On the Roundup today… the Victorian Ombudsman releases her Kingston Council investigation report, with no evidence of corruption found; significant reforms to the NSW rate peg methodology announced; Casey and Cardinia Libraries to go their separate ways; Tasmanian general manager recruitment processes under the spotlight; a new claim to local government’s largest renewable energy collaboration; and a local government sets a new Guiness World Record.
Just some of what’s ahead on the Roundup, which is brought to you by the Victorian Local Governance Association, an independent governance organisation supporting councils and councillors to achieve the highest standards of governance;
And by Hunt & Hunt Lawyers - providing advice to help Councils achieve the best for their communities.
Links:
Ombudsman report on Kingston City Council; Kingston response
Melbourne Councils join nationwide call for climate action
Casey/Cardinia seek new service model for libraries
New Library at Queen Victoria Market
New peak bodies to promote design excellence
Cultural Centre benefits from further funding | Bass Coast Shire
Tasmanian Auditor General Reports on Council GM recruitment
Audit slams Huon Valley Council's hiring process
$250 million gain for growing NSW communities - Office of Local Government NSW
Women encouraged to 'go for it' when Local Government election nominations open soon
WA LG leading shift to renewable energy
Support the Roundup and get access to special episodes and regular breaking news updates by becoming a subscriber for around $5 per month. ($3 USD) Click here to subscribe now.
The Local Government News Roundup is brought to you by the Victorian Local Governance Association, the national broadcaster on all things local government; with support from Davidson, the nationally recognised executive recruitment and business advisory service; and from Ventia, making infrastructure work sustainably for our communities.
Links for stories referenced in the podcast can be found in the transcript, or by visiting the Roundup website.
On the Roundup today… the Victorian Ombudsman releases her Kingston Council investigation report, with no evidence of corruption found; significant reforms to the NSW rate peg methodology announced; Casey and Cardinia Libraries to go their separate ways; Tasmanian general manager recruitment processes under the spotlight; a new claim to local government’s largest renewable energy collaboration; and a local government sets a new Guiness World Record.
Just some of what’s ahead on the Roundup, which is brought to you by the Victorian Local Governance Association, an independent governance organisation supporting councils and councillors to achieve the highest standards of governance;
And by Hunt & Hunt Lawyers - providing advice to help Councils achieve the best for their communities.
Links:
Ombudsman report on Kingston City Council; Kingston response
Melbourne Councils join nationwide call for climate action
Casey/Cardinia seek new service model for libraries
New Library at Queen Victoria Market
New peak bodies to promote design excellence
Cultural Centre benefits from further funding | Bass Coast Shire
Tasmanian Auditor General Reports on Council GM recruitment
Audit slams Huon Valley Council's hiring process
$250 million gain for growing NSW communities - Office of Local Government NSW
Women encouraged to 'go for it' when Local Government election nominations open soon
WA LG leading shift to renewable energy
Support the Roundup and get access to special episodes and regular breaking news updates by becoming a subscriber for around $5 per month. ($3 USD) Click here to subscribe now.
The Local Government News Roundup is brought to you by the Victorian Local Governance Association, the national broadcaster on all things local government; with support from Davidson, the nationally recognised executive recruitment and business advisory service; and from Ventia, making infrastructure work sustainably for our communities.
Links for stories referenced in the podcast can be found in the transcript, or by visiting the Roundup website.
Hello, and welcome to the Local Government News Roundup for 13th October 2021. I’m Chris Eddy.
On the Roundup today… the Victorian Ombudsman releases her Kingston Council investigation report, with no evidence of corruption found; significant reforms to the NSW rate peg methodology announced; Casey and Cardinia Libraries to go their separate ways; Tasmanian general manager recruitment processes under the spotlight; a new claim to local government’s largest renewable energy collaboration; and a local government sets a new Guiness World Record.
Just some of what’s ahead on the Roundup, which is brought to you by the Victorian Local Governance Association, an independent governance organisation supporting councils and councillors to achieve the highest standards of governance;
And by Hunt & Hunt Lawyers - providing advice to help Councils achieve the best for their communities.
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The Victorian Ombudsman has tabled in Parliament the results of an investigation into Kingston City Council’s planning approval processes for the Patterson Lakes marina area.
The investigation was initiated in response to concerns from residents and allegations that a senior planning officer and two former Councillors had corrupt and improper dealings with property developers.
The investigation did not substantiate corrupt or improper conduct as was alleged, but the Ombudsman was critical of poor or absent records of decision making, poor strategic decision-making and a lack of transparency and recording of meetings with developers and the council.
In a statement to the media, Kingston Council said the report confirmed the results of an independent review it commissioned in 2019. The review also found no evidence of corruption or fraud, but did identify a number of mistakes and recommendations to improve planning controls.
Interim CEO Tim Tamlin said he hoped the release of the report would reassure the community that the Council was taking action to ensure past mistakes are not repeated.
17 councils representing more than two million Australians have today called on the Federal Government to commit to strong, unified action on climate change, ahead of the UN Climate Conference in November.
The councils, including Moreland, Yarra, Melbourne and Wyndham in Victoria, have joined 105 signatories to the Better Futures Australia Declaration, urging Federal leaders to put politics aside and work with them to slash greenhouse gas emissions.
In tota, the signatories represent more than seven million Australians and over $330 billion in GDP and assets.
The Casey Cardinia Libraries Corporation will be dissolved next year as a result of a decision by Casey City and Cardinia Shire Councils to change their library service model.
The decision is reflective of the Local Government Act requirement for the regional library model to be phased out by 2030, as well as changing demographics in both communities.
Casey Cardinia LIbraries is Victoria’s largest public library service, serving a population projected to reach 750,000 by 2041.
The legislative change has led to discussions about the most suitable library model for the two municipalities, and the identification of the benefits of operating separate library services in the future.
Casey Chair of Administrators Noelene Duff said the transition to a new service model would be a staged process over 16 months, and that both councils will undertake community engagement on their future library vision throughout 2022.
In more library news, the City of Melbourne has announced its newest library will be incorporated in the community hub development at the Queen Victoria Market precinct.
The new library will use three floors of the Munro development and could be open by early 2023. It will be part of a $70 million facility that will also house family services, shared work spaces and affordable housing units.
The City of Melbourne is setting up two peak bodies to provide expert design advice on major developments.
40 leaders from the design development sector have been appointed to the new committees, including Infrastructure Australia CEO Romilly Madew, renowned architect Vanessa Bird and technical expert Karl Fender OAM.
The Design Excellence Advisory Committee will advise on design advocacy and culture, focusing on re-asserting Melbourne’s global reputation as a global design city.
The Melbourne Design Review Panel will complement internal design review processes, and advise on significant private developments and City of Melbourne projects.
The two groups will begin meeting before the end of the year.
Bass Coast Shire has welcomed news that it will receive $5 million from the Building Better Regions Fund for the Cowes Cultural and Community Centre project at Phillip Island.
Mayor Brett Tessari said the project has been in planning for more than a decade, and expects to be able to award a construction tender at next week’s Council meeting.
The new centre is estimated to generate over $50 million in economic benefit over the life of the project.
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The Roundup continues in a moment with more news from around the country.
The Local Government News Roundup is brought to you by the Victorian Local Governance Association.
The VLGA is partnering with Local Government Victoria and FinPro to bring you a live online panel event, discussing the use of debt as a financial resource for Councils.
The session will highlight the recently announced access to Treasury Corporation Victoria loan funds. A council’s decision surrounding the appropriateness of debt will be important in the development of 4 year budgets and strategic plans including council, financial, asset management and rating and revenue plans.
Panellists will include the Minister for Local Government, the Hon Shaun Leane; Victoria’s Auditor-General Andrew Greaves, local government financial sustainability consultant John Comrie, and CEO of Central Goldfields Shire Council, Lucy Roffey.
It will be my pleasure to facilitate this discussion on Thursday 21st October at 10.00am.
Register now to join us.. visit vlga.org.au/events for registrations and more information.
Tasmania’s Auditor-General, Rod Whitehead, has this week tabled in state parliament his report on the recruitment, appointment and performance assessment of council general managers.
His report examined whether processes were in line with established guidance and contemporary practice, and whether performance assessment processes were effective.
As part of the process, Mr Whitehead reviewed the management of conflict of interest that arose during the recent general manager recruitment process at Huon Valley Council.
He found that there was inadequate management of the conflict of interest that resulted in a flawed recruitment process. The ABC and others have reported that the successful applicant, Jason Browne, was in a relationship with the head of the recruitment agency engaged by the Council to fill the role.
Mr Whitehead has made recommendations to review and improve processes to ensure conflicts of interest are managed more effectively. Huon Valley mayor Bec Enders said the council has accepted the recommendations and findings.
More broadly, Mr Whitehead has made four recommendations to Tasmanian councils to review and improve recruitment, appointment and performance assessment processes to ensure they are consistent with contemporary human resources practice.
NSW councils will see the most significant reform to the rating system in decades, after the state government accepted recommendations for changes to rate peg methodology which will account for population growth.
The Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal released its final report on the rate peg review last week. It has recommended a population growth factor which would have generated an additional $287 million in rates revenue for councils over the past four years.
The Government says the extra rating income will primarily be covered by new residents moving into communities, and that no council will receive less income, including those with slow or declining population growth.
IPART’s report includes estimated additional incomes for individual councils.
Nominations for NSW local government elections open in less than two weeks, and the government is urging women keen to make a difference in their community to get involved.
Local Government Minister Shelley Hancock, a former Shoalhaven City Councillor herself, said the participation of women in public life is essential for the development and advancement of women, and the time has come for women to close the gender-gap on local councils.
The government has funded a series of workshops for women considering a run for council, and Mrs Hancock said 66 per cent of the attendees are more likely to run for council as a result of their participation.
Nominations open on the 25th October, and close on Wednesday 3rd November at noon. Election day is Saturday 4th December.
Western Australian councils are set to sign up for an Australian first renewable energy agreement, in a giant step towards zero emissions.
The WA Local Government Association has negotiated the new aggregated agreement with the potential to deliver 100% renewable power to 51 councils.
WALGA President, and Mayor of Wanneroo Tracy Roberts said the agreement would deliver savings of up to $5 million. If all 51 councils formalise their participation in the project, it would be the largest of its kind in Australia - eclipsing the recently announced Victorian Energy Collaboration which involves 46 councils.
The Cities Power Partnership has applauded the landmark agreement. Director of the partnership, Dr Portia Odell said partnerships like these are showing the impact local governments have when collaborating to create effective local strategies that can lead to huge emissions reductions.
Western Australian councils have until 18th November to formalise their participation in the project.
Wollondilly Shire Council has come out in strong opposition to the raising of the Warragamba Dam Wall.
An extraordinary council meeting was called last week to consider the environmental impact statement for the proposal.
Mayor Robert Khan said the 45 days provided for submissions was inadequate, given the EIS took four years to prepare and extends to several thousands of pages.
The Council unanimously voted to oppose the project, and was critical of the EIS’s watering down of environmental protections, inadequate indigenous heritage studies, and inadequate consultation.
Bega Valley Shire Council has been recognised with an award for its Bushfire Recovery, Rebuilding and Resilience Program. Its win in the local government category at the NSW Resilient Australia Awards means it will now be in the running for the national award against winners from the other states and territories. The national ceremony will be held in December.
And Camden Council in NSW has made history by setting a Guinness World Record for the largest online quiz. The Council staged the event last weekend, with 2,328 participants in the quiz for 92 minutes. The record was previously held by the Chinese city of Changsa, which set the previous mark of 1,622 participants for 68 minutes in 2018.
And further to a report in our last edition, the extraordinary meeting of Ipswich City Council to consider the appointment of its next Chief Executive Officer was cancelled at short notice. According to media reports, the meeting was deferred to allow for the provision of additional information requested by the CEO recruitment committee.
The Roundup continues in a moment with the international spotlight falling on the US and Wales.
But first, a word about our valued sponsors, Hunt & Hunt Lawyers.
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Now some stories of interest under our international spotlight….
In Kentucky, USA, local governments have been told by that state’s attorney general that they cannot prevent their employees from carrying weapons under all circumstances while on duty.
The Associated Press reports that the City of Ashland requested a review of the law after several employees requested permission to carry firearms while on duty.
The attorney-general’s opinion, released this week, confirms a local authority’s ability to prohibit carrying of concealed weapons in buildings that it owns, leases or controls. But it says that ability does not extend to public property that is not a building - such as public parks or local government-owned vehicles.
In a curious case out of Alabama, the Prattville City Council has voted to spend $1.3 million on a property purchase, but it's refusing to disclose any details about the purchase.
The Associated Press reports that the purchase is related to what is known publicly as Project KATZ, and the law allows a local government to buy property without disclosing details for 60 days after the completion of a deal.
Some council members abstained or voted against the purchase due to resident concerns about the secrecy of the deal.
And to Wales in the UK, where a report by the Auditor General for Wales has criticised infighting, unlawful awarding of contracts and dysfunctional behaviour at four community councils in the country.
The BBC reports that significant deficiencies were found at the four councils, with the Auditor General, Adrian Crompton highlighting serious weaknesses in the councils, undermining public trust and leading to a waste of public money.
So far, one of the councils has disputed the findings and indicated it would take legal action against Audit Wales.
And that’s it for this edition of the roundup. Visit www.lgnewsroundup.com for more on each episode, including show notes, links to the stories referenced and extra features.
The Local Government News Roundup is brought to you by the Victorian Local Governance Association, the home of VLGA Connect - an ever growing library of interviews, updates and panel discussions on YouTube and podcast
And by Hunt and Hunt Lawyers - providing advice to help Councils achieve the best for their communities.
Join me next time for more local government news. Until then, thanks for listening and bye for now.