WORLD-WIDE CONFERENCE OF THE INTERNATIONAL ASOCIATION OF GENERAL SECRETARYS AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OF LOCAL GOVERNMENTTHE SIENA DECLARATION
The Professional Associations of Local Government Chief Executives present in Siena (Italy), united by the same professional culture, over and above their differing systems of government and local government structures, aware of their competences, the scope and responsibilities of the professional group to which they belong, and the need for continuous innovation,
AGREE to renew their commitment to service in a global environment that devolves new powers to local authorities.
WHEREAS society and local authorities demand the adoption of measures to ensure the establishment of a fundamentally democratic and efficient modern state, in which the principles enshrined in international declarations on local autonomy are fully endorsed and in which the participation of citizens is a key element in the decisions taken by local authorities;
WHEREAS to satisfy these demands it is a priority to raise the quality of management in the local government sector with the aim of enhancing effectiveness and efficiency in fulfilling their commitments and, in particular, in providing benefits and public services that impact on the quality of life of the population;
WHEREAS the role of directors and highly qualified senior management in local authorities is fundamental to the implementation of local policies. It is essential for such senior managers in order to have professional status to be recruited on merit, to be trustworthy and accountable, to receive remuneration commensurate with their performance, and be capable of fostering the continuous renewal and modernisation of their institutions;
WHEREAS the professionalisation of the above-mentioned grades of staff is not obtained merely through the formal adoption of legal measures, but through the continuous demonstration of a political will to support the introduction and development of career paths for directors and through the commitment of government, of society as a whole, and of political parties to make them effective;
WHEREAS within the context of globalisation, professional groups must accept the challenge of the exchange of experiences, providing help to those with fewer resources and promoting their professional culture, with the aim of giving new impetus to the elements that they share, giving support to the actions of local government in accordance with the law;
WHEREAS the Declarations on Local Autonomy set out by IULA in 1993 in Toronto (Canada), by the Council of Europe in Strasburg (France) in 1985, by the Ibero-American Intermunicipal Organisation in Caracas (Venezuela) in 1990 and by the Ibero-American Union of Local Government Officers in Cartagena de Indias (Colombia) in 1993, and also the draft World Charter for Local Autonomy promoted by IULA, the contents of which reflect the spirit which inspires this declaration;
PROCLAIM the will to involve local government Chief Executives, senior management and the governments of the world in this declaration which has the aim of strengthening and consolidating the institution of local government and developing the careers of the most senior local government officers in a professional and honourable manner, imbued with ethical values and with the commitment to develop their local communities.
PART ONE
CAREER PATHS OF TOP MANAGERS IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT
1. THE STRENGTHENING OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT WITH A VIEW TO MEETING THE CHALLENGES POSED BY GLOBALISATION REQUIRES THAT THE PROFESSIONAL CAREER OF MANAGERS BE BASED ON MERIT AND ABILITY
The current situation poses new challenges in which globalisation of the economic and financial system and also of cultural contacts has led local authorities to assume a greater political relevance. This affords them the privilege of decision-making on public issues, being responsible for solving problems relating to sustainable development, employment, public information, the introduction of new technologies and responding to the needs of the life of the community.
Local authorities must take a quantum leap in moving from administration to policy from the management of familiar issues to the development of strategies and the shaping of the future. All this requires a professional top management which, besides revitalising local policies, must also be capable of facing such challenges with determination.
2. A PROFESSIONAL STATUTE FOR A NEW CONCEPT OF CHIEF EXECUTIVE
The consolidation of a professional body of top local government officers embodying ethical values supporting their commitment, capable of redefining and harmonising the difficult relationship between politics and administration, must be based on four fundamental principles:
a) open and transparent access;
b) promotion on the basis of merit and achievement;
c) integrity, objectivity and neutrality, and
d) professional commitment to local government policies.
3. MERIT, ABILITY AND RESULTS-BASED MANAGEMENT AS ELEMENTS FOR DEFINING THE NEW ROLE OF CHIEF EXECUTIVES
With the need to create a Statute for exercising leadership, priority should be given to specific criteria for merit and decision-making ability in regard to recruitment, career development, training and remuneration. In particular, the remuneration system for top management should respect the principles of competitiveness, justice and fairness and be an incentive to better performance for the individual and greater productivity for the organisation.
PART TWO
NEW ETHICAL PRINCIPLES FOR FACING NEW CHALLENGES
AND SPECIFIC TRAINING FOR TOP MANAGEMENT
4. PUBLIC SERVICE ETHICS ARE NECESSARY FOR A NEW-STYLE TOP MANAGEMENT
The Associations that have convened here adopt the principles enshrined in the Code of Ethics approved at this World Conference. They proclaim that commitment, professional dignity and accountability in exercising management functions in a neutral manner and with respect for the statutes which underpin our actions, are of key importance in the management of public affairs. These should be conducted in a manner that is transparent and accessible to the public, that encourages participation and is respectful of all groups in society without regard to race, gender or any other category.
5. A TRAINING POLICY TAILORED TO NEW DUTIES
To improve professional performance, improvements are needed in training and in the ability required to carry out senior management functions. It is therefore necessary to establish a permanent training system for top managers, the core objectives of which will be:
a) to enable current and potential chief officers and senior managers to access modern management techniques consistent with national circumstances and those specific to the public sector;
b) to provide sound general training in areas that are essential for the development of top management skills and responsibilities to be able to cope with the complex nature of modern management, including thorough knowledge of the international and national economic situation, with regard to the definition, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of public policies and of comparative public administration;
c) to contribute, through appropriate programmes, to the development of personal potential in general;
d) continuously to update the individual’s working skills, and
e) to provide them with national and comparative experiences and case studies of major importance for their work and development.
PART THREE
CO-OPERATION AND AREAS OF JOINT ACTION IN THE LEADERSHIP FUNCTION
6. THE COMMITMENT OF TOP MANAGEMENT IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND CO-OPERATION IN LOCAL POLICY-MAKING AS A FOCUS FOR EXERCISING ITS FUNCTIONS
These new spheres of action similarly require a vision of co-operation with local government that is professional and non-corporative (means?) in which the creation, development and consolidation of highly qualified professional officers capable of strengthening democratic and participatory structures under political leadership and supervision.
7. JOINT ACTION FOR A NEW WORLD ORDER
We stress the need to establish permanent forums for reflection, discussion and planning, beginning with this first World Conference. The Foundation that it has created will bring together all the national and international associations of local government Chief Executives and all those that include among their members the top-ranking professional officers working in local government, with the ultimate aim of creating a worldwide professional association that will promote professional skills in governments around the world, international training and research projects on the performance of the leadership function and on the improvement of local governance.
On the basis of the foregoing
WE INVITE PUBLIC BODIES, INTERNATIONAL ORGANISATIONS AND LOCAL AUTHORITIES TO ADOPT THIS DECLARATION
and to take all the political and regulatory measures required to implement the principles that it contains.