On the midweek Roundup for 6th September, available now on your podcast player (links here)
Moira Shire’s CEO resigns, a former CEO departs Greater Geelong, and Hindmarsh makes a CEO appointment;
A councillor ordered to apologise for social media posts found to be in breach of the councillor code of conduct;
Most Victorian Councillors think corruption is a problem in the state, according to a new survey;
Byron’s 60 day short term rental cap unlikely to come in before mid-2024;
An $8.5M cost blowout for a Council IT project;
A regional renaissance hailed as new figures show a massive increase in millennials moving to the country;
The UK’s largest local authority declares effective bankruptcy;
And a NZ CEO’s resignation closes an infamous chapter at Gore District Council.
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Stories in this episode (with links where available):
Hi, this is Chris Eddy, coming to you from the land of the Wadawurrung People with the latest from the Local Government News Roundup.
On the podcast today:
Moira Shire’s CEO resigns, a former CEO departs Greater Geelong, and Hindmarsh makes a CEO appointment;
A councillor ordered to apologise for social media posts found to be in breach of the councillor code of conduct;
Most Victorian Councillors think corruption is a problem in the state, according to a new survey;
Byron’s 60 day short term rental cap unlikely to come in before mid-2024;
An $8.5M cost blowout for a Council IT project;
A regional renaissance hailed as new figures show a massive increase in millennials moving to the country;
The UK’s largest local authority declares effective bankruptcy;
And a NZ CEO’s resignation closes an infamous chapter at Gore District Council.
Just some of the many local government stories getting our attention today… let’s round ‘em up!
Sponsor Acknowledge:
Thanks for joining me for today’s podcast – brought to you by the Victorian Local Governance Association – the national broadcaster on all things local government;
And by Snap Send Solve, in the business of keeping shared spaces safe, clean and great to be in.
Victorian Roundup:
The CEO of Moira Shire Council, Clare Keenan, has resigned her position with immediate effect.
Her departure was reported by The Shepparton News and the Border Mail ($) on Monday, with confirmation from the Council’s Chair of Administrators John Tanner.
Ms Keenan had been on leave since March when a Commission of Inquiry report was released, resulting in the dismissal of all councillors and the appointment of administrators until 2028.
The report was highly critical of Ms Keenan’s performance in the CEO role.
Former mayor Libro Mustica told the Border Mail that he had advised Ms Keenan to resign for her own mental well-being, and he said stood by her initial appointment as the best of applicants at the time.
Interim chief executive Josh Lewis is expected to remain in the role until a permanent appointment is made.
The former acting CEO of Greater Geelong City Council, Kaarina Phyland, has departed the organisation this week, just days after the council confirmed she would be returning to her substantive role as an executive director.
Her departure follows an online post that laid bare some of the challenges from her time as acting CEO, which some have described as inflammatory.
New CEO Ali Wastie has commended Ms Phyland for initiating change that made the organisation more strategic, while Mayor Trent Sullivan said Ms Phyland had experienced extraordinary challenges during her time in the role.
Jessie Holmes is rejoining the ranks of Victorian Council CEOs, having been appointed by Hindmarsh Shire Council.
The former Yarriambiack CEO and state government executive has served as Director Infrastructure Services at Hindmarsh for the past 12 months.
Ms Holmes will take over from Greg Wood in October.
Mr Wood, who has held the position since 2016, advised the Council that he would not be seeking re-appointment in April of this year.
A councillor at Latrobe City Council has been ordered to apologise for social media posts that were found to be a breach of the Councillor Code of Conduct.
Cr Melissa Ferguson shared articles and posts critical of transgender rights activists that have been deemed hurtful to the transgender community, according to a report from ABC News this week.
Cr Ferguson argued that she had a right to freedom of speech, and the tweets were sent in her personal capacity, not as a councillor.
The arbiter disagreed and directed her to make a verbal apology, which occurred at a Council meeting on Monday night.
She is also required to make a written apology from her X account within one week, and has been directed to attend diversity training.
Fellow councillor Tracie Lund, who raised the complaint, has told the ABC that Cr Ferguson’s apology was disappointing, and that she was seeking advice on whether it met the requirements of the arbitration outcome.
The City of Melbourne’s Deputy Mayor says some serious myth busting needs to occur in the housing affordability debate.
Cr Nicholas Reece has published an opinion piece this week, in which he describes the notion that councils are the problem as a “simple lie.”
Cr Reece quotes a recent SGS Economics and Planning study that found more than enough multi-unit dwellings have been approved for development statewide to meet housing demand, but developers aren’t commencing construction due to high costs, skills shortages, and competition from major infrastructure projects.
Deputy Lord Mayor Reece says if the state government were to strip councils of planning powers in order to tackle housing affordability, it would likely make the problem worse.
Knox City Council says it has secured a commitment from the planning minister for a partnership approach to the development of the former Boronia Heights school site.
Mayor Marcia Timmers-Leitch said a council delegation had met with the minister to raise concerns about the state government’s approval of a development plan for the site, including a lack of engagement to date.
Cr Timmers-Leitch said the council was grateful for the opportunity to elevate the concerns of the council and the Knox community with the minister.
She said she hoped it was the start of a constructive and productive partnership in relation to the future development of the site.
Victorian Briefs:
Bass Coast Shire Council will run mental health first aid training aimed at members of the agricultural community.
The move is in response to alarming statistics that reveal nearly one third of Australian farmers have reported a decline in mental health in recent years.
The course is part of a broader Council program focused on building resilience and wellbeing of the farming community across Bass Coast.
Warrnambool City Council’s Un-retiring the Bool program is back after a successful pilot program.
The program helps to match retirees looking for casual work with businesses experiencing staff shortages.
The Australian first initiative already has more than 80 retirees lined up to work over the coming busy summer holiday season.
Purple lidded bins for glass are now being rolled out in the City of Frankston, in readiness for the commencement of kerbside collections next month.
Minister for Environment Ingrid Stitt announced that Frankston will be the 16th early mover council for the kerbside glass service, with more councils expected to join soon.
The glass bin will work alongside the new container deposit scheme which starts on the 1st November.
The results of an IBAC survey of the perceptions of corruption by Victorian councillors have been released.
The survey of 131 participating councillors revealed that almost three quarters think corruption is a problem in Victoria, with 59% believing it’s a problem among elected officials.
The most likely behaviours considered to be high risks include bullying and harrassment, favouritism and nepotism, collusion, and misuse of government resources.
Half of the participants say it is difficult to find definitive guidance on corruption, with council Governance teams most commonly relied on for advice.
National Roundup:
NSW:
A proposed 60 day cap on short term rentals in Byron Shire is unlikely to come into effect until mid-2024, assuming it gets state government approval.
However, the proposed cap, which is designed to ease pressure on the housing market, would only apply in Byron and not other local government areas.
The Guardian reports that the government is yet to respond to independent advice recommending the 60 day cap as an incentive for owners to put their properties into the longer term rental market.
The government is waiting on a further review of the short term rental market before considering any changes that would apply to other council areas.
Party politics is rearing its head in Hawkesbury, with reports that Labor councillors have been told to withdraw their support from Liberal mayor Sarah McMahon, ahead of next week’s mayoral election.
And Liberal councillor Nathan Zamprogno has been suspended from the party for 3 years, in a move supported by the mayor.
Cr McMahon was elected to the mayoralty last August, when former mayor Patrick Conolly stood down.
The Hawkesbury Post reports that ALP members have been unhappy that Labor councillors Amanda Kotlash and Barry Calvert, who is deputy mayor, supported the Liberal councillor for mayor last time.
Cr Zamprogno says he is troubled by the evidence put forward by the mayor to justify his expulsion from the Liberal party, and suggests it is related to his consideration of contesting preselection for the Federal seat of Macquarie.
He now lists himself as an independent candidate on his website.
The council will elect its mayor next week for the remaining 12 months of the council term.
QLD:
Queensland’s Local Government Minister Steven Miles has briefed the cabinet on legal advice about the Gold Coast councillor charged with the murder of his step father.
The Brisbane Times reports that the minister will ask Cr Ryan Bayldon-Lumsden to respond to a show cause notice by the end of this week, explaining why he should not be suspended from his role, on full pay.
The suspension would be in place until local government elections next March, and would be revisited if he chooses to re-contest for a councillor position.
Mayor Tom Tate said at a press conference this week that he would discuss with the CEO operational arrangements that would apply in light of a suspension, and that he was yet to speak with Cr Bayldon-Lumsden.
Questions are being asked about an IT project cost blowout at Cairns Regional Council.
The Cairns Post ($) has reported this week on an estimated overrun of $8.5M and a four year delay in delivering 11 modules of Technology One’s One Council platform.
It says the council has spent nearly $13M so far on five modules, with a further $12M estimated to be required to complete the project by the 2025/26 financial year.
CEO Mica Martin said the council was confident the product remained the best value option, and mayor Bob Manning has acknowledged unforeseen challenges with the rollout.
WA:
A start up company is solve the problem of empty dog bag dispensers in public spaces across the country, starting with Western Australia.
Little Rippers, an Australian company with patented smart sensing technology, has signed a three year deal with the City of Swan, and has trials under way with a number of regional WA councils.
Smart Company has the story on how Little Rippers was created to solve the problem of empty dog bag dispensers, causing frustration for residents and councils across the country.
The company is focusing on Western Australia for now, and has plans to eventually roll out across Australia and beyond.
TAS:
A councillor at Launceston has described as “extremely disappointing” a decision that found him in breach of the Local Government Code of Conduct.
The Mercury ($) has reported on the finding of a Code of Conduct Panel that Cr Joe Pintarich was in breach of decision-making requirements when he participated in a vote on a planning matter.
The panel found that he should have removed himself from the room at the time, due to his status as sole director and shareholder of a company that has been involved in long running breach of contract litigation with a company connected to a planning applicant.
It found that his failure to remove himself was a breach of the Code of Conduct.
NT:
A by-election to fill a vacancy on Darwin City Council has attracted a poor turnout, with less than half of enrolled voters participating.
12 candidates have contested the by-election, to replace former councillor Paul Arnold, who resigned in May for reasons of mental health.
The ABC reports that the winner will determined by preferences, with Greens candidate Suki Dorras-Walker ahead on the initial count.
The result is expected to be declared on 18th September.
National Briefs:
Snowy Monaro Regional Council is expected to appoint its next CEO this week.
The decision will be made at a confidential session on Friday morning, following a recruitment process run by McArthurs.
In April this year, the Council decided not to renew the contract of current CEO Peter Bascomb.
Cr Dallas Tout has been re-elected mayor of Wagga Wagga City Council uncontested
Cr Amelia Parkins is the new Deputy Mayor, having also been elected to the position unopposed.
Crs Tout and Parkins will serve a one year term in their respective roles until council elections in September next year.
At Orange City Council, Deputy Mayor Gerald Power has been re-elected from a field of four candidates.
There was a margin of one vote in the final round against Cr Jeff Whitton.
Cr Power is currently acting mayor while Mayor Jason Hamling remains on leave for health reasons.
Queensland’s Murweh Shire Council has appointed Bruce Scott as its interim CEO, after the departure of Sabine Taylor who was dismissed before the end of her probationary period.
Mr Scott has an Order of Australia Medal and brings extensive managerial expertise to the council while it recruits for its next permanent CEO. Leading Roles is managing the recruitment, with applications invited by 25th September.
The Regional Australia Institute says new research confirms a regional renaissance, describing a surge of millennials from capital cities into country communities.
The RAI’s Big Movers report found an additional 54,000 millennials relocated to the regions during the latest Census period.
And more than 600,000 people left metropolitan areas for a new life in the country between 2016 and 2021, an increase of 120,000 over the previous Census period.
RAI CEO Liz Ritchie described the significant increase in the number of millennials and overseas-born residents in regional areas as a dynamic change in the nation’s demographic landscape.
More than 150 regional LGAs had a positive net migration rate of millennials, with significant increases highlighted in Dungog, NSW; Loddon, VIC; Blackall Tambo, QLD, Tumby Bay, SA, and Chapman Valley in WA.
International Spotlight:
UK:
Birmingham City Council has effectively declared itself bankrupt, issuing a section 114 notice this week indicating that it cannot balance its books this year.
Birmingham is the largest local authority in the UK, and it says government help will be needed to restore its financial health. It will deliver only the services that it must legally provide, and cease spending on all other services.
The Council’s leader and deputy leader [made the announcement in a statement](https://www.theguardian.com/society/2023/sep/05/birmingham-city-council-financial-distress-budget-section-114#:~:text=Birmingham city council%2C the largest,resources to balance its budget.) on Tuesday this week, after last month predicting budget shortfalls of 87M pounds this year, and 164.8M pounds in 2024/25.
Equal pay liability claims of 760M pounds, and complications with an IT system implementation said to be around 100M pounds have been cited as some of the reasons for the council’s financial predicament.
The council opposition leader said the blame lies not with officers, but with the Labour leadership and a lack of urgency in addressing equal pay claims.
With the issuing of the section 114 notice, the council will now prioritise the provision of core services.
For more on this developing story, there are links in the show notes to reporting from the Guardian, BBC News and the Local Government Chronicle.
USA:
In Seattle, an ambitious plan to put a lid on an interstate freeway is gaining support.
The project would create the opportunity for 11 acres of public park and affordable housing.
Seattle City Council is due to vote on the proposal today, and as Axios.com reports, it’s expected to declare its support and seek to work with state and federal officials to advance the proposal.
Proponents say the lid would reduce pollution and road noise in racially diverse and mixed income neighbourhoods, as well as allow for restaurants and stores.
If it proceeds, Seattle would join other cities in the US like Phoenix, St. Louis and Dallas to build over the top of freeways.
In Los Angeles, tensions are reported to be rising between the LA City Council and local tour companies, after the council decided to explore a ban on tour buses around the famous Hollywood sign.
It’s the latest development to pit interest groups against each other, following Mayor Karen Bass’s decision to strike down a plan to light the sign at night.
Residents in the Hollywoodland area have been opposed to the influx of tour buses in the vicinity of the sign due to narrow streets and tight curves creating a range of traffic hazards.
California Globe reports that the LA Department of Transportation has 120 days to report back on how a ban could work before the council makes a final decision.
NZ:
The CEO of NZ’s Gore Council has resigned, closing a tumultuous chapter at the council that saw an intermediary appointed between the Council’s Mayor and the CEO.
Stephen Parry will finish in late October, after 22 years at the council.
Radio New Zealand has reported that the appointed intermediary, Cr Richard McPhail, made a statement announcing Mr Parry’s departure, and paying tribute to his contribution to Gore over more than two decades.
Mr Parry said he plans to take some time to reflect and set priorities for next year, while spending more time with family.
Mayor Ben Bell said an interim CEO would be appointed in due course, and the recruitment process for a new chief executive would begin immediately.
The news is being covered by various news outlets, and in different ways.
Newsroom.co.nz says the resignation closes the chapter on an “horrific” situation, quoting a former CFO said to be “jumping for joy” at the news.
The Otago Daily Times spoke to former mayor Tracy Hicks, who said the resignation was understandable given the “nonsense that has gone on recently.”
Close:
That’s the latest from the Roundup for 6th September 2023.
Brought to you by the Victorian Local Governance Association, with support from Snap Send Solve.
You can find links to the stories referenced in this episode and a full transcript at www.lgnewsroundup.com.
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The Local Government News Roundup is recorded in the city of Greater Geelong, Victoria, on the land of the Wadawurrung People of the Kulin Nation.
More of the latest local government news coming your way next week. Until then, thanks for listening, and bye for now.