Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 13 February 2014
178. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the proposed new role for councillors and management in local authorities in view of his recent local government reforms; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7412/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Action Programme for Effective Local Government - Putting People First , set out Government decisions for a range of local government reform measures, including matters covered in Chapter 11 to reinforce the primacy of the elected council within the local government system and to rebalance the role of the council in relation to the present position of county manager. Building on this, the Local Government Reform Act 2014 reinforces the primacy of the elected council within the local government system, and provides a legislative basis for a stronger and more explicit statutory expression of the powers of elected members and the duty of the Manager to comply with policy as set down by the elected members, together with measures to strengthen the capacity generally of the elected council to oversee the business of the authority.
The Act also provides for the replacement of the traditional County/City Manager position by a new post of "Chief Executive". The change from manager to chief executive is an important aspect of clarifying, in a more modern sense, the appropriate roles of the executive in implementing the policy of the council, with the elected members acting as, in effect, the board of directors of the authority. In that context, elected members will have the power of decision over the appointment of the individual recommended by the Public Appointments Service for the chief executive post in their authority, while retaining the independence of the selection procedures of the Public Appointments Service.
More importantly, the change to a chief executive post is accompanied by a range of significant provisions to give substance to the rebalancing of roles. For example, there are increased obligations on the chief executive to provide additional advice and assistance to elected members in the discharge of their roles at council and municipal district levels and in various committees. Chief executives will be obliged to have regard to the views of elected members while policy options are still in formation and will have to assist elected members in the development of new policies at an early stage of the policy formation process. Chief executives will also have to prepare monthly management reports for the elected members.
The powers of the elected members in overseeing the implementation of policy by the chief executive are also being strengthened, including specific provision for oversight and superintendence of action taken pursuant to directions of the elected council. Where members are not satisfied with the chief executive's approach to implementation of their policy, they may request a report in which the chief executive must indicate what new or different actions may be pursued or other possible adjustment to the policy.
The Local Government Reform Act also creates some important new reserved functions to be discharged by the elected members, including the adoption of integrated local economic and community development plans, and service delivery plans. The role of the elected members is also being strengthened in the context of the new system of municipal districts, including in the context of the draft local authority budgetary plan.
The timing of the commencement of the various provisions outlined is currently being considered in the context of the timetable for commencement of provisions in the Act generally.
