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

Planning Off Street Parking Local Economic Development Local Tourism Urban 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 communities Re-grouping key functions – Planning, Urban Regeneration, Local Economic Development, Local Tourism Integration of these functions combined with Councils existing functions – synergies, removing duplication Joined up approach and working together Strengthened 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 Stage Opportunity 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/Advertising Collaborative Procurement – insurance etc Shared Recruitment advertising Framework agreements – stationery and computer consumable Geo Park –Marble Arch Caves (Mgt of an Env. Asset) Blackwater Regional Partnership (Development Group) Strategic Alliances (Newry & Louth) Shared Officers – Specialist Officers Public Service Centres Route optimisation initiative Common 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? Leadership Building relationships Shared Vision New mind sets Can do attitude Changes to legislation Focus on outcomes Business Focussed models Innovation

Concluding Remarks Local Government-almost there with transition - still more to do Real work only begins on 1 April Transformation stage New era of Community Planning New era of Performance Management New era of Continuous Improvement Diminishing resources but increased customer expectations The environment is right for enhanced cooperation across sectors and across geographical boundaries Shared Services – will feature strongly in the transformation stage of Local Government Reform