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The study of the reform of the Local Government has been conducted by experts from the National School of Government International in the UK (NSGI). On the basis of the terms of the Memorandum of Understanding, the study was to be completed by March 2014, while the start of implementation processes of the measures to be adopted, is set within the second quarter of 2014. The study focuses on three main categories.
The first category relates to the of devolution of responsibilities from central to local government, in line with the 1985 Chart for Local Administration, which provides that the locus of decision making and service delivery, should be as close to the citizens as possible. The capacity of local authorities for carrying out additional responsibilities and taking over further powers will be assessed and scenarios for the allocation of additional resources in order to enable the carrying out of new functions will be submitted. Also areas for which the authorities will need additional support will be identified, so that the authorities will become able to carry out the additional work that may be awarded. The study will also cover the conditions under which, through new structures of local cooperation, the local government could take powers such as those of urban planning, infrastructure (sports and cultural facilities), while at the same time, the broader impact that is expected to occur within central government and local government, following a possible extension of powers, will be assessed.
The second category focuses on broader economic issues and issues of budget autonomy and Local Authorities funding (own resources, grant arrangements), their capacity building for financial planning and management and issues of accountability, control arrangements and transparency.
The third category focuses on human resource management issues, which include the transparency and political neutrality for recruitment and promotion of Local Administration officials, the issue of personnel’s mobility and also, the performance appraisal of personnel.
The report was presented to the Cyprus Government on April 2014.
A copy of the report can be found here.
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