Local Government RPA: DOE Policy Proposals Consultation
Local Government RPA: DOE Policy Proposals Consultation
I forwarded to you via e-mail a copy of the:-
(i) DOE Local Government Reform Policy Proposals Consultation Document of 30 November 2010;
(ii) The DOE Cover Note; and
(iii) The DOE Minister’s Press Release
Click here for PDF
Should you require access to the documentation it is available on the DOE website in the Local Government Reform Section.
The Consultation document covers a range of issues, some related to the future working arrangements for Councillors and others either directly or indirectly impacting upon staff and the employment provisions. The publication of the documentation clearly signals that both the NI Executive and the DOE intend to proceed with RPA, the only real question is the timeframe for doing so.
Linked to the announcement and publication of the Policy Proposals the DOE Minister also announced that the transfer of functions would proceed regardless and that the Planning function would be the first to do so. The intention is to run a pilot programme in 2011 with full transfer of Planning functions, other than wider strategic planning issues, from April 2012.
A number of important issues arise from both of these announcements, consideration is not helped however due to the lack of clarity in the proposals and a consultation document that is littered with references to guidance documents that have not seen the light of day and are unlikely to do so before the end of the consultation period. This clearly undermines the consultation process and NIPSA will be raising this matter immediately with the DOE.
Some of the points of concern and staffing issues that arise from the Policy Proposals include:-
- What will be the devolved core issues for alternative decision making (para 3.9)
- Councillor Code of Conduct and it’s coverage of staffing issues (para 4.7)
- Section 5 Service Delivery and Performance Improvement – where does this sit vis-à-vis the ICE Project
- Staffing impact of Community Planning/well-being (para 5.2)
- Performance Management Framework and target setting along with DOE intervention (para 5.4)
- What is exactly meant with regard to replacing ‘best value’ (para 5.5)
- How will community planning operate and interface with other public service providers (para 6.2)
- Section 10 Re-organisation of District Councils – the DOE are to be condemned for the total and absolute failure to engage with the Unions and/or the Local Government Reform Joint Forum (LGRJF) before publishing this section, given the staffing issues
- NIPSA does not accept that the Libraries Act is good enough in relation to the Schedule on staff transfers (para 10.6)
- It is a matter for the LGRJF and the Public Service Commission re Staff Transfer Schemes and no one else (para 10.8)
- Section 12, NIPSA does not accept that there are no Section 75 issues to be addressed.
NIPSA will be seeking to raise these issues with the DOE and within the LGRJF.
In my circular of 25 November regarding the Special Meeting of the Local Government Panel I indicated that the special subject would be the ICE Programme, whilst this will still be an important issue of debate the meeting will also consider the Policy Proposals and Transfer of Functions.
I would hope to add to the SOLACE and Local Government Staff Commission speakers by having a Senior DOE Official attend.
Further circulars will issue over the next number of weeks as and when more detail or clarification is available. Branches should also start to consider the issues so that detailed comments can be provided to me by the 18 February in order to help inform the detailed NIPSA response to the DOE.
Yours sincerely
BUMPER GRAHAM
Assistant General Secretary Bg02124a
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