in content lists or on the content page.A total of 153 municipalities and 24 municipal federations have joined the negotiations on two national service centres specialising in information technology, financial administration and human resources management. The negotiations were launched by Sitra, the Finnish Innovation Fund.
“Operating under municipal ownership, the service centres could assist in creating a national model that would harmonise the current jungle of different systems. The purpose is to support the upgrading of municipal information systems, especially in electronic services,” says Antti Kivelä, Executive Director of Sitra’s Municipal Programme.
“Other goals include bringing consistency to the production of high-quality financial information for municipal planning and decision-making, and improving the quality of municipal services while controlling costs.”
The municipalities and municipal federations that have joined the negotiations represent well over half of Finland’s population. A list of the negotiating parties is available on the Sitra website at www.sitra.fi/kunta. The website also features answers to the most frequently asked questions about the service centre project.
The service content will be determined in collaboration with the municipalities
The negotiations are based on business plans drawn up by Sitra together with over 20 municipalities and municipal federations, the Finnish state, and the Association of Finnish Local and Regional Authorities early in 2009. The service content for the new service centres will be determined in collaboration with municipal experts.
The negotiating parties will discuss and determine the need for information technology services in municipalities, including the need for application services, expert services related to information management and procurement, and user services related to infrastructure. Development needs in financial administration and human resources management will be discussed with the aim of harmonising structures, operating models and systems in financial management and planning, payroll administration and procurement.
The negotiations will continue until spring 2010, when the parties will make a decision on establishing the service centres. If established, the centres will be structured as limited liability companies.
More information:
Antti Kivelä, Executive Director, Municipal Programme, tel. +358 40 482 7435, firstname.lastname@sitra.fi
Kimmo Haahkola, Business Director, Municipal Programme, tel. +358 50 380 8603, firstname.lastname@sitra.fi
Johanna Pellinen, Communications Manager, Municipal Programme, tel. +358 40 561 2551, firstname.lastname@sitra.fi