Rotterdam needs to implement a new business model to close the gap between good ideas, plans and execution. For example connect the youth to the port and further strengthen the international potential of Rotterdam as a Clean Tech Delta. The upcoming local elections in 2010 are the right moment to address the issues.
This is the focal point of the preliminary recommendations of the International Advisory Board (IAB) Rotterdam, which consists of twelve international members - former heads of government, CEO’s and academics, the mayor and aldermen. Friday the November the sixth, acting IAB Chairwomen Jenny Shipley handed the preliminary recommendations which consist of eight main points, to Mayor Ahmed Aboutaleb.
In addition the IAB recommends to aim for a more solution focused council. The Mayor and Aldermen have to set targets, to make people responsible, to have it implemented and to hold them to account. And last but not least publicise the achievements. The IAB refers to other world cities where this has been very successful.
In the recommendations the IAB focuses on the social improvements in the suburbs, the opportunities for young people, the improvement of the position of the port and to become a Clean Tech Delta. The IAB thinks the youth and the international population are strengths that can be used to its advantage. Especially education can connect the youth to the port of Rotterdam. The IAB thinks that this economic crisis is a great opportunity to take a leading role in Rotterdam becoming a Clean Tech Delta.
The IAB is convinced that good plans can only succeed via an efficient business model and mechanism to uphold this. The IAB describes this as the Rotterdam Future Framework, in which vision, strategy, organisation and culture are integrated. “We call upon the Mayor, Aldermen and the stakeholders to embrace this framework. Only then we see Rotterdam growing from a good city to a great city”, according to Jenny Shipley.
The IAB advises the Mayor to have more ‘leadership responsibility’ on governance, the organisation of the public sector and finance. At the same time it pleads for a small and powerful Municipal Executive. The IAB thinks that the quality and the efficiency of the Rotterdam administration can be more efficient by measures that reduce the rules and regulations, to improve the public-private collaboration and to stimulate social entrepreneurship in the city.
Mayor Aboutaleb is content with the recommendations of the IAB. “At the start of the IAB, last Wednesday, I asked them to recommend us not on “what to” but more on “how to”. I compliment the IAB members, the preliminary recommendations are a good starting point to make Rotterdam a better city where the focus lies on the power to mobilise the people of Rotterdam and their entrepreneurs. The IAB has given us direction to close the gap between the dream and the reality. “We realise this is our big challenge”.
Download here the Report of the IAB Conference 2009.
