KEY FEATURES OF A KEY FEATURES OF A LOCAL GOVERNMENT LOCAL GOVERNMENT

ASSOCIATIONASSOCIATION

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Key featuresKey features• Organisation of Local Authorities• Tasks

– Advocacy– Platform– Services– Decentralisation

• Mission• Political side• Staff• Finances

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Organisation of Local AuthoritiesOrganisation of Local Authorities

• Association

• Legal base

• Internal organisation

• Members

• LA’s or persons

• General versus professional

• One voice

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Types of AssociationsTypes of Associations

• The local authorities

• Mayors

• Professionals

• Depending on the size

• Depending on the political affiliation

• Regional

• Depending on specific issues

• Intermunicipal cooperation for service delivery

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Legal baseLegal base

• Constitution

• Law (on local government) as a base

• Law as a guarantee for involvement

• Agreements between LGA and Government

• Common habbits

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Decision making bodiesDecision making bodies

Committees

General Assembly

Executive board Provincial branches

municipal/district members

Board of Directors

e.g. VNG Organization

(43)

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TasksTasks

• Toolkit:– Advocacy

– Platform

– Services

– Decentralisation

• Slogan: Together,– We are stronger

– We are more efficient

– We know more

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AdvocacyAdvocacy• Primarily oriented towards:• 1. The Government (civil servants as well as politicians)• 2. The Parliament• 3. Civil-society organisations, institutions and companies• 4. Trade unions (representing the municipalities as

employers)

• This is done through:• Regular consultations• Letters• The media• Internetsite, www.vng.nl

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VisionVision

• An example:– The higher ambition:

'Co-operating with all municipalities, VNG stands tall for the empowerment and quality of local government'

– The daring ambition:The Association sets the trend in local government, attaining visible results for local councils, local executive boards and local officers

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Membership fees 24%

Net sales 48%

Operating result of subsidiaries 3%

Projects and secretariats contributions(commissioned by Central Government and other organisations) 17%

Staff costs 45%

Depreciation costs 3%

Other operational costs 20%

Taxes 1%

Other contributions & proceeds 6%

Financial assets 2%

Purchasing of goods and services 31%

VNG - Income and Expenditure 2004VNG - Income and Expenditure 2004

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AssignmentAssignment

• Note 3 strong and 3 weak points; individual;

• Discuss in the group each others findings

• Note on the paper the striking strong/weak points

• Note the striking differences between organisations

• Report in plenary

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SWOTSWOT

• Internal– Strong

– Weak

• External– Opportunities

– Threats