ESF 4.181: Improving Public Management and Governance at Local Level

The project aims to introduce a common training framework specifically designed to meet the needs of Executive Secretaries working in Local Councils/ Regional Committees and DLG staff with the aim of ensuring and improving Public Management and Governance at Local level. In this regard, the project offers a Level 5 Training to be delivered to Executive Secretaries, Executive Secretaries of Regional Committees, Executives from DLG and 1 Executive Secretary from the Local Councils’ Association.

The main aim of this project is to introduce a common training framework specifically designed to meet the needs of Executive Secretaries working in Local Councils/ Regional Committees and DLG staff with the aim of ensuring and improving Public Management and Governance at Local level.By means of this project various issues related to the Local Governance Policy shall be addressed. The relevance of the common training framework relates also to the increase of service to the public by means of a greater efficiency in Local Councils with better trained public serviced and public sector employees whilst installing related needs such as leadership and ownership.Therefore a common training framework within a national training strategy for local government shall increase the efficiency in local government in the sectors of public procurement, effective customer satisfaction to the community’s needs and in particular in the management of public funds.

1. The implementation of a national training strategy incorporating the CPD Level 5 course as a requirement for public officers to qualify for the post of Executive Secretaries2 and 3. The introduction of a specific tool aiming at providing indicators for measuring more effectively the performance management These will include a mechanism to gauge a number of complaints and will be dealt with in a timely manner.4. Reduction in the number of the local councils identified in the NAO Report.5. Presentation on time of financial statements as per Financial Regulations by 35% in the case of unaudited financial statements and 40% for audited financial statements6. Data related to Parliamentary Questions delivered on time by 25%7. Penalties imposed by DLG to Local Councils will decrease by 10% since the adherence to regulations shall increase with trained officers8. A common training framework for Executive Secretaries and local government staff with a better compliance to public procurement. This will result in better prepared public tender documentation and reduce the number of appeals by 25%9. Cases reported to the Monitoring Unit shall decrease by 25% since training public officers have a better understanding of both the legal aspects of local government management and also are less likely to make administrative mistakes with the knowledge gained.10. Deficits in the year ending 31st December, 2011 will decrease by 10% due to better compliance to financial regulations and better planning whereby the business plans that are produced by local councils has be implemented according to the short term and long term objectives set out for the community.11. Repetitive weaknesses in the auditing process of local councils from 120 instances will decrease by 25% as a result of increase in better administration at local level12. 25% increase in Local Action Plans submitted by Local Councils.Results - Gozo

• To have Executive Secretaries working in Local Councils, Regional Committees and DLG staff better equipped through a formal accredited training programme on Public Management and Governance at Local Level. • Executive Secretaries and DLG staff will be able to manage more effectively and efficiently the local council and DLG where they work post the training. • To have a common level of expertise between the Executive Secretaries.