1. Local Government EU priorities 2014 Dominic Rowles EU Advisor & Deputy Head of Brussels Office Local Government Association (LGA), UK For NHS Delegation 20 Jan 2014 www.local.gov.uk

2. Agenda Who we are UK & EU focus for 2014 How we work Lobbying case study

3. Who we are LGA = England & Wales Formed 1997 – ‘better local government’ Funded mainly by subscription –410 local authorities –representing 50 million people (UK 60 million) –representing €100 billion public spend

4. Who we are London & Brussels offices (120 + 3 staff) Mainstreaming of EU affairs Work through CEMR: European Association of Local & Regional Government

5. LGA focus for 2014 - UK Rewiring Local Services radical agenda for public service reform: more local powers & local financing better outcomes for communities

6. LGA focus for 2014 - Health Support councils’ Public Health role Relationship building with Public Health England, HealthWatch, NHS etc 0-5s children’s public health transfer to local government in 2015, & commissioning of health visitors

7. LGA focus for 2014 - EU 1. EU funds 2. EU legislation – procurement, state aids, environment, employment law + EU elections 3. International trade & development 4. Supporting local politicians - Committee of the Regions (Brussels) - Congress of the Council of Europe (Strasbourg)

8. Direct impact of EU on councils’ services & decisions 75% of EU law implemented at local level Possibility of fines for councils - Localism Act 2011 Why focus on the EU?

10. How we work

11. EU lobbying > success factors Aware of processes Aware of planning (timetable) Actively involved in the policy Aware of the people and how to contact –Networking –Intelligence Able to articulate a position –Clearly, Concisely, Continually…

12. Lobbying earlier is easier Effort Time policy political >> Pre-legislative >> Draft legislation >> Council & EP readings >> Implementation >> Local Government influence

13. “Those are my principles, and if you don't like them... well, I have others.” Groucho Marx, 1890-1977

14. LGA find out more LGA web page www.local.gov.uk Dominic Rowles – EU adviser dominic.rowles@local.gov.uk dominic.rowles@local.gov.uk

15. Successful lobbying case study: Late Payments Directive

16. The Directive required… public authorities to pay suppliers within 30 calendar days of receipt of an undisputed invoice. (Exception healthcare) had to be implemented by 16 March 2013 !

17. Proposed penalties regime complex It was originally proposed that suppliers could charge: Daily interest rate: base rate + 7% points Recovery fee of 1% of invoice value Flat rate penalty of 5% of invoice value ! Plus damages via courts

18. Key lobbying objectives Support prompt payments but push for a simplified & balanced penalty regime –Removal of 5% of invoice value penalty –Removal of 1% of invoice value recovery costs (disproportionate & unrelated to supplier costs) –Application to B2B payments

19. Is regulation remedy ? Inaccurate/disputed invoices – amounts/description Invoice sent to wrong address / department Invoice sent before goods/services received Time needed to check construction work & IT projects – hardware/software Cultural issues - companies do not exercise these rights, they wish to maintain good relationships with public sector.

20. How we lobbied Pre-legislative work Evidence gathering / consultation: up to £600m extra costs for UK public sector Dialogue with Commission Influenced Member States Mobilised European Parliament Valuable work via CoR, CEMR

21. Media Work