On the Local Government News Roundup for Monday 26th August 2024:
- Drug charges against a councillor dropped
- A Melbourne Lord Mayoral candidate pledges to scrap the Greenline project
- A major social housing plan falls over in Monash
- The councillor calling for a commitment to a ‘clean election campaign’
- Victorian councils grappling with major solar and wind farm proposals
- Councils asking questions over allegations against a leading e-scooter operator
- Council worker strike action looming in Toowoomba
- A backdown from a controversial swearing ban
- And English councils sound the alarm on a men’s health crisis
Plus more of the latest news from around the world of local government brought to you by the Victorian Local Governance Association, with support from Davidson recruitment and business advisory services.
Listen to this episode here, and find the link for your podcast player here.
Transcript for episode 380:
Victorian Roundup:
Drug charges against Moonee Valley councillor Jacob Bettio have been dropped, according to the Sunday Herald Sun.
Cr Bettio has maintained his innocence throughout the process and says he feels vindicated.
The charges, which included cocaine and cannabis possession, were struck out at Broadmeadows Magistrates’ Court, although the reason is unclear.
Melbourne Lord Mayoral candidate Arron Wood says he will scrap the Greenline project and redirect $230 million to upgrade 21 parks and green spaces across the city.
He says his plan will provide immediate benefits to residents and businesses, and that the Greenline funds could be better used for addressing issues like homelessness and supporting small businesses.
Current Lord Mayor Nick Reece has defended the Greenline project, and says it’s budgeted for and can be delivered, according to the Herald Sun.
The Council is due to consider the latest quarterly update on the project this week, which shows that $23M has been spent since 2021, including $13.6M last financial year.
A Monash City Council plan to build 48 social housing units in Chadstone has collapsed after the housing provider HousingFirst backed out.
The project, initiated in 2022, faced community opposition but was supported by Monash City Council, who offered the land at a nominal rate.
The collapse is attributed to changes in funding criteria for state and federal grants, leaving the council frustrated and concerned about meeting future housing targets.
The Age reported that the council is due to consider the future of the project at a meeting this week.
Also from The Age this morning, Merri-bek City Council has become the latest to introduce fees for parklets – the on-street dining trend born out of pandemic restrictions.
The parklets are coming out, and business that want to retain on-street dining will need to apply for a permit of $580 annually along with design and installation costs.
Mayor Adam Pulford told the Age the removal of the parklets followed months of consultation.
The story also includes references to the on-street dining permit process at Banyule, Yarra and Stonnington councils.
Greater Dandenong councillor Sean O’Reilly has proposed a clean campaign pledge for the upcoming October council elections.
He told the Dandenong Star Journal that he wants to address issues like dummy candidates, fake news, and social media abuse.
The eight-point pledge, which he plans to distribute to all candidates after next month’s ballot draw, emphasises fair play, transparency, and respectful engagement among candidates.
Cr O’Reilly said the last elections in 2020 had an unprecedented level of nastiness and hostility, a view confirmed by the Local Government Inspectorate which saw double the number of complaints about behaviour from the 2016 elections.
Murrindindi Shire Council has issued a statement regarding a proposed Seymour Wind Farm project, which includes 80-100 turbines up to 245m tall and 30km of new overhead transmission lines across private and crown land.
While acknowledging the potential benefits of renewable energy, the Council has acknowledged significant community concerns about the social, economic, and environmental impacts on the region from the proposal.
It’s calling for more comprehensive community engagement, including a citizen panel and consideration of underground transmission infrastructure.
If a permit application is made to the Victorian Minister for Planning, the Council says it will provide a submission that clearly reflects the community’s views.
A 96-megawatt solar farm and 150-megawatt battery storage system are proposed for Bairnsdale.
The Victorian Minister for Planning will make the final approval decision, with East Gippsland Shire Council providing input.
Mayor Tom Crook said some surrounding property owners had approached the council with concerns about the project.
He said local community members can submit formal concerns to the Department of Transport and Planning.
The proponent, BNRG Leeson, has initiated consultations with local landowners and will continue to provide updates throughout the process.
The City of Hume is set to welcome Victoria’s first AFL Max venue, a state-of-the-art entertainment and education centre near Melbourne Airport.
The $10 million facility will feature indoor footy fields, interactive attractions, and educational programs, attracting an estimated 200,000 visitors annually.
It’s expected to create 120 jobs and significantly boost the local economy and tourism sector.
Mayor Cr Naim Kurt said the AFL Max facility will be a game-changer for the city, which alongside URBNSURF and the Essendon Football Club, will help cement its position as a premier leisure destination in Melbourne.
Victorian Briefs:
Darebin’s Mayor has put out a call for potential interim CEO’s to get their applications in.
Cr Susanne Newton said the council is seeking a wonderful interim CEO for up to year, with applications closing at noon on Wednesday 28th August.
Current CEO Peter Smith will soon leave the position after announcing his resignation last week.
It’s a been a week of recognition for the city of Greater Geelong, picking up awards for the Geelong Arts Centre, the National Wool Museum, and celebrating the official opening of a $170M Hanwha Defence manufacturing facility at Avalon.
In addition, the Novotel Geelong has won a major accommodation award, and local entrepreneur Aamir Qutub received a prestigious Young Professional of the Year award.
The Council’s executive director of placemaking, Tenille Bradley-Ow said the recognition proves that Geelong is becoming known as a world class city on the rise.
National Roundup:
SA:
An Adelaide council leader is calling for an investigation into e-scooter operator Beam Mobility amid allegations of exceeding vehicle caps in multiple cities.
Beam and Neuron operate in Adelaide with a maximum cap of 800 e-scooters each, and Deputy Mayor Keiran Snape wants to ensure equity between operators.
The Weekend Australian reported that five local governments are investigating the claims, including Brisbane, Townsville and Canberra, and Auckland and Wellington in New Zealand.
The Border Mail has also reported that the allegations will be raised as urgent business at Albury Council, which is scheduled to meet this evening.
Beam’s CEO has apologised for unintentionally exceeding allocations.
An Adelaide City Council spokesperson said the council was not aware of the allegations and was not conducting any investigations.
Consultation closes soon on an ambitious transformation proposal for Prospect Oval and surrounds.
City of Prospect Mayor Matt Larwood said the development of the Prospect Lifestyle Precinct is a once in a generation opportunity for the city.
North Adelaide Football Club is hopeful the masterplan for the precinct will include lighting upgrades, and hopes to host a fixture of the AFL’s Gather Round in the future, according to the Adelaide Advertiser.
Once a plan is finalised, the council expects construction will commence in 2026.
NSW:
Blacktown Council in western Sydney has launched a crackdown on excessive real estate signage, issuing over $58,000 in fines to real estate companies in the past two months.
The Daily Telegraph reported that the crackdown is in response to numerous complaints from residents about the proliferation of signs on public land, nature strips, and even traffic light signals.
Under council rules, real estate advertising is limited to one sign per property, must not be placed on public land, and should be removed within 14 days after a property is sold or leased.
The council’s strict enforcement includes fines of up to $635 for non-compliant signs, with a database created to track offending agencies.
The Sydney Morning Herald has reported on a proposed expansion of Woolwich Marina in Hunters Hill, Sydney, which has met with significant local opposition.
The plan aims to increase the marina’s capacity from 45 to 79 berths, accommodating larger vessels up to 35-metre super yachts.
However, it was unanimously rejected by both Hunters Hill Council and the North Sydney Local Planning Panel, over concerns including heritage issues and safety risks for local sailors.
The matter is now set for a Land and Environment Court conciliation meeting in September.
QLD:
The Services Union, representing over 700 indoor workers at Toowoomba Regional Council, is ready for “snap strike action” over ongoing pay negotiations, according to a report from the Toowoomba Chronicle.
Workers are seeking a three-year pay rise package of 8%, 6%, and 5%, along with commitments to address the gender pay gap.
The council’s current offer is a 6% increase in the first year, followed by 5% and 4% in subsequent years.
Council CEO Brian Pidgeon maintains that the offer is “fair and reasonable” and acceptable to most employees and ratepayers.
Unannounced stop-work actions may affect some council services including rate payments and preparations for the Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers.
A public outcry over Gold Coast City Council’s new so-called ‘View Tax’ has led to a fiery town hall meeting attended by hundreds of residents, according to the Gold Coast Bulletin.
The change in how rates are calculated for units in high-rise buildings has led to general rates increases of up to 50 percent for some ratepayers, many of whom are retired and living on fixed incomes.
Councillor Brooke Patterson called the meeting, and has tabled a petition to have the change reviewed.
She has acknowledged the impact on retirees, and says discouraging retired people and pensioners from downsizing into units is not the city’s intention.
We’ve previously reported on how a group of unhappy ratepayers called on the LG Minister Meaghan Scanlon to intervene, but she has said it is a matter for the council.
Townsville City Council’s decision to pull funding from a long awaited concert hall project has not been well received by the local arts community.
The Australian Festival of Chamber Music has expressed its extreme disappointment not just with the decision, but also the manner in which it was made.
They’ve reported frustration with a perceived lack of transparency and that a business case has not been provided to stakeholders, who also weren’t given an opportunity to discuss potential modifications to the scope.
The council last week opted to redirect funding to the Reef HQ project, saying the concert hall business case showed the project was not financially feasible.
TAS:
Launceston City Council will explore an idea to build homes over CBD car parks, as a way of providing new housing solutions.
Mayor Matthew Garwood proposed that the council look for suitable sites in its ownership, including car parks, to build affordable homes in partnership with a community housing provider or private development.
The Examiner reports today that the idea of living above a car park was not only supported by the councillors, but also attracted 68 per cent support from readers in an online poll.
National Briefs:
A proposed restructure at Shoalhaven Council in NSW could deliver annual savings of $1.3M, according to new CEO Robyn Stevens.
Ms Stevens has announced a draft structure that would see the disestablishment of some indoor roles, the vast majority of which are current vacant.
The proposal has been put to staff for feedback, and it will be refined after the election of a new Council.
Cairns Regional Council has introduced a new power-assisted wheelchair bike, known as a ‘Brike’, on the Cairns Esplanade to improve accessibility for locals and tourists with mobility impairments.
The Brike, which can travel up to 10km/h, can be hired through the Spinal Life Healthy Living Centre.
It’s the latest initiative from the council to enhance accessibility, following other recent improvements such as beach matting, accessible parking maps, and braille street signs in the CBD.
The new CEO of the District Council of Karoonda East Murray Scott Reardon is embarking on a meet and greet tour to meet local residents.
The tour starts this week and continues through 3rd September, and includes visits to Karoonda, Wynarka, Mantung and Perponda.
Global Roundup:
UK:
Thanet District Council‘s Cabinet has rescinded its controversial decision to issue fines for the use of foul language in the street.
The backdown comes after threats of legal action were made by the Free Speech Union.
In a statement, the council said there had been a provision in place since 2018 regarding the use of foul language that not been raised as an issue.
It plans to redraft the order and conduct further public consultation.
A parish councillor in Betley, Balterley and Wrinehill, Angela Drakakis-Smith, has been found to have breached the code of conduct by bullying and harassing the former council clerk.
The parish council has accepted the findings of a standards investigation, formally censured Cllr Drakakis-Smith, and removed her from all positions of responsibility.
Stoke on Trent Live reported that the case cost over £23,000 to investigate, and has resulted in Cllr Drakakis-Smith being put ‘on notice’ regarding her future conduct.
Meanwhile, a councillor at South Tyneside, Keith Roberts, has received a formal censure and email restrictions for making offensive comments about a political rival, Margaret Peacock.
The Shields Gazette reported that the Standards Committee found that Roberts’ comments breached the council’s code of conduct, amounting to bullying and failing to treat Peacock with respect.
Despite opposition from some councillors concerned about the impact on Roberts’ duties, the majority voted to impose sanctions, including diverting his emails to a monitored inbox for six months.
English councils are calling for a national men’s health strategy due to significant disparities in life expectancy between men in wealthy and deprived areas, with men in deprived areas living up to 10 years less than their affluent counterparts.
The Local Government Association (LGA) said there is a need for national action to address the “silent health crisis” facing men in England, who are dying nearly four years earlier than women and facing high rates of various health issues.
While local initiatives are making progress, the LGA argues that a comprehensive national strategy is necessary to close the life expectancy gap and address men’s health concerns effectively.
USA:
Washington D.C. Council Chairman Phil Mendelson has appointed an ad hoc committee to investigate Council member Trayon White’s future following his arrest on federal bribery charges.
The committee has until December 16 to issue a report, with potential recommendations including reprimand, censure, or expulsion from the Council.
Mr Mendelson also plans to remove White as chair of the youth affairs committee.
For now, White’s name is still on the ballot for re-election in November, a situation that Mr Mendelson described as “very messy”, according to NBC News.
CANADA:
A Canadian councillor has had his pay docked for one month after attending a public event while intoxicated and engaging in physical altercations with residents.
CBC News reported that an integrity commissioner in North Stormont found that Cllr Adrian Bugelli breached the township’s code of conduct twice during the grand opening of the Moose Creek Recreational Hall, where he was visibly drunk and involved in two separate physical incidents.
Cllr Bugelli has apologised for his actions, acknowledging the “unfortunate events” and promising to regain the trust and respect of his colleagues and the community.
NZ:
A new poll has revealed strong public support for increasing terms for New Zealand councils from three to four years
Radio New Zealand reported that 47% of respondents to a Curia poll were in favour of extending terms, with an additional 18% in support if central government also adopts a four-year term.
Local Government NZ president Sam Broughton said the reform is necessary to improve council productivity, provide certainty on long-term decisions, and address declining voter turnout in local elections.
CHINA:
The Associated Press has reported on how Chinese authorities are intensifying efforts to collect unpaid taxes from companies and individuals, some dating back decades, to address significant local government budget shortfalls and a mounting debt crisis.
Local governments are resorting to aggressive tax collection measures, including the establishment of joint operation centres with police to pursue back taxes.
Local government debt is estimated to be in the order of $11T.
With concerns about the impact of a crackdown on business confidence and economic growth, experts say that structural reforms in revenue sharing between central and local governments are necessary to address the underlying fiscal imbalances.