Menu
09/08/2001
Government officers sample US civic management style
Local government administrators across the island of Ireland this week are learning about a revolutionary management tool being adopted by their counterparts in the United States.
CitiStat, which is designed to improve the accountability of local government, is the brainchild of the Mayor of Baltimore, Martin O’Malley, who currently is undertaking a four-date speaking tour of Ireland, north and south, in a bid to explain its tenets on this side of the Atlantic Ocean.
The CitiStat programme aims to improve the performance standards of city governments by setting tough improvement targets and then keeping these under constant review. Since its implementation in Baltimore some 14 months’ ago, the City has seen a marked improvement in the efficiency of many key services.
Robert Wilson, Assistant Chief Executive of Belfast City Council, said: “Belfast City Council already has shown civic leadership by initiating its Best Value programme three years ago, before it became a statutory responsibility for local authorities here in Northern Ireland to do so. Best Value relates to performance and continuous improvement, and it is important that we look at a wide range of models and ideas, including those from other countries.
“It is therefore extremely opportune that Mayor O’Malley should be visiting Northern Ireland at this time, and I believe that we can learn valuable lessons from his enthusiastic approach to championing change in local government.”
Mayor O’Malley already has brought his CitiStat message to Galway and Londonderry, and met officials from a further 12 Northern Ireland local authorities at the City Hall, Belfast on Thursday, before finishing his tour in Dublin on Friday.
Speaking on Thursday Mayor O’Malley said: “I hope that, through my visit to Ireland and by meeting representatives from local authorities on both sides of the border, I can share our achievements in Baltimore. The themes and approach that we took to improve city governance in Baltimore are universal and easily could be replicated in cities such as Belfast, Dublin, Galway and Londonderry.”
Martin O’Malley was elected in November 1999 as the youngest Mayor in Baltimore’s history, with an overwhelming 91 per cent of the vote.
His pioneer CitiStat programme, which calls Baltimore’s administrators and managers to fortnightly meetings to account for the performance of their individual departments and sections, has been developed from a New York Police Department initiative in the mid-1990s, which resulted in a dramatic fall in crime figures. (AMcE)
CitiStat, which is designed to improve the accountability of local government, is the brainchild of the Mayor of Baltimore, Martin O’Malley, who currently is undertaking a four-date speaking tour of Ireland, north and south, in a bid to explain its tenets on this side of the Atlantic Ocean.
The CitiStat programme aims to improve the performance standards of city governments by setting tough improvement targets and then keeping these under constant review. Since its implementation in Baltimore some 14 months’ ago, the City has seen a marked improvement in the efficiency of many key services.
Robert Wilson, Assistant Chief Executive of Belfast City Council, said: “Belfast City Council already has shown civic leadership by initiating its Best Value programme three years ago, before it became a statutory responsibility for local authorities here in Northern Ireland to do so. Best Value relates to performance and continuous improvement, and it is important that we look at a wide range of models and ideas, including those from other countries.
“It is therefore extremely opportune that Mayor O’Malley should be visiting Northern Ireland at this time, and I believe that we can learn valuable lessons from his enthusiastic approach to championing change in local government.”
Mayor O’Malley already has brought his CitiStat message to Galway and Londonderry, and met officials from a further 12 Northern Ireland local authorities at the City Hall, Belfast on Thursday, before finishing his tour in Dublin on Friday.
Speaking on Thursday Mayor O’Malley said: “I hope that, through my visit to Ireland and by meeting representatives from local authorities on both sides of the border, I can share our achievements in Baltimore. The themes and approach that we took to improve city governance in Baltimore are universal and easily could be replicated in cities such as Belfast, Dublin, Galway and Londonderry.”
Martin O’Malley was elected in November 1999 as the youngest Mayor in Baltimore’s history, with an overwhelming 91 per cent of the vote.
His pioneer CitiStat programme, which calls Baltimore’s administrators and managers to fortnightly meetings to account for the performance of their individual departments and sections, has been developed from a New York Police Department initiative in the mid-1990s, which resulted in a dramatic fall in crime figures. (AMcE)
Related Northern Ireland News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.
19 September 2018
Primark Donates £500,000 To Support Businesses Affected By Fire
Retailer Primark is donating £500,000 to Belfast City Council's City Recovery Investment Fund. The fund is being set up after a number of businesses have been severely affected by the fire at the Bank Buildings which happened over three weeks ago. A cordon remains in place and 14 firms have been closed for up to four months.
Primark Donates £500,000 To Support Businesses Affected By Fire
Retailer Primark is donating £500,000 to Belfast City Council's City Recovery Investment Fund. The fund is being set up after a number of businesses have been severely affected by the fire at the Bank Buildings which happened over three weeks ago. A cordon remains in place and 14 firms have been closed for up to four months.
15 March 2004
St Patrick's Day event has support of BCC says councillor
The Chairman of Belfast City Council’s Good Relations Steering Panel has challenged claims that the Council is not supporting St Patrick’s Day in Belfast. It follows a protest outside Belfast City Hall last week by the St Patrick's Carnival Committee who claim the Council isn't funding this year's event at the City Hall.
St Patrick's Day event has support of BCC says councillor
The Chairman of Belfast City Council’s Good Relations Steering Panel has challenged claims that the Council is not supporting St Patrick’s Day in Belfast. It follows a protest outside Belfast City Hall last week by the St Patrick's Carnival Committee who claim the Council isn't funding this year's event at the City Hall.
11 May 2004
Belfast to host Safer City Day
The Lord Mayor of Belfast, Councillor Martin Morgan has urged local people to attend the first ever Belfast Safer City Day exhibition at the City Hall this coming Thursday. Organised by Belfast City Council, the Safer City Day aims to offer practical advice on making Belfast a safer place to live.
Belfast to host Safer City Day
The Lord Mayor of Belfast, Councillor Martin Morgan has urged local people to attend the first ever Belfast Safer City Day exhibition at the City Hall this coming Thursday. Organised by Belfast City Council, the Safer City Day aims to offer practical advice on making Belfast a safer place to live.
07 May 2024
easyJet Launches Summer Flights To Alicante
Belfast City Airport has welcomed the launch of new easyJet summer flights to Alicante. The service to the popular Spanish region will fly twice a week on Thursdays and Sundays. Seats are still available to book from £40.99* on easyJet.com and via the mobile app.
easyJet Launches Summer Flights To Alicante
Belfast City Airport has welcomed the launch of new easyJet summer flights to Alicante. The service to the popular Spanish region will fly twice a week on Thursdays and Sundays. Seats are still available to book from £40.99* on easyJet.com and via the mobile app.
14 December 2012
Foster's Flag Violence Condemnation 'Long Overdue'
The SDLP Chair of the Assembly's Enterprise Trade and Investment Committee Patsy McGlone has branded Arlene Foster’s condemnation of the ongoing violence in Northern Ireland as "long overdue".
Foster's Flag Violence Condemnation 'Long Overdue'
The SDLP Chair of the Assembly's Enterprise Trade and Investment Committee Patsy McGlone has branded Arlene Foster’s condemnation of the ongoing violence in Northern Ireland as "long overdue".
-
Northern Ireland WeatherToday:A showery start with outbreaks most frequent north of Lough Neagh and through the morning, before dwindling during the afternoon as the northwest breezes ease and brighter spells of weak sunshine prosper. Maximum temperature 8 °C.Tonight:A dry night, save for a few light showers around the coasts, with prolonged clear spells and light winds bringing a frosty dawn for many in central and southern parts. Minimum temperature -3 °C.
