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Local Government EU priorities 2014

Local Government EU priorities 2014. Dominic Rowles EU Advisor & Deputy Head of Brussels Office Local Government Association (LGA), UK For NHS Delegation. 20 Jan 2014. www.local.gov.uk. Agenda. Who we are. LGA = England & Wales Formed 1997 – ‘better local government’

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Local Government EU priorities 2014

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  1. Local Government EU priorities 2014 Dominic Rowles EU Advisor & Deputy Head of Brussels Office Local Government Association (LGA), UK For NHS Delegation 20 Jan 2014 www.local.gov.uk

  2. Agenda

  3. Who we are • LGA = England & Wales • Formed 1997 – ‘better local government’ • Funded mainly by subscription • 410 local authorities • representing 50 million people (UK 60 million) • representing €100 billion public spend

  4. Who we are • London & Brussels offices (120 + 3 staff) • Mainstreaming of EU affairs • Work through CEMR: European Association of Local & Regional Government

  5. LGA focus for 2014 - UK Rewiring Local Services • radical agenda for public service reform: more local powers & local financing • better outcomes for communities

  6. LGA focus for 2014 - Health • Support councils’ Public Health role • Relationship building with Public Health England, HealthWatch, NHS etc • 0-5s children’s public health transfer to local government in 2015, & commissioning of health visitors

  7. LGA focus for 2014 - EU 1. EU funds 2. EU legislation – procurement, state aids, environment, employment law + EU elections 3. International trade & development 4. Supporting local politicians - Committee of the Regions (Brussels) - Congress of the Council of Europe (Strasbourg)

  8. Why focus on the EU? • Direct impact of EU on councils’ services & decisions • 75% of EU law implemented at local level • Possibility of fines for councils - Localism Act 2011

  9. Why focus on the EU?

  10. How we work

  11. EU lobbying > success factors • Aware of processes • Aware of planning (timetable) • Actively involved in the policy • Aware of the people and how to contact • Networking • Intelligence • Able to articulate a position • Clearly, Concisely, Continually…

  12. Lobbying earlier is easier Effort Effort political Local Government influence policy Time >> Pre-legislative >> Draft legislation >> Council & EP readings >> Implementation >>

  13. “Those are my principles, and if you don't like them... well, I have others.” Groucho Marx, 1890-1977

  14. LGA find out more LGA web page www.local.gov.uk Dominic Rowles – EU adviser dominic.rowles@local.gov.uk

  15. Successful lobbying case study: Late Payments Directive

  16. The Directive required… • public authorities to pay suppliers within 30 calendar days of receipt of an undisputed invoice. (Exception healthcare) • had to be implemented by 16 March 2013 !

  17. Proposed penalties regime complex It was originally proposed that suppliers could charge: • Daily interest rate: base rate + 7% points • Recovery fee of 1% of invoice value • Flat rate penalty of 5% of invoice value ! • Plus damages via courts

  18. Key lobbying objectives Support prompt payments but push for a simplified & balanced penalty regime • Removal of 5% of invoice value penalty • Removal of 1% of invoice value recovery costs (disproportionate & unrelated to supplier costs) • Application to B2B payments

  19. Is regulation remedy ? • Inaccurate/disputed invoices – amounts/description • Invoice sent to wrong address / department • Invoice sent before goods/services received • Time needed to check construction work & IT projects – hardware/software • Cultural issues - companies do not exercise these rights, they wish to maintain good relationships with public sector.

  20. How we lobbied • Pre-legislative work • Evidence gathering / consultation: up to £600m extra costs for UK public sector • Dialogue with Commission • Influenced Member States • Mobilised European Parliament • Valuable work via CoR, CEMR

  21. Media Work

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