On the weekend Roundup for 5th August 2023,
Council concerns over a new state government agreement with Indigenous groups;
Yarra Ranges Shire Council in court, and fined over powerline clearance issues;
A council call to stop the sale of state government owned land;
Tasmania’s Dorset Council suspended, and its mayor reprimanded in a code of conduct matter;
Pressure mounts on a NSW MP to give up his dual role as a councillor;
An extraordinary attack on a NSW mayor in state parliament;
And a US mayor caught up in alleged Presidential election voter fraud.
Plus much more local government news from across Australia and around the world.
The Local Government News Roundup is brought to you by the Victorian Local Governance Association, the national broadcaster on all things local government; and by Snap Send Solve, helping keep shared spaces safe, clean and great to be in.
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Transcript (with story 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:
Council concerns over a new state government agreement with Indigenous groups;
Yarra Ranges Shire Council in court, and fined over powerline clearance issues;
A council call to stop the sale of state government owned land;
Tasmania’s Dorset Council suspended, and its mayor reprimanded in a code of conduct matter;
Pressure mounts on a NSW MP to give up his dual role as a councillor;
An extraordinary attack on a NSW mayor in state parliament;
And a US mayor caught up in alleged Presidential election voter fraud
Just some of the local government stories making news this week… let’s round ‘em up now!
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, which is excited this week to announce their first Oracle integration with Queensland’s Ipswich City Council.
Let’s get into the Victorian Roundup.
Details have emerged this week of an agreement between the state government and Indigenous groups that will reportedly sideline ten Victorian councils from certain decisions.
News.com.au exclusively reported that the agreement proposes to give the groups powers to rename roads, bridges and public spaces, co-manage waterways, and provide preferential access to council procurement contracts and jobs.
The affected councils are Mildura, West Wimmera, Northern Grampians, Southern Grampians, Buloke, Hindmarsh, Pyrenees, Yarriambiack, Horsham and Ararat.
The mayors of West Wimmera, Northern Grampians and Buloke are among those to raise concerns about their councils not being included in any of the negotiations for the agreement, which was signed last year, but details of which have only emerged in recent weeks.
The government says the deal doesn’t impact current laws and regulations, but rather presents an aspirational list of matters that traditional owners would like to work on with councils.
Read the exclusive report from news.com.au here
A Supreme Court challenge to Yarra Ranges Shire Council’s consideration of an urban design framework has been heard, with the judge’s decision yet to be released.
The Age reports on the case, brought by Darren Dickson, claiming a lack of consultation on the document when the council closed its public gallery earlier this year and held its meetings online.
A council officer told the court of chaotic scenes in the council chamber, with gallery members shouting insults and accusations and creating an environment described as threatening and unsafe.
The council has since reopened its public gallery, and is due to vote on the urban design framework next month.
There’s further reporting from The Age today on the range of measures taken by councils to deal with meeting disruptions, including duress alarms, ticketed meetings and increased use of security guards.
The story looks at the obligations on CEOs to protect staff and councillors, balanced against the risk some councillors see that safety measures could stifle civic engagement.
The Age 3/8/23; The Age 5/8/23
In other Yarra Ranges news, the council has been fined almost $37K by Energy Safe Victoria for failing to keep trees clear of powerlines.
It’s the most a council has been fined since ESV was granted powers to issue fines in June last year.
Wet weather leading to significant regrowth has been given as the reason for the misjudgement of the height of the trees.
Energy Safe Victoria; Ferntree Gully Star Mail
Glen Eira City Council has called on the state government to stop the planned sale of 44 government owned sites in its municipality.
The council says the sites should be repurposed to provide social and affordable housing amid an escalating crisis in the city.
It is encouraging the community to get behind its push for collaboration with the government to address an estimated shortage of nearly 6,500 dwellings – a number that is tipped to increase by nearly half again over the next 13 years if no action is taken.
A decision by Ballarat City Council to allow a new tailings dam at Mt Clear is being challenged at VCAT.
The Council decision to allow the dam was not unanimous, and approved with conditions including a dust management plan and an amended human health risk assessment.
However, according to a report from radio station 3BA, the Tailings Dam Community Action Group is objecting to the dam, which it says will store arsenic and heavy metals across the road from housing, a primary school and an aged care facility.
A special charge scheme to fund road sealing in Portarlington has not gone down well with some ratepayers.
The Geelong Advertiser reports that property owners in seven streets have been sent bills ranging from $4k to $30k for their share of the cost of the road upgrades.
The council says it is putting in 25 percent of the cost, while a localised group of property owners who benefit from the works will be charged for the remaining costs.
Acting director of city infrastructure David Greaves told the Advertiser that rising construction prices had led to significant increases above initial estimates of around $10K per property.
Now in today’s Victorian Briefs:
A further countback for Glenelg Shire Council will be held after the successful candidate in the countback held this week did not return a written declaration stating they are still qualified to be a councillor within the required 48 hours.
The new countback will be held on Monday afternoon in a second attempt to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of former mayor Anita Rank.
There will also be a countback on Wednesday morning to fill a vacancy on Indigo Shire Council, after the recent resignation of Larry Goldsworthy.
New nature strip guidelines have gone out for consultation in the city of Whittlesea.
The council says the new guidelines attempt to strike a balance between greenery on nature strips and the safety of road users and pedestrians.
Residents will be able to plant shrubs and edible crops from 1st October if the new rules are approved.
The first EV charging station in Golden Plains Shire has opened at Meredith, outside the local sharing shed.
The fast-charging unit is conveniently located between Ballarat and Geelong, and was funded under the state government’s Destination Charging Across Victoria program.
National Roundup
Now for some of the stories making local government news from around Australia this week.
TAS:
The councillors at Dorset Council in Tasmania have been suspended from office, effective 11am Wednesday morning.
Local government minister Nic Street enacted the suspension for the duration of a Board of Inquiry’s investigation of allegations of statutory non-compliance and governance failings.
The Board of Inquiry was appointed last week, following initial enquiries by the Director of Local Government, and is expected to take around 7 months to complete its task.
Former Burnie general manager Andrew Wardlaw has been appointed as Commissioner for the duration of the inquiry.
In further Dorset news, reports have emerged this weekend of a code of conduct panel finding against the mayor Greg Howard for letters written about a former councillor.
The Launceston Examiner reports that a panel found the mayor went beyond the bounds of reasonable debate and demonstrated a personal bias against the complainant.
Mr Howard said the investigation infringed his free speech rights, and that he would not offer an apology under any circumstances.
Tasmanian Premier; Launceston Examiner 5/3/23
Clarence City Council is set to consider its submission to the Local Government Board Review’s Future of Local Government Stage Two Interim Report at its upcoming meeting.
The submission, which was made public within the council’s agenda, highlights the council’s primary concern for the long-term sustainability of any amalgamation scenario.
The council firmly believes that any amalgamation must be sustainable through three key considerations: population, land area, and assets.
While each scenario presents its own opportunities and challenges, the council’s analysis suggests that maintaining the status quo is the best outcome for the community at this time.
Meanwhile, the Burnie Advocate reports on the different view of West Coast Council which has argued for a new western Tasmanian council taking in the key tourism drawcard of Cradle Mountain, which currently sits in Kentish Council.
West Coast Council’s submission to the local government review argues the majority of mining areas and the Wilderness World Heritage Area should also come under the proposed new larger council.
It also puts forward an argument for new funding arrangements the infrastructure needs of the area’s remote communities.
Burnie Advocate, 5/8/23
NSW
Northern Beaches Council is putting pressure on its former mayor Michael Regan to give up his seat on the council since being elected to state parliament.
It wants the state government to change the rules so that a councillor elected to another level of government would be immediately disqualified from concurrently holding a councillor position.
The Daily Telegraph reports that council has passed a motion to that effect, over concerns from some councillors that Cr Regan cannot devote sufficient time to civic duties and is receiving two salaries from the public purse.
So far, Cr Regan is not stepping aside, and says he is still 110 percent committed to the role.
A state MP has launched an extraordinary attack in parliament on the mayor of Shellharbour City Council.
MP Anna Watson has criticised a council-led joint venture project on the Shell Cove Waterfront where some newly built homes have suffered waterproofing and structural defects,
According to the Daily Telegraph, she has used recent comments by mayor Chris Homer about active transport to suggest that he is not up to the job, and called on deputy mayor Kellie Marsh to take over as soon as possible.
Mayor Homer described the MPs comments as deceitful and Machiavellian, and suggested she would be better informed if she communicated with the council.
Hawkesbury and The Hills Shire councils have moved to dispel reports of a closure of the Lower Portland Ferry service.
The service is co-funded by the two councils and the agreement with the operator has been extended through September 2024.
Some media reports suggested the service would close as early as this weekend, despite ongoing contract discussions.
Hawkesbury mayor Sarah McMahon said the reports caused unnecessary alarm, which was disappointing.
The councils are continuing discussions with the NSW government about a longer-term funding arrangement, seeking the same funding deal that applies to other ferry services on the Hawkesbury River.
WA
The City of Stirling has looked within for its next CEO.
Director of Planning and Development Stevan Rodic will formally assume the position in January, allowing for a handover period with outgoing CEO Stuart Jardine who has been in the role for 16 years.
Mr Jardine announced his plans to step down in March this year.
The mayor of the City of Vincent Emma Cole has announced she will not be seeking re-election when voters go to the polls in October.
Mayor Cole has held the position for six and a half years.
PerthNow reports that two councillors, Ron Alexander and Suzanne Worner – have already indicated they will contest the mayoral election.
Nominations open at the end of this month, with election day set for 21st October.
The City of Vincent is planning to implement 40km/h speed limits on all of its local roads, after a trial on around 40 percent of its roads was made permanent.
The speed limits will apply to residential streets and not main streets.
A community survey last year showed a majority of residents supported a reduction to speed limits in residential streets.
SA
Cemeteries are for humans only. So says a South Australian council, after an increase in requests for pets to be buried with their owners.
ABC Riverland has the story from Loxton Waikerie Council, which has felt the need to set a clear policy in relation to its cemeteries.
The council says it wants to avoid any confusion about any bones that may be dug up in future.
However, a pathology professor from the University of Adelaide says the decision is bizarre and heartless, and the commingling of bones should not be an issue.
A council spokesperson said the policy position was in line with that of other councils’ policies.
Briefly:
Goondiwindi Mayor Lawrence Springborg has welcomed a Qld government review of regulations for major renewable energy projects.
This follows approval of a $2B wind farm project that bypassed consultation with the local council and community.
Mayor Springborg said he would actively collaborate with local government colleagues and the state to address the need for better community outcomes for major infrastructure projects.
Peak body LGNSW has appointed its new chief executive.
David Reynolds joins the peak body after five years as Group Manager, Shire Strategy at The Hills Shire.
He was previously the Director of Customer and Corporate Strategy at Camden Council.
This year’s Local Government Week awards were handed out at an event on Thursday night, with 14 city and regional councils sharing in the accolades.
Five councils took home two awards each, those being Singleton, Gunnedah, Penrith, Wingecarribee and Hawkesbury.
And there’s sad news to report with the sudden passing of City of Wanneroo councillor Chris Baker.
Cr Baker was elected to the council’s North Ward in 2019. He previously served on Joondalup council from 2001 to 2004, and was the Member for Joondalup in state parliament from 1996 to 2001.
He was 65. Vale Chris Baker
Yanchep News; City of Joondalup LinkedIn
Now for today’s International Spotlight:
US:
Boston Mayor Michelle Wu has signed an executive order banning the use of fossil fuels in the construction and renovation of city-owned buildings.
The order is part of the mayor’s larger effort to implement a similar ban on new residential buildings.
The goal is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve air quality by eliminating the use of coal, oil, and natural gas in heating, cooling, hot water, and cooking operations.
The order exempts projects that are currently in the procurement, design, or construction phase but will apply to future capital projects.
The move has drawn criticism from real estate groups due to potential cost implications and strain on the electrical supply capacity.
Mayor Wu is also planning to ban fossil fuels in new residential building projects throughout Boston and is seeking approval for a state pilot project that would allow the banning of gas hookups in new buildings.
The mayor’s office says municipal emissions constitute 2.3% of all of Boston’s carbon emissions, and more than 70% of the city’s emissions are from buildings.
Read more at techexplore.com
A mayor in the US state of Michigan has been charged in an alleged ‘fake elector’ scheme related to the 2020 Presidential election.
Kent Vanderwood, a long time council member at the City of Wyoming in Michigan, was elected mayor last August, and has been named as one of 16 defendants charged with forgery and election law forgery offences.
His lawyer told Mlive.com that Mayor Vanderwood will not resign or recuse himself while the legal process takes its course, and that he expects the mayor to be fully vindicated.
UK:
The culture at a British council has been called out by the government, with the issue this week of a best value notice.
Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council is only the third local authority to receive such a notice.
In a letter to the council’s chief executive, concerns were raised about poor relationships between councillors and officers; an unrealistic financial plan; governance concerns with a council entity; and the need for development and support for the council’s leadership team.
The issues have arisen after an external assurance review conducted by an independent local government expert.
That review has resulted in a number of recommendations, including the need for a reset of the culture and relationships.
The Best Value Notice will remain in place for 12 months.
Dept for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities
From Kent comes a story of how insults and threats have kept planning officers attending committee meetings where applications for new developments are considered.
Members of the committee have complained about the absence of Kent County Council officers at meetings, and have received a report as to why this is occurring,
Planning applications for new developments in Kent are handled at the borough and district council level, with KCC’s highways department providing assessments on the potential impact on local roads.
The committee has been told that highways officers do not routinely attend planning meetings at this level due to past instances of being insulted, bullied, and threatened when they did not support applications opposed by local members or the public.
More on that story from the Isle of Thanet News.
An English council has been criticised for its disregard of record keeping recommendations, after 750 blank birth, death and marriage certificates went missing.
Herefordshire Council didn’t report the missing certificates for four months, leading to an inspection which made 17 improvement recommendations.
Some months later only three of those recommendations had been acted on, and the certificates were only found after a new manager took over and assistance from another council was sought.
Authorities say it’s impossible to know if any fraudulent activity had taken place.
The council told the BBC that it was improving its processes, and recognised there was further work to be done.
Europe:
The mayor of Béziers, a small town in France, is taking action to address the issue of dog poop on the streets.
Mayor Robert Ménard has implemented a policy requiring dogs walking on the main streets to have their DNA on file with the local government, and to carry “dog passports.”
If dog poop is found, the city can test it to determine which dog is responsible, and the owner will be required to pay for the cleanup.
Similar policies have been implemented in other cities, such as Tel Aviv and Valencia, with the aim of tackling the issue of dog faeces in public spaces.
To incentivise dog owners, the city plans to organise free DNA tests for dogs in September.
Ménard first proposed the idea of genetic testing for dogs in 2016, but it was initially rejected by a court due to concerns about personal liberties.
That’s the latest from the Roundup for 5th August 2023.
Brought to you by the Victorian Local Governance Association, with support from Snap Send Solve.
For more listening, we have a bonus episode available now featuring my interview with the mayor of the City of Stirling about that council’s use of AI technology and the arrival later this year of Australia’s first trackless tram.
Check out VLGA Connect in your podcast app for a special episode with a panel discussion on the details of the Operation Sandon report.
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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.