Strasbourg, 11 June 2010                                                                     LR-FS(2010)1

                                                                                                                         

EUROPEAN COMMITTEE ON LOCAL AND REGIONAL DEMOCRACY

(CDLR)


COMMITTEE OF EXPERTS ON LOCAL AND REGIONAL FINANCE

AND PUBLIC SERVICES

(LR-FS)

PROGRAMME OF ACTIVITIES OF THE LR-FS FOR 2010-2013:

Draft list of activities

Secretariat Memorandum

prepared by the Directorate General of

Democracy and Political Affairs

Directorate of Democratic Institutions


This document is public. It will not be distributed at the meeting. Please bring this copy.

Ce document est public. Il ne sera pas distribué en réunion. Prière de vous munir de cet exemplaire.


Introduction

At the 16th session of their conference in Utrecht, the European  Ministers responsible for Local and Regional Government instructed their representatives in the European Committee on Local and Regional Democracy (CDLR) “to draw up at the Committee’s meeting in March 2010 a concrete programme of activities for the years 2010-2013 that reflects the priority the Ministers had given to the challenges, takes account of the priority given to actions at national and regional level and determines outputs that meet the highest possible level of support.”

At its meeting in January 2010, the Bureau examined first elements prepared by the Secretariat on the basis of the Utrecht Declaration, notably Declaration I (A) on the impact of financial/economic crisis on local and regional government and Declaration I (B) on government action to overcome obstacles to transfrontier co-operation, including Protocol No 3 to the Madrid Outline Convention, and the replies that had by then been received to the questionnaire launched in December on the activities to meet the challenges identified in the Utrecht Agenda. The Bureau instructed the Secretariat to prepare a preliminary draft programme of activities for consideration and adoption by the CDLR at it meeting in March on the basis of its discussion and suggestions made.

At its meeting in March 2010 the CDLR adopted its (initial) programme of activities 2010-2013, as instructed by Ministers in Utrecht. In doing so, it took care to reflect the priority that Ministers had, through their voting at Utrecht, given to the challenges and to identify outputs that meet the highest level of support.

The current document contains the preliminary draft programme of activities of the LR-FS for 2010-2013 in the form of a table (see Appendix I). It includes the activities stemming directly from the Utrecht Declaration, activities proposed in the replies to the questionnaire, and supplemented with proposals by the Bureau.

The list of outputs in the table is thus a proposal which is to be reviewed in-depth by the LR-FS before being adopted. Members are invited to make additional proposals for outputs/activities and/or to propose removing outputs/activities from the list, bearing in mind the instruction by ministers quoted above.

It is suggested that the LR-FS may at this stage wish not to determine all activities and outputs for the full period of 2010-2013. Rather it may wish already now to identify those which already clearly meet the requirements and keep open the possibility of identifying further outputs and activities at a later stage.

Concerning the table, the following further explanations can be given:

Outputs that are closely linked are grouped together under one activity.


Outputs listed (1st column) are in a different stages; some are ongoing and others are in a preliminary stage. Therefore, it is suggested that the LR-FS members give input and consideration to each output separately. For those outputs which are underway (Conference on the impact of and responses to the economic downturn on local government 11-12 October 2010) there is separate item on the LR-FS agenda (Item 7), and members are invited to contribute with the advice and recommendations for the next steps under those points. Outputs which are new have to examined in detail, and all the aspects in the implementations cycle need to be considered. LR-FS members are expected to provide constructive efforts in defining the methods in the outputs’ implementation, as well as the communications plans of action.

An objective (column 2nd) is defined for each output, and LR-FS members are invited to examine and propose any other outputs that meet the objective.

The 3rd column identifies the impact that is expected from the implementation of each output. LR-FS members are welcome to propose modifications and/or new formulations.

The timing suggested for outputs (4th and 5th column) is provisional and all suggestions from the LR-FS members are welcome.

LR-FS members are also invited to make proposals for outputs which could be implemented in co-operation with other sub-committees (6th column).

As part of measures set out in the Utrecht Declaration to achieve strong ownership by member states, CDLR members were encouraged to take on the function of rapporteur (adviser) for activities (7th column). Some members already volunteered to take on the function, while some positions are still open. LR-FS members are thus encouraged to propose themselves as a rapporteur for activities in which their country has a particular interest and they themselves have know-how and experience. For a description of the tasks to be performed by the rapporteurs, see Appendix II.

In addition to those specifically mentioned as partners in the implementation of the outputs (8th column), all those identified in the terms of reference of the CDLR as participants, other participants and observers are invited to contribute/take part: Parliamentary Assembly, Congress of Local and Regional Authorities, Conference of INGOs, European Union, states with observer status (Canada, Holy See, Japan, Mexico and United States of America), intergovernmental organisations such as United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UN/ECE), Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR-OSCE); and the following non-governmental organisations: United Cities and Local Government (UCLG), Council of European Municipalities and Regions (CEMR), Assembly of European Regions (AER), and the International Federation for Housing and Planning (IFHP).


The 9th column identifies by its number the challenge in the Utrecht Agenda to which the outputs are related. The outputs currently on the list address several of the seven priority challenges identified by the Ministers at Utrecht.

The column of communication action plans of (10th column) has been deliberately left open.  Because it is of great importance for the communication plans to be determined all members are invited to make proposals in this respect.

Action required

The LR-FS is invited to review in-depth the preliminary draft programme of activities 2010-2013 and particularly:

-      to decide the activities, outputs, objective, impacts, time frame, rapporteurs, and communication action plans to be included in the programme;

-    to adopt the resulting programme of activities and to give the Secretariat the necessary instructions for taking the work forward;

-      to make proposals for further outputs/activities that could be included in the programme at a later stage.


APPENDIX I

DRAFT LIST OF ACTIVITIES OF THE LR-FS FOR 2010-2013

Output

(1)

Objective

(2)

Expected impact

(3)

Start date

(4)

End-date

(5)

Sub-Com.

(6)

Rapport.

(7)

Partners[1]

(8)

Challenges addressed[2]

(9)

Communication plans of action

(10)

Activity 1: Monitoring and responding to the financial and economic crisis

1.

Report on impact of the financial and economic crisis and follow-up to guidelines

To have up-to-date information on the crisis’ impact to all member states, and to take stock on their responses.

Member states have accurate information on the financial crisis which will facilitate their actions in responding to the financial and economic crisis.

2010 I

2010 II

FS

LGI

Budapest

1, 3, 4, 6

2.

Review conference on the impact of and responses to the economic downturn on local government

To exchange information and experience on how governments cope with the financial and economic crisis.

Impact of the report is enhanced by giving the participants an opportunity for learning and exchanging.

2010 I

2010 II

FS

LGI

Budapest

1

3.

Review report for 17th session of the Ministerial Conference

To put forward accurate picture of the impacts of the financial and economic crisis in the member states, and to provide basis for possible further decision making.

Ministers have increased knowledge on financial and economic crisis in the international context, and sound basis for further decision making.

2011 I

2011 II

FS

LGI

Budapest

1, 3, 4, 6

Activity 2: Analysing participation trends

1.

Report on

participatory budgeting

To have insight into the legislation and practices on participatory budgeting in the Member States.

Member States have better understanding on this instrument and basis for possible further work.

2011/I

2011/II

GG   

FS

Mrs Neza Vodusek

(Slovenia)

1, 2, 3,  4, 6

  

Activity 3: Reducing the complexity and costs of the current system of local government and enhancing its efficiency

1.

Reference framework of the features of the systems of local and regional government in member States

To have insight into the features of the systems of local and regional government in member States.

Member States have reference framework for purposes of comparisons which also provides basis for further work (exchange of experience and best practices).

2010/II

2011/I

IC

FS

Mr Lukasz Krysztofiak

(Poland)

Mr Auke van der Goot (NL)

1, 3, 4, 6

2.

Guidelines for the funding of new competencies at local level

To offer guidelines to the member state on funding of new competencies at local level.

Member States have guidelines on funding of new competencies at local level.

2009 II

2010 II

FS

3




Challenges

1: Managing the impact of the current financial/economic crisis

2: Addressing the low level of democratic participation in public life at local and            

    regional level

3: Reducing the complexity and cost of the current system of local and regional

    government and enhancing its efficiency

4: Enhancing the capacity for and quality of governance in local and regional

    communities or authorities

5: Addressing the impact of demographic/migration trends

6: Improving access to public services delivered at local and regional level

7: Making it easier for local and regional authorities to co-operate across frontiers


APPENDIX II

Rapporteurs' duties
for the intergovernmental programme of activities 2010 – 2013

In order to secure member states' "strong ownership" of the Council of Europe Agenda in the field of local and regional democracy, as called for in Utrecht by the ministers responsible for local and regional government, and bearing in mind the measures recommended by Mrs Mari Kiviniemi concerned with strengthening member states' involvement, the appointment of rapporteurs for multilateral activities is strongly encouraged.

In their replies to the questionnaire sent out in December 2009, member states called for reports to be prepared on topical subjects relating to the challenges identified in the Utrecht Agenda. The intergovernmental programme of activities has been prepared on the basis of these replies and was approved by the CDLR at its 45th meeting (1-2 March 2010).

The member states have been invited to volunteer to fill the role of rapporteur on one of the themes of the activities programme.

Rapporteurs have the following duties :

They oversee the entire activity concerned and ensure that it is conducted in accordance with the agreed timetable and achieves the expected results.

They will also carry out as many of the following tasks as possible:

Turning to the required skills and competences, rapporteurs should have a good knowledge of and be interested in the relevant field. The purpose and value of their involvement is to share their experience in that field, for the benefit of member states.

Rapporteurs operate on a voluntary basis and, in principle, receive no remuneration.



[1] In all cases those identified in the terms of reference of the CDLR as participants, other participants and observers are invited to contribute.

[2] At Utrecht Ministers voted to establish the priority to be given to the challenges the CDLR had identified in the field of local and regional democracy. Challenges are listed at the last page of this document.