NORTHERN IRELAND LOCAL GOVERNMENT

NORTHERN IRELAND LOCAL GOVERNMENT ASSOCIATION Investing in democracy & delivering for the local government sector - with Derry City Council Derek McCallan, Chief Executive, NILGA 14th February 2013

WHO ARE WE AND WHAT DO WE DO? • NILGA is the representative body for Councils in Northern Ireland. • NILGA speaks up for local government and offers clear, effective and accountable representation and services. We are led by, and accountable to, the 26 district councils. • NILGA builds strong local government by getting political leadership to combine across parties, in order to meet the needs of our sector & the community it serves.

WHAT IS NILGA DOING FOR DERRY CITY COUNCIL? • Negotiated back £1.147m in 2010/11, lobbied successfully to retain £1.17 in 2011/12 for councils in terms of restoration of Resource Grant total for Derry City Council - £165K – more of the same going forward. • Local economies - levered £11 million of funding for our economic development projects from DETI / INI. • Held key engagement events on issues affecting local government including Justice, Community Safety, EU, Economic Development, Finance, Welfare Reform, Waste Management & Planning.

WHAT IS NILGA DOING FOR DERRY CITY COUNCIL? • Responded to 24 Assembly Committee requests and 87 key consultations in 2012 • Maintaining in 2013/14 the same subscription levy as 2010/11 (0% for fourth year) • Part of the UK Local Government Group – with 500 + councils across NI, England, Scotland and Wales, and offices / services in capital cities and Brussels, at no additional cost • Elected Member capacity building and development – open to all in 2013 & 2014

WHAT IS NILGA DOING FOR DERRY CITY COUNCIL? • In 2012 represented Councils in 36 negotiations with 7 ministers on issues as diverse as Local Government Reform, Rates Relief and Waste Management • Absorbed the costs of servicing the I.C.E. programme through further prudence and work force versatility – no new money or staff needed • Delivered Working Groups for elected members on (1) PLANNING, (2) WASTE / ENVIRONMENT, (3) RURAL DEVELOPMENT (4) ELECTED MEMBER DEVELOPMENT, (5) the EU / LOCAL ECONOMY & (6) LOCAL GOVERNMENT REFORM / MODERNISATION

WHAT IS NILGA DOING FOR DERRY CITY COUNCIL? • Got the Local Government Associations in England, Scotland and Wales to work with us to establish a better way to distribute EU Funds in 2014 – 2020 (£300 million + in NI) • Produced a four year corporate plan for 2012 - 2016 and developed the constitution to affirm the representation of elected members from all councils • Produce Sector News Bulletins and specific LG Reform Communications, informing and forewarning Councils – offering these to the Standing Committees of Councils for everyone’s benefit (e.g. Planning Workshops + EU Consultation)

1. Effective and Innovative Communication & Engagement • Two way communication with our Councils; • Website development and Twitter (NI_LGA) for enhanced interaction; • Conferences to showcase and share best practice; • Keeping the Vision in Local Government Reform (Transfer of Functions, Legislation, Community Planning, Review of NI Assembly) • Determining councillor capacity building for tomorrow with elected members of today – code of conduct, corporate and constituent capacity and awareness training – you ask, we develop

2. Building Strong Relationships with... • Councils; • Government, Assembly, Committees • Engagement events with outside bodies; and • SOLACE, DoE, Local Government Group (UK), Central Government Departments; Westminster, ACCC (RoI), COSLA (Sco), European Union, Federation of Small Businesses (Procurement)

• “Great leaders are almost always great simplifiers, who can cut through argument, debate, and doubt to offer a solution everybody can understand”. (Colin Powell, US) • We need more of this going forward • We need more democratically determined decision taking not just in terms of LG Reform, but also in developing BETTER, MORE EFFECTIVE, two tier government in NI, offering responsibilities and services and resources to councils, as befits a contemporary, enterprising region with local, devolved power within a practical and visionary Programme for Government. • In parallel, improve, challenge and promote councils amidst austerity, and the scourge of bureaucracy.

Combined Forces and Unity of Purpose – Stronger Councils

NILGA – showcasing the value and work of councils • EU Investment / Westminster • Local Government Awards / Annual Conference (28 / 2/ 13) • Ulster In Bloom; • Engagement events • Migration Partnership 2012/13 (funding and representation) • Be a Councillor Campaign 2013 • Building Strong Relationships

Going Forward – Campaigns, Resolve, Results • Elected member development – a crucial investment in you • Ensuring local government is transformed with / by us – not thrown at us with ultimatums • NILGA, equal partner negotiating with central government • NILGA will bring best practice into NI (e.g. Planning, General Competence, Real Localism) • NILGA will bring investment choices from EU for local authorities (e.g. Jessica and EIB) • Marketing and celebrating the sector’s successes • Working with all members and officers of local government sector to get the best for all of us • Annual results against targets as we “sweat the asset”; and • Certainty, credibility, practical structure and realism, linked to a passion for local government because local is best

"Enthusiasm is one of the most powerful engines of success. When you do a thing, do it with all your might. Put your whole soul into it. Stamp it with your own personality. Be active, be energetic and faithful, and you will accomplish your objective. Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm." — Ralph Waldo Emerson

Fragrant Derry City Council – Ulster In Bloom 2012

Best Initiative by a Councillor Award Winner – ‘City of Derry Airport’The Councillors of Derry City Council

Investing in your membership: Derry City Council and NILGA value the input of: • Cllr Michael Cooper, NILGA Full Member and NILGA Waste & Environment WG • Cllr Angela Dobbins, NILGA Full and Executive Member • Cllr Ann Donnelly, NILGA Full Member • Cllr Paul Fleming, NILGA Full Member • Cllr Shaun Gallagher, NILGA Full Member and NILGA Waste & Environment WG • Ald Mary Hamilton, NILGA Full Member • Cllr Hugh Hastings, NILGA Full Member • Cllr Barney O’Hagan, NILGA Full Member

NILGA Annual Conference 2013

Derry City Council –

forward planning, delivering a sustainable future for local government. NILGA, your Association – investing in and developing the sector, standing up for LOCAL government, listening to and delivering your needs, for the public we collectively serve.

THANK YOU.