1. IMC LADDER: Initiate−establish−implement−evaluate December 2016 Inter-municipal Cooperation
Reference material:
TOOLKIT ON INTERMUNICIPAL COOPERATION
Council of Europe

2. IMC in CoE members
CDLR reported IMC to European Ministers – since 2008
IMC is a widespread phenomenon in western European countries (France, XIX, NL 1851)
With an elaborated menu to choose from: composition, tasks, scope, institutionalisation, decision-making powers

3. IMC STEP LADDER:1-6 Initiating cooperation
1. Identify needs and opportunities
2. Identify partners and possible areas of cooperation
3. Analyse legal environment
4. Conduct feasibility study
5. Decide areas of cooperation
6. Build awareness and support

4. IMC STEPS: (7-10) Setting up the cooperation
7. Establish Joint Task Force
8. Identify best legal form
9. Agree financing
10. Negotiate agreement / statutes
11. Establish management / representatives
12. Ensure continuous self-assessment and monitoring
13. Enable continuous and effective communications
14. Conduct regular evaluations

5. Step 9. Agree financing, 1 Fee related
Service Type:
E.g. water supply, heating, sanitation
IMC body or its operator may recover costs directly from consumers
Municipal contribution may be necessary for subsidy or investment costs
Who has powers to borrow / guarantee loans?
How are costs apportioned between municipalities?

6. Step 9. Agree financing, 2 Socio-economic
Tax Borne Expenditure
E.g.: Economic development, social welfare; health care; environmental protection tourism promotion.
Can an IMC impose a tax?
Municipal contributions from grants or taxes?
Which are the basis of contribution?

7. Step 9: Financing Socio-economic Functions:
British/French IMC levy additional taxes
Hungarian specific government grant for joint administrative offices
Specific grants for e.g. schools, care homes
Grants favouring urban centres (services periphery)
Association of Jura LG - 40 Polish LGU, on joint tourist development, EU funding

8. Step 10. Negotiate agreement or statutes
Non-formal agreement (handshake)
Private/public law contract/agreement
Statutes of a private/public law institution

9. Step 10. Negotiate agreement or statutes
ToC Sample
Purpose/ duration of the agreement
Service related visibility activities
Field and scope of the agreement
Parties liabilities, shares
Admission / withdrawal of a partner
Rights and obligations of each party
Dissolution
Articles governing the Management
Settlement of disputes
Shares, Financing, Accounting and audit
Monitoring and evaluation
Rights of ownership and assets

10. Step 11. Establish representation and management
Decision-making bodies
Members assembly: election by citizens, by municipal councils, member of municipal councils?
Each municipality has same number of representatives?
Proportional to population; financial criteria?
Private sector involvement anticipated?

11. Thank you!