Today on the Roundup, nearly 50 councillors set to lose office for failing to submit gift disclosure returns; Victoria’s Local Government Inspectorate completes over 200 investigations in one year; Greater Shepparton finally elects a deputy mayor, and council media activities during election campaigns in the spotlight in Queensland.
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Transcript (with story links):
Hi, this is Chris Eddy, with the latest from the Local Government News Roundup.
On the podcast today – up to 45 councillors set to lose office for failing to submit gift disclosure returns; Victoria’s Local Government Inspectorate completes over 200 investigations in one year; Greater Shepparton finally elects a deputy mayor, and council media activities during election campaigns in the spotlight in Queensland.
I’ll have the story of how nearly 50 SA councillors are likely to lose their positions in the national roundup shortly.
But first today, the Victorian Local Government Inspectorate has released figures from its activities during the 21/22 financial year, revealing it completed more than 200 investigations into allegations about councillors and councils.
The inspectorate issued 132 warnings during the year, mostly in relation to election matters.
One in three allegations related to conflict of interest, and 17 percent were about misuse of position.
The alleged release of confidential information was at the centre of 6 per cent of allegations investigated.
Chief Municipal Inspector Michael Stefanovic said there had been a steady increase in workload over the previous year, and that his agency was working with LGV to find cost-effective options to address breaches and offences in a tighter fiscal environment.
Inspectorate annual report highlights
Corangamite Shire Mayor Ruth Gstrein has called a special meeting for next week to determine a formal position on the shire’s electoral representation review.
The Roundup has previously reported on concerns from councils taking part in the first round of reviews about the tight timelines to allow for community feedback and to reach an agreed position before submissions close on 22nd February.
Cr Gstrein said the shire’s current structure is no longer allowable under the Local Government Act, and the council will need to weigh up the pros and cons of the allowable systems in deciding a formal position.
The special meeting will be held on the 14th February at 5.30pm.
Greater Shepparton City Council has finally elected a deputy mayor, and it’s a second term for Cr Anthony Brophy who held the role until last October .
The election was finalised at an additional council meeting held on Tuesday this week.
This followed a first attempt to fill the role in October which resulted in a hung vote and a decision to hold the election at a later date.
The VEC has issued a call for candidates to contest the upcoming Mornington Peninsula Shire Council by-election.
The by-election is required to fill a vacancy in Watson Ward, created when former councillor Paul Mercurio was elected to the Victorian Parliament late last year.
Nominations close on Tuesday 14th February at 12 noon. Ballot packs will be mailed from 28th February, and election day is Saturday 18th March.
Two new aged care service providers have been announced to take over delivery of services from Macedon Ranges Shire Council later this year.
The council resolved last year to transition out of aged care service delivery from 30 June this year.
The federal government has awarded contracts to Benetas and Intereach, both of whom CEO Bernie O’Sullivan said have a local presence already.
He said the Council will ensure a seamless transition for clients, their families and staff. The council has engaged a dedicated staff member to support clients through the transition period.
Maroondah City Council has endorsed an updated regional sport and recreation strategy that builds on an original strategy developed by seven eastern region councils in 2016.
Yarra Ranges, Manningham, Monash, Knox, Whitehorse and Boroondara were part of the original group to establish the first coordinated and collaborative approach to sport and recreation planning in the region.
The updated strategy acknowledges new trends and issues across the Melbourne East region, including predicted population growth.
Mayor Rob Steane said it will help the region’s councils to advocate and secure funding for future priorities.
Ballarat City Council has attracted a worldwide dining phenomenon to the city, with Le Diner en Blanc to be staged in Ballarat in April.
Described as the world’s poshest picnic, the event involves all participants dining outside in all-white attire at a location that is kept secret until the last minute.
The movement started in Paris in 1988 and is now held in more than 120 cities worldwide.
Ballarat will be the first regional Victoria city to host the event.
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Now for more council stories making news this week from around Australia.
South Australia’s local government minister says 46 councillors, including at least four mayors, have failed to make disclosures about election campaign gifts, and look likely to lose their positions.
Geoff Brock told the parliament that elected members were reminded of the requirement 12 times during and after the election, and that their positions would become vacant if returns were not submitted.
According to the ABC, the electoral commission has confirmed that 45 elected members were affected, and there was no discretion where there had been a failure to lodge a disclosure return.
It’s understood that new elections will be held to fill the vacant positions, but they have been delayed to allow for potential appeals to the South Australian Civil and Administrative Tribunal.
For the first time in 20 years, the submission of the returns was the responsibility of elected representatives, instead of the council’s chief executive officer.
The minister says no councillor has ever lost their position over a failure to report gifts.
Some Adelaide residents have received a letter from electoral Commission investigators looking into reported irregularities with last November’s local government election.
Select residents have been contacted to see if they have information that could assist the investigation.
The Adelaide Advertiser says it is not known how many residents have received the letter or how they were identified.
The commission said it would not be making comment until the process was completed.
(Per Adelaide Advertiser, 7/2/23)
The CEO of LGAQ, Queensland’s peak body for councils, has defended the practice of councils publishing positive news stories featuring sitting councillors during council election campaigns.
According to Bundaberg Today, Alison Smith responded to MP questions during discussion about amendments to the electoral act, and disagreed with a suggestion that there be a blanket ban on councillor stories through council media during an election period.
Ms Smith said taking that ability away would create a black hole where communities may miss out on important information, given that councils have individual responsibilities that are operational, and that any stories would remain operational in nature.
LGAQ has sought clarification in the act that council communications are not deemed to be campaign expenditure, unless they contain content that expressly advocates for a vote.
Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate has softened his position of including an acknowledgement of country at council meetings, and now says he will consult councillors on the matter at the next council meeting.
He has told the ABC this week that needs to check relevant laws and requirements with the state government to ensure that meeting rules aren’t breached, but a government spokesperson says it’s a matter for councils.
Gold Coast is the largest Queensland council to not include an acknowledgement of country at Council meetings, with around 40 per cent of the state’s councils yet to adopt the practice.
Federal Minister for Local Government Kristy McBain has called for entries for this year’s national local government awards.
The minister says the awards are an opportunity to recognise outstanding innovation implemented by councils that has enhanced local communities.
Entries must be submitted online by the 13th March.
The lord mayor of the City of Newcastle is celebrating the news that global superstar Pink will include Newcastle on her upcoming world tour.
Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said the coup comes on the heels of two Elton John concerts that injected $14M into the local economy and attracted more than 16,000 visitors from outside the Hunter region.
It’s estimated that the Pink tour stop will deliver a $9M boost to local businesses.
And Hornsby Shire Council has elected a new Deputy Mayor..
Cr Warren Waddell takes up the position for a 12 month term.
The election was part of a busy first general meeting for 2023 held earlier this week.
Now for this episode’s International Spotlight:
Firstly to New Jersey in the US, where a council member has been found shot to death in a car – the second such incident in a week.
The two killings are not thought to be connected, and have been described by the local mayor as a ‘dreadful coincidence.’
According to a report from CNN, the latest councilman to be killed, Russell Heller of Milford Borough, worked at the same energy company as the suspected gunman.
Last week, Eunice Dwumfour from the nearby council of Sayrevuille was found shot dead in a vehicle, into which the investigation is ongoing.
In New Zealand, at least one council is talking about defying government legislation which is preventing long term planning of water associated infrastructure.
The government’s Three Waters reforms include a legislated order preventing councils from doing any planning on long-term water planning ahead of new public water entities commencing operation next year.
Some mayors, including New Plymouth Mayor Neil Holdom, have said they might defy the law due to the potential impacts of failing to do appropriate planning.
The Taranaki Daily News says the future of the reforms has been cast in doubt under the new New Zealand Prime Minister, who is making widespread policy changes that are expected to impact on the proposed reforms.
And standards at another UK council are in question after the release of a review into the City of York’s response to a public interest report in 2021.
According to the BBC, culture issues at the council persist with some councillors still not following the code of conduct.
The 2021 public interest report followed a payment to the authority’s former chief executive which has been described as ‘arguably unlawful.’
A three year plan to address deep-seated issues is yet to be agreed, and there’s a push to have it in place by May before local elections where all positions are up for election.
That’s the latest from the Roundup for the 10th February 2023.
I’ll be back later in the week with another episode. Until then, thanks for listening, and bye for now.