Local government and local democracy in the Netherlands

1. Local government and local democracy in the Netherlands

2. The Netherlands: presentation • Population:16,6 millions • Area: 41 526 km² • density 396 hab/km² • Amsterdam: political and economical capital • The Hague: seat of government • 3 levels of administration: the state, the provinces and the municipalities • Parliamentarydemocracy and constituionalmonarchy • Bicameralparliament « the States General » • The upper house(Erstekamer): 75 members • The Lower House(Tweedekamer): 150 members

3. Local government in the Netherlands A unitary and decentralized state

4. An unitary and decentralized state • An unitary state governed by the central government based in The Hague • Two levels of decentralization • The Provinces (12) • Municipalities (<400) • A fonctional decentralization

5. The provinces • Institutional organization • a bicephalous executive • The commissioner of the Queen • The « Member States » • Statements provincial (provincial council) • elected in proportion to 4 years • Appointing members of Senate

6. The provinces • Competences • A general clause of competences • Local interest • Anything not expressly within the jurisdiction of the state • Autonomus competences • A few • main body of co-administration • shared competences with Municipalities • housing, social services, culture, tourism, sport, etc..

7. Municipalities • Institutional organization • a bicephalous executive • The « Mayor » • The Aldermen • The municipal council • From 9 to 45 councilors elected by direct universal and proportional suffrage for 4 years • May include foreign concilors

8. Municipalities • Competences • A general clause of competences • Autonomuscompetences • Many: police, firefighter, waste management, education, health • sharedcompetences • State (a few) • Provinces

9. The waterboards • An institution dating from the Middle Ages • A fonctional decentralization • 600 all over the state • System Management Regulatory Polders • Water Quality • Maintenance of waterways (competence unsystematic) • Organization • the executive and its chairman are appointed by the government • An assembly elected by the owners of land and houses in the territory

10. Intercommunality • Growing phenomenon • Different forms • Regions of intermunicpal cooperation

11. Means of implementation • In compliance with the two principles: • Autonomy • Comanagement • The legislative power of communities • The legislative bodies are entitled to publish regulations • Plans • Individual decisions • The power of sanctions • Violation of self-regulation can be punished • Administrative sanctions

12. Budget (2006) • Provinces : 4.2 billion euros • Own resources : 38% • Overall allocation of the state (algemene uitkering) : 24% • Specific grants (specifieke uitkering) : 38 % • Municipalities: 43.5 billion euros • Own resources: 17% • Responsible municipal (State) : 29% • Specific grants : 54% • Waterboards - Taxes (1.9 billion)

13. Notable features of the local public service • Approximately 210,000 officials • Feature : Local Public Service down while state civil service is up • Recruitment by maintaining motivation • Major Officials • The clerk for the provinces • The municipal secretary • Influential trade unions • An association : "the association of provinces and municipalities

14. Dank U voor uw aandacht ! /Thank you for your attention !