On the Roundup for 29th January 2024,
A councillor’s suspension put on hold by VCAT;
State Government claims of housing supply progress challenged by a Melbourne mayor;
Local government identities recognised with Australia Day honours;
NSW Councils seek rate variations to deal with financial challenges;
A mayor to run for parliament, while an MP quits to run for Council;
A UK council takes a 200M pound hit on a disastrous investment;
and much more local government news from around Australia and beyond.
The Local Government News Roundup is 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.
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Transcript for episode 299:
Wyndham Councillor Jasmine Hill has resumed councillor duties pending an appeal against her suspension by a Councillor Conduct Panel.
Cr Hill was found guilty of serious misconduct, resulting in a four-month suspension commencing last December.
Wyndham TV reports that VCAT deemed it prejudicial for the suspension to continue before the appeal could be heard, which the Roundup understands will occur in May.
Cr Hill has vigorously denied the allegations leading to the suspension.
The State Government says it has made significant progress in clearing a backlog of housing approvals, with 60% of the 1,400 planning permit applications for townhouses or apartments cleared.
This has resulted in the approval of 2,826 new dwellings.
The government is also fast-tracking approvals and repurposing underused land for housing.
An example is transforming a former University of Melbourne campus into a mixed-use development providing about 350 homes.
Additionally, Homes Victoria is developing land for 206 new social and affordable homes.
The mayor of Boroondara, Cr Lisa Hollingsworth has described the government’s figures as “simply disingenuous and misrepresents the facts to cover up their own failures”, according to a report in the Herald Sun.
She said the applications were already well-progressed in the local government system,” and that the state government has not cleared any applications in Boroondara.
Cr Hollingsworth said taking credit for Boroondara’s work is not only misleading, but disrespectful to the hard work put in by applicants, our community and council.
The Bass Coast Post has a story about Bass Coast councillor Les Larke, whom it reports has been abstaining from voting in council meetings without explanation, a move that has raised eyebrows.
His abstentions, which are counted as ‘no’ votes, have been on key issues such as funding for the Bass Coast Dinosaurs Trail and divesting from banks funding fossil fuel projects.
Despite rarely speaking at meetings, not serving on any committees, and not attending community events, Cr Larke continues to participate in council meetings via Zoom.
He has not responded to questions from the Post about his voting history and the tendency to abstain from some key decisions.
A Harry Potter-themed event to be staged in the Briars nature reserve in Mornington Peninsula Shire is going ahead, despite opposition from residents, and concerns from some about the transparency of the decision to proceed.
The shire’s approval came after councillors were asked to sign non-disclosure agreements, sparking criticism from transparency advocates.
The Guardian reports that the non-disclosure agreement was a commercial requirement from Warner Bros and the events company. A Council spokesperson said it was due to the commercial-in-confidence nature of the decision, and was only required for the Council vote in August.
Local government has been well represented in the Australia Day honours list for 2024.
Former three-term mayor and long-term councillor at Hobsons Bay, Angela Altair was awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia.
Others to be recognised with an OAM for service to local government include:
Edward Bartley of Bourke Shire; Janet Clifford, Whitsundays; Robert Grant of Cheltenham SA; Mary-Lou Jarvis, Rose Bay NSW; Winston Johnston, Sunshine Coast; Anna Jones-Speedie, Wodonga; Leo McManus, Claremont WA; Carol Ann Provan of Sutherland Shire, NSW: Peter Reynolds of Bowral; and former Melbourne deputy lord mayor Susan Riley.
Former Brimbank administrator and experienced board chair Peter Lewinsky has been made a Member of the Order of Australia; as has Suzanna Sheed, former parliamentarian and current administrator at Moira Shire Council.
Sydney Council CEO Monica Barone has been awarded the Public Service Medal for outstanding service to the local government sector and Resilient Sydney.
This is by no means an exhaustive list – you can find links to the complete lists of all 1,042 Australians recognised this year in the show notes.
Lithgow Council has expressed disappointment over the National Australia Bank’s (NAB) decision to close its Lithgow branch without consulting residents.
The closure is seen as a blow to the community and economy, particularly impacting those who rely on face-to-face banking services.
Mayor Maree Statham said it was “an insult to our residents”, who have supported the bank through a long and loyal history in Lithgow.
NAB has assured that no existing staff will be unemployed, offering them the option to work from home or relocate to another branch.
Orange Mayor Jason Hamling welcomed Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to Orange as work begins on the new $33.5 million Orange Regional Conservatorium and Planetarium.
The 18-month project will employ local people and contractors, with 500 to 700 individuals working on the project at different times.
The project includes a 275-seat auditorium, a 65-seat planetarium auditorium, 40 practice studios, and other facilities.
The budget for the project is shared between the Australian Government, the NSW Government, and the Orange City Council.
Shoalhaven City Council will today consider lodging a Special Rate Variation (SRV) application due to financial challenges from natural disasters, the COVID pandemic, and investment in new assets.
The proposed SRV options aim to increase investment in asset renewal closer to the Office of Local Government benchmark of 100%.
A community engagement survey received 2,175 responses, with 33.1% supporting a staged SRV implementation over three years; and 468 submissions relating to organisational management, asset management and the affordability of increased rates.
Blayney Shire Council has resolved to apply for a Special Rate Variation (SRV) of 10% per annum for three years.
The decision follows community engagement on the proposal, with key issues raised including affordability, financial impact on farmers, and the importance of maintaining current service levels.
The majority of submissions received were against the proposed SRV.
The council says it plans to advocate for further support from state and federal governments, especially for councils impacted by mining operations and renewable energy.
Upper Hunter Shire Council’s financial situation is the subject of a report today from the Newcastle Herald (I29/1/24)
The Herald says the council will operate with a deficit until 2032 and is considering a special rate variation to deal with a debt of $32M.
The Local Government Minister is said to be monitoring the council’s situation after a petition seeking government intervention was received by the Parliament in December.
Perth Lord Mayor and TV personality, Basil Zempilas, has announced his intention to seek preselection for the WA Liberal Party, aiming to secure the seat of Churchlands, in Perth’s western suburbs.
The seat was lost by the Liberal Party to Labor’s Christine Tonkin in the last election.
ABC News reports that the news follows months of speculation about Mr Zempilas’s political ambitions.
He has been Perth Lord Mayor since 2020, after some years as a high profile radio and television identity.
Labor MP Jim Madden has resigned from parliament with immediate effect to run for Ipswich City Council in the upcoming local government elections, as reported by the Courier Mail.
Madden, who was previously accused of bullying and harassment, will stand for Ipswich City Council’s division four at the March 16 election.
Premier Steven Miles has announced that the by-election to replace Mr Madden will also be held on March 16.
Noosa Council is seeking a meeting with Queensland’s transport minister to address community concerns about the condition of the Cooroy railway bridge and related road network issues.
The situation has become more urgent due to the state’s plan to upgrade the Lake Macdonald Dam, which will increase construction traffic.
The council has also raised safety concerns about two local intersections.
The council is urging for a thorough review of the bridge’s condition and an anticipated timeline for a new bridge.
Shane Eberhardt has been formally appointed as the interim CEO of the City of Launceston council, a decision endorsed by all but one councillor.
Eberhardt, who previously served in the role from November 2023 to January 2024, will resume the position on February 3, following Michael Stretton’s departure for a role at Hobart City Council.
The Advocate reported that the appointment raised questions around the council table about the decision-making process and the delegation of powers to the CEO.
An external agency, LG Services Group, is conducting a nationwide search for a permanent CEO.
Devonport City Council is seeking community feedback on its draft Devonport Events Strategy 2024-2030, aimed at transforming Devonport into a premier regional event destination.
The strategy focuses on creating a conducive environment for high-quality events, developing local event capabilities, and defining the Council’s role in shaping the city’s event landscape.
By 2030, the Council envisions a diverse portfolio of events, including at least one annual signature event. The public consultation will close on February 26, 2024.
NZ’s coalition Government has scrapped the Electoral Legislation Bill, which would have allowed 16-year-olds to vote in council elections.
Local Government Minister Simeon Brown said that supporting the Bill would be a costly distraction for councils, according to a report from 1News.
Critics of the idea have welcomed the decision, arguing that lowering the voting age was a misguided idea.
Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith had previously ruled out lowering the voting age in general elections to 16.
Thurrock council is set to sell solar farms at a loss of around £200m to the taxpayer, following ruinous investments that led to the council’s dire financial situation.
The farms, financed through secretive deals, will be sold for approximately £700m, significantly less than the total owed to the council.
The sale is expected to reduce the council’s debt by over £500m and contribute significantly to its financial recovery.
The Bureau Investigates dot com has more details – link in the show notes.
Council tax for second and empty homes in Brighton and Hove will double from April 2025, a measure unanimously decided by the Brighton & Hove City Council to address housing supply issues.
The BBC reports that the premium tax rate is expected to generate about £2.1m from nearly 1,900 properties.
Cr Gil Williams said the number of people contacting councillors looking for help in finding a home was “heartbreaking”.
Three UK councils, Canterbury, Dover, and Thanet, continue to face disruption to their online services due to a cyberattack.
The incident, which has affected council tax payments and online forms, is under investigation.
Techcrunch dot com reports that initial findings suggested no customer data was accessed, but the Information Commissioner’s Office has received a breach report.
The incident is linked to East Kent Services (EKS), used by all three councils for IT and HR services. EKS’ website and some payment systems remain offline, and the nature of the cyberattack is still unknown.