LAMA Conference
28th & 29th September 2012 Seamus Neely County Manager Donegal County Council
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Local Government Reform
‘Reform’
To Improve by Alteration or Correction of Abuses’ ! Collins Dictionary 2
L.G. Purpose & Objectives Developmental
Role
Economic, Social, & Cultural
Representational
Role Service Delivery Role Emergency Response Role Regulatory Role
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Wider Context External
Environmental Factors Public Service Agreement Programme for Government Ability to sustain local Revenues Location! Burden of ‘Compliance’ Costs Implications of Downturn
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Reform - Customer Service
Balance between Central & Local Access Cost Implications Role of ‘partnering’ with other agencies Trade offs necessary to sustain service Use of existing points of delivery Greater use of IS and Social Media Role of Communications and PR Setting & Meeting Realistic Expectations 5
Considerations Prioritisation Outputs / Outcomes Financial Sustainability Governance vs Performance Competitiveness
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History of Reform Barrington
– 1991
Constitutional Recognition Devolution of Functions 10 yr contract, Ultra Vires relaxed 3 levels
Regional, County, Sub County 7
1996 Reports Financing
(Ireland) – KPMG
Funding gap predicted
International
Financing – KPMG
Fewer functions in Irl
Towards
Cohesive Local Govt…
Town Councils Work Together
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Better Local Government Enhance
Local Democracy Widen Participation Serve Customer Better Efficiency Drive Resources to follow (need)
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Better Local Government Strategic
Policy Committees Corporate Policy Group Directorate Based Management Specific Community and Enterprise function Alignment LG & Local Dev 10
Range of Options Role
& Function
Range of Responsibility Responsibility vs Agent Plan Maker vs Plan Taker Economic Charge vs ‘Grant’ Citizen vs Service Centered
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Range of Options Decision
making
Reserved vs Executive Elected vs Non Elected
Local
vs Regional / Other Town vs County / City Sub County / City Amalgamations
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Range of Options Alignment
LG, LD & LEOs Shared Services
Economic unit Size
Delivery
Options
Outsourcing Delivery Outsourcing Function
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