One of the accusations often thrown at local government, and not just in Ireland, is that they can be overly focused on traditional services and that there is therefore limited scope for innovation. While it is the case that local authorities will necessarily be focused on their statutory obligations there is plenty of evidence that local innovation and partnership between local government and local partners, such as the local development and local business sectors, is now an on-going feature in the work of most local authorities. A real issue is that this message does not necessarily get out at national level. Fortunately in recent years Chambers Ireland, in association with the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government and with the support of key sponsors, public and private, has taken the initiative to get the message over that innovation has a place at the core of local service planning and delivery. This year, in the Excellence in Local Government Awards organised by Chambers Ireland, there is considerable evidence of local authorities trying new ways to deliver more efficient services, enabling communities to grow socially and economically and to confront the challenges of the current economic environment.
In addition, there are examples of local government, town, city and county, implementing strategies to enhance the sustainability of their communities as well as underpinning the work of others seeking to deliver better public services at local level. In this year’s awards programme Cavan County Council have been designated as Local Authority of the Year. Considering that a large number of Authorities were competing against them suggests that their win this year was no mean achievement. It is plainly evident from the nominated authorities on the short-list of the various awards, that there is a real effort across local government to try to be as innovative as possible, even in a time of very restricted resources.
It is nonetheless clear that Cavan County Council has produced a range of highly innovative actions across a range of economic, social and cultural activities all of which are and will contribute to a more vibrant Cavan. The success of the Council in organising the world’s largest traditional music festival (and greening it in the process!) has already received extensive national and international coverage but equally of note is the work done addressing the management of the water supply and the engagement of men in isolated communities in shared social activities. The cross border initiative with Fermanagh District Council to develop a UNESCO standard GeoPark has both environmental and economic benefits in an area which traditional suffered from economic disadvantage. Other local actions in Cavan included a joint project centred on sports development involving the GAA, the Irish Hockey Association and the Irish Rugby Football Union. Through the County Sports Partnership the Together through Games Programme has brought communities together across the many differing traditions in the County. Just some of the projects led by an Authority seeking to demonstrate its leadership role in the rejuvenation of its many communities. It may seem simple but the Council took the lead on these and many other projects over the past number of years demonstrating a considerable capacity to think outside of the box.
Some might argue that Cavan is “lucky” to be in a Border area and therefore has access to funds otherwise not available to local government in general. True but this did not stop Westmeath, Clare and several other County Councils from undertaking equally innovative actions while several town councils also took on the challenge. The City Councils in Dublin and Cork have a long history of innovation but it is clear that smaller city councils are also looking to be active and it is noteworthy that Waterford City was highlighted for its work in economic development (something covered in an earlier Newsletter).
As stated earlier one of the disappointments of the Awards was the relative lack of national coverage. Although audited regional print media coverage for the 2010 awards exceeded one million newspapers, the relative lack of national coverage by national media demonstrates a long-standing challenge confronting local innovators. Nonetheless, Chambers Ireland have stepped up to the challenge and hopefully over time the message might be gotten across that Irish local authorities can and do step out of their comfort zones on a far more regular basis than is normally understood. If only the example of the Dublin Fire Brigade personnel rolling out the first “carbon free” fire station in Fairview was looked at closely! The savings from this particular initiative, if followed generally in the public service, might bring some simple but real spending savings as well as actually dealing with climate change at a practical level! Equally, the extent of partnership reflected in the full range of nominated projects indicates a real willingness to advance local delivery of public services, something which should be a critical feature of the re-configuration of the public service generally.
There is one final lesson to be drawn from the examples set out in the Chambers Ireland publication accompanying the Awards Programme and that is that there might be much to be gained by experience sharing which undoubtedly must be a feature of such innovation. If Cavan, Westmeath and others can be so innovative is it possible for all local authorities to take on the confidence to be equally so in the future? Is there a role that could be built upon with Chambers Ireland to follow through on the mainstreaming of such innovation generally in the local government sector and is there some learning there for the rest of the public service in these times of constraint that thinking differently just might solve the many problems confronting the public servant at the coalface.
