Strasbourg, 23 March 2009 LR-GR(2008)11

EUROPEAN COMMITTEE ON LOCAL AND REGIONAL DEMOCRACY

(CDLR)

COMMITTEE OF EXPERTS ON GOVERNANCE AND RESOURCES

AT LOCAL AND REGIONAL LEVEL

(LR-GR)

DRAFT MEETING REPORT

27-28 October 2008

1. Opening of the meeting

The LR-GR Committee met in Strasbourg on 27-28 October 2008 with Mr Marc Vanolst (Luxembourg) in the Chair. The list of participants appears at Appendix 1.

2. Adoption of the agenda

The agenda as adopted appears at Appendix 2.

3. Identification of topics and issues that would be appropriate for inclusion in a possible additional protocol to the European Charter of Local Self- Government

The Secretariat introduced this item on the agenda on the basis of document LR-FS(2009)6 and drew attention to the draft questionnaire that had been prepared on this issue by the LR-GI Committee.

The representative of the CEMR explained that the CEMR would shortly be adopting a formal position in which it would advocate the elaboration of additional provisions to the Europan Charter of Local Self-Government on ten specific topics. The CEMR would be writing to the Secretariat shortly to give further details about these proposals and requesting the dissemination of these proposals to all members of the CDLR.

The Committee expressed its approval for the draft questionnaire as prepared by the LR-IC Committee, whilst recommending to the CDLR, that was to adopt the questionnaire at its meeting in December 2008, to add the possibility for Governments to add a comment in respect of their answer to question 3 on the consultation of associations of local authorities.

4. Draft report and guidelines identifying good practice in the relationship between local/regional authorities and the private sector

Based on the 18 contributions received (including three replies from the regions of Belgium; the total number of delegations participating is thus 16), the Secretariat prepared, in collaboration with Mr Vanolst, chair of the LR-GR and Rapporteur on the PPP activity, a first draft report that was presented to the committee. The committee generally approved the approach chosen for this report and decided that any delegation wishing to submit an additional contribution could do so before 7 November.

Concerning further work to be carried out in this field – and in spite of the fact that the report shows that PPP are a topic of great interest in all countries - the LR-GR committee considered that there was, at this stage, not enough material to pursue the elaboration of guidelines (as initially planned). The LR-GR, however, suggested to hold a workshop on the topic in 2009 to examine the challenges of PPP at national and local level more in depth and through a certain number of practical examples; an idea that was supported by most of the members present.

5. Draft report on the pilot study concerning the degree of conformity of member states’ policy and practice with Council of Europe guidelines for local finances

Mr Jorgen Lotz (Denmark), consultant expert, made a presentation to the Committee on the draft report as revised by him in co-operation with the Secretariat. The Committee subsequently reviewed and approved the draft report, agreeing that the modifications requested by members concerning their countries be introduced in the final version to be presented to the CDLR at its meeting in December. The Committee thanked Mr Lotz for the quality of his work.

6. Preliminary draft report on member States’ practices for the funding of new competences of local authorities

7. The impact of the global financial crisis on local and regional authorities

On the basis of the six questions set out in document LR-FS(2008)10, Committee members exchanged information on the impact of the global financial crisis on local and regional authorities.

8. Preparation of an activity on performance management

Mr Dan Popescu (Department of Local and regional democracy and good governance) informed the Committee about the programmes of the Centre of Expertise on Local Government Reform in relation to performance management.

The members from the Russian Federation, Norway and United Kingdom offered to present to the Committee at one of its next meetings information on their current practice of performance management by local authorities. The Committee welcomed these offers.

9. Workshops on local and regional finance

The Secretariat introduced this item, explaining the approach the CDLR had agreed in respect of this new working method.

The Secretariat suggested to hold a workshop on the topic in 2009 to examine the challenges of PPP at national and local level more in depth and through a certain number of practical examples; an idea that was supported by most of the members present.

10. Other business

The committee agreed to discuss the issue of possible further work in the field of local and regional finance and local services at its next meeting and asked the Secretariat to prepare a note on this subject.

11. Date of the next meeting

The date of the next meeting is to be decided by the CDLR at its meeting in December 2008.

APPENDIX 1

LIST OF PARTICIPANTS

MEMBERS / MEMBRES

CHAIRMAN / PRESIDENT

M. Marc VANOLST, Attaché de Gouvernement, Direction des Finances communales, Ministère de l’Intérieur et de l’Aménagement du Territoire, 19 rue Beaumont, L – 2933 Luxembourg

Tél : (352) 478 4655; Fax : (352) 26 27 05 29 ; E-mail : [email protected]

AZERBAIJAN / AZERBAÏDJAN

Mr Kamran BAYRAMOV, Adviser of the Department of Legislation and Legal Assessment, Office of President, 19, Istiglaliyyat Str., 1066 BAKU

Tel/Fax: (994 12) 492 53 11; E-mail: [email protected]

BELGIUM / BELGIQUE

Mr Johan IDE, Head of Division, Flemish Agency for Home Affairs, Boudewijnlaan, 30, 1000 BRUSSEL

Tel: (32) 32 2 553 40 03; Fax: (32) 32 2 553 40 02; E-mail: [email protected]

CZECH REPUBLIC / REPUBLIQUE TCHEQUE

Mrs Marie WIDEMANNOVÁ, Public Administration Section, Ministry of the Interior, Nám. Hrdinů 3, 140 21 PRAHA 4

Tel : (420) 974 816 260 ; Fax : (420) 974 816 807 ; E-mail: [email protected]

ESTONIA / ESTONIE

Mr Igor LIGEMA, Adviser, Department of Local Government and Regional Administration, Ministry of the Interior, Pikk 61, TALLINN, 15065

Tel: (372) 6125142; Fax: (372) 6125183; E-mail: [email protected]

FINLAND / FINLANDE

Mr Markku MÖLLÄRI, Senior Officer, Department for Municipal Affairs, Ministry of Finance, PO Box 28, FIN – 00023 GOVERNMENT

Tel: (358) 9 160 44656; Fax: (358) 9 160 42520; E-mail: [email protected]

GREECE / GRECE

Mr Georgios STEFANAKIS, Ministry of the Interior, 27 Stadiou Str., GR - 10183 ATHENS

E-mail : [email protected]

ICELAND / ISLANDE

Apologised for absence/ Excusé

LATVIA / LETTONIE

Ms Zita KURSĪTE, Jurisconsult, Legal Department, Ministry of Regional Development and Local Government, Lacplesa str. 27, LV – 1011 RIGA

Tel : (371) 6777 03 87; E-mail: [email protected]

LITHUANIA / LITUANIE

Mrs Rasa Dalia LIUTKEVIČiENẺ, Deputy Director of Public Administration Department, Ministry of the Interior, Šventaragio Str. 2, LT - 01510 VILNIUS, LITHUANIA

Fax: (370) 5 271 8915; E-mail: [email protected]

MALTA / MALTE

Mr Natalino ATTARD, Director, Department for Local Government, 26 Archbishop Street, VALLETTA CMR02, Malta

Tel: (356) 21 248442; Fax: (356) 21 247629; E-mail: [email protected]

MOLDOVA

Mr Radu CARUTA, Head of the Regional Development Division, Ministry of Public Administration, CHISINAU, MD-2033, Republic of Moldova

Tel: +373 22 200 176; Fax: +373 22 238 922; E-mail: [email protected]

NETHERLANDS / PAYS-BAS

Mr Henk SATTER, Directorate General for Governance and Kingdom Relations, Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations, P.O. Box 20011, 2500 EA DEN HAAG

Tel: 31 70 426 6581; Fax: 31 70 426 7655; E-mail: [email protected]

NORWAY / NORVEGE

Mr Arild KORMESETH, Department of Local Government, The Royal Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development, Postbox 8112 DEP, N - 0032 OSLO

Tel: (47) 22 24 72 14; Fax: (47) 22 24 27 35; E-mail: [email protected]

PORTUGAL

Mrs Sónia Alexandra Mendes Ramalhinho, Direction Générale des Collectivités Locales, Rua José Estevão, 137-7°, P – 1169-058 LISBOA

ROMANIA / ROUMANIE

Mr Mihai Adrian GROSAN, Deputy executive, Ministry of the Interior and Administrative Reform, Piata Revolutiei No 1, BUCAREST

E-mail: [email protected]

RUSSIAN FEDERATION / FEDERATION DE RUSSIE

Mr Maxim RESHETNIKOV, Director of the Department of estimation of efficiency of activity of Local authorities, Ministry of Regional Development of the Russian federation, MOSCOW

Fax: 7 495 230 2372: E-mail: [email protected]

SPAIN / ESPAGNE

Apologised for absence/ Excusé

SWEDEN / SUEDE

Ms Eva EKLUND, Local Government of Finance Division, Ministry of Finance, SE-103 33 STOCKHOLM

Tel: + 468 405 31 58; Fax: + 468 20 61 96; E-mail: [email protected]

SWITZERLAND / SUISSE

Apologised for absence/ Excusé

UNITED KINGDOM/ ROYAUME-UNI

Mr Paul ROWSELL, Deputy Director, Local Democracy, Department for Communities and Local Government, 5/A1, Eland House, Bressenden Place, LONDON SW1E 5DU, GB

Tel: (44) 20 7944 4230; Fax: (44) 20 7944 4109;

E-mail: [email protected]

Ms Victoria JONES, Team Leader, Local Democracy, Department for Communities and Local Government, 5/A2, Eland House, Bressenden Place, LONDON SW1E 5DU, GB

Tel: (44) 20 7944 8146; fax: (44) 20 7944 4109;

E-mail: [email protected]

PARTICIPANTS / PARTICIPANTS

CONGRESS OF LOCAL AND REGIONAL AUTHORITIES OF THE COUNCIL OF EUROPE/ CONGRES DES POUVOIRS LOCAUX ET REGIONAUX DU CONSEIL DE L’EUROPE

Ms Lilit NIKOGHOSYAN, Co-secretary of the Committee, Institutional Committee, Chamber of Local Authorities and Statutory Committees / Co-secrétaire de la Commission, Commission Institutionnelle, Chambre des Pouvoirs locaux et Commissions statutaires

Tel: +33(0)3 88 41 35 04; E-mail: [email protected]

OTHER PARTICIPANT / AUTRE PARTICIPANT

HOLY-SEE / SAINT-SIEGE

Apologised for absence/ Excusé

OBSERVER / OBSERVATEUR

COUNCIL OF EUROPEAN MUNICIPALITIES AND REGIONS / CONSEIL DES COMMUNES ET REGIONS D’EUROPE

Mrs Marit SCHWEIKER, Policy Co-ordination Officer, Council of European Municipalities and Regions, Square de Meeûs, 1, B – 1000 BRUXELLES

Tel: (32) 2 500 05 44 ; E-mail : [email protected]

EXPERT-CONSULTANT / CONSULTANT-EXPERT

Professor Jørgen LOTZ, Sonderengen 66, 2870 DYSSEGAARD, Denmark

Tel : (45) 33 92 26 68 ; E-mail: [email protected]

SECRETARIAT

Mr Alfonso ZARDI, Director ad interim of Democratic Institutions / Directeur ad interim des institutions démocratiques, Head of the Department of Local and Regional Democracy and Good Governance / Chef du Service de la démocratie locale et régionale et de la bonne gouvernance - Directotrate of Democratic Institutions/ Direction des institutions démocratiques, Directorate General of Democracy and Political Affairs / Direction générale de la démocratie et des affaires politiques

Tel : +33 (0)3 88 41 39 06; Fax : +33 (0)3 88 41 27 84; E-mail : [email protected]

Mr Frank STEKETEE, Administrator / Administrateur – Directotrate of Democratic Institutions/ Direction des institutions démocratiques, Directorate General of Democracy and Political Affairs / Direction générale de la démocratie et des affaires politiques

Tel: +33 (0)3 88 41 39 61; Fax: +33 (0)3 88 41 27 84; E-mail: [email protected]

Mrs Maren LAMBRECHT-FEIGL, Administrator / Administratrice – Directotrate of Democratic Institutions/ Direction des institutions démocratiques, Directorate General of Democracy and Political Affairs / Direction générale de la démocratie et des affaires politiques

Tel : +33 (0)3 90 21 47 78 ; Fax: +33 (0)3 88 41 27 84; E-mail: [email protected]

Ms Erika CARLSSON, Trainee / Stagiaire – Directorate of Democratic Institutions / Direction des institutions démocratiques, Directorate General of Democracy and Political Affairs / Direction générale de la démocratie et des affaires politiques

APPENDIX 2

AGENDA

1.	Opening of the meeting
2.	Adoption of the agenda	[LR-GR(2008)OJ2 rev.]
3.	Identification of topics and issues that would be appropriate for inclusion in a possible additional protocol to the European Charter of Local Self-Government	[LR-GR(2008)6]
4.	Draft report and guidelines identifying good practice in the relationship between local/regional authorities and the private sector	[LR-GR(2008)7]
5.	Draft report on the pilot study concerning the degree of conformity of member states’ policy and practice with Council of Europe guidelines for local finances	[LR-GR(2008)8]
6.	Preliminary draft report on member States’ practices for the funding of new competences of local authorities	[LR-GR(2008)9]
7.	The impact of the global financial crisis on local and regional authorities	[LR-GR(2008)10]
8.	Preparation of an activity on performance management
9.	Workshops on local and regional finance
10.	Other business
11.	Date of the next meeting