Perspectives for local and regional Perspectives for local and regional development in Saxony-Anhalt development in Saxony-Anhalt

Conference Conference

„„EU funds for improvement of services provided by the municipalities“ EU funds for improvement of services provided by the municipalities“ Riga, 20Riga, 20thth November 2008 November 2008

Dr. Bernd Kregel Dr. Bernd Kregel General Manager of the Local Government General Manager of the Local Government

Association of Saxony-AnhaltAssociation of Saxony-Anhalt

Structure of local governments and the Structure of local governments and the demographic problem of Saxony-Anhaltdemographic problem of Saxony-Anhalt

area 20.446 km²area 20.446 km²before 2004 three regional governments, then before 2004 three regional governments, then creation of the „Landesverwaltungsamt“ as the creation of the „Landesverwaltungsamt“ as the general administration unit below the ministries, general administration unit below the ministries, 14 (County-/City)Districts (40 until 1994, 24 until 14 (County-/City)Districts (40 until 1994, 24 until 2007), 1.039 Municipalities 2007), 1.039 Municipalities declining population in Saxony-Anhaltdeclining population in Saxony-Anhalt

1989: 2.964.9711989: 2.964.971 1999: 2.648.737 1999: 2.648.737 2006: 2.441.7872006: 2.441.787 Prognosis for the Year 2025: 1.976.237Prognosis for the Year 2025: 1.976.237

Number of civil servants in Saxony-AnhaltNumber of civil servants in Saxony-Anhalt

Administration of theAdministration of the

State of Saxony-AnhaltState of Saxony-Anhalt

- 1991: 95.7121991: 95.712- 1999: 85.5051999: 85.505- 2007: 63.6552007: 63.655- 2011 (planning): 2011 (planning):

55.02155.021

Administration of theAdministration of the

districts and the localdistricts and the local

authoritiesauthorities

- 1991: 119.5081991: 119.508- 1999: 74.8571999: 74.857- 2007: 49.4602007: 49.460

The Local Government Reform – different kThe Local Government Reform – different kinds inds of local authorities nowof local authorities now

„„united“ communities with their own united“ communities with their own administration (i. e. only one council, one administration (i. e. only one council, one budget), minimum size: 8.000 inhabitantsbudget), minimum size: 8.000 inhabitants

joint administration for a few small communities, joint administration for a few small communities, which keep important competences, minimum which keep important competences, minimum size: 10.000 inhabitantssize: 10.000 inhabitants

Problem: German constitutional law does not Problem: German constitutional law does not allow to assign self-administration competences allow to assign self-administration competences by law to a legal body without a directly elected by law to a legal body without a directly elected councilcouncil

The Local Government Reform - The Local Government Reform - Local Local authorities after finishing the Reform in 2011authorities after finishing the Reform in 2011

„„united“ communities with at least 10.000 united“ communities with at least 10.000 inhabitants (except those regions with an inhabitants (except those regions with an extraordinarily low density of population - at least extraordinarily low density of population - at least 8.000 inhabitants)8.000 inhabitants)

„„associated“ communities with at least 10.000 associated“ communities with at least 10.000 inhabitants (except those with a directly elected inhabitants (except those with a directly elected council and a mayor) as members between at council and a mayor) as members between at least 3 and at most 8 local communities (also with least 3 and at most 8 local communities (also with its own council and its own mayor) with at least its own council and its own mayor) with at least 1.000 inhabitants for each1.000 inhabitants for each

Assumption 1: Local affairs must adapt to the effects Assumption 1: Local affairs must adapt to the effects of demographic change in time. Saxony-Anhalt of demographic change in time. Saxony-Anhalt is faced is faced with an inconsistent demographic change, but it will with an inconsistent demographic change, but it will have a major impact on the whole society.have a major impact on the whole society.

reorientation of planning and governance of municipal reorientation of planning and governance of municipal responsibilitiesresponsibilities

analysis of current and prognosis of future developmentanalysis of current and prognosis of future development

definition of new objectives in fields of municipal definition of new objectives in fields of municipal investment (facilities, streets, social public affairs…)investment (facilities, streets, social public affairs…)

setting up cooperative and humanitarian commitments setting up cooperative and humanitarian commitments (network between all institutions)(network between all institutions)

Assumption 2: Municipalities must emerge as places of Assumption 2: Municipalities must emerge as places of active participation, which focus on one's own active participation, which focus on one's own

initiative.initiative.

is indispensable to describe municipal supply of is indispensable to describe municipal supply of services to the publicservices to the public

cooperation becomes more and more importantcooperation becomes more and more important

operating and encouraging instead of acting operating and encouraging instead of acting itselfitself

for example delivery of different kinds of clubs for example delivery of different kinds of clubs and associations and associations

Assumption 3: The organisation of municipal Assumption 3: The organisation of municipal administration must become more efficient and must administration must become more efficient and must gear towards better customer service.gear towards better customer service.

further development of administration and further development of administration and area structure area structure

continuous qualification of personnelcontinuous qualification of personnel

focus on service focus on service

cost awarenesscost awareness

adoption of modern communication mediaadoption of modern communication media

Assumption 4: The development of municipalities must Assumption 4: The development of municipalities must concentrate on land consolidation of built-up areas with concentrate on land consolidation of built-up areas with an optimal utilisation of existent infrastructure.an optimal utilisation of existent infrastructure.

reduction of settlement areasreduction of settlement areas

increasing quality demands in fields of increasing quality demands in fields of living areas, trade and business living areas, trade and business

grade up historical areasgrade up historical areas

considering the consequences of a considering the consequences of a growing elderly populationgrowing elderly population

Assumption 5: The demographic change in context of Assumption 5: The demographic change in context of financial and familial general conditions requires an financial and familial general conditions requires an integrated and middle-term demand planning of day integrated and middle-term demand planning of day care facilities for children and youth.care facilities for children and youth.

update demand planning for update demand planning for day care facilities for day care facilities for children, children, childminder (kindergardens, day nurseries)childminder (kindergardens, day nurseries)demand planning of facilities and other supplies for youthdemand planning of facilities and other supplies for youth

Assumption 6: Demand of educational and culturalAssumption 6: Demand of educational and culturalinstitutions will change extremely. To save institutions will change extremely. To save quality it will be necessary to cooperate in questions ofquality it will be necessary to cooperate in questions ofschool system and culture.school system and culture.

network for cultural institutionsnetwork for cultural institutions

Assumption 7: Municipal policy for seniors will become one of Assumption 7: Municipal policy for seniors will become one of the most important duties for municipalities. It will be the most important duties for municipalities. It will be necessary to generate conditions that allow a self dependent necessary to generate conditions that allow a self dependent living in familiar surroundings.living in familiar surroundings.

specific policy for seniors specific policy for seniors

> equal participation in society > equal participation in society

> medical care / outpatient and home care> medical care / outpatient and home care

Assumption 8: Planning, maintenance and development of a Assumption 8: Planning, maintenance and development of a municipal infrastructure must be adapted to the long term municipal infrastructure must be adapted to the long term development of population (in quantity and structure). development of population (in quantity and structure). Voluntary offers must be organised in cooperation with other Voluntary offers must be organised in cooperation with other municipalities or private institutions.municipalities or private institutions.

networks of roads, places, local traffic systems, sports fields, networks of roads, places, local traffic systems, sports fields, cemetery, utility (water, sewages, gas, electricity ), leisure cemetery, utility (water, sewages, gas, electricity ), leisure facilitiesfacilities

Assumption 9: In the mainly rural area it will be Assumption 9: In the mainly rural area it will be necessary to adapt to the declining population with a necessary to adapt to the declining population with a more intensive cooperation with private institutions more intensive cooperation with private institutions and mobile municipal services.and mobile municipal services.

in the mainly rural area the effects of a declining in the mainly rural area the effects of a declining population for municipal services are even population for municipal services are even strongerstrongerincreasing pressure to generate other forms of increasing pressure to generate other forms of

cooperation between different municipalities and cooperation between different municipalities and neighbours neighbours voluntary posts become even more important voluntary posts become even more important citizens office in municipalities with more than citizens office in municipalities with more than 1.000 inhabitants for supply of municipal and 1.000 inhabitants for supply of municipal and private servicesprivate servicesuse of modern communication mediause of modern communication media

Assumption 10: The financial situation of municipalities Assumption 10: The financial situation of municipalities will get even worse – decreasing incomes and increasing will get even worse – decreasing incomes and increasing costs especially in the social area. It`s the function of the costs especially in the social area. It`s the function of the federal state to reduce duties and costs for cities to create federal state to reduce duties and costs for cities to create opportunities to respond to demographic changes.opportunities to respond to demographic changes.

self-administration of municipalities is important self-administration of municipalities is important

reform of the municipal finance system is reform of the municipal finance system is necessary necessary

decrease of duty, standards and commitments decrease of duty, standards and commitments

Without the opportunitity of creative optionsWithout the opportunitity of creative options

regarding demographic changes there willregarding demographic changes there will

be no sustainable development for thebe no sustainable development for the

municipalities and finally for the federal statemunicipalities and finally for the federal state

of Saxony-Anhalt.of Saxony-Anhalt.

Paldies! Paldies!

The Local Government Reform in Saxony-Anhalt The Local Government Reform in Saxony-Anhalt

the „united“ community as the preferred type of the „united“ community as the preferred type of local authorities in Saxony-Anhalt (1)local authorities in Saxony-Anhalt (1)„„associated“ communities are only allowed to be associated“ communities are only allowed to be set up in rural areas under special conditionsset up in rural areas under special conditions„„associated“ communities can only be associated“ communities can only be established optional by the participating established optional by the participating „member communities“ till the 01.01.2010„member communities“ till the 01.01.2010communities, which do not reach the minimum communities, which do not reach the minimum size of 10.000 inhabitants till the 01.01.2010 size of 10.000 inhabitants till the 01.01.2010 voluntarilly, will be joint together to „united“ voluntarilly, will be joint together to „united“ communities by Law in 2011communities by Law in 2011

The Local Government Reform in Saxony-AnhaltThe Local Government Reform in Saxony-Anhalt

the „united“ community as the preferred type of the „united“ community as the preferred type of local authorities in Saxony-Anhalt (2)local authorities in Saxony-Anhalt (2)with only one council, one mayor and one with only one council, one mayor and one budget, the „united“ community (as a „one-level-budget, the „united“ community (as a „one-level-type“) is the most effective form of a local type“) is the most effective form of a local authorityauthorityin the case of the „associated“ community the in the case of the „associated“ community the most important self-administration competences most important self-administration competences are assigned to it; nevertheless some are assigned to it; nevertheless some competences still belong to the „member“ competences still belong to the „member“ communities. So this is a „two-level-type“ of a communities. So this is a „two-level-type“ of a local authority, which is less effective.local authority, which is less effective.

The reform of the allocation of competencesThe reform of the allocation of competences

it is a political objective of the State Government it is a political objective of the State Government of Saxony-Anhalt to delegate competences of of Saxony-Anhalt to delegate competences of the State Administration to the (County-/City-) the State Administration to the (County-/City-) Districts (principle of subsidiarity)Districts (principle of subsidiarity)this was one of the main reasons to extend the this was one of the main reasons to extend the (County-/City-)Districts a second time in 2007(County-/City-)Districts a second time in 2007in 2005 the „First Functional-Reform-Law“ came in 2005 the „First Functional-Reform-Law“ came into force, which delegated some competences into force, which delegated some competences (first and foremost those of the Ministry of (first and foremost those of the Ministry of Environment) from the „Landesverwaltungsamt“ Environment) from the „Landesverwaltungsamt“ to the (County-/City-)Districts to the (County-/City-)Districts