The evolving landscape of local governance in Ireland: exploring the potential to create public value

This research explores the potential to create public value in the various governance mechanisms which have been established in the evolving landscape of local governance in Ireland. Public Value Management (PVM) is a public management approach which recognises the legitimacy of a wide range of stakeholders in a democratic process and in which managers play an active role in steering networks of deliberation and delivery to create public value. This study considers whether the current climate of local State – civil society collaboration indicates a shift towards a broader authorizing environment wherein public policy priorities are determined, and whether local State has enabled the appropriate operational capacity to devise and realise a public value informed strategy and practice of collaboration. The research focusses on three case studies in one single site where institutional restructuring has recently taken place. The study applies a qualitative research methodology comprising local governance actor interviews supplemented by elite interviews with former informants of local governance processes. The mechanisms studied are: Strategic Policy Committee (SPC) for Travel and Transportation; SPC for Economic Development, Enterprise and Planning; and the Local Community Development Committee. Due to the researcher’s extensive experience in local government management, the research also offers a unique perspective based on wide ranging access to key actors and their insights. The study makes conceptual and empirical contributions to knowledge by establishing the relevance of PVM to real world settings, linking the PVM, institutionalism and collaborative governance literatures. The research demonstrates that generating collaboratively established public value outcomes is evident in mechanisms characterized by devolved decision-making power, a visible commitment to dialogue and deliberation, and bespoke information supports. Moreover, a public value informed practice of collaboration is most likely to be achieved where adequate resources are provided together with integrative leadership and a mindset to steer and foster collaboration.