Today on the Local Government News Roundup:
- Municipal monitors announced for yet another Victorian council
- A new site determined for a controversial Harry Potter event in Mornington Peninsula Shire
- A sacked Sydney mayor launches a legal challenge against an ICAC ruling
- Two Victorian councils commence their search for a new CEO, and a long time NSW GM calls time
- A long running dispute over library services resolved
- Nominations close for Queensland’s local government elections
- Tasmanian councils prepare their wish lists for an early state election
- A WA council backs down on an overseas trip
- And a UK council admits a regrettable lack of control over payments to an internet prankster
Plus more Council news from across Australia and beyond on the Local Government News Roundup, brought to you by the Victorian Local Governance Association, the national broadcaster on all things local government; with support from Davidson, the nationally recognised executive recruitment service and business advisory practice.
Listen to this episode here, and find the link for your podcast player here.
Transcript for episode 306:
Janet Dore and Penelope Holloway have been appointed as municipal monitors to work with Brimbank City Council for ten months commencing this week.
The main role of the monitors is to help the council improve its performance and understand its role better, providing assistance and advice in several areas, including confidentiality requirements, management of conflicts of interest, meeting procedures, decision-making processes, and governance rules.
The Minister for Local Government, Melissa Horne, has asked the monitors to identify the underlying causes of any issues affecting the ability of the Council and/or individual councillors to properly perform their statutory roles.
Ms Dore has served as a municipal monitor for Strathbogie, Wodonga, and Ararat councils, while Ms Holloway has experience as the Acting CEO for the Office of Local Government NSW and is currently serving as a Board Director for the Victorian Planning Authority.
Brimbank joins its neighbour, Moonee Valley, as the second council to have municipal monitors appointed this year; and the eleventh Victorian council to be the subject of some form of government oversight in the current four-year council term.
Brimbank was previously under administration for nearly 7 years between 2009 and 2016.
The appointments come as the government plans to introduce legislation that will elevate governance and integrity standards in the 79 councils across the state, thus encouraging quality candidates to run for office in the elections scheduled for October.
The reforms will also introduce mandatory training for elected representatives, a uniform councillor code of conduct, and strengthened powers for the Minister to address councillor conduct.
A consultation paper on the proposed reforms is currently out for feedback from Councils and the broader community, ahead of the likely introduction of legislation to Parliament next month.
Mornington Peninsula Shire Council has decided to relocate a controversial Harry Potter event from the Briars Wildlife Sanctuary to a nearby dog park.
The Age reports that Councillors voted unanimously yesterday to move the event, following backlash from locals, environmental groups, and even a Harry Potter fan site.
More than 22,000 people signed an online petition calling for the relocation due to concerns over the potential impact on native wildlife.
The event is expected to bring economic benefits to the region estimated at between $27 and $35M.
The search for East Gippsland Shire Council’s next CEO has begun, following the recent departure of Anthony Basford.
The new CEO will be expected to lead a large organisation, foster community engagement, environmental sustainability, and financial sustainability.
The Council has engaged executive recruitment agency Davidson for the process, with a target to select a preferred candidate by April.
Fiona Weigall will continue as Acting CEO until March 27, 2024, followed by Stuart McConnell until June 30, 2024.
Saddened and disgusted is how Yarra Ranges Shire Council has described its reaction to the vandalisation of Indigenous artwork on water tanks in Wandin East.
The council said the criminal damage to the artworks was motivated by prejudice and is supporting police with an investigation into the incident.
The graffiti has been removed from the water tanks, which are part of a public art project celebrating the local First Nations People’s history and culture.
Mayor Sophie Todorov said it was “pointless damage to a beautiful piece of artwork” and said the Council takes a zero-tolerance approach to all forms of racism, discrimination and vilification.
Challenges with the management of Council swimming pools are in focus this week.
Due to rising gas prices, the Bendigo East pool will close for winter as heating costs have become unaffordable, according to a report from the Bendigo Advertiser.
This is despite attempts by the Greater Bendigo Council to lower temperatures and reduce operating hours.
Patrons will be able to use their passes at another centre or get a refund.
Meanwhile, the council will continue operating the Albury Swim Centre until June due to high visitation levels and community demand for year-round access, despite the annual cost of $328,000.
Moira Shire Council is preparing to join the Victoria’s four-bin system, introducing a new purple-lid bin for glass recycling.
The move is part of a review of the current kerbside service, aiming to increase recycling rates and reduce costs to ratepayers, in line with the Federal Government’s National Waste Action Plan and the Victorian Government’s Circular Economy Act 2021.
The council is seeking community input on waste and recycling habits and kerbside options to improve household waste management and reach the target of diverting 80% of waste from landfill by 2030.
The Chris Lane Field, named in honour of the late Australian baseball player Chris Lane, will be officially opened on February 17 at Boeing Reserve in Strathmore Heights.
The field, in the city of Moonee Valley, has been ten years in the making since the launch of a community petition.
It will be Australia’s first Little League baseball field.
Chris Lane was tragically murdered in a random drive-by shooting in 2013 while studying and playing baseball in the United States.
Hindmarsh Shire Council, in Victoria’s Wimmera region, has opened applications for a new CEO after Jessie Holmes was recently released from her contract for health reasons.
GEM Executive is handling the recruitment process, with applications to close on the 7th March.
Victorian councils will share nearly $3 million to engage communities and businesses in preventing violence against women.
The state government funding program is aimed at helping community members understand their role in creating safer environments and address attitudes and behaviours that drive family violence.
It’s the second round of the program, which is already supporting 15 councils with primary prevention initiatives.
Former Sydney mayor Angelos Tsirekas, found corrupt by the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC), has formally launched a legal challenge against the findings.
The ICAC found Tsirekas engaged in “serious corrupt conduct” related to planning decisions.
He was suspended by the Local Government Minister on the day of ICAC’s findings and was later removed from his position as the mayor and barred from running for office for five years.
The Australian reported that the source of funding for Tsirekas’s legal appeal is unclear.
The ICAC also found that Joseph Chidiac, a friend of the mayor, engaged in “serious corrupt conduct” and he too has launched a legal fight against the watchdog.
In the aftermath of a tragic accident at the Southern 80 Ski Race, Murray River Council has extended support and condolences to the affected family, team members, and the ski racing community.
In a statement, the council said it expected to be briefed on the circumstances of the accident in due course, and that it would continue to support the event and the Moama Water Sports Club in its future efforts.
Craig Butler, General Manager of Lithgow Council, will retire at the end of June after more than four decades in local government.
Mr Butler said he has been fortunate to have had a life of public service, but now wants to devote more time to his family.
He was appointed by Lithgow Council as GM in April 2020 after the retirement of Graeme Faulkner and was given a renewed contract term in February last year.
In response to a housing shortage for new workers in Orange, the city council has joined a call for homeowners to rent out their spare rooms.
The initiative is part of the ‘Spare Capacity in Housing Project’ by the Central NSW Joint Organisation.
It aims to address the need for accommodation for an estimated 64,000 additional workers in the Central West and Orana regions over the next five years.
The project includes a survey to understand homeowners’ willingness to rent out spare rooms and will conclude with a report at the end of February.
A long-running dispute over library services in the NSW Riverina has been resolved.
Wagga City Council and the Riverina Regional Library service have reached a confidential agreement, which Wagga Mayor described to the Daily Advertiser as mutually satisfying.
The dispute began when Wagga City Council ended its 40-year partnership with the library service, leading to disagreement over the distribution of an estimated $5M in assets.
The council’s decision to split from the library service was driven by a desire to provide more frequent and diverse mobile and outreach library services, which other councils did not desire.
Three NSW councils are collaborating to develop a drought resilience plan under the Regional Drought Resilience Planning Program.
Parkes, Forbes and Lachlan Shire Councils are aiming to help their communities better prepare for, respond to, and recover from drought.
The plans will be co-designed with local stakeholders to ensure relevance and actionability.
The program is funded by the Australian Government’s Future Drought Fund and the NSW Government.
Nominations have closed for local government elections in Queensland, which take place next month.
There is extensive coverage across the state of the various contests that will play out over the next few weeks.
Many long-serving councillors and mayors are stepping aside, with a range of fresh candidates appearing including former state and federal MPs and media personalities.
Some candidates will not have to face an election, such as Cr Paul Bishop at Redland City Council.
He was the only candidate for that council’s Division 10 election at the close of nominations.
He has encouraged the community to focus on the three mayoral candidates and to choose wisely.
Controversial incumbent mayor Karen Williams is not seeking re-election after three terms as mayor and 20 years in local government.
Cr Bishop already knows who one of his colleagues will be.
Wendy Boglary was the only nomination in the Division 1, and most of the other divisions attracted just two candidates.
The Queensland Electoral Commission has published a full list of nominees for mayoral and councillor positions on its website.
An early state government election in Tasmania was confirmed yesterday by Premier Jeremy Rockcliff.
Speculation has been swirling in recent weeks, leading to many councils preparing their funding wishlists.
The Advocate reported on key projects to be pushed by Councils during an election campaign, including Devonport City Council’s request for $25 million for sports infrastructure, Central Coast Council’s desire for a shared pathway between Ulverstone and Penguin, and Waratah-Wynyard Council’s call for upgrades to Boat Harbour Beach.
The councils are expected to emphasize the need for ongoing relationships and investment in their regions, not just election-time promises.
The City of Port Lincoln has purchased the Port Lincoln Civic Centre Building for $5.75M, now owning 100% of the property.
The acquisition, replacing the $4.25M Depot Redevelopment Project, is expected to improve the Council’s operational budget by $1.78M over 10 years.
While many in the community may have assumed the Council already owned the building, it was 76 per cent owned by a private party.
The rental savings and income from the building tenants, which equate to $573,000 per annum, will contribute towards paying for the property purchase and provide a new income stream for the Council.
Barkly Regional Council mayor Jeffrey McLaughlin has relocated his family interstate due to safety concerns following the emergence of a video of him pinning an Aboriginal child to the ground.
McLaughlin is also facing charges for cannabis possession, supply, cultivation, and driving under the influence.
As ABC News has reported, Barkly Regional Council is currently suspended pending an unrelated government investigation into its conduct and finances.
The outcome of the investigation is expected to determine whether McLaughlin and his council colleagues will be reinstated or dismissed.
A proposed $114,000 trip to Croatia for four Perth councillors, including business class flights and accommodation, has been scrapped due to public outrage.
The trip, less than a year after the City of Cockburn hosted councillors from the City of Split, was intended to reciprocate the visit.
Critics argued the funds could be better spent elsewhere during the cost-of-living crisis, and councillors agreed this week to defer the proposal to an unspecified later date, according to a report from 9News.
Local governments in Perth and Peel regions are being encouraged to increase urban tree and vegetation canopy through a $3.75 million grant program funded by the State Government.
The ‘Urban Greening Grants Program’ aims to combat climate change by increasing urban canopies.
The Western Australian Local Government Association (WALGA) will manage and implement the program, with the first round of successful grant applicants to be finalised by the end of February.
NZ Councils in regions hit by Cyclone Gabrielle are struggling to afford the recovery of damaged roads.
A year after the cyclone, the need for a significant effort to repair the network is clear, but the financial burden is substantial, according to a report from Radio New Zealand.
Despite government contributions, councils like Hastings and Central Hawke’s Bay District are facing budget shortfalls of $600 million and $129 million respectively.
The councils are also concerned about the lack of manpower to carry out the work, with an estimated need for an additional 17,500 workers at the peak of the rebuilding effort.
In Auckland, the Council has euthanised a stray due to what is says were signs of concerning behaviour, despite the woman who found the dog wanting to adopt him.
Cheyenne Rose had taken the dog in, named him Robbie, and expressed her intention to adopt him if his owners were not found.
However, after seven days in the council’s care, Robbie was euthanised.
Ms Rose told the NZ Herald that she is “absolutely gutted, beyond disgusted and upset.”
She says she has lost trust in the council, which says it is reviewing its records to better understand what has occurred in this instance.
The leader of Essex County Council has admitted to a lack of oversight and control over payments made to an internet prankster.
Simon Harris received over £500,000 to run Facebook groups and other work during the Covid pandemic.
Council Leader Kevin Bentley told the council this week that procedures for procuring services were not followed, and described a lack of oversight and controls as “regrettable and wrong.”
BBC News reports that opposition councillors have called for an urgent independent investigation.
The payments have been referred to the council’s Audit, Governance and Standards Committee for further investigation.
A councillor in Canada has been penalised for violating the code of conduct, with the majority of the Sarnia council endorsing a recommendation from its integrity commissioner to suspend the pay of Cr Bill Dennis for two days.
The incident involved a confrontation outside the council chambers in October.
Not all councillors supported the finding, with some arguing it was a personal matter because it didn’t occur inside the Council chambers.
Cr Dennis did not declare a conflict of interest and remained seated during the discussion.
He has apologised for his behaviour but said he would not be stifled from expressing his opinion, as reported by Windsor News Today.
In North Carolina, Wilmington City Council has approved an ordinance prohibiting people from standing in medians measuring 6 feet and under, a move that will primarily affect the homeless or poverty-stricken.
The Port City Daily reports that the city has installed signs at major intersections to alert the community of the safety concern.
Violators can be charged with a Class C misdemeanour.
The ordinance has sparked debate, with some critics arguing it could lead to more incidents and questioning whether people standing in the median pose a significant safety risk.