Samband íslenskra. sveitarfélaga

Transcription

1 Samband íslenskra Icelandic Association of Local Authorities sveitarfélaga INAUGURAL MEETING EU-ICELAND JOINT CONSULTATIVE COMMITTEE 4 MARCH 2013 LOCAL AUTHORITIES IN ICELAND AND THE ICELANDIC ASSOCIATION OF LOCAL AUTHORITIES Guðríður Arnardóttir Vice President

2 THE ICELANDIC ASSOCIATION OF LOCAL AUTHORITIES All 74 municipalities are members Legal base in the Local Government Act: Responsible for safeguarding the common interests of the Icelandic local governments Coordination committee with the Government Funded by the Municipal Equality Fund 4 March 2013 The Icelandic Association of Local Authorities 2

3 THE ORGANISATION OF THE ASSOCIATION Municipal Credit Iceland General Assembly BOARD The Municipal Harbour Association Executive Director Secretaritat and publishing 7 employees Development and international affairs 2 employees Finance and statistic 4 employees Welfare services and legal affairs 5 employees Negotiation with trade unions 6 employees Brussels Office in the CEMR House of Municipalities and Regions Accounting Committee School Committee Social Committtee Planning Committee

4 THE BOARD VISITS BRUSSELS The Icelandic Association of Local Authorities 4

5 Iceland km² inhabitants 3.1 inhabitants pr. km² Pheripheral, most sparsely populated country in Europe and the only one located fully within the Arctic Region 290 km 800 km 970 km The Icelandic Association of Local Authorities 5

6 ICELAND HAS TWO LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT The State The Municipalities, responsible for approximately 35% of the public sector

7 THE ICELANDIC LOCAL LEVEL CONSISTS OF 74 municipalities; all with the same legal status and obligations No formal regional level in Iceland but municipal cooperation is common within the eight regional municipal federations in areas such as public transport planning social services, education, job creation regional development 4 March 2013 The Icelandic Association of Local Authorities 7

8 THE ICELANDIC LOCAL LEVEL THE MUNICIPAL BOUNDARIES CONSISTS OF 76 municipalities all with the same legal status and obligations No formal regional level in Iceland but municipalities cooperate voluntarily on a regional basis in a number of fields such as public transport, planning, social services, education, etc. job creation and regional development

9 NORDIC STRUCTURE OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT The structure is of Nordic origin, in many fundamental ways similar to the present structure in the other Nordic countries, with the exception that in Iceland there are no regional authorities. Municipal councils are elected every four years. All citizens over the age of 18 are eligible to vote.

10 LAST LOCAL ELECTION 2010 Lower turnout (78% % 2010) New untraditional movements were the winners Disappointing results for the four old, big parties 40% of the elected are women (36% 2006)

11 LOCAL ELECTIONS 2010 Combined share of the big four parties in the four largest municipalities 2006: 92.0% 2010: 66.8% Winners: Best Party (Reykjavík) Second Best Party (Kópavogur) People s List (Akureyri)

12 LOCAL SELF-GOVERNMENT SET OUT IN ART. 78 OF THE CONSTITUTION The municipalities shall manage their affairs independently as laid down by law The revenue sources of local authorities shall be determined by law, as well as their right to decide whether, and to what extent, they make use of them

13 MONITORING REPORT BY THE COUNCIL OF EUROPE CONGRESS OF LOCAL AND REGIONAL AUTHORITIES (2010) Overall assessment: The state of local democracy in Iceland is in compliance with the European Charter of Local Self-Government National and local authorities have made major efforts to deal with the financial crisis which significantly impacted them - without undermining local self-government

14 THE MUNICIPAL STRUCTURE > inhab inhab inhab inhab inhab. 17 < inhab March 2013 The Icelandic Association of Local Authorities 14

15 DISPARATE MUNICIPALITITES Reykjavik is by far the largest municipality with inhabitants. The second largest, Kópavogur, has inhabitants. 63% of the total population live in the capital area. The same legal framework and responsibilities apply to all municipalities, regardless of their size The four smallest municipalities have inhabitants. Icelandic Association of Local Authorities

16 THE PROPORTION OF MUNICIPALITIES AND INHABITANTS BY CONSTITUENCIES TO THE PARLIAMENT, ALÞINGI 27 municipalities 10% of the population 22 municipalities 13% of the population 1 municipality 39% percent of the population 20 municipalities 14% of the population 7 municipalites 24% of the population Samband íslenskra sveitarfélaga The Association of Local Authorities in Iceland

17 STRUCTURAL CHALLENGES Willingness to transfer new tasks to the municipalities but the small municipalities are not capable of fullfilling tasks on their own Long distances, difficult communications and democratic concerns are barriers to large mergers of municipalities Not political will for enforced mergers Emphasis has in recent years to some extent shifted towards municipal cooperation instead of mergers The Icelandic Association of Local Authorities 17

18 EIGHT REGIONAL MUNICIPAL FEDERATIONS All the municipalities belong to a regional municipal federation Interest organisations with legal basis in the Local Government Act Political board Funded by the Municipal Equalization Fund

19 THE REGIONAL MUNICIPAL FEDERATIONS

20 ICELAND 2020 Governmental project, Future vision for the country and the regions Coordination of public plans Regional plans and prioritisation within the eight districts of the Regional Municipal Federations The Icelandic Association of Local Authorities 20

21 THE ROLE OF LOCAL AUTHORITIES IN ICELAND Democratic role Service providers for the local population Public authorities Employers

22 RESPONSIBILITIES OF MUNICIPALITIES The social sector o Basic social and financial assistance o Child welfare o Services for the disabled Education, culture, sports and recreation o Primary schools (6 16 years) o Pre-schools (Kindergarten 2-5 years) o After school and summer holiday arrangements for children o Leisure activities, especially for young people and the elderly o Music schools o Sport facilities, culture centers, museums and libraries o Support to local free organisations such as art and theatre groups, sports clubs etc.

23 THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE MUNICIPALITIES - LOCAL INFRASTRUCTURE AND PUBLIC UTILITIES Icelandic Assciation of Local Authorities Building, maintenance and operation of municipal streets, sewage, water and electricity works, as well as district heating Municipal planning and building inspection Public parks and open areas Surveillance of public and environmental health Public transport Fire services Waste management and collection Harbours

24 MUNICIPAL INCOME SOURCES 16% 2% 12% 57% Income tax Real estate tax Equalization fund Other taxes Other income 13%

25 MUNICIPAL EXPENDITURE (2011) 4% 2% 2% 3% 4% Education Social services 6% 5% 12% 46% Youth and sport Mutual cost Transport, sewage, infrastructure Culture Change in pension commitments Sanitation 16% Environment

26 MUNICIPAL INCOME TAX The municipal council determines annually the income tax level between 12.44% and 14.48% The average tax level is 14.42% The income tax is approximately 60% of the total municipal income

27 NEW LOCAL GOVERNMENT ACT 2011 Reform of fiscal rules and financial supervision More emphasis on ethics and public participation Direct reference to the European Charter of Local Self-Government Stronger provisions regarding municipal cooperation Cost-assessment of effects of new legislation on municipalities is now mandatory The Icelandic Association of Local Authorities 27

28 CHALLENGES FACED BY ICELANDIC MUNICIPALITIES Some face a difficult financial situation in the wake of the economic crash - rising financing costs, limited access to new loans and increased demand for social assistance/benefits People who have been unemployed since the crash in 2008 are losing their right to unemployment benefits and will have to turn to the municipalities for social assistance Job creation project - the state, municipalities and private sector Necessary to increase investments to create new jobs

29 OPPORTUNITIES FOR ICELANDIC MUNICIPALITIES Transfer of new welfare tasks to the municipalities entails an opportunity to reorganise and integrate social services Delegation of regional policy decisions within the Iceland 2020 project entails an opportunity to become more active in regional development matters More e-services entail an opportunity to provide better and more cost efficient services More direct democracy and e-democracy entails an opportunity to build up trust and engage the inhabitants The Icelandic Association of Local Authorities 29