Doing More with

Less

One Local Authority Response!

Joe McGuinness, Director of Housing & Emergency Services

27th September 2012

Changed Times Nationally

• Staff reductions of 8,000 since 2006

• Reducing finances of €830m

• Demands for local government reform

Louth Impact

• Staff reduction of 240

• Expenditure reduction year to year

• Additional services of and reporting

– NPR Charge

– Household Charge

– Unfinished housing developments

– Quarries

– IMF requirements

Louth as a Local Government Structure

• 1 x County Council Budget €65m

• 2 x Town Councils Budget of €30m each

• 1 x Town Council, a former Town Commissioner Budget of €70,000

Pressures require change to be Implemented

• Budgets

• Staffing

Two models of change utilised in Louth

• Delivery of Housing Services

• Delivery of Fire Services

Housing Services

• Housing assessment

• Housing capital

• Housing support services

• Housing contracts

• Homelessness

• 3 authorities delivering all

2006 2012

Stock 2899 3671

Applicants 4198 5998

Repairs 4047 5700

How

• Transferring and pooling staff

• Maintaining housing authority identity

• Co-operation of staff

• Support of DOECLG

Impact

• Better procurement

• More consistency in services

• Better project management

• Expertise developed through practice

• Delivered with 5 less staff

Negatives

• Not as successful on housing rents

Fire Services - Existing • Operational service

• Preventative role

• Excessive costs with no grant aid

• Day wholetime service only

• 3 fire authorities in one county

How

• Review of operations

• Management response

• Union response

• External assessment of both

• Recommended final model

Impact

• New wholetime 24/7 roster with 55 firefighting staff between towns

• Annualised hours

• Instant turnout in both towns

• Cost saving of €400,000 per annum

Dundalk Fire Service

Drogheda Fire Service

How

• Co-operation of staff and union

• Single identity – Louth

• Section 85 Agreement transferring the town function to county council for a single Service Agreement

Lessons to be Learned

• Different models for different issues

• Need to encourage political flexibility in order to deliver better services

• Willingness of staff to accept change

• Applicability in other functions and areas