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.