Essay - Intergovernmental Relations: Issues in Public Policies Objective This Objective of...

INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS: ISSUES IN PUBLIC POLICIES

OBJECTIVE

***** objective of this work is to examine intergovernmental relations specifically as related to issues in public policy and to answer the question ***** 'what changes need to be made in the ***** adm*****istration and political systems in order for them to ***** more communicative and inter-*****?'

I. INTERGOVERNMENTAL ***** (IGR) ISSUE

***** issue addressed in this study is focused on the needed changes to public administrati***** and political ***** in order for them ***** be more communicative and inter-related. It is reported by the Australia South Africa Local Governance Partnership in ***** work entitled: "Intergovernmental Relations - A Key to Good Service Delivery" that ***** relations or ***** is "the set of processes and relationships between elected members ***** officials which affect and effect service delivery and which can be generally taken ***** consist of communicating information, consultation and engagement." (*****SALGP, nd) Intergovernmental relations is ***** "basis by ***** elected mem*****rs and ***** of government entities deal with each other where cooperation is necessary to assure legislative compliance, policy implementation and service *****."(ASALGP, nd) Not only does IGR contribute to delivery of *****s but it also "can be a major factor in efficient a***** *****ive service delivery. In m*****ny cases problems with service delivery can ***** attributed to failures ***** IGR." (ASALGP, nd) *****tergovernmental ***** (IGR) is "about improving the ***** of outcomes through effective systems, processes and procedures ***** ensure cooperation of different role players around policy formulation, planning, monitoring and support ***** delivery. A narrow structural approach leads to people getting bogged down with structure which collapse if d*****ficulties are experienced." (*****, nd)

*****. LITERATURE REVIEW

It is ***** by ***** Australia South Africa ***** Governance ***** in the work *****: "Intergovernmental ***** - A Key to Good Service Delivery" that constraints to quality intergovernmental relation practices include the following constraints:

Lack of a shared focus on key national development priorities

Perpetuation of previous hierarchical relations ***** spheres

Insufficient sharing of information

Absence of a focus on cross cutting *****

Lack of capacity

Erratic and unfocussed participation in coord*****ation structures

Inadequate enforcement and performance management

Instruments not being used as intended

Lack ***** a shared spatial area of focus (ASALGP, nd)

It ***** related ***** the ***** that both ***** and non*****elected officials play a role in IGR which may take many forms including "protocol dealings, liaison meetings, intersphere planning, approval processes or formal input on a service proposal." (nd) Stakeholders in IGR include "all ***** of government, par*****tatals (***** service providers such as those involved with water and electricity provision) ***** well as community groups and the public." (ASALGP, nd)

***** of ***** IGR are stated to be ***** *****:

***** and efficient Service Delivery

Inclusive decision making and consultative *****

Absence of disputes between spheres ***** government

Mechanisms to resolve disputes between spheres of government

***** within all spheres ***** government to develop and progress IGR as equal partners

Mutual respect for decision making process ***** time frames