Today on the Roundup, councillor resignations and mayoral appointments; a controversial decision to close a Council facility in Warrnambool; Councils recognised with award wins; a public pool crisis looming requiring a multibillion dollar solution; a GM resigns; a WA council moving to a popularly elected mayoral model; and we talk about digital transformation in the local government sector.
Listen to this episode here, and find the link for your podcast player here for any of the 169 episodes so far. Scroll down for the transcript for episode 170 with story links.
The Local Government News Roundup is brought to you by the Victorian Local Governance Association,the national broadcast on all things local government; and by Technology One’s 2022 Local Government Digital Transformation Index – download the new report now to find out how your council shapes up.
Transcript (with story links):
Episode 170 LG News Roundup, 9th November 2022
Hello and welcome to the Local Government News Roundup. This is your update for the 9th November. I’m Chris Eddy.
Today, I have councillor resignations and mayoral appointments to report; a controversial decision to close a Council facility in Warrnambool; Councils recognised with award wins; a public pool crisis looming requiring a multibillion dollar solution; a GM resigns; a WA council moving to a popularly elected mayoral model; and we talk about digital transformation in the local government sector.
And much more ahead on the Local Government News Roundup, brought to you by the Victorian Local Governance Association, the national broadcaster on all things local government; and by Technology One’s 2022 Local Government Digital Transformation Index – new report out now.
First up today – two councillors, including the Mayor, have resigned with immediate effect at Moira Shire Council.
According to media reports, Mayor Libro Mustica and Cr John Beitzel tendered their resignations late last week. The now-former councillors’ profiles have been removed from the Council’s website, but no formal statement has been made.
The annual mayoral election is due to take place this evening, the 9th November.
Countbacks will be required to fill the two vacant positions – the fourth and fifth vacancies that have needed to be filled in this term of the council.
Late last month, the Local Government Minister appointed a Commission of Inquiry to assess the effective functioning of the council, including investigating matters raised in confidential advice issued by a municipal monitor and the Australian Services Union.
Meanwhile, at Wodonga City Council, a countback has been scheduled to fill a vacancy created due to the resignation late last month of John Watson.
Cr Watson served three consecutive terms on the council, including a term as mayor in 2002. He was recently diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and secondary liver cancer.
The VEC will conduct a countback procedure on Tuesday 6th December.
Now for the latest results from Mayoral elections conducted around Victoria since our last episode:
At Gannawarra Shire Council, it will be a third consecutive mayoral term for Charlie Gillingham. He becomes the sixth Gannawarra councillor to hold the position for at least three terms.
Cr Gillingham was one of four nominations for the mayoralty, including Cr Jane Ogden, who will continue as deputy mayor.
Peter Castaldo is the new Mayor at Banyule City Council, while Alida McKern has been elected to the deputy mayor position.
At Ballarat, Des Hudson has been elected as mayor. Cr Hudson was previously mayor in the 2015/16 year.
Last year’s Deputy Mayor, Amy Johnson, was re-elected to that position, the third time she has held the role.
Cardinia Shire Council held its mayoral election on Monday evening, and elevated Cr Tammy Radford, last year’s deputy mayor, to the position of Mayor.
Jack Kowarzik was chosen as Deputy Mayor for the forthcoming term.
Cr Trent Sullivan is the new mayor of Greater Geelong City Council – the 15th since the formation of the city in 1995.
He will serve a two year term alongside new Deputy Mayor Cr Anthony Aitken.
Maribyrnong City Council has elected Sarah Carter to the mayoralty. It will be her third mayoral term in 14 years, and she becomes the first three term woman mayor in the history of the city.
Cr Cuc Lam was elected deputy mayor.
At Moyne Shire, the new mayor is Cr Karen Foster – the first woman mayor for that municipality since 2004. Cr Daniel Meade was elected deputy mayor.
Northern Grampians has gone with experienced councillor Kevin Erwin as its new mayor. Cr Erwin has served as mayor five times previously, and as the longest serving member of the council.
The council resolved to reduce the mayoral term from two years to one year, and also debated whether to have a deputy mayor – ultimately deciding the role is not required.
The Mayor of Loddon Shire, Cr Dan Straub, has used his weekly mayoral column to announce his re-election. The shire does not have a deputy mayor.
At Strathbogie Shire, last year’s mayor Laura Binks has been re-elected for a further term; Cr Paul Murray was elected to the deputy mayoralty.
And the status quo was maintained at Yarra Ranges with long term councillor Jim Child re-elected to the mayoralty for a second term; Sophie Todorov was elected to the deputy mayor position.
At East Gippsland, you may recall that the council was unable to elect a deputy mayor last month, as no candidate achieved an absolute majority.
A second attempt occurred last night, and Cr Arthur Allen was elected as deputy mayor for the forthcoming year.
At at Alpine Shire last night, Cr John Forsyth was successful as one of two candidates for the office of mayor, the other being last year’s mayor Cr Sarah Nicholas. Cr Tony Keeble was elected unopposed as deputy mayor.
And Pyrenees Shire Council has re-elected Cr Ron Eason unopposed. The council also maintained its position to not have a deputy mayor.
We’re expecting around a dozen more mayoral election results still to come in this week, and I’ll wrap those up for you on our next edition on the weekend.
Of the 27 results determined so far in this round of mayoral elections, 19 of the incoming mayors are men, and eight are women.
You can keep up to date with results as they become available on the Local Government News Roundup website.
Now to other news
Warrnambool City Council has decided to close the city’s saleyards next year, due to declining cattle numbers and its increasingly unsuitable location.
The council narrowly voted to accept an officer recommendation to close the venue, after economic analysis found it was unlikely to be financially sustainable in the future.
A future strategic land use plan will be commissioned for the site and adjacent buffer zone landholdings.
Hepburn Shire Council is calling for community ideas to help increase affordable housing across the shire.
The council is developing a strategy and action plan and has released an issues and options paper to guide the discussion.
The number of unoccupied homes in the shire has twice the Victorian average, with around ten percent of homes advertised as short stay accommodation.
Mitchell Shire Council has been recognised at the National Awards for Local Government, winning the Road Safety award for its school crossing safety cam initiative.
Under the project, cameras have been installed at selected crossings throughout the shire, helping to keep crossing users safe. More cameras are expected to be installed soon.
Coming Up: a public pool crisis looming requiring a multibillion dollar solution; a GM resigns; a WA council moving to a popularly elected mayoral model; and how does your Council shape up on the digital transformation index? We unpack an insightful new report here on the Roundup.
Don’t forget to register for the upcoming VLGA/LGIU live global panel on the topic of COP 26 – one year on.
The 26th UN Climate Change Conference in November last year resulted in the Glasgow Climate Pact, with 197 parties committing to measures including the reduction of the use of coal, and more urgent greenhouse gas emissions cuts.
Next week’s global panel brings together leaders from Ireland, England and Australia to discuss actions taken and progress made over the past 12 months.
You’ll hear from the former CEO of Ireland’s Sligo County Council, Ciaran Hayes; CEO of England’s Lakeland District Council, Lawrence Conway; Dr Rosemary Dillon, CEO of Blue Mountains City Council in NSW; and Darcy Pimblett from Australia’s Cities Power Partnership.
You can be part of this exclusive panel presentation and discussion which is happening at 6.30pm on Thursday 10th November via Zoom.
Register now on the event page of the VLGA website – link in the show notes.
The Local Government News Roundup is brought to you by the Victorian Local Governance Association – the national broadcaster on all things local government.
Now in today’s National Roundup:
A new report has found that 40% of public pools in Australia will reach the end of their functional lifespan by 2030, and $8B will be required to replace them.
A further $3B will be needed for facilities that end their lifespan by 2035.
Royal Life Saving Australia has assessed the state of aquatic facility infrastructure around the country, noting that 68% of all renewal or new aquatic facility construction is financed by local government.
The report found that many regional councils are struggling to maintain or replace pools, and are increasingly considering closing pools.
The organisation is looking to get the aquatic sector and government together to find new approaches to providing publicly accessible aquatic facilities in Australia.
In Tasmania, reports this morning that the general manager of Dorset Council has resigned and will leave early next month.
The Launceston Examiner says Tim Watson is on leave and is not expected to return to work.
It says Mr Watson had made complaints about six incidents of alleged bullying and harassment against the mayor Greg Howard.
Cr Howard has been re-elected as Mayor of Dorset Council, and yesterday the new council – comprising three new and six returned councillors – held its first meeting of the new council term.
WA’s City of Swan has decided its next Mayor will be popularly elected, and it will reduce its number of councillors by one.
The decision follows a request by the Minister for Local Government that the council review its representative model, including a review of wards ahead of elections due in 2023.
A six week community consultation process has commenced, with residents invited to provide comments on new ward proposals by 21 December.
The city currently has 15 councillors, including the mayor, and five wards – and the mayor is currently elected by the councillors.
The Minister for Local Government will have the final say on the changes to be put forward by the council.
Lismore Council in NSW will enter into an MOU to build more affordable housing on Council-owned land in the city.
The agreement with the state government and project managers Landcom will see 64 new units built across two locations, with the housing to be managed by a Community Housing Provider, which is yet to be appointed.
The council is contributing land and $2.5M from a federal government grant, while the state government will contribute $5M to allow the development to go ahead.
This year’s winners of the prestigious AR Bluett Memorial Awards for outstanding achievement in NSW local government have been announced.
Since 1945, Local Government NSW has bestowed the award of the most progressive metropolitan and rural council out of the 128 councils across NSW.
This year, Northern Beaches Council has received the metropolitan award, with the council’s leadership of the community through COVID-19 and unprecedented weather events highlighted.
The regional/rural category winner is Mid-Western Regional Council, recognised for completing a number of key projects that have improved and diversified the local economy.
At Bayside Council in NSW, the team is celebrating picking up two prestigious awards for planning excellence.
The council won the technology and digital innovation award for the innovative way it has integrated corporate applications with the NSW planning portal.
It also received the Stakeholder Engagement Award for its child-orientated community engagement for a regional play facility project.
And Goulburn Mulwaree Council has won the Australian Pet Welfare Foundation Award for Councils at the national companion animal rescue awards.
The council’s animal shelter actively promotes the motto of ‘adopt don’t shop,’ and the judges noted the facility’s exceptional rehoming statistics and low euthanasia rates in awarding the honour.
Now to today’s International Spotlight, highlighting some stories of interest from beyond our borders..
The UK Government’s intervention at Liverpool City Council has been expanded this week with the appointment of another commissioner to oversee the council’s finances.
The Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove has appointed Stephen Hughes as Finance Commissioner to the council, joining four commissioners appointed last year.
The commissioners are also getting new governance, financial decision making and recruitment powers, after a report that showed slow progress in making improvements, particularly in financial management and senior leadership.
In New Zealand, the second report on the ‘future for local government’ project has been released.
The draft report, prepared by an independent panel, has been put out for public consultation until the end of February next year. It is the second milestone in a two year process.
The 260 page report makes a wide range of recommendations to strengthen local government’s role in maximising the wellbeing and resilience of communities.
Recommendations include adopting a greater use of deliberative and participatory democracy; a review of the allocation of roles and functions between central and local governments; and engagement with indigenous communities.
In the US, officials at Santa Clara County are facing a community backlash after they appointed a new county CEO behind closed doors and without a public process.
Palo Alto Online reports that the county’s longtime, and sometimes controversial CEO is retiring next July.
The Board of Supervisors has reportedly voted to appoint the county’s attorney, James Williams, to the top position.
Mr Williams, the son of immigrants from India and Iran, will be the first person of colour to hold the role.
Now for a special Roundup extra feature:
TechnologyOne has released its second annual report on digital transformation across the local government sector.
The 2022 Local Government Digital Transformation Index measures SaaS migration in councils today.
The report’s findings come from a survey of local government leaders across Australia and New Zealand in 2022. And it shows where digital transformation is sitting in the local government sector, where it is heading and identifies some of the sticking points that need to be overcome.
Joining me now to discuss the report’s fundings, and what it might mean for your Council, is Peter Suchting, General Manager Local Government TechnologyOne.
Peter, welcome to the Local Government News Roundup.
There’s so much to unpack from this insightful report.
On our next episode, Peter will tell us about how councils are responding to a wide range external pressures, critical factors for digital transformation success, and what it means to be a best in class council.
In the meantime, you can download your free copy of the report link in the show notes.
And if you can’t wait for our next episode, you can hear the full interview with Peter by heading to the Roundup website now.
That’s the latest from the Local Government News Roundup.
You can find more information at our website – lgnewsroundup.com – including our regularly updated list of Victorian mayoral election results and CEO appointment news.
The Local Government News Roundup returns with more on Wednesday, brought to you by the Victorian Local Governance Association, the national broadcaster on all things local government; and Technology One’s 2022 Local Government Digital Transformation Index – download your free copy now.
Until then, thanks for listening and bye for now.