On this episode of the Local Government News Roundup, Australia’s number one local government podcast, a statewide shortage of school crossing supervisors makes news; a Tasmanian councillor suspended for three months; a ban on single-use plastics takes effect this week – how can Councils ensure they are prepared?; a high profile Sydney mayor announces a run at State Parliament; and much more from around the world of local government.
The Local Government News Roundup is brought to you by the Victorian Local Governance Association, the national broadcaster on all things local government.
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Transcript (with story links):
Episode 193 LG News Roundup, 30 January 2023
The Local Government News Roundup – brought to you by the Victorian Local Governance Association, the national broadcaster on all things local government.
Hi, this is Chris Eddy, with the latest from the Local Government News Roundup.
On the podcast today – a statewide shortage of school crossing supervisors makes news; a Tasmanian councillor suspended for three months; a ban on single-use plastics takes effect this week – how can Councils ensure they are prepared?; a high profile Sydney mayor announces a run at State Parliament; and much more from around the world of local government here on the Roundup.
Councils are calling for more state government support to address a statewide shortage of school crossing supervisors.
The Age has reported on how councils are struggling to fill positions with many school crossings remaining unmanned.
The report focuses on a wide variation in pay rates at councils across the state including Surf Coast, Latrobe, Wangaratta and a number of metropolitan councils.
The mayor of Boroondara, Felicity Sinfield is among those calling for more state government assistance to fully fund school crossing supervisor positions.
Read the Age report here.
As a ban on single-use plastics comes into effect in Victoria this week, work continues to assist Councils with preparing for and complying with the new requirements.
All Victorian businesses and organisations, including councils, are responsible for complying with the regulations and must not sell or supply certain single-use plastic items to patrons or customers.
More than 70 councils were represented at a recent webinar hosted by Sustainability Victoria, which included guests from the City of Adelaide and the ACT Government discussing their single-use plastic ban implementation and sharing key learnings. The webinar can be viewed here.
Sustainability Victoria has prepared an information toolkit to support councils in communicating with businesses in their communities.
From 1 February this year, single-use plastic drinking straws, cutlery, plates, drink stirrers and cotton bud sticks made from conventional, degradable, and compostable plastics will be banned from sale and supply in Victoria. The ban also applies to food service items and drink containers made from expanded polystyrene.
Golden Plains Shire Council is joining the national awareness and advocacy program, Bins4Blokes, which promotes the installation of incontinence bins in male public toilet facilities.
Incontinence products will be made available at 16 public toilets across the shire from early February.
Mayor Brett Cunningham said the bins help to reduce stigma around incontinence while also improving hygienic disposal of sanitary products.
He said the bins will help improve men’s mental health, increase active living and promote social inclusion for men experiencing bladder and bowel health issues.
More than 1.3M Australian boys and mens live with incontinence.
The date has been set for a countback to fill an extraordinary vacancy at Colac Otway Shire.
The countback to replace recently resigned councillor Jamie Bell will take place on Wednesday 1st March at 10.00am.
The CEO of South Gippsland Shire Council, Kerryn Ellis believes municipal monitors can play a strong role in sector moves to improve standards of conduct and behaviour.
Ms Ellis spoke to me for a new episode of VLGA Connect out this week after the release of the final report from her council’s municipal monitor, Prue Digby.
“And I think in terms of the work that’s happening, that’s being led by LGV, but happening in the sector around Council of Conduct and how we might support and set higher standards of conduct, I think the concept of positive and supportive municipal monitors that play a coaching and advisory role is a really strong opportunity.
And it certainly worked well in South Gippsland from the perspective of giving people the confidence to stand for Council in the first place and then also providing that independent view of how the Council is tracking in their first year. “
Ms Ellis has already received enquiries from other councils about their transition and induction plan, which the monitor has recommended be shared with the sector along with the learnings gained from the process.
You can watch or listen to the full interview with Kerryn Ellis on VLGA Connect – it’s out this week on YouTube and your podcast player.
Councillors – the annual VLGA FastTrack Councillor Leadership Development is coming up on Friday 31st March, with the theme “Leading in Times of Chaos’ A limited number of seats still available – Check out the VLGA website for registration
and more details.
The Local Government News Roundup is proudly brought to you by the Victorian Local Governance Association – the national broadcaster on all things local government.
Tasmania’s Local Government Code of Conduct panel has found a Glenorchy City Council alderman in breach of parts of the code, and imposed a three month suspension from office.
The complaint against Alderman Kelly Sims was made by Mr Beau Thomson in relation to a number of Facebook posts and an email exchange.
In investigating the complaint, the panel described posts of a vindictive nature; statements that intended to cause detriment of other parties and improperly influence ratepayers in the lead up to local government elections; and actions with the potential to reflect adversely on the reputation of the council.
In addition to imposing the three month suspension, the panel has made a referral to the Director of Local Government in relation to some of the actions investigated.
The three month suspension period took effect from 23rd January. The panel determination is to be tabled at the Council’s meeting on 30th January.
Read the Council report here, and the panel’s determination report along with a letter to the council from the Director of Local Government here. (from p.19).
Northern Beaches Mayor Michael Regan has confirmed his candidacy for the seat of Wakehurst at the upcoming NSW state election.
Cr Regan has been mayor of Northern Beaches since 2016, and was previously mayor of the former Warringah Council.
He told the Manly Observer last week that if elected, he would step down as Mayor but serve out his term as a councillor.
While his wife Bronwen Regan recently worked as Chief of Staff to independent federal MP Zali Steggall, Cr Regan says his candidacy is not part of the teal movement.
The seat of Wakehurst has been held since 1991 by outgoing Health Minister Brad Hazzard.
The former general manager of Georges River Council, Gail Connolly, has been awarded the Public Service Medal in this year’s Australia Day Honours.
The St George and Sutherland Shire Leader reports that Ms Connolly was acknowledged for outstanding public service to local government, noting in particular her management of the amalgamation of Georges River Council.
The honours citation notes that Ms Connolly was the only external candidate appointed as general manager to a merged council.
Ms Connolly led the merged council for 6 years until April 2022. She was previously general manager at the City of Ryde.
Longreach Regional Council has appointed its new CEO.
Brett Walsh, who has been acting in the role since October, has been confirmed in the role on an ongoing basis.
Mayor Tony Rayner said the panel was impressed with the way Mr Walsh has been leading the organisation.
Mr Walsh previously held senior roles at Barcaldine Regional Council, including as Acting Chief Executive Officer.
Damage to the Gympie Civic Centre from weather events in 2022 has been discovered to be worse than originally thought, and the centre will not reopen this year.
In a statement, Gympie Regional Council says moisture has been drawn in through an air conditioning intake under the building, “spreading dangerous mould spores to all corners of the building”.
The vast majority of fixtures and fittings have been removed due to health risks, and it’s unlikely the building will reopen in 2023
Read the statement with photos of the damage here.
South Burnett Regional Council issued an alert this week after it appeared a hacker had compromised a Council email account.
An email to thousands to residents and businesses that appeared to come from the executive assistant to the Mayor contained an apparent phishing attack.
The Council warned the email posed a threat to the computer networks of recipients.
It said investigations into the email breach were under way, and that immediate action had been taken to rectify the issue.
Read more here and here.
21 Queensland Councils will share in $2.3M in state government funding to tackle illegal dumping.
Environment Minister Meaghan Scanlon says illegal dumping isn’t just an eyesore – it’s harmful to the environment and places a cost burden on councils.
“Illegal dumping isn’t just an eyesore. It’s harmful to our environment. And it costs ratepayers money for councils to collect up this mess.
That’s why we’re providing 21 councils with funding to help them purchase equipment and employ staff to tackle illegal dumping.
Of course, we want people to recycle where possible, and that’s why we’re investing $1.1 billion as part of our recycling and jobs fund.
We know that there are three times more jobs in recycling than putting waste in landfill.
And obviously, we don’t want people to be putting this waste in our natural environment. So we take a very tough stance on illegal dumping.”
The funding round is expected to create 17 new full time jobs.
To Western Australia now, where a second possum bridge is now operating in the City of Cockburn, following the success of a first bridge installed in 2019.
The 35m bridges help possums to navigate between habitat areas, bypassing busy roads.
The latest bridge on Hammond Road in Success was included in a $22.6M road upgrade that is due for completion mid-year.
Surveillance cameras on the first bridge have shown regular use of the rope bridge by possums.
Councils across Australia are being encouraged to join a program enabling victims of domestic violence to have access to a mobile phone.
DV Safe Phone uses old working mobile phones to help provide a lifeline to victims of domestic violence, while also reducing e-waste.
Councils can become part of a nationwide network of registered phone drop locations.
Australian councils are being challenged to do more locally to reduce emissions, rather than using international projects to offset carbon emissions.
The Guardian reports on research that has found the majority of rainforest offset credits are likely “phantom credits” and do not represent genuine carbon reductions.
At least fifteen councils across Australia are believed to have invested significant funds into trading offsets to claim carbon-neutral status.
Councils named in the report include Brisbane (Qld), Subiaco (WA), Woollahra (NSW), and Merri-bek, Moonee Valley, Maroondah and Yarra in Melbourne (Vic).
Read the Guardian report here.
Now to the International Spotlight:
A UK councillor has been criticised for knitting during a council meeting while significant service and funding cuts were under discussion.
Councillor Rachel Garrick told the BBC that she knits to cope with pain from a rare joint condition and to help focus.
The behaviour has been called into question by another councillor, Richard John, who says it is inappropriate and risks bringing the council into disrepute.
Read more from the BBC here.
Municipal functions in one Texas city have ground to a halt due to mass resignations, and insufficient council members have turned up to meetings to decide on filling positions.
Godley City Hall is closed, and all functions have ceased except for fire and police. The city has lost its city administrator, secretary, police chief, city attorney and court clerk in a short period of time.
According to the Star Telegram, the mayor and two council members have not turned up for the last two meetings, and another meeting isn’t scheduled until next month.
Read more from the Star Telegram here.
Video footage has been released of the moment a council meeting in Mexico was interrupted by an uninvited guest falling through the ceiling.
Acapulco councillors were in the middle of a budget meeting in December when a raccoon crashed into their midst.
Some attendees jumped onto tables in panic before the raccoon found its way out through an open door.
The Daily Mail has the story and the footage here.
That’s the latest from the Local Government News Roundup.
Our regular twice-weekly schedule has now resumed.
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