A core function of NOAC is to review the individual performance of local authorities in accordance with its statutory functions under the Local Government Reform Act 2014. This key NOAC process began in February 2017 and NOAC has completed 32 reports, which ends the first cycle of this process with all local authorities having being reviewed and those findings being published.
The first cycle involved a number of stages, which included a face-to-face meeting with the Chief Executive and some of the Management team of the local authority with the Chair of NOAC and the Secretariat, a meeting between the Chief Executive and some/all of the Management team of the local authority with the full NOAC board and the publication of a report (Scrutiny Report) on the NOAC website.
In preparation for the meetings and as part of these reports, NOAC drew up a comprehensive profile of that particular local authority that analysed data obtained from the various reports that NOAC has undertaken and other available information. The data collected is used to look at trends as well as compare how local authorities are doing nationally.
This process allowed NOAC to provide a comprehensive overview of the functioning of local authorities to the public, both positive and negative, and allowed for exemplars of best practice to be identified and used to share with other local authorities, and possibly be highlighted in the NOAC Annual Good Practice in Local Government Seminar.
The results of these meetings are provided in the Scrutiny Reports, published by NOAC and available at https://www.noac.ie/publications/
Following the completion of the first cycle, NOAC reviewed the Scrutiny Process and agreed on a new system, which should allow for a more robust and procedural format to review the performance of local authorities.
Meetings follow a more structured process, akin to a Joint Oireachtas Committee format and are recorded and uploaded to the NOAC website. Further, a transcript of each meeting is also prepared and uploaded to the website allowing for more transparency regarding to the process to the public.
As part of the creation of the updated Scrutiny Process, a protocol document, which is available on the NOAC website, was developed outlining the new process. The updated Process involves a meeting between the Chief Executive of each local authority, some/all of their management team and the NOAC board.
