A call for ministerial intervention from another Victorian Council.
Also today: mayors calling for a rethink on Suburban Rail Loop station design; Moreland a step closer to changing its name; a SA council found to have committed maladministration; and major sector reforms on the way in Western Australia.
Plus the result of the countback to fill an extraordinary vacancy at Greater Shepparton council; and a Roundup Extra – Cockburn Mayor Logan Howlett joins us to talk about the burgeoning economic relationship between his municipality and the Republic of Indonesia.
The Local Government News Roundup is brought to you by the Victorian Local Governance Association, your national broadcaster for all things local government.
Transcript with links:
A call for ministerial intervention from another Victorian Council.
That development leads this edition of the Local Government News Roundup.
Welcome to the bulletin for the 6th July. I’m Chris Eddy.
Also today: mayors calling for a rethink on Suburban Rail Loop station design; Moreland a step closer to changing its name; a SA council found to have committed maladministration; and major sector reforms on the way in Western Australia.
Plus I’ll have the result of the countback to fill an extraordinary vacancy at Greater Shepparton council.
The Local Government News Roundup is brought to you by the Victorian Local Governance Association, your national broadcaster for all things local government.
Concerns about the culture at Wyndham City Council are making news this week , with two councillors reportedly asking the new Local Government minister Melissa Horne to intervene in relation to bullying allegations.
The ABC says it has seen a letter to the minister from Crs Josh Gilligan and Mia Shaw, in which they refer to an investigation report commissioned by the CEO looking into allegations of bullying by a councillor toward council staff.
The letter also calls for the appointment of an independent monitor. If the minister agrees to appoint a monitor, it would bring to 8 the number of councils with a municipal monitor in place in the state currently.
Last week, Minister Horne announced the intention to appoint a monitor at Horsham Rural City Council. The name of the monitor and the details of the appointment are yet to be announced.
According to the ABC report, the Minister has asked for urgent advice on the extent of the issues at Wyndham City Council.
A number of eastern metropolitan Melbourne councils are calling for a redesign of parts of the Suburban Rail Loop project, according to a report in the Age this week.
The paper says the City of Monash is highlighting concerns about the design of a station planned for Glen Waverley, which does not allow for an underground connection to the Metro station – described by Monash Mayor Stuart James as a missed opportunity.
The City of Whitehorse is making a similar call for an underground walkway between Box Hill station and the new SRL station to allow for quicker and easier transfers.
Mayor Tina Liu told the Age that the project should be looked at more holistically as an integrated transport solution, and the council will be stepping up its advocacy for a redesign.
And Kingston Mayor Steve Staikos said an underground connection should be built between Cheltenham station and the Metro station to reduce transfer times estimated to be more than six minutes under current plans.
Mayors demand rethink on Suburban Rail Loop plans
Moreland City Council has moved a step closer to having a new name. On Sunday at a Special Council Meeting, the council officially endorsed Merri-bek as the preferred option from three that had been put to community consultation.
The decision marked the start of a program of activities to recognise NAIDOC week in the municipality.
The endorsed name will now be submitted to the Minister for Local Government for consideration, following which final approval will be needed by the Governor in Council.
Assuming that process occurs as expected, the council will commence the change of name on signage and materials later in the year.
With new Merri-bek name, Council is a step closer to reconciliation
Gannawarra Shire Council has welcomed a call from the Australian Energy Market Operator to develop KerandLink – a connection of the Victorian and New South Wales electricity network via infrastructure that passes through the shire.
The transmission line will also connect into South Australia, giving the three states the ability to share power.
Mayor Charlie Gillingham said the link will set up Northern Victoria as the nation’s largest renewable energy zone and will secure the Gannawarra’s economic sustainability.
https://www.gannawarra.vic.gov.au/News-Media/Council-welcomes-AEMOs-KerangLink-commitment
Briefs:
A 24 hour cat curfew will be introduced in Bass Coast Shire from July next year.
The move is part of a new domestic animal management plan adopted by the council, which includes measures to support cat owners to adjust to the new requirement to contain cats to their property.
From 1 July next year, cats must be kept on their owners’ properties at all times.
https://www.basscoast.vic.gov.au/about-council/news-listing/cat-curfew-to-be-introduced
Four tobacco retailers in Greater Bendigo have been caught selling tobacco products to children under the age of 18 through test purchasing conducted by the council.
Test purchasing has resumed after a break due to Covid 19, and the council is reminding retailers of their obligations not to sell tobacco products to minors.
The four businesses have received an official warning notice.
https://www.bendigo.vic.gov.au/About/Media-Releases/city-resumes-tobacco-sales-testing
Two pairs of solar compacting waste and recycling bins were recently installed at Bannockburn and Teesdale in Golden Plains Shire.
The new bins use a compacting system powered by solar panels to compress waste and recycling as it is added to allow more waste to fit in each bin. This system enables the bins to hold more waste and ensures they are less likely to overflow during busy periods. https://www.goldenplains.vic.gov.au/news/solar-compacting-bins-installed
A countback has just been conducted to fill an extraordinary vacancy on Greater Shepparton City Council. The vacancy arose with the recent resignation of Robert Priestly, following his unsuccessful campaign for election to Federal Parliament.
Six unsuccessful candidates from the 2020 election were eligible to contest the countback; there were two other unsuccessful candidates who were no longer eligible to be considered for election.
After the completion of the countback, former mayor and councillor Dinny Adem was successful and will have 48 hours to return a declaration of qualification to take up the position of councillor.
Still to come – a SA council found to have committed maladministration; major sector reforms on the way in Western Australia; a standoff continues in Tasmania, and I’m joined by the Mayor of Cockburn to talk about a burgeoning business relationship between the city and the Republic of Indonesia.
You’re listening to the Local Government News Roundup for 6th July 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 SA Ombudsman has found maladministration at a regional council which issued a fuel card to its CEO while he was already being paid a vehicle and mileage allowance.
Wayne Lines has released the report of his investigation into a matter referred to him last year in relation to the actions of an unnamed council.
He found that the council committed maladministration by providing the fuel card, and acted in error by reimbursing the CEO at a rate of 77 cents per km for a period of more than 10 months, contrary to a Council resolution.
Mr Lines said that the council had been unable to provide a clear rationale as to why it determined to provide a mileage allowance while also providing a vehicle allowance.
He made no specific recommendations, but suggested that elected members should carefully consider the matters raised in his report; and to ensure that matters relating to employee entitlements and elected member intentions be conducted in a clearer manner in future.
2022 Investigation decisions | Ombudsman SA
Reforms to the local government sector in Western Australia are moving ahead, with the Minister John Carey describing them as necessary to deal with dysfunction at some councils.
The proposed reforms are based on six themes, including earlier intervention and stronger penalties; reducing red tape; and greater transparency and accountability.
Under the proposals, a Chief Inspector of Local Government would be appointed to investigate minor and serious complaints about elected members, and oversee complaints relating to council chief executive officers.
A panel of local government monitors would be established to proactively fix problems at councils; there would be a requirement to record council meetings; and tougher penalties for councillors found guilty of serious breaches of the act including 10 year bans for anyone suspended three times.
The revised package of reforms follows a consultation period during which more than 200 submissions were received. The legislation to enact the reforms will be introduced to Parliament before the end of this year.
The West Australian Local Government Association has welcomed the reforms, which it says align with its advocacy for modernisation of the legislation to strengthen the sector.
Local government reforms | DLGSC
The standoff at Waratah-Wynyard Council in Tasmania continues, with the councillor convicted of prohibited behaviour still refusing to stand down.
The Burnie Advocate reports that the council’s Mayor and GM have met with the Local Government Minister Nic Street and asked him to remove Cr Darren Fairbrother from office.
The minister has declined to comment, other than reiterating that the councillor’s behaviour does not meet community standards.
In the meantime, a number of code of conduct complaints are under investigation with a determination due within 90 days.
(Burnie Advocate, 6-7-22)
A Queensland councillor has been found to have engaged in inappropriate conduct and ordered to attend training.
Rockhampton Councillor Shane Latcham was accused of being in breach of the Code of Conduct for Councillors when he arranged a site visit with a property owner with regard to negotiations that had been formally delegated to the chief executive officer.
According to a report in the Courier Mail, a complaint was referred to the Office of the Independent Assessor, which determined there was sufficient evidence for the allegation of inappropriate conduct.
It recommended that the Council determine a final outcome. By a majority vote of 6 out of 7, the Council ordered Cr Latcham to attend training to address his conduct.
(Courier Mail, 29-6-22, p.13)
Queensland’s peak local government body has reacted to reports that the Minister is considering options to remove from office the Mayor of Redland City Council, who has been charged with drink driving in relation to a recent traffic incident.
LGAQ CEO Alison Smith said removing an elected mayor or councillor from office should only be used in the most serious circumstances, and it would set a dangerous precedent.
She said as the mayor has taken leave, it is important that the court process now be allowed to run.
LGAQ statement in response to possible Ministerial intervention in Redlands matter
Briefs:
City of Cockburn CEO Tony Brun has resigned to take up the role of Avalon Airport CEO in Victoria later this year. Mr Brun commenced at Cockburn 18 months ago and is returning to the airport industry, having previously been head of planning at Australia Pacific Airports in Melbourne.
The Council will commence a process to recruit a new CEO by establishing a selection committee at its next Council meeting.
The CEO of Wollondilly Shire Council has been reappointed. Ben Taylor, who joined the council three years ago, has signed up for a further five years with the council.
Inner West Council is preparing a business case for the local government minister to make a final decision on the de-amalgamation of the council.
This follows a non-binding poll last year in which 62.5% of voters supported de-amalgamation.
The business case will be put to the community for consultation before being submitted to the government which has the final say on de-amalgamation.
WA’s City of Cockburn recently hosted a visit from the Consul General of Indonesia to showcase the city’s innovative commercial and industrial precincts, and to build on the potential of a bilateral economic partnership between Indonesia and Australia.
Tell us more about this budding relationship, I’m joined by the Mayor of the City of Cockburn Logan Howlett.
Mayor hosts Consul General of the Republic of Indonesia in Perth – City of Cockburn
International Spotlight:
In New Zealand, there is a new Associate Minister of Local Government, and he has commenced a series of visits to all 55 rural and provincial councils across rural New Zealand, ahead of elections in October.
Kieran McAnulty, who holds local government, transport and emergency management responsibilities, says he wants to hear directly about issues faced by communities.
Minister to meet all rural and provincial councils | Beehive.govt.nz
In Harris County, Texas, near Houston, a $30B plan to build a network of eight stormwater tunnels is under consideration as a more favourable flood reduction solution to traditional models.
Officials have released the results of a phase 2 study for public comment, with the expectation that a third phase will commence later this year. $20M has been set aside to conduct the study, which is expected to take about three years.
The tunnel network is one of hundreds of flood risk reduction projects being explored after extensive damage from hurricane events like those in 2007 and 2017
Harris County Advances $30B Eight-Tunnel Flood Control Plan | Engineering News-Record
And in the US, a new report has found increased levels of psychological violence and threats against mayors across the country, particularly women and women of colour.
The data confirms a trend towards organised harassment, threats and violence towards elected representatives on councils and school boards.
A Bloomberg.com report quotes experts who say the trend has been fueled by anger and conspiratorial anxieties from the pandemic; the ripple effect of attempts to discredit the 2020 presidential election result and growing political polarisation.
With many local elections scheduled for later this year, there are concerns for safety at in-person events and campaigning activities amid a rise in harassment and threats, especially in light of a Supreme Court result that may make it easier to carry a concealed weapon in some states.
Mayors and Local Officials Face a Rising Tide of Threats, Harassment – Bloomberg
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.