Coming up today on the Local Government News Roundup, for Friday 22nd March 2024:
- A councillor walk out leaves a Council meeting without a quorum
- A council’s call for more collaboration and transparency on Melbourne’s Suburban Rail Loop project
- A new federal inquiry into the financial sustainability of local government
- A council’s push to declare all meetings between councillors and local resident groups
- The performance of Queensland’s electoral commission under fire as complaints pile up from the weekend’s council elections
- The staggering cost to fix the parlous state of local roads across England
- A group of mayors shining a light on the importance of Councils to a community’s health and wellbeing
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 315:
Victorian Roundup:
A meeting of Gannawarra Shire Council was adjourned this week after two councillors walked out, leaving the meeting without a quorum.
The walkout by Crs Keith Link and Garner Smith occurred during a debate about the allocation of an additional $842,000 from the council’s capital works budget for the $3.07 million project “The Glasshouse @ The Gannawarra”.
Mayor Ross Stanton said the actions of the two councillors were in contradiction of the Councillor Code of Conduct and the oath of office, and the council’s Governance Rules provided legitimate ways that they could have expressed opposition to the motion in question.
An unscheduled meeting will take place next week to deal with the outstanding matters on the agenda.
The Regional Cities Victoria (RCV) advocacy group has this week called or at least 25% of all Commonwealth infrastructure funding allocated to Victoria to be spent on initiatives and projects outside Melbourne.
RCV Chair and Greater Shepparton Mayor Shane Sali said regional Victoria, home to one in four Victorians, needs investment for long-term economic prosperity and improved community infrastructure.
The RCV acknowledges the Albanese Government’s $1 billion allocation for regional Australia but feels regional Victoria is disadvantaged by competitive schemes that require co-contributions from the Victorian Government, which are inaccessible to regional councils.
Cr Sali said Regional Victorians shouldn’t be denied their share of funding from the Albanese Government simply because Victoria abolished its Regional Jobs and Infrastructure Fund.
Bayside City Council is seeking greater transparency and collaboration on the Suburban Rail Loop Cheltenham Precinct’s draft vision, citing concerns about increased housing density, building heights, and traffic.
Mayor Fiona Stitfold says Bayside, along with Kingston City Council, is committed to working with the Suburban Rail Loop to ensure community collaboration.
But she says there is a lack of detail and rationale in the draft precinct vision to be able to provide meaningful feedback.
The council is also calling for replacement open space to compensate for the loss at Sir William Fry Reserve due to the new station.
Wyndham City Council has clarified that $36.16 million in developer contributions for Point Cook were not overlooked or missing, but have always been included in the council budget.
The Star Weekly reported that questions arose after a social media post by Cr Susan McIntyre, in which she said the money had been unlocked after an investigation by council officers.
The money, accumulated over 20 years, resulted from factors such as VicRoads funding some road upgrades, projects not proceeding due to insufficient land or immovable underground pipelines, and projects coming in under budget.
The council can use the funds for any type of infrastructure in Point Cook, and is currently considering which community and infrastructure projects to allocate the money to.
South Gippsland Shire Council has this week reappointed its CEO Kerryn Ellis for a further five year term.
Ms Ellis was appointed to the position in early 2020 and led the council through its return to elected representation in 2021 after a period of administration.
Mayor Clare Williams said this week that the council was united in its support for the reappointment, noting Ms Ellis’s strong leadership and dedication to helping set a clear and positive direction for the council and the community.
Hobsons Bay City Council is pushing for the 134-year-old historic Newport rail workshop in Melbourne’s west to be listed on the UNESCO World Heritage List, describing it as one of the world’s most significant railway heritage sites.
The Age reported that the council has voted to request an update to the site’s conservation management plan and is urging VicTrack to work with Heritage Victoria and rail groups to secure the listing.
The site, which includes unique heritage buildings and manufacturing equipment from 100 years ago, has been under heritage protection since 1994.
The Echuca Moama Flood Study Report, a result of over five years of research and consultation, has been endorsed by the Campaspe Shire Council.
The report, which includes community feedback and state-of-the-art computer modelling of past flood events, will be presented to the Murray River Council for approval.
Once approved, it will lead to the commencement of the Echuca Moama Flood Risk Management Plan, investigating flood mitigation options and warning systems for future management.
The City of Greater Bendigo council is set to respond to a community petition received in December calling for reconsideration of plans in its Community Aquatic Facilities Strategy to transition Bendigo East Swimming Pool to a non-heated, seasonal pool.
The council will consider a recommendation that the strategy remain unchanged.
The strategy, which guides planning and decision-making for the city’s pools over the next decade, sets out priority projects, including limiting the duplication of services.
Victorian Briefs:
Victoria’s Legislative Council will hold a session at the Echuca Library next month, providing an opportunity for local residents to gain insight into the parliamentary system and for parliamentarians to connect with regional Victoria.
The event is the result of a successful submission by the Campaspe Shire Council to host the session, allowing MPs to engage with the community in the wake of the 2022 floods.
The planning permit for Kingston’s new aquatic and leisure centre has been approved, marking a significant step towards the project’s commencement.
The design, influenced by over 6,500 community submissions, is progressing, with a construction contractor to be engaged this year.
Hume City has received a visit this week from the Netherlands Ambassador to discuss advancements in the city’s drive to become the nation’s first urban circular municipality.
Initiatives to extend the life cycle of products, promote sustainability and create economic growth were discussed, as well as potential business opportunities between the two countries.
Interview:
Later this morning, four women mayors in Melbourne’s inner south-east will walk together across municipal boundaries to highlight the important role councils play in community health and wellbeing.
Glen Eira Mayor Cr Anne-Marie Cade, Kingston Mayor Cr Jenna Davey-Burns, Bayside Mayor Cr Fiona Stitfold, and Port Philip Mayor Cr Heather Cunsolo will be joined by member for Goldstein Zoe Daniel and representatives from community groups and wellbeing organisations.
I have Cr Anne-Marie Cade, Mayor of Glen Eira with me now.
National Roundup:
The House of Representatives Standing Committee on Regional Development, Infrastructure and Transport is launching an inquiry into local government sustainability in Australia.
The Committee aims to understand local government financial sustainability, funding frameworks, and changing infrastructure requirements.
It will also examine labour hire and retention trends to identify barriers and opportunities to support the local workforce.
Submissions from interested organisations and individuals are welcomed until 3 May 2024.
ALGA President Cr Linda Scott welcomed the inquiry, and said it was encouraging that the changing infrastructure and service delivery obligations of local government have been recognised and included in the inquiry’s terms of reference.
She said “ALGA looks forward to presenting to the Inquiry on the challenges Australian local governments are facing, and how we can work collaboratively to set councils and our communities up for success.”
The Local Government Association of Queensland (LGAQ) said it hoped the inquiry will address the issue of cost-shifting onto councils.
LGAQ’s research found that councils are forced to cover a $360 million shortfall annually, a 378% increase over the past two decades, resulting in councils providing services outside their core responsibilities, such as running post offices and aged care facilities.
NSW:
Sydney’s Woollahra Council is considering a proposal to require councillors to disclose all meetings with local resident groups, in an effort to maintain integrity and transparency in local decision-making processes.
The Daily Telegraph reports that four councillors have put forward a proposal that would also establish a publicly available register listing every meeting a councillor has with local resident associations.
The move is said to be aimed at addressing potential undue influence from well-resourced and vocal community organisations.
RSPCA NSW has offered to transfer the Mort Street Animal Care Facility to the Blue Mountains City Council for $1, including a 20-year covenant to maintain its use as a local animal care and rehoming shelter.
The decision follows months of discussions and is part of a strategic shift for RSPCA NSW to focus more on preventing cruelty and educating pet owners.
The council is expected to formally endorse the offer at a meeting to be held next week.
Orange City Council was forced to spend $30,000 on security during a free entry period at the Orange Aquatic Centre, with lifeguards facing death threats and abusive behavior.
ABC News has reported that the number of patrons more than doubled during the free entry period, but 250 people were ejected for bad behavior.
A report to the council has found the number of patrons who took up the free entry would have generated $210,000.
The council will decide later this year whether to offer free entry next summer.
QLD:
Criticism of the Queensland electoral commission’s performance at local government elections last week is becoming more widespread.
ABC News has reported on complaints that hundreds of people were turned away from voting due to long queues and ballot shortages.
The commission will not guarantee that these voters will avoid fines.
Bundaberg MP Tom Smith has described the commission’s conduct as outrageous and has complained to the Premier.
Attorney-General Yvette D’Ath said there will be an external review, and she expects the issues to be resolved before the state election in October.
While most of the results of the Queensland local government elections have become known, one mayoral race will likely not be determined until next week.
In Mackay, incumbent mayor Greg Williamson is currently leading against challenger Steve Jackson.
As of late yesterday, the Council Mail reported that Williamson holds 41.91% of the votes, with Jackson trailing at 38.6%.
The final results are expected to be announced on March 26.
National Briefs:
Advance Rockhampton has launched the Explore Rockhampton Accessible Tourism Campaign to assist local tourism operators in becoming inclusive to the needs of travellers with disabilities.
The campaign aims to improve the visitor experience for all travellers and to tap into the significant market of travellers with disabilities, who along with their travelling parties, contribute $10.8 billion to Australia’s tourism revenue annually.
Outdated bus services in Mt Gambier may get an overdue update, after positive discussions between the council’s Mayor and CEO and the state’s transport minister.
The Mount Gambier Messenger reported this week that the minister, Tom Koutsantonis has committed to discuss improvement options to address lengthy wait times and a lack of routes to residential growth areas.
Byron Shire Council has approved the dual naming of two landmarks, Cape Byron and Julian Rocks, which will also be known by their traditional Aboriginal names ‘Walgun’ and ‘Nguthungulli’ respectively.
The move acknowledges the cultural significance of the sites and the ongoing connection of the Arakwal people to the land.
SA:
South Australians are being invited to participate in shaping their community’s future as councils prepare to consult on draft annual business plans.
The consultation is an opportunity for residents to voice their opinions on how rates revenue is spent on local projects and services.
The councils aim to ensure that future planning and infrastructure needs reflect the views of their community and local businesses.
The annual business plans will be adopted between 1 June and 15 August 2024.
WA:
The Town of Bassendean councillors have agreed to discuss potential boundary changes with the City of Swan.
PerthNow reported that the proposed changes aim to better address the communities and suburbs that align more with Bassendean.
Suburbs such as Guildford, South Guildford, Midland, Kiara, and Lockridge could potentially be incorporated into Bassendean due to similar demographics, urban density, and activity.
Any changes will need approval from the Local Government Advisory Board.
The City of Vincent has joined the effort to protect trees on private properties, with the central suburbs council unanimously voting to prioritize planning controls for tree protection.
The council will also advocate for greater tree protection to the WA Planning Commission and Planning Minister John Carey.
However, PerthNow reports that concerns have been raised about potential disadvantages to developers due to future regulations.
Despite previous failed attempts by other cities to increase tree canopy coverage, Planning Minister Carey has expressed support for proposals that enhance urban tree canopy.
International Spotlight:
UK:
Despite council spending of £143.5m to fill in two million potholes, the condition of the local road network in England and Wales continues to decline.
The website localgov dot co uk reported this week on the Asphalt Industry Alliance’s annual ALARM survey, which reveals that less than half of all local roads are in good structural condition, with the remaining 53% having less than 15 years of structural life left if not maintained.
The AIA estimates that £16.3bn is needed to address the backlog of carriageway repairs and bring the network up to a maintainable standard.
In Newcastle City alone, the increase in potholes on local roads has been described as astronomical, with an estimated £185M needed to fix them.
A Hastings Borough Council meeting was cancelled after it had barely begun due to a protest within the chamber.
Protestors had called for the meeting to hear a motion on a ceasefire in Gaza, which was not granted.
BBC News reported that the meeting was adjourned by Labour mayor Margi O’Callaghan, after her call for the protestors to leave was ignored.
It was the last full meeting of the council before elections in May.
Coventry City Council has apologized for sending out 109,000 leaflets with the incorrect date for a forthcoming election.
The leaflets, which cost £4,200, stated the election would be on 2 May 2023, which is the correct day and month, but not the right year.
The council confirmed to BBC News that the error was a typo and that all other information in the leaflet was correct.
The correct date has been published in other communications.
EUROPE:
The City of Amsterdam has initiated a new “Stay Away” campaign to deter nuisance tourists, particularly from the UK, Italy, Spain, and France.
The campaign includes a questionnaire aimed at making potential visitors reconsider their intentions.
The questionnaire, which is already live for British tourists, will soon be available in Italian, Spanish, French, and Dutch.
The campaign, funded by the Ministry of Justice and Security and the municipality of Amsterdam, will run until the end of 2024.
USA:
Local governments in Pennsylvania are seeking more funding to combat increasing cybersecurity threats, according to a report from Spotlight PA.
Despite a proposed $25 million in federal funding, officials argue it’s insufficient due to rising technology updates, insurance rates, and artificial intelligence costs.
Cybersecurity spending has tripled over the last four years due to the evolving threat landscape.
Recent cyberattacks on public utilities underscore the urgent need for more resources.
However, sustaining the costs of ongoing cybersecurity efforts remains a challenge, and there’s no dedicated state funding to assist municipalities with these costs.
The city of Chicago has sued Glock, accusing the gun maker of knowingly selling pistols that can easily be converted into illegal machine guns.
Reuters news agency reported that the lawsuit claims that Glock has been aware for years that an inexpensive piece called an auto sear can convert its pistols into fully automatic weapons.
The city is seeking a court order to prevent Glock from selling easily modifiable pistols to the public and to force the company to take action to prevent its pistols from being possessed or sold.
The lawsuit also demands damages and an order for Glock to relinquish its profits from the sale of the pistols.
Longtime Des Peres City Administrator Doug Harms has retired after nearly 40 years in the role, following a period of medical leave.
72 year old Harms, who has been integral to many city developments, said it was a difficult decision to walk away after 39 years, but it was the right time.
He was the longest active tenured city administrator in the state of Missouri.
The Webster Kirkwood Times reported that during his tenure, Harms attended over 1,300 official board meetings, and worked with five mayors and 36 board of aldermen members.