Samen verder?: De Public Private Comparator op decentraal niveau

Abstract

This research examines the efforts of the Public Private Comparator (PPC) at the decentralized level in the Netherlands. The PPC is a financial-economic assessment tool that can be used before a tender to determine whether there is a surplus value for a specific project (real estate or infrastructure) in the form of a Public Private Partnership based on a DBFM(O)-contract compared to a traditional form of contract. At state level, this assessment tool has been successfully implemented for a few years now whereas at the decentralized level there is still little experience with this tool and there are mainly pitfalls. Recently the Ministry of Finance launched a pilot for local authorities to examine the need for knowledge and experience regarding DBFM(O)-contracts, after an advice of the Commission on Private Financing of Infrastructure, also known as the Ruding Committee. The main question that will be answered by means of this research is: Under which conditions, with regard to content and process, is it possible to use the PPC within the municipality? This study shows which conditions are needed at State level and how these can be translated to a municipal situation and organization. The result of these findings is converted in a report and a step-by-step plan with regard to content and process for the implementation of the PPC at municipal level. This research has been conducted within, and focuses specifically on the municipality of Rotterdam. Particularly for the theoretical part, the practical part (case studies) and most of the conclusions it is possible to see the results in a broader context, so that this research also applies to local authorities more generally.