Local Government EU priorities 2014 Dominic Rowles EU Advisor & Deputy Head of Brussels Office Local Government Association (LGA), UK For NHS Delegation.

Local Government EU priorities 2014

Dominic RowlesEU Advisor & Deputy Head of Brussels OfficeLocal Government Association (LGA), UK

For NHS Delegation

20 Jan 2014 www.local.gov.uk

Agenda

Who we are

UK & EU focus for 2014

How we work

Lobbying case study

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

Who we are

• London & Brussels offices (120 + 3 staff)

• Mainstreaming of EU affairs

• Work through CEMR: European Association of Local & Regional Government

LGA focus for 2014 - UK

Rewiring Local Services

• radical agenda for public service reform:

more local powers & local financing• better outcomes for communities

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

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)

• Direct impact of EU on councils’ services & decisions

• 75% of EU law implemented at local level

• Possibility of fines for councils - Localism Act 2011

Why focus on the EU?

Why focus on the EU?

How we work

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…

Lobbying earlier is easier

EffortEffort

Time

policy

political

>> Pre-legislative >> Draft legislation >> Council & EP readings >> Implementation >>

Local Government influence

“Those are my principles, and if you don't like them... well, I have others.”

Groucho Marx, 1890-1977

LGA find out more

LGA web pagewww.local.gov.uk

Dominic Rowles – EU adviser [email protected]

Successful lobbying case study: Late Payments Directive

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 !

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

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

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.

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

Media Work