend proportion Broadly consistent functions save education/public health...but primarily engineering focused
So what about the Future Local Authority? The Programme for Government suggests... • • • • • •
Leadership through the Council Vertical/Horizontal coherence Coordination role Central role in local social inclusion Renewed role in economic development Refocusing of performance determination and evaluation
So this means?...
• • • • • • •
Smaller, streamlined local government arrangements Reduced responsibilities for engineering services Enhanced local economic role Re-balancing of elected member-manager Executive Mayor? Re-configured community development responsibilities Resourcing...???
But what should it mean...? A local government system, fit for purpose, is likely to: • Have more functions •Be more democratically accountable to local communities. •Have a sustainable local funding system, and •Have a more coherent division of functions between town/district, city/county and regional/national levels
What are we likely to have? â&#x20AC;˘ A missed opportunity?
Or a local government system for ... the best small country in the world in which to do business, to raise a family and to grow old with dignity and respect?
Contact Details
• sean@seanoriordain.ie • www.seanoriordain.ie