Strong Government needs Strong Clerks Leadership serving Democratic processes; a Dutch perspective

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Strong Governmentneeds Strong ClerksLeadership
serving Democratic processes a Dutch perspective

• SLCC
• Chepstow
• Localism of the Starting Block

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Guiding through this presentation

• Introduction Sharing of expectations
• Democratic processes the Dutch way
• The Rotterdam perspective
• What about the Dutch Clerk?
• The International perspective
• Q A, debate discussions

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Introduction Sharing of expectations

• Jaap Paans
• 44 years of age, married with children
• Clerk of the City Council of Rotterdam
• Master of Public Law Governmental
  Administration Immediate past President of
  VvG, the Dutch association of Clerks
  Proud member of IIMC

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Democratic processes the Dutch way

• The Dutch democratic system
• Leadership in the Dutch Governmental system
• Local Government in The Netherlands
• Clerks in the Dutch system

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Democratic processes the Dutch way

• The Dutch democratic systemThe Netherlands
• 1 Kingdom, 4 countries, 12 provinces, 418 local
  governments
• Statute for the Kingdom Constitution for the
  country of The Netherlands
• 16 million Dutchmen gt170 original nationalities
• 32 cities gt 100.000 inhabitants
• B4 Amsterdam (790.440), Rotterdam (617.347), The
  Hague (501.725) and Utrecht (316.448)
• Metropolitan area Rotterdam-The Hague 2.2
  million people

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Democratic processes the Dutch way

• Dutch Democratic system
• Triangular framework
• parliamentary representative democracy
• constitutional monarchy
• decentralised unitary state
• Consociationalism
• Consensus driven

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Democratic processes the Dutch way

• Governmental system
• National Government
• Monarchy Cabinet share legislative power
• Houses of Parliament
• House of Representatives
• Chamber of Reflection
• Sub national Government
• Provinces
• Local Government

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Democratic processes the Dutch way

• Political Institutions
• Monarchy
• Cabinet
• High Colleges of State
• States General Houses of Parliament
• The Council of State
• Netherlands Court of Audit
• National Ombudsman
• Judicial system
• Political parties
• Social-Economic Council

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Democratic processes the Dutch way

• Leadership in the Dutch Governmental system
• Dutch paradox of leadership we look for it but
  do not automatically accept it
• Influential Leadership
• The ability to shift opinions and conceptual
  decisions in other directions than the
  responsible actor heads for only by having access
  to decision makers and opinion leaders
• Positional Leadership
• The acceptance of Leadership by actors who are
  in the position to decide and lead
• Charismatic Leadership
• The acceptance of the personal qualities of
  people through which their leading role is
  accepted by others

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Democratic processes the Dutch way

• Local Government in The Netherlands
• Characteristics
• 418 autonomic municipalities
• Responsible for local safety, education, spatial
  planning and sociaol security
• Policy Freedom within the bounds prescribed by
  the national government
• Own tax regime within legal limits

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Democratic processes the Dutch way

• Local Institutions
• City Council (Chosen by the people)
• College of Mayor and Alderman (appointed by
  Council 4 year term)
• Mayor (selected appointed)
• Local Court of Audit (appointed)
• Local Ombudsman (appointed)
• Administrative areas with own responsibilities
  (Rotterdam)
• Neighbourhood councils / village councils
  (participation/advisory)

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Democratic processes the Dutch way

• Clerks in the Dutch system
• Introduction of the Clerk
• Anno 2012 Clerk Griffier
• Before 2002 Clerk City Secretary
• Griffier originates from the magistrate that
  writes down
• Griffier originally was a unique profession
  within the Courts of law
• 1848 Griffiers became first legal advisor of
  Houses of Parliament

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Democratic processes the Dutch way

• Dualism in Dutch Government
• 2002, Dualism Act every Council has his own
  Griffier
• 2002, Dualism Act City Secretary can not be
  Griffier as well
• City Secretaries shift their focus towards City
  Manager
• Griffiers were claimed to be Clerk in the
  international definition
• VvG Dutch association of Clerks founded in 2003
• for Clerks in National, Sub national and Local
  Government
• 2004 VvG membership 500 members (gt95)

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Democratic processes the Dutch way

• Job description
• First advisor and responsible officer for the
  parliamentary bodies
• Co-signing of parliamentary/council decisions and
  local legislation
• Head of Office (600 on national level 2-25 on
  local level)
• Executive Director of the administrative process
  of the body
• Juridical and technical advisor of the
  Representatives
• Process coordination
• Issue based advisory on non political bases
• Advocacy of the interests of the parliamentary
  body/council
• Services to the Council and its members
• Responsible for transparency and access to Public
  information
• Responsible for the handling of integrity issues
• Responsible for Citizen participation and
  handling of Citizen Initiatives
• Secretary of the Result and Elected Acceptance
  Committee
• Secretary of the Investigation Committee
• Secretary of the Mayor Recommendation Committee

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The Rotterdam perspective

• Introduction to Rotterdam
• World Port World City
• Mainport for Europe
• One of 10 biggest Ports in the World
• Main Cargo Port for China
• gt25 miles length of river delta harbours
• 612.000 citizens
• 161 nationalities
• Major safety issues
• Divided city Social, Physical and Political
• Starting point of a new right winged political
  movement
• Break through City
• Amsterdam talks about it Rotterdam does it

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The Rotterdam perspective

• Local Government in Rotterdam
• City of Rotterdam
• Total budget of 4.4 billion Euros
• Administration and public services of 13.000
  co-workers
• 14 Boroughs of Rotterdam
• 1 City Council 14 Borough Councils
• 1 City Board 14 Borough Boards
• 350 Board and Council members
• City Board of Mayor and 8 Alderman
• Alderman appointed by City Council in 2010
• New Mayor selected and appointed in 2008
• First Moroccan Mayor in The Netherlands

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The Rotterdam perspective

• City Council of Rotterdam
• City Council of 45 members, 4 years term
• City Council of 8 parties
• Right Wing party Liveable Rotterdam
• Left Wing, social democratic parties SP, PvdA and
  GreenLeft
• Christian Democratic parties CDA and CU-SGP
• Liberal (Middle) parties D66 and VVD
• Tough political arena

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The Rotterdam perspective

• Leadership in Rotterdam
• Council members
• City Council both united and divided
• Leading in addressing the urgency for new
  legislation
• Leading in urging for innovative solutions to
  society problems
• Leading in Governance issues
• Leading in budget planning defining of results
  and proposed effects
• Divided in Ideological debates
• Council accommodates opinion leaders on safety
  issues, education and integration
• Joint effort to enlarge the (legal) possibilities
  for government to intervene
• Unique in NL The Rotterdam Act

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The Rotterdam perspective

• Leading as a Clerk examples
• Introduction and start up programs for the new
  City Council
• Coaching of new elected and new party leaders
• Mediation in case of potential Party split up
• New event annual conference for 300 Rotterdam
  Councils members
• Initiator of the 2010 Council Elections
  misconduct investigations
• Initiating a decision making process for a new
  Citywide Governmental Structure
• Advocacy for the Councils influence within new
  Metropolitan Board arrangements
• Introducing Crowd Sourcing as a new Citizen
  participation app
• Initiating and organizing a paperless City
  Council and Staff

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The Rotterdam perspective

• Being a Clerk of Rotterdam
• Dos Donts
• Every week has a new title do not fully plan
  your activities!
• Cherry Picking dont stick to the ball!
• Use the space Council wants a Clerk that uses it
• Take Council by the hand, but do it invisible
• Propose by showing that its is the best
  alternative
• Be proactive and prepared
• Dual is not Duel work on relations and on
  process
• Be supportive Citizens do not accept a divided
  government

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What about the Dutch Clerk?

• Profile of a young profession
• The Dutch Clerk
• Young professional 0-10 years on the job
• 55 gt 48 years
• 96 bachelor or master 50 master
• 49 experience within the administration
• 30 former Alderman or Council member
• 42 women, 58 men
• 10 in the second job as a Clerk

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What about the Dutch Clerk?

• Leading or bleeding?
• Since 2002 more than half of the Councils
  changed their routines
• Focus on citizen participation
• Focus on transparency and public access to
  relevant information
• Focus on Directing, Control, Supervision and
  Representation
• Councils successfully restored their Head of
  Government position
• Clerk as initiating leader of innovation and
  restoration
• 10 did lead but forget to look behind

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What about the Dutch Clerk?

• The appreciated Clerk 2011 Councils member
  Survey
• Clerks are well appreciated by their political
  bosses 7,6
• Clerks add to Democratic process and conduct of
  Council 97
• Clerks add quality to Local Politics 83
• Most asked competences Independence and
  Communication Skills
• Also wanted supervision of follow up on
  agreements and promises
• Professional development more theme based
  advisory

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What about the Dutch Clerk?

• Professional Development
• Professionalism Program for Clerks
• 2003 VvG starts a Professionalism Committee
• 2004 VvG approved Basic Course for (wannabe)
  Clerks
• 2005 VvG approved Post Master program for Senior
  Clerks
• 2009 VvG approved Top Course for Clerks
• 2010 VvG membership debate on Professionalism
  Programming
• 2011 agreement to set up a Dutch Institute for
  Municipal Clerks
• 2012 IIMC certifies Basic Course and Top Course
  for Clerks towards CMC/MMC

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The International perspective

• Evolution of western Society
• Civil Society takes over
• Media rules
• Democratic conservatism
• Searching for a new connection
• International orientation of Clerks
• International exchange knowledge sharing
• International certification of Clerks
• IIMC based European federation

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Strong Government needs Strong Clerks

• Q A
• debate discussions

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Strong Government needs Strong Clerks a Dutch
perspective
Thank you for participating !
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