A CEO contract extension, and an interim CEO appointment announced.
Those developments lead this edition of the Local Government News Roundup.
Also today: census data reveals the LGAs in population growth and decline; new building regulations described as unworkable for councils; a mayor under increasing pressure to resign; and another censured by their own council over conduct issues.
The Local Government News Roundup is brought to you by the Victorian Local Governance Association, your national broadcaster for all things local government.
Listen now on your preferred podcast app (links here) or click on the corresponding entry in the list on this page.
Transcript:
Another Council CEO has been granted a contract extension, with Craig Niemann at Greater Bendigo this week reappointed for one year, which will take him through to December 2023.
The early extension to his contract, which was due to run out this December, is due a mutual desire of the Council and Mr Niemann for him to see through the organisation’s impending move to the new Bendigo GovHub.
By the time his contract is up, Mr Niemann will have been the Council’s CEO for 16 years, and in local government for 40 years.
Mayor Andrea Metcalf said the Council would be looking to advertise the role mid way through next year.
Mr Niemann joins John Bennie at Greater Dandenong in having a short term contract extension recently announced, while longer term extensions have been agreed with John Baker at Mornington Peninsula and Glenn Patterson at Casey.
CEO re-appointed for one-year term, to depart City of Greater Bendigo in December 2023
Mansfield Shire Council last night formally appointed Bill Millard as its interim CEO, to take over after Kaylene Conrick departs next week.
Mr Millard was recently CEO at Moyne Shire for four years, and had senior roles prior that at Hobsons Bay and Warrnambool Councils.
The council has commenced a process to recruit a permanent CEO.
Newly released census data has confirmed the strongest growth in population in Victoria is happening to the west.
The Wyndham and Melton Council areas were the only two LGAs to experience growth of more than 20%, with Surf Coast not far behind on 19.2%.
The next fastest growing LGAs in order were Bass Coast, Cardinia, Mitchell, and Hume, all recording upwards of 15% population growth.
The figures and analysis are published in today’s Herald Sun, and also show that regional growth has come at the expense of inner city LGAs which recorded population decline. They are led by Port Phillip with a 6.6% decrease, followed by Stonnington, Boroondara, Brimbank, Darebin and Yarra.
Brimbank’s loss of 9572 people was the third largest decline in the nation, behind only Randwick and Sydney.
(Herald Sun, 29-6-22, p.5)
The MAV has described new proposed building regulations as unworkable for councils.
It says a bill entered into Parliament last week continues a trend of the state government shifting risk to councils without any benefits for homeowners and residents.
MAV President David Clark said the government is attempting to shift responsibility for combustible cladding and orphaned building permits to councils, while ignoring the severe shortage of council building surveyors.
He also highlighted a proposal to put additional inspection requirements on councils that could cost upwards of $10,000 per project.
Cr Clark said the MAV is looking for constructive engagement with the government as it considers implementation of the reforms.
Let’s fix building regulation, not handball responsibility | MAV website
In today’s Victorian briefs:
The much-admired Shepparton Art Museum has won a major award for building design at the Victorian Architecture Awards.
The building’s architects Denton Corker Marshall were recognised for innovative design and the building’s excellence in environmental sustainability.
Bass Coast Shire Council has been named an Employer of Choice at the Australian HR Awards. The council has won an excellence award in the Public Sector/Not for Profit category, recognising its work to improve gender equality and sector-leading initiatives like 16 weeks paid parental leave for all new parents.
Monash City Council is the top recycler of mobile phones in Victoria for the third year running.
The council achieved the honour from Mobile Muster with 263kg of mobile phone components contributed through council drop-off locations over the 12 months to April this year.
https://www.monash.vic.gov.au/About-Us/News/Monash-the-top-Victorian-mobile-phone-recycler
The first public electric vehicle fast charging network in East Gippsland is about to be rolled out.
A network of 11 EV fast charging stations will be installed across East Gippsland Shire, with state and commonwealth funding secured to install 7 stations in car parks across the shire.
https://www.eastgippsland.vic.gov.au/media-releases/ev-charging-given-a-boost-across-east-gippsland
The City of Stonnington has partnered with a Dandenong South based business to process all of its food and green waste into nutrient rich compost.
Carbon neutral commercial composting facility Bio Gro will mulch, mix and blend the organic material into products that are used in horticulture and agriculture. They’ll also be available for purchase by Stonnington residents at nursery and retail outlets.
The new partnership commences later this week on the 1st July.
Still to come – a mayor under increasing pressure to resign; and another censured by their own council over conduct issues; a GM announces a major restructure; and new legislation coming into effect in NZ ahead of council elections in October.
You’re listening to the Local Government News Roundup for 26th June 2022, brought to you by the Victorian Local Governance Association.
A quick plug for an upcoming session that may be of interest – Better Disagreements, Better Teams.
In a highly anticipated online session on 5th August, Melissa Scadden of Justitia Lawyers and Consultants will delve into the characteristics of effective teams that create an environment for better disagreements. And how disagreements can be used to create better teams.
Elected representatives and council staff from around Australia are invited to be part of this special online session. You’re invited to register your interest by emailing vlga@vlga.org.au
Now for some stories making news around Australia in local government this week:
The Mayor of Redland City Council in Queensland is resisting pressure to resign after being involved in a car accident last week and admitting to driving after consuming several glasses of wine.
Among those to call for Karen Williams to step down as mayor are state politicians, the federal opposition leader Peter Dutton, and some of her fellow councillors according to a report yesterday from the Courier Mail.
A local road safety advocate launched an e-petition for the removal of Mayor Williams, which by late yesterday had amassed more than 1,300 signatures. A second petition is reported to be circulating with over 3,000 signatures.
Yesterday, the Council’s CEO Andrew Chesterman issued a statement confirming that a Council-owned vehicle was involved in the accident.
He said that the mayor had advised that she would pay for damages to the vehicle if she is found to have been over the legal alcohol limit for driving.
It was also revealed that wine was consumed at a small event in the Councillor Lounge held to thank the people who worked on developing the Council’s 2022-23 budget.
The wine was provided under a Council Entertainment and Hospitality Policy, which Mr Chesterman says is now under review.
Redland City Council CEO holds urgent meeting as calls for Mayor Karen Williams to resign grow
Two petitions call for Qld mayor’s sacking | The North West Star
Kempsey Shire Council has voted to formally censure its Mayor, Cr Leo Hauville, following an investigation into a code of conduct complaint.
A final investigation report contained four key findings relating to conduct from the previous term of Council.
In a statement, the council said the role of the current councillors was not to revisit the findings but to review the report and determine the appropriate sanction under the circumstances.
It said the matter does not impact the operations of Council, the delivery of service or the engagement of staff, and as such no further comment would be made.
Meanwhile in Queensland, councillors at Gympie are asking the State Government for help after a vote on a councillor disciplinary matter did not proceed due to 5 councillors declaring a conflict of interest.
The Gympie Times reports that the Council was due to move into a confidential session to consider the item but was unable to maintain a quorum.
The remaining four councillors were given the options of voting to take no further action, or to seek direction from the Local Government Minister on how to proceed – and the latter path was chosen.
(Gympie Times, 28-6-22)
Burnie Council has voted for a 10.2% increase in rates after considerable debate in the chamber.
The Burnie Advocate reports that councillors delivered passionate speeches for and against a major rise, with some saying an increase in income was the only option after four years of deficits and cuts to services and staff.
The budget with the 10.2% increase was passed by 5 votes to 2.
(Burnie Advocate, 29-6-22)
The new General Manager of Lismore City Council has announced a restructure, to address a lack of capability and capacity to become a sustainable organisation.
John Walker, who was appointed in February, is abolishing the three director roles and current directorates structure, and creating Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer positions.
He said there would be no redundancies of award-based staff under the restructure.
The NSW Government is supporting the council’s transformation process with a three year funding agreement in line with a needs analysis that was developed for the Office of Local Government.
https://lismore.nsw.gov.au/news/council-to-undergo-an-organisational-restructure
Liverpool City Council has this month marked the 150th anniversary of its formation.
On the 27th June, 1872 the council was formed by the NSW Governor following a petition from residents. At that time, it had 1,700 residents – today its population is approaching 250,000.
The milestone has been celebrated with a number of special events, including the unearthing of a time capsule from 1972 and the publication of a special commemorative edition of the City of Liverpool Gazette.
Glenorchy City Council in Tasmania has deferred consideration of using council halls and facilities as crisis accommodation, amid reports of increasing numbers of homeless people living in tents at the Hobart showgrounds.
The Hobart Mercury reports that an alderman’s motion was not considered this week as notice was given a day later than the deadline for such motions.
The motion called for an assessment of the viability of using council owned resources to tackle the housing crisis. Councillors voted to defer consideration until next month to allow time for more information to be gathered.
(Hobart Mercury, 28-6-22, p.7)
Briefs:
At Break O’Day in Tasmania, the council is investigating using an old hospital as emergency accommodation in response to rising homelessness.
The council has voted to write to state government ministers and public servants requesting urgent consideration of turning the old St Helens Hospital into emergency accommodation as a temporary measure.
The Launceston Examiner reports that the matter was raised directly with State Cabinet at a community cabinet meeting in St Helens this week.
(Launceston Examiner, 29-6-22, p.9)
Fremantle City Council is strengthening its cat management law to ban cats from all property owned and managed by the city. The changes expand on a 2020 local law which designated 12 areas within the city as cat prohibited areas.
Roads, verges, footpaths and car parks will now be added to cat prohibited areas. The Council says 64% of a total 114 submissions were in favour of the expanded cat law.
Fremantle Council supports tougher cat law
Blue Mountains City Council has launched a new mentorship program for local businesses. The program will pair 40 business operators with industry experts, to help them develop a clear future path, and build resilience and stability.
20 of those places are reserved for tourism-focussed businesses.
https://www.bmcc.nsw.gov.au/media-centre/council-launches-new-business-mentorship-program
International Spotlight:
The UK’s Local Government Association has released new analysis predicting a £3.6B hit on Council budgets by 2024/25 as a result of rising energy prices, spiralling inflation and National Living Wage pressures.
The LGA’s annual conference is underway in Harrogate this week, with more than 1500 local government leaders, councillors and ministers in attendance.
It says the sharp spike in inflation and energy prices is an unprecedented crisis, unforeseen when councils set their budgets in March. It is calling on the government to ensure councils have the resources they need to protect services that are helping communities recover from the pandemic.
In Los Angeles, officials are considering a ban on the construction of new gas stations, as part of its push towards fossil fuel free transportation in the city.
Thehill.com reports on the move that follows the banning of oil drilling and a move to all-electric new construction in the city.
The report says LA would become the biggest city to ban new gas stations. Petaluma in the state’s bay area was the first to make the move last year.
Equilibrium/Sustainability — Los Angeles weighs ban on new gas stations | The Hill
Across the desert to Las Vegas, where Elon Musk’s Boring Company has received the go-ahead from the city council to build underground tunnels beneath the Las Vegas Strip.
Under the proposal, Tesla vehicles would be used to transport passengers along an underground route with five above ground stations on the strip.
Constructiondive.com reports that machines are likely to be in the ground by next calendar year.
Las Vegas approves Boring Co. Loop under downtown | Construction Dive
And finally in New Zealand, where local government elections are scheduled for October. New legislation will come into effect on 1st July with a change to the requirement to publish personal details in election advertising.
The Associate Local Government Minister Kieran McAnulty says a significant barrier is being removed, in that a previous requirement to have a physical address on advertisements may have discouraged women, rural people and other groups to step up as candidates.
New authorisation options will include an email address, a telephone number, a PO box number or a website address that includes another contract option.
The minister says the changes will create a safer playing field for all candidates so that no one is discouraged from standing.
https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/supporting-local-government-candidates
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 Wednesday. Until then, thanks for listening and bye for now.