PVG

Welcome

The local authority Performance Verification Group (PVG) was established primarily to make recommendations on whether or not pay increases falling due under the ‘Sustaining Progress – Social Partnership Agreement 2003-2005’ (see Section 26) were merited given ongoing performance achieved against criteria set out in that Agreement.

This timeframe (2003- 2006) represents the first era of local authority PVG activity.

The PVG mandate which was delineated in the ‘Sustaining Progress’ Agreement was carried forward into the ‘Towards 2016 – Ten-Year Framework Social Partnership Agreement 2006-2015’ (see Section 33). The local authority PVG operated in respect of the terms of this agreement in 2007 and 2008, and this constitutes the second period of PVG engagement.

The core mandate of the local authority PVG in both periods was the verification of the outcomes agreed by the relevant parties within the local government sector. These outcomes relate to the public service modernisation, and more specifically securing a better standard of service delivery and value for money in the local authority sector. Satisfactory verification of these outcomes secured the defined pay awards according to the relevant National Agreement.

For the local government sector, the PVG comprised two management nominees, two trade union nominees, and two independent members with a further independent third party chair. With this representative composition, the PVG group generated broad acceptance and its ‘partnership’ structure mirrored the composition of groups it encountered. The local government PVG visited each local authority twice during the two periods of activity (2003 - 2006 and 2007 & 2008).

PVG operating format can be summarised in the following steps:

• Priorities agreed with the Local Authority National Partnership Advisory Group (LANPAG) and template for returns designed;
  
• Issue of relevant documentation to local authorities through LANPAG;
  
• PVG agreement on nature and structure of site visits;
  
• Examination of returns from authorities;
  
• Carrying out of site visits in two representative teams;
  
• Liaison with Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government;
  
• Liaison with other PVGs;
  
• Responding to recommendations from Secretary General;
  
• Making any necessary suggestions to authorities experiencing difficulty.
  
   

The composition of the local authority groups meeting with the PVG was essentially determined by the individual authorities but appropriate ‘representation’ was deemed by the PVG as necessary. In general, as a result, a wide representation of grades was present at each session and both the composition of the groups and the conduct of the exchanges with the PVG team reflected a strong ‘partnership’ ethos.

Performance improvement was evident in sector areas such as:

• The development and application of new technology;
  
• Enhanced customer service through both imaginative use of technology and the provision of enhanced access to customer friendly authority staff;
  
• Enhanced service provision to disabled and marginalised groups;

• Longer and more flexible opening hours for a range and variety of services which include motor tax, library and planning;

• Extension of waste management services;

• Faster responses on relevant written submissions from citizens;

• Flexible working arrangements.

Such tangible achievements in turn have been supported by internal developments of significance which have included:

• The innovative use of the partnership process;

• The piloting and development of the PMDS system;

• Enhanced training and development provision which has included and expanded on career opportunities for all staff including outdoor workers.

The term of activity of the PVG was concluded in July of 2008. Currently the PVG remains in ‘standby mode’ and awaits a fresh term of activity once external developments and decisions warrant the PVG’s reconvening.

On documents page of this website you will find, for the periods 1st June 2007 – 29th Feb 2008 and 1st March – 31st August 2008 a checklist, report and accompanying letter for each local authority. It is intended that complete records will be added over the coming months to cover the entire period of the local government PVG’s activity.

The two principle reports issuing from the local government PVG itself, Reflections on the Performance Verification Process in Local Government 2003-2006 (September 2006) and The Performance Verification Process in Local Government 2007-2008, a summary report from the Performance Verification Group (PVG) on Outcomes and Issues Arising (June 2009) are also available for download from the documents page.

The purpose of such reports is to indicate to a wider audience what actually takes place within the PVG process in local government and perhaps more importantly to reflect both on the outcomes and implications of the work.

For a full account of the terms of the structure of the performance verification process, please see the respective National Agreements:

‘Sustaining Progress – Social Partnership Agreement 2003-2005’ (Section 26)
‘Towards 2016 – Ten-Year Framework Social Partnership Agreement 2006-2015’ (Section 33)

These agreements can be downloaded in full at www.taoiseach.gov.ie.