Internal council culture and councillor conduct at Gold Coast City Council is making news this week.
Also today: a councillor resigns at Adelaide alleging a corrosive and unpleasant work environment; a hefty rates increase announced for owners of short stay properties in Brisbane; and a Victorian council repeats a call for an upgrade to the intersection where a former mayor was killed.
And much more from around the world of local government on today’s Roundup, brought to you by the Victorian Local Governance Association, your national broadcaster for all things local government.
Listen from the list on this page, or find the Roundup on your preferred podcast app here: www.podbio.me/lgnewsroundup
Transcript with links (where available):
Internal council culture and councillor conduct at Gold Coast City Council is making news this week.
Those developments lead this edition of the Local Government News Roundup.
Welcome to the bulletin for the 15th June. I’m Chris Eddy.
Also today: a councillor resigns at Adelaide alleging a corrosive and unpleasant work environment; a hefty rates increase announced for owners of short stay properties in Brisbane; and a Victorian council repeats a call for an upgrade to the intersection where a former mayor was killed.
And much more from around the world of local government on The Government Roundup, brought to you by the Victorian Local Governance Association, your national broadcaster for all things local government.
I’m mixing things up today and starting with the National Roundup, with much to bring you up to speed on.
Starting at Gold Coast City Council, it’s been reported that more than $1M has been spent in two years on separation deals with senior executives.
Whistleblowers and insiders have told the Gold Coast Bulletin that consultants’ reports into the culture have revealed a range of issues that led to the departure of some of the city’s top executives.
The Bulletin claims at least 7 managers have left since 2020, ahead of an expected restructure under new CEO Tim Baker. It claims whistleblowers are reaching out to councillors seeking assurances about the morale of the workforce.
Mr Baker told the paper that 73 per cent of staff had responded to a workplace culture survey, which will help set the future direction of the organisation.
(Gold Coast Bulletin, 13-6-22, p.6)
Meanwhile, the Gold Coast Council has received a report of an investigation into alleged inappropriate conduct by one of its councillors.
A complaint was made initially to the office of Mayor Tom Tate, and referred on to the Office of the Independent Assessor. After initial assessment, the OIA referred the matter back to the city to investigate. As a result of this process, the Mayor declared a conflict of interest and left the council chamber when the item came up at yesterday’s council meeting.
Cr Peter Young was alleged to have contravened behavioural standards in a private Facebook message exchange with a community member last year, by using language considered obscene, abusive or threatening.
Cr Young does not deny the exchange but suggested it was between two private individuals and did not fall within the ambit of the Code of Conduct for councillors.
The investigation found there was sufficient evidence to make a finding of inappropriate conduct, and was recommended that the councillor be required to make a public admission of engaging in inappropriate conduct.
After almost an hour of debate, the Council determined that there had been inappropriate conduct, but chose to take no further action on the matter.
https://www.goldcoast.qld.gov.au/files/sharedassets/public/pdfs/minutes-amp-agendas/archived-agendas/819-council-meeting-14-june-2022-supplementary-agenda.pdf (Item commences 3:57:00 approx)
To another state, and another council in the midst of a cultural storm.
In Adelaide, independent Central ward councillor Greg Mackie resigned yesterday with immediate effect, just 5 months out from the next round of council elections.
In his resignation letter, Mr Mackie said the main reason for resigning was the corrosive nature of the current body politic.
A report in CityMag has quoted sections of the letter, which describes the chamber environment as unpleasant, and lacking in mature and respectful exchange.
It also quotes a letter sent to the Lord Mayor Sandy Verschoor yesterday by another independent councillor, Phil Martin, asking her to reflect on how the workplace had become toxic; and alleging attacks on elected members by staff.
Cr Martin was named in a 2020 report as one of those responsible for the poor culture, a report that he claims was produced with an absolute denial of procedural fairness.
It’s understood a supplementary election will not be required with general elections due later in the year. Mr Mackie has already been removed from the list of councillors on the council website.
‘There is no civility’: Prominent city councillor resigns – CityMag
At Shellharbour City Council, a land transaction related to the building of a new $700M hospital was considered in a confidential session last week.
The Council owns part of the land at the government’s preferred location for the hospital at Dunmore.
The Illawarra Mercury reports that councillors voted not to proceed with the deal with a vote of 5 votes to 4; however a rescission motion was lodged immediately after the meeting.
An extraordinary meeting was held on Friday to consider the rescission motion, and the original decision was overturned. It’s understood that the decision that now stands is in keeping with the original officer recommendation.
(Illawarra Mercury, 13-6-22, p.8)
WA’s local government minister has announced the simplification of financial reporting and auditing for councils in that state.
John Carey says changes to be phased in from 1st July will make it easier for councils to prepare their financial reports and have them audited.
He said they are based on recommendations from the Office of the Auditor General which will ensure ratepayers can access information more easily and transparently.
The changes are understood to be part of a suite of local government reforms planned in Western Australia.
Simplified financial reporting to bring benefits for ratepayers and local governments
In Brisbane, the Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner has flagged new measures in today’s city budget to help tackle housing affordability and support renters in the city.
Landlords who have listed their homes on sites like AirBnB and Stayz will be given a choice to return their properties to the long term rental market, or face a 50 per cent increase in their rates.
Meanwhile, a new program to deliver shade cover to every one of the city’s playgrounds has been announced.
The Lord Mayor said the $10M program will fast track the installation of shade sails or mature trees to playgrounds to make them more sun safe for children.
There are 150 playgrounds in Brisbane, and the new program will enable shade cover to be added to around 50 each year over the next three years.
Brisbane throwing shade at playground network – Inside Local Government
In NSW, the independent review of the effectiveness of the framework for dealing with councillor misconduct is getting extra assistance.
Former Logan City Council CEO Gary Kellar is leading the review, and will now be joined by former Georges River and Ryde Council CEO Gail Connolly.
Gary and Gail will review the feedback from the public consultation process, and work together to make recommendations to the NSW Government about policy, legislative and operational changes to improve the system for dealing with councillor misconduct.
The NSW Government has announced $40 million to pay the 2022/23 rates for thousands affected by this year’s devastating floods.
The program will help ratepayers in the 7 worst-affected LGAs who have made successful claims through Service NSW, or whose properties have been assessed as damaged.
Those LGAs include Ballina, Byron, Clarence Valley, Kyogle, Lismore, Richmond Valley and Tweed.
In today’s National Briefs:
The former CEO of the WA’s City of Swan, Mike Foley has been awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia for service to local government in the Queen’s Birthday Honours.
Mr Foley was at the City of Swan for 39 years, culminating in holding the CEO position for 14 years until stepping down in 2020.
The Deputy Mayor of Albury City, Steve Bowen, has been awarded the Order of Australia for service to the community of Albury-Wodonga.
Cr Bowen is also well known in the region as a DJ, a volunteer firefighter, and a founding member of the Country Hope Trust.
(Border Mail, 13-6-22)
In NSW, regulations have been amended to prescribe a tendering threshold of $500k for contracts entered into by councils for the purpose of responding to, or recovering from, a declared natural disaster.
The amendment means that councils are not required to tender prior to entering into a contract with a value of less than $500k where the contract:
is primarily for the purpose of response to or recovery from a “declared natural disaster”, and is entered into within 12 months after the date on which the natural disaster is declared.
Still to come – the Victorian Roundup, with the call for an upgrade to the intersection where a former mayor was killed; the Great Moyne Build gets extra funding; and new aged care providers announced for Greater Shepparton.
You’re listening to the Local Government News Roundup for 15th June 2022, brought to you by the Victorian Local Governance Association.
Now for some stories making news around Australia in local government this week:
The City of Casey is calling on the state government to fund crucial road safety improvements on the Princes Highway in Berwick.
Chair of Administrators Noelene Duff has renewed the Council’s call for traffic signals and street lighting to improve safety at the location where former councillor and mayor Mick Morland was killed after being hit by a car in 2017.
Ms Duff said over a five year period, the location was the site of two recorded crashes with one fatality, one serious injury, and three other injuries.
The Council has written to the responsible minister seeking support for a signalised intersection with pedestrian crossings at the intersection which serves as the entrance to the Wilson Botanic Park in Berwick. The botanic park has experienced a significant increase in visitation over the past two years.
https://www.casey.vic.gov.au/news/city-of-casey-calls-road-safety-improvements
The City of Melbourne has launched new online Neighbourhood Portals, designed to connect community members and to share ideas.
The interactive portals are part of a new place-based approach to connecting and responding to unique communities across the municipality, and will feature the latest neighbourhood news and information.
Portals for the CBD and Kensington are the first to launch, with another 8 expected to launch in the coming months.
At Moyne Shire, the council has approved a 250% increase in budget allocations to help deliver one it is calling the Great Moyne Build.
One of the council’s biggest ever capital works programs will be supported by an additional half a million dollars from the general surplus over the next two financial years.
The money will fund additional project staff for an estimated $41M capital works program this coming financial year. That compares to an average program of $16M in previous years.
33 projects worth $9M are being rolled over from this year to next, and the council hopes the extra resources will help to clear the backlog.
Extra resources for Great Moyne Build
Greater Shepparton has announced the two new providers of aged care services in the municipality from July this year.
The federal government has appointed Community Accessibility to deliver meals from the 18th July, and Calvary Community Care to provide home modifications, access and support at home, and social connection programs from the 1st July.
The Council says it is working closely with the new providers to ensure a smooth transition to the new arrangements.
Changes to management of aged care services – Greater Shepparton City Council
Five priority rural roads in Horsham Rural City will be strengthened and widened, with the announcement of more than $5M in federal government funding this week.
The five roads included a connector road with Yarriambiack Shire, which will contribute to the project.
Horsham Council is putting in over $3.5M to upgrade the roads over the next three years. Mayor Robin Gulline said the works will allow B-double trucks to pass each other without moving off the road and provide a detour around Horsham for heavy vehicles.
The City of Ballarat has announced that restoration works will commence on two of its avenues of honour, with the receipt of grant funding from the state government.
$15,000 will be put towards minor ground works, the planting and replacement of trees, and better signage for the Ballarat East Avenue of Honour and the Tourello Avenue of Honour.
An audit of the city’s 13 avenues of honour identified the needed works, which will be delivered by the city with support from local volunteers.
Restoring our Avenues of Honour | City of Ballarat
While many councils are struggling to meet timelines for determining planning and building applications, one council has reported a significant increase in efficiency in its statutory planning processes.
Mansfield Shire Mayor James Tehan says a 2020 review of the department has led to 90% of permits being issued within state government timeframes, an increase of 30% on the previous year.
He said the focus has been on improving processes after town planning was identified as an issue to address from community satisfaction surveys.
Mayor Tehan said the Council has also adopted a Commercial and Industrial Land Use Strategy, a Mansfield Planning Strategy, and progressed 7 different amendments to the planning scheme.
Hitting our Planning Targets | Mansfield Shire Council
International Spotlight:
In Philadelphia, the City Council has passed a new law making it mandatory for companies with 50 or more employees to provide benefits to improve use of public transit.
The law enables employers to provide a pre-tax deduction of commuting costs, as well as pre-paid transit passes. Employees who ride a bike to work will have their storage and maintenance expenses covered or reimbursed through the program.
Phillyvoice.com reports that the law is part of broader pandemic recovery efforts as well as aims to reduce traffic congestion and decrease overall carbon emissions in the city.
Philadelphia employers will soon be required to offer commuter benefits to workers
In England, county councils are calling for extra funding support from the government to avoid having to make cuts to services or delay major works due to spiralling inflation,
The County Councils Network said inflation has added over £1.5B to their costs, with 40 of the country’s largest councils experiencing a rise of 92% in just three months
They are warning of a winter of difficult decisions, due to the legal requirement to balance their budgets and control costs, unless the government provides extra funding to offset the extra costs.
Meanwhile, there are warnings of more local government strikes in the UK unless care workers receive a pay rise.
Localgov.co.uk reports on suggestions from the GMB General Secretary that action may be taken if councils won’t address equal pay demands.
Some London councils are facing bans on bin collections, with 100 refuse staff in Croydon planning a three week strike over a dispute about poverty pay.
Fresh strike warning for sector
That’s the latest from the Roundup, thanks to the Victorian Local Governance Association, your national broadcaster for all things local government. Subscribe to VLGA Connect on YouTube and podcast for regular sessions with local government identities and decision makers.
I’ll be back with more news from around the world of local government on Sunday. Until then, thanks for listening and bye for now.