slcc chepstow localism of the starting block

20-04-23

Strong Governmentneeds Strong Clerks

Leadership serving Democratic processes; a Dutch perspective

SLCCChepstow

Localism of the Starting Block

20-04-232

Guiding through this presentation

Introduction & Sharing of expectations

Democratic processes; the Dutch way

The Rotterdam perspective

What about the Dutch Clerk?

The International perspective

Q & A, debate & discussions

20-04-233

Introduction & Sharing of expectations

Jaap Paans

44 years of age, married

with children

Clerk of the City Council of

Rotterdam

Master of Public Law &

Governmental

Administration Immediate

past President of VvG, the Dutch

association of Clerks

Proud member of IIMC

20-04-234


The Dutch democratic system

Leadership in the Dutch Governmental system

Local Government in The Netherlands

Clerks in the Dutch system

20-04-235


The Dutch democratic system

The Netherlands

1 Kingdom, 4 countries, 12 provinces, 418 local governments

Statute for the Kingdom & Constitution for the country of The

Netherlands

16 million Dutchmen; >170 original nationalities

32 cities > 100.000 inhabitants

B4: Amsterdam (790.440), Rotterdam (617.347), The Hague

(501.725) and Utrecht (316.448)

Metropolitan area Rotterdam-The Hague: 2.2 million people

20-04-236


Dutch Democratic system

Triangular framework

parliamentary representative democracy

constitutional monarchy

decentralised unitary state

Consociationalism

Consensus driven

20-04-237


Governmental system

National Government

Monarchy & Cabinet share legislative power

Houses of Parliament

House of Representatives

Chamber of Reflection

Sub national Government

Provinces

Local Government

20-04-238


Political Institutions Monarchy Cabinet High Colleges of State

States General: Houses of Parliament

The Council of State

Netherlands Court of Audit

National Ombudsman

Judicial system Political parties Social-Economic Council

20-04-239


Leadership in the Dutch Governmental system

Dutch paradox of leadership: we look for it but do not automatically accept it

Influential Leadership:The ability to shift opinions and conceptual decisions in other directions than the responsible actor heads for only by having access to decision makers and opinion leaders

Positional LeadershipThe acceptance of Leadership by actors who are in the position to decide and lead

Charismatic LeadershipThe acceptance of the personal qualities of people through which their leading role is accepted by others

20-04-2310


Local Government in The Netherlands

Characteristics

418 autonomic municipalities

Responsible for local safety, education, spatial planning and

sociaol security

Policy Freedom within the bounds prescribed by the national

government

Own tax regime within legal limits

20-04-2311


Local Institutions City Council (Chosen by the people) College of Mayor and Alderman (appointed by Council; 4 year term) Mayor (selected & appointed) Local Court of Audit (appointed) Local Ombudsman (appointed) Administrative areas with own responsibilities (Rotterdam) Neighbourhood councils / village councils (participation/advisory)

20-04-2312


Clerks in the Dutch system

Introduction of the Clerk Anno 2012: Clerk = Griffier Before 2002: Clerk = City Secretary Griffier originates from “the magistrate that writes down” Griffier originally was a unique profession within the Courts of law 1848: Griffiers became first legal advisor of Houses of Parliament

20-04-2313


Dualism in Dutch Government

2002, Dualism Act: every Council has his own ‘Griffier’

2002, Dualism Act: City Secretary can not be ‘Griffier’ as well

City Secretaries shift their focus towards City Manager

Griffiers were claimed to be Clerk in the international definition

VvG: Dutch association of Clerks founded in 2003

for Clerks in National, Sub national and Local Government

2004: VvG membership: +500 members (>95%)

20-04-2314


Job description

First advisor and responsible officer for the parliamentary bodies Co-signing of parliamentary/council decisions and local legislation Head of Office (+600 on national level; 2-25 on local level) Executive Director of the administrative process of the body Juridical and technical advisor of the Representatives Process coordination Issue based advisory on non political bases Advocacy of the interests of the parliamentary body/council Services to the Council and its members Responsible for transparency and access to Public information Responsible for the handling of integrity issues Responsible for Citizen participation and handling of Citizen Initiatives Secretary of the Result and Elected Acceptance Committee Secretary of the Investigation Committee Secretary of the Mayor Recommendation Committee

20-04-2315


Introduction to Rotterdam

World Port World City Mainport for Europe One of 10 biggest Ports in the World Main Cargo Port for China >25 miles length of river delta harbours 612.000 citizens 161 nationalities Major safety issues Divided city: Social, Physical and Political Starting point of a new right winged political movement Break through City “Amsterdam talks about it; Rotterdam does it”

20-04-2316


Local Government in Rotterdam

City of Rotterdam Total budget of 4.4 billion Euro’s Administration and public services of 13.000 co-workers 14 Boroughs of Rotterdam 1 City Council; 14 Borough Councils 1 City Board; 14 Borough Boards 350 Board and Council members City Board of Mayor and 8 Alderman Alderman appointed by City Council in 2010 New Mayor selected and appointed in 2008 First Moroccan Mayor in The Netherlands

20-04-2317


City Council of Rotterdam City Council of 45 members, 4 years term City Council of 8 parties:

Right Wing party ‘Liveable Rotterdam’ Left Wing, social democratic parties SP, PvdA and GreenLeft Christian Democratic parties: CDA and CU-SGP Liberal (Middle) parties: D66 and VVD

Tough political arena

20-04-2318


Leadership in Rotterdam

Council members City Council: both united and divided

Leading in addressing the urgency for new legislation

Leading in urging for innovative solutions to society problems

Leading in Governance issues

Leading in budget planning & defining of results and proposed effects

Divided in Ideological debates

Council accommodates opinion leaders on safety issues, education and integration

Joint effort to enlarge the (legal) possibilities for government to intervene

Unique in NL: The Rotterdam Act

20-04-2319


Leading as a Clerk; examples Introduction and start up programs for the new City Council

Coaching of new elected and new party leaders

Mediation in case of potential Party split up

New event: annual conference for +300 Rotterdam Councils members

Initiator of the 2010 Council Elections misconduct investigations

Initiating a decision making process for a new Citywide Governmental Structure

Advocacy for the Councils influence within new Metropolitan Board arrangements

Introducing Crowd Sourcing as a new Citizen participation app

Initiating and organizing a paperless City Council and Staff

20-04-2320


Being a Clerk of Rotterdam

Do’s & Don’ts ‘Every week has a new title’; do not fully plan your activities!

Cherry Picking; don’t stick to the ball!

Use the space: Council wants a Clerk that uses it

Take Council by the hand, but do it invisible

Propose by showing that it’s is the best alternative

Be proactive and prepared

Dual is not Duel; work on relations and on process

Be supportive; Citizens do not accept a divided government

20-04-2321


Profile of a young profession

The Dutch Clerk

Young professional: 0-10 years on the job

55% > 48 years

96% bachelor or master; 50% master

49% experience within the administration

30% former Alderman or Council member

42% women, 58% men

10% in the second job as a Clerk

20-04-2322


Leading or bleeding? Since 2002: more than half of the Councils changed their routines

Focus on citizen participation

Focus on transparency and public access to relevant information

Focus on Directing, Control, Supervision and Representation

Councils successfully restored their Head of Government position

Clerk as initiating leader of innovation and restoration

10% did lead but forget to look behind

20-04-2323


The appreciated Clerk; 2011 Councils member Survey Clerks are well appreciated by their political ‘bosses’: 7,6

Clerks add to Democratic process and conduct of Council: 97%

Clerks add quality to Local Politics: 83%

Most asked competences: Independence and Communication Skills

Also wanted: supervision of follow up on agreements and promises

Professional development: more theme based advisory

20-04-2324


Professional Development

Professionalism Program for Clerks 2003: VvG starts a Professionalism Committee

2004: VvG approved Basic Course for (wannabe) Clerks

2005: VvG approved Post Master program for Senior Clerks

2009: VvG approved Top Course for Clerks

2010: VvG membership debate on Professionalism Programming

2011: agreement to set up a Dutch Institute for Municipal Clerks

2012: IIMC certifies Basic Course and Top Course for Clerks towards CMC/MMC

20-04-2325

The International perspective

Evolution of western Society Civil Society takes over

Media rules

Democratic conservatism

Searching for a new connection International orientation of Clerks

International exchange & knowledge sharing

International certification of Clerks

IIMC based European federation

20-04-2326

Strong Government needs Strong Clerks

Q & A

debate & discussions

Strong Government needs Strong Clerks: a Dutch perspective

Thank you for participating !

Thank you for your attention

slcc chepstow localism of the starting block

Documents