Coming up today on the Local Government News Roundup:
- Councils provide their verdicts on the Victorian state budget
- CEOs permanent and interim appointed and re-appointed in Victoria and Queensland
- A deputy mayor announces plans for the future that don’t include running for council
- Cumberland same-sex parenting book ban prompts backlash and condemnation
- Details released of an investigation into Liverpool City Council
- A Tasmanian Council GM’s actions exonerated by a tribunal
- Jeremy Clarkson gets a warning from his local council… again
Plus more Council news from across Australia and beyond on the Local Government News Roundup, brought to you by the Victorian Local Governance Association,
with support from Davidson, the nationally recognised executive recruitment service and business advisory practice;
and from Ventia, making infrastructure work sustainably for our communities.
Listen to this episode here, and find the link for your podcast player here.
Transcript for episode 334:
Victorian Roundup:
Some more reaction to the Victorian budget since our last episode:
Greater Geelong Mayor Trent Sullivan expressed concern over the lack of new investment for the rapidly growing region in the 2024-25 Victorian Government budget.
He emphasized the need for major infrastructure upgrades, particularly in transport, and was disappointed at the absence of a Regional Indoor and Events Centre in the budget.
The allocation for social and affordable housing was welcomed, but more local sites are needed.
The mayor also appreciated measures to alleviate cost of living pressures and the investment in two new schools.
Moonee Valley Mayor, Cr Pierce Tyson, has vowed to fight a further four-year delay to the Melbourne Airport Rail Link project, announced in the Victorian Budget.
Treasurer Tim Pallas announced the delay this week as part of the budget release, and said it was due to Melbourne Airport’s demands for an underground station, pushing the completion date beyond 2033.
Mayor Tyson has written to the airport’s major shareholders, urging their intervention.
He has emphasised the importance of the rail infrastructure for Melbourne’s connectivity and the expectation of Victorians for their retirement savings to be invested in public utilities like transport.
Following reports of a delay of the Brunswick Level Crossing Removal project until 2030, Merri-bek City Council is urging the Victorian Government for the immediate construction of accessible tram stops and protected bike lanes on Sydney Road.
Mayor Adam Pulford said the delay presents an opportunity to address transport accessibility issues that will arise during the level crossing removals, particularly for community members who use mobility aids or depend on the Upfield line.
Cr Pulford welcomed a $17M budget commitment to improving metropolitan roads and intersections, including safety upgrades in Brunswick and Coburg.
Banyule Council has welcomed the allocation of $2.78 million in the Victorian State budget for a pedestrian crossing on Diamond Creek Road in Greensborough.
It follows persistent advocacy work following two car accidents involving local students.
The crossing, which will improve safety on the busy road, was supported by a community petition.
The exact location of the crossing is yet to be determined.
Baw Baw Shire Council expressed disappointment with the Budget, citing insufficient support for health and new roads.
It has welcomed $250,000 for a new pavilion at Dowton Park and continued planning for a new hospital in West Gippsland.
Some of the council’s top priorities were not funded, including a request for $3 million for a modern arterial road network and additional resources for the early years sector.
East Gippsland Shire Council welcomed budget investments in community facilities in Paynesville and Lakes Entrance, but was critical of inadequate investment in road maintenance and the increase in Fire Services Property Levy and waste levy.
Mark Eversteyn, a seasoned business manager and current director of operations for Americold Logistics, has been appointed as the new CEO of Moyne Shire Council.
He will assume the role on July 15, bringing extensive experience from leading successful global companies.
Mayor Cr Ian Smith has expressed confidence in Eversteyn’s leadership and business management skills.
The current Acting CEO, Peter Brown, will continue in his role until the end of June, with arrangements for an interim CEO between Mr. Brown’s departure and Mr. Eversteyn’s arrival to be finalised in the coming weeks.
In a busy week for CEO level news from Victorian councils, Merri-bek City Council has announced the reappointment of its CEO Cathy Henderson for a new term of five years.
Ms Henderson commenced at then-Moreland City Council in December 2019. The new term will take effect in December, effectively extending her time in the position to the end of 2029.
Mayor Cr Adam Pulford said the council’s decision to reappoint this week came after Ms Henderson “had delivered strong results for Council and the Merri-bek community in her first term as CEO”.
!https://lgnewsroundup.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/craig-niemann.jpg
Meanwhile, Glenelg Shire Council has appointed former Greater Bendigo CEO Craig Neimann as interim CEO for an eight week period.
Mr Neimann will take over from Greg Wood, whose term as acting CEO concludes this week. Mr Wood has held the reins since last November when former CEO Paul Phelan departed.
Mayor Cr Karen Stephens said the council was still working towards appointing a new permanent CEO.
Greater Bendigo Councillor and Deputy Mayor Matthew Evans has announced he will not be recontesting his position at the upcoming elections in October.
[In a video message to his followers](https://www.linkedin.com/posts/mattyevansmedia_bendigo-council-localgovernment-activity-7193920065849737216-_6y-?), Cr Evans said he would be putting time and effort into a campaign for the next federal election as the Liberal candidate for Bendigo, but that he would be dedicated to completing his term on council in the coming months.
Yarra City Council is expanding the 30km speed limit area in Fitzroy and Collingwood, following approval to extend the existing trial to all streets within the suburbs excepting major roads.
The trial, supported by the Department of Transport and Planning and the Transport Accident Commission, commenced this week.
The council will engage with the community throughout the trial to gather feedback and understand the experiences of various travellers.
A Yarra Ranges Shire Council program that rates residents’ recycling habits using red and green tags has sparked some controversy, according to the Daily Mail.
Some residents see it as a useful tool to encourage proper recycling, while others say it amounts to public shaming.
The council says that the tags are for educational purposes and have been in use for eight years, with few complaints received.
Victorian Briefs:
Greater Geelong council has apologised to ratepayers for failing to include a due date on the fourth instalment of rate notices, which according to the Geelong Advertiser has caused confusion.
The notices were issued via email to 15,790 ratepayers.
The council has issued new emails with the due date and an apology for the error.
Mildura Rural City Council is conducting a community sentiment survey about the 12-month 30km/h speed limit trial in Mildura’s Central Business District (CBD).
The speed limit change aimed to create a safer and economically vibrant CBD.
The 30km/h limit will remain in place until further notice.
Applications are open for the vacant CEO position at Golden Plains Shire Council, triggered by the recent resignation of Eric Braslis after more than six years.
SAL Human Resources and Management Consultants are handling the recruitment process, with applications closing on Wednesday 29th May.
National Roundup:
NSW:
Cumberland City Councillor Steve Christou has continued to defend a council decision to ban books referencing same-sex parenting in its libraries.
The ban was passed by a slim majority of councillors and has sparked controversy, with NSW Arts Minister John Graham comparing the decision to book burning and reported to be considering whether to continue funding Cumberland’s libraries.
It’s understood that the Minister has written to the council’s general manager to warn that the council’s contravened state law, according to the Sydney Morning Herald.
That report also revealed that Cr Christou has not read the book that he sought to have banned, and was acting on complaints from residents.
Cr Christou has argued in media appearances that the ban represents the views of their local community.
He appeared to take aim at another Sydney council area when he said that the Cumberland community was “not Marrickville or Newtown”.
Inner West Mayor Darcy Byrne has hit back at those comments, defending the inclusion of books for rainbow families in local libraries.
Mayor Byrne said the accusation was “pathetic” and he described Cr Christou as “small-minded” and that the Inner West Council will continue to provide resources for all families and host inclusive events.
He criticised the idea of book banning, likening it to practices in Putin’s Russia, and vowed not to back down in the face of intimidation from extremists.
In Cumberland, a petition to rescind the ban has been started by local resident Caroline Staples.
The Guardian reported that the petition received almost 10,000 signatures in less than 24 hours and will be presented to council next week.
The NSW Government is investigating Liverpool Council over alleged mismanagement of a $600m development project and concerns about a “fractured relationship” between councillors and staff.
The Daily Telegraph reported that the Office of Local Government has released details of the investigation, which will scrutinise the recruitment process, selection, and appointment of senior positions, and whether council’s finances have been adversely affected due to staffing decisions.
The probe follows allegations of misconduct, including conflicts of interest in hiring practices.
Local Government Minister Ron Hoenig said the investigation was needed to provide reassurance to the community that their council is operating properly.
The Mayor of Clarence Valley Council, Cr Peter Johnstone, has urged the NSW Government to address the growing issue of cost shifting and the impacts of the proposed Interment Services Levy on regional councils.
The levy, which introduces new charges for cremation, ash interment, and burial, is expected to strain council budgets and impact grieving families.
Cr Johnstone has been critical of a lack of engagement from the government with councils on the issue, and has called for regulatory and budgetary controls to prevent communities from absorbing these costs.
The NSW Parliament has [passed the Local Government Amendment (De-amalgamations) Bill 2024](https://www.nsw.gov.au/media-releases/labors-de-amalgamation-bill-passes-parliament#:~:text=The NSW Labor Government has,passing both Houses of Parliament.), which the government says gives councils and communities the power to decide their future.
The legislation requires councils seeking to demerge to develop a business case, considering financial implications, strategic plans, and service delivery capacity.
The case will be reviewed by the Local Government Boundaries Commission, and if approved, a community referendum will be held.
The legislation applies to any amalgamated council and provides a mechanism for the government to contribute to the funding of demerger costs.
QLD:
Townsville City Council has appointed experienced local government executive Joe McCabe as its acting CEO, while a recruitment process is conducted to replace Prins Ralston who resigned last month.
!https://lgnewsroundup.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/1516610987116-300×300.jpeg
The Townsville Bulletin reported that the council confirmed the interim CEO appointment at a confidential meeting on Wednesday morning.
Mr McCabe is a local government veteran, having worked in various roles for Gold Coast City Council for over 28 years. More recently he has been consulting and filling interim roles in the local government sector including at Darwin and Alice Springs councils.
Mr McCabe was also Director of Corporate Services at the City of Whittlesea in Victoria during the mid to late 1990s.
Mr Ralston finishes at Townsville City Council this week.
Noosa Council has welcomed the state government’s announced reforms for the Noosa River, which include the removal of abandoned vessels and the creation of ‘no-anchoring’ zones.
The reforms, which aim to address safety, congestion, and pollution concerns, were developed based on recommendations from the Noosa River Stakeholder Advisory Committee.
The council hopes for effective enforcement of these reforms, including a 28-day anchoring restriction for Noosa waterways.
Sunshine Coast Council will fund Mayor Rosanna Natoli’s $7,500 accommodation costs for her trip to the Paris Olympics in July.
Sunshine Coast News reported that it was initially believed that the Olympic Family Program would cover these costs, but updated information from the International Olympic Committee and the Olympic Games Organising Committee has led to the council agreeing to pay.
The decision was deemed beneficial for the Sunshine Coast community, with Mayor Natoli’s presence in Paris seen as critical for securing a positive Games legacy for the region.
It’s understood that Mayor Natoli will pay for her own flights.
TAS:
The actions of General Manager Gerald Monson at Tasmania’s Latrobe Council in issuing an Emergency Order under the Building Act last year as been vindicated by a decision of the Tasmanian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (TASCAT).
The order, issued in February 2023, required the evacuation of 40 seasonal workers from a property in Shearwater.
The owner of the property had claimed that the council had “jumped the gun” and appealed the Council decision to issue the emergency order.
TASCAT this week determined that the grounds of appeal had no basis and that Mr Monson’s decision was reasonable in the circumstances.
WA:
Bayswater City council has been accused by locals of being responsible for the death of nearly 900,000 native animals over the past three years due to cat predation.
PerthNow reported that despite a recommendation to make no changes to local cat law, the council has voted to consult its community on adding a clause from the Shire of Northam’s Local Cat Law.
The clause mandates that cats should not be in public places unless under effective control.
National Briefs:
The Local Government Association of Queensland (LGAQ) has welcomed the latest round of the Works for Queensland program, which will provide councils with a share of $300 million over the next three years.
The funding will help councils deliver local projects and retain skills and workers in regional communities.
LGAQ is continuing to advocate for the program to be made permanent and indexed.
The Rural City of Murray Bridge is supporting the Australian Road Safety Foundation’s Fatality Free Friday to raise road safety awareness.
Road trauma significantly impacts families, schools, emergency services, and the community, with approximately 1,200 people dying on Australian roads annually.
Fatality Free Friday on the 31st May encourages all road users to contribute to reducing road trauma and building road safety resilience.
Orange City Council is considering the benefits of a new flight connection from Orange to Newcastle and is seeking resident feedback.
The council believes the service would be utilised based on letters of support received and the existing travel between the two cities.
After gathering community input, discussions with regional airline carriers will begin.
Global Roundup:
UK:
The UK government has ordered an inspection of Warrington Borough Council due to concerns over its £1.8 billion debt, largely resulting from its investment programme.
BBC News reported that the council, which owns various assets including supermarkets and solar farms, has been criticised for its high average debt per resident.
The inspection will examine the council’s decision-making, its ability to address recommendations from a previous report, and the impact of its investment portfolio on service delivery.
The council has pledged full cooperation and reassurance that services will not be affected.
West Oxfordshire District Council issued a warning to Jeremy Clarkson, host of Clarkson’s Farm on Amazon Prime, following the release of the show’s third season.
A council enforcement notice forced the closure of Clarkson’s farm restaurant and the removal of his herd of cows, including a fan-favorite heifer named Pepper, according a report from the Express.
The council said it had acted due to public complaints about ‘ongoing lawbreaking’ and planning law breaches at Diddly Squat Farm, including the unauthorised use of a lambing shed as a restaurant.
South Cambridgeshire District Council has been reissued a Best Value Notice by the government due to its continued implementation of a four-day work week.
The notice requires the council to provide weekly reports demonstrating value for money.
The council maintains that the policy has had a positive impact on many of its services and will continue the four-day work week at least until it conducts a planned review in July.
BBC News reports that the City of Bristol’s longest serving councillor has died at the age of 83.
Peter Abraham served for 55 years from his first election in 1966 until he stepped down from 2021.
He was Lord Mayor of Bristol three times.
CANADA:
A Municipal Adviser’s report on dysfunction at Kamloops Council has identified the city’s mayor Reid Hamer-Jackson as the root cause of the municipality’s troubles.
The report from Henry Braun highlights 16 challenges facing the city and makes 23 recommendations, including urging the mayor to adjust his leadership style and maintain current sanctions.
Radio NL reports that the Committee of the Whole voted 8-1 asking the mayor to resign, but Mayor Hamer-Jackson has indicated he has no plans to do so.
Mr Braun’s report has been provided to the Province which is yet to respond.
Leonard Foster, the newly elected mayor of the troubled community of Lakeland Ridges, New Brunswick, has expressed optimism about the return of control to the local council.
The municipality, created last year, has been under provincial control due to chaotic council meetings and internal disagreements, but the provincial government announced last week that it would return control back to the elected body from next week.
Cr Foster was elected in a recent byelection, and told CBC News that he hopes to use his experience to foster unity and ensure the individual communities within Lakeland Ridges maintain their identities while working together under the new municipality.
Global Briefs:
Auckland Council is partnering with Pride Pledge to further support and develop diversity within the organisation.
The partnership will provide additional training, resources, and support to ensure progress in diversity and inclusion.
Over 300 entities in New Zealand have committed to Pride Pledge’s targets, which promote the safety, visibility, and inclusion of rainbow members.
The Anaheim City Council has approved Disneyland Forward, a $1.9 billion expansion plan for Disneyland which according to NBC Los Angeles is set to change the face of the theme park for generations.
The plan has faced some controversy, but is expected to bring more attractions, hotels, restaurants, and shops to the area.
Former Green Party co-leader Siân Berry has resigned from the London Assembly just three days after her re-election, according to local gov dot co uk.
Berry, who has served on the Assembly since 2016, is the prospective parliamentary candidate in Brighton Pavilion.
Tom Riordan, the chief executive of Leeds City Council, has announced his [intention to step down at the end of the year](https://news.leeds.gov.uk/news/leeds-city-council-chief-executive-to-leave-at-the-end-of-2024#:~:text=Leeds City Council’s Chief Executive,year to explore new opportunities.) to pursue new opportunities.
After 14 years in the role, Mr Riordan is one of the longest-standing local government chiefs in the UK.
He was awarded a CBE for services to local government in 2020.
USA:
A new gun ordinance passed by the City of Savannah in Georgia has been called into question by the state’s Attorney General.
AG Chris Carr has written to the city, declaring the ordinance as void as he says it conflicts with Georgia law.
The new law makes it illegal for gun owners to leave unsecured firearms in their cars, with a $1,000 fine and up to 30 days in jail for non-compliance.
Savannah Mayor Van Johnson said that despite the Attorney General’s letter, the ordinance is needed to address an increase in unsecured firearms being stolen from unlocked vehicles, and it will continue to be enforced.