The County and City Management Association (CCMA) is the ‘representative voice’ of the local government management network.
The LGMA provides support to and acts as point of contact for the CCMA. The CCMA members are chief executives of the county and city councils and the assistant chief executives of Dublin City Council.
The CCMA operates through a number of established committees, each of which is concerned with a specific policy area:
- Housing, Building and Land Use Committee
- Climate Action, Transport, Circular Economy, and Networks Committee.
- Rural Development, Community, Culture and Heritage Committee
- Business, Enterprise, Tourism, Innovation and Urban/Town Economic Renewal Committee
- Water, Environment and Emergency Planning Committee
- Finance Committee
- Corporate Committee
Each Committee is made up of county and city council chief executives and directors of service / heads of finance.
The committee interfaces with senior management of government departments and other relevant organisations. The CCMA represents its members on external committees, steering groups and organisations, develops evidence-based positions and makes submissions on relevant issues.
Objectives of the CCMA
The strategic objectives of the CCMA are set by the CCMA Executive - an eight-member committee comprising of the CCMA Chair, Vice Chair, Chief Executive of Dublin City Council, Chief Executive of Cork County Council and four elected chief executive members. They are influenced by the economic, political and legislative environment in which the CCMA operates, and their objectives are to:
- Influence and shape emerging and future policy affecting local government through direct engagement with key stakeholders on a range of diverse subjects
- Advocate on behalf of the system for necessary resources, identify strategic choices to be made in the allocations of resources and demonstrate the system’s capability to ensure the provision of value for money
- Develop and present an accurate and positive view of the worth of local authorities in the public domain by building an understanding of the broad range of work that local authorities are involved in and the issues that drive and influence it
- Demonstrate evidence of best practice and innovation within the sector for the purpose of supporting the wider development of such practices for example in the areas of shared service and procurement
- Support individual members of the CCMA
- Ensure that the public sector reform agenda is pursued and has a measurable positive impact
How this works on the ground
Through the committee structure, the CCMA evaluates and disseminates the impact of specific policy measures on the local authority sector. This informs and influences the position adopted by the Association.
The CCMA Executive leads on key issues to be tackled – mainly high-level issues, which shape the agenda of the CCMA and the six committees.
Through structured, high-level engagement with key stakeholders, the CCMA puts forward the considered views of the Association. This engagement can be through the:
- Committee structure
- Interface / plenary meetings with government departments
- Engagement with the political system
- CCMA representation on external bodies
- Direct engagement with organisations
In cases where a group, with specific terms of reference, have been established to review issues identified by national Government, the CCMA would normally make a submission to the group in question followed by direct engagement.
The CCMA works in partnership with departments and agencies to develop and implement effective, streamlined legislation.
As representatives of management of local authorities, the CCMA are key stakeholders in the areas of planning, the provision of infrastructure, housing, environment and sanitary services as well as recreational, social inclusion and cultural and tourism services and as such are consulted with by a broad spectrum of organisations.
Informally, the CCMA develops strategic alliances with stakeholders and opinion leaders.
CCMA identifies, shares and publicises good practice with relevant stakeholders through submissions to Government, the development and promotion of material on the work of local authorities, internal communications and media communications.
Contact the CCMA
CCMA Chairperson,
Moira Murrell, Chief Executive, Kerry County Council
County and City Management Association
Local Government House
35 – 39 Ushers Quay
Dublin 8