Today on the Roundup,
We look into the Wodonga City Council Municipal Monitor’s Final Report;
What’s in the Federal Budget for local government?;
Melbourne’s new parking plan unveiled, and not everyone is happy about it;
A new report offers suggestions for the local government response to homelessness;
An embattled Sydney mayor set to resign;
The Council accused of having a system of apartheid in its chamber; and
The wash up from local elections in England.
The Local Government News Roundup is brought to you by the Victorian Local Governance Association, the national broadcaster on all things local government.
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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:
We look into the Wodonga City Council Municipal Monitor’s Final Report;
What’s in the Federal Budget for local government?;
Melbourne’s new parking plan unveiled, and not everyone is happy about it;
A new report offers suggestions for the local government response to homelessness;
An embattled Sydney mayor set to resign;
The Council accused of having a system of apartheid in its chamber;
The wash up from local elections in England
And much more ahead in the latest update from the Local Government News Roundup.
Thanks for joining me for today’s podcast – brought to you by the Victorian Local Governance Association.
Here are some of the Victorian council related stories making news in recent days.
The final report on Wodonga City Council from its municipal monitor has been released this week.
Local Government Minister Melissa Horne said the report by Janet Dore noted positive changes in the council’s performance, and while highlighting some areas for improvement, there are no recommendations for further intervention.
Let’s dig a little deeper into the monitor’s final report:
Ms Dore’s appointment commenced in April 2022 and her remit was to monitor governance practices and processes, including meeting procedures and decision-making; councillors’ understanding and performance of their roles and responsibilities; health and safety practices; and the appointment of an ongoing CEO.
The appointment followed the resignation of the Council’s CEO, two councillors, one citing inappropriate behaviour in the chamber; and complaints about alleged councillor conflicts of interest, one of which was formally lodged with the Local Government Inspectorate.
Ms Dore said allegations of conflict of interest and bias pervaded the Council group and the senior executives, having a negative impact on working relationships.
She said despite a number of inferences and allegations raised in discussions with her, there was no new or relevant evidence provided to substantiate the allegations.
Ms Dore describes a discomfort with political party memberships of some Councillors around the time of a stalemate over the mayoral election, and notes that none of the councillors had run on a political platform or declared membership in their interest returns.
The report describes the circumstances leading to the resignation of the former CEO, Mark Dixon, who was said to be aggrieved about the circumstances impelling him to resign. The Minister requested that the Monitor take those concerns into consideration in her report.
As a result, Ms Dore notes the need to protect the role of the chief executive through clear accountabilities of mayors and councillors, allowing the moderation or challenging of councillor behaviours in the moment while protecting the CEO and senior executives.
The monitor has made four recommendations for the Minister’s consideration, relating to stronger authority in the chamber for mayors and CEOs; support for councils to better utilise the governance expertise of a monitor in the Council chamber; assisting councillor to participate in municipal wide decision making notwithstanding ward based structures; and more support for the health and safety of CEOs.
Minister Horne said she has asked LGV to review the recommendations as part of its ongoing work to improve performance and governance in Victorian Councils.
You can read the full monitor’s report by following the link in the show notes for this episode.
Source: Victorian Government Media Release; Wodonga Municipal Monitor Final Report
The Federal Budget handed down last night has been welcomed by the national peak body as a solid investment in local government.
The Australian Local Government Association said Australia’s 537 Councils will share in $3.1B in financial assistance grants over the next 12 months.
However, President Linda Scott said it was disappointing that the government has not delivered on the pre-election promise of fair increases to the grants.
ALGA welcomed $500M in local roads funding, and said it will continue to advocate for a significant increase to the Roads to Recovery Program.
The Local Roads and Community Infrastructure program was not extended in the budget, and will be partially offset by two new urban funding programs – $200M for Thriving Suburbs, and $150M for Urban Precincts and Partnerships – alongside the Growing Regions and Regional Precinct Funds.
Source: Australian Local Government Association
Plans to simplify parking in Melbourne’s CBD have attracted a lot of media attention in recent days, not all of it positive.
The council’s plan will see the introduction of 2 hour paid parking limits, seven days per week, including on Sundays which has been free.
It says hundreds more spaces will be unlocked, there’ll be fifteen minute free parking, and cheaper rates for off-peak times.
Signage will also be simplified to reduce confusion.
The CEO of the Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry is among those expressing concern about the changes.
Paul Guerra told 9News that local businesses will be negatively impacted as parking charges will keep people from coming into the CBD.
However, Lord Mayor Sally Capp said the changes were in response to feedback from traders, who said they want to see more active management of on-street parking and to increase parking turnover.
Source: City of Melbourne; 9News
A Brimbank City Council staff member is attracting attention with a report on how local governments are responding to homelessness in other countries.
Leanne Mitchell, the council’s manager of community strengthening and social planning, was awarded a Churchill Fellowship to investigate the issue in the US, Canada and the UK.
The study trip in 2022 has led to a report with17 suggestions for Australian councils.
Ms Mitchell told ABC News that councils have the opportunity to intervene early and respond nimbly, and capitalise on their community connections.
She recently outlined the key suggestions for improving local government response in an online session which can be viewed on YouTube – I’ve placed the link in the show notes if you’d like to check that out.
Source: ABC News; YouTube -Everybody’s Business Report Launch
A plan for the Borough of Queenscliffe to become the nation’s first 30 kmh municipality is in doubt due to what has been described as overwhelming opposition.
The Bellarine Times reports that a petition of more than 1700 signatories has been tabled opposing the key element of the council’s Active Transport Strategy.
It says the borough’s public consultation processes will be reviewed, after it conceded that it failed to capture community sentiment on the plan.
Councillors and officers will meet with the petition organisers, ahead of the strategy coming to a future council meeting for a final decision.
Source: Bellarine Times
Monthly usage of the Beechworth to Yackandandah Rail Trail is reported to have doubled since the March opening of the Indigo Epic Trail.
Indigo Shire Council says the trail is having a significant impact on visitation and spending in the region, despite the fact that construction of the final stage is yet to be completed.
The council estimates the increase in visitation is generating an economic impact of more than $4M per annum.
Now in today’s Victorian Briefs:
The VLGA has welcomed a new board member. Mike Blake, a former Auditor General of Tasmania, has joined as a co-opted skills based member.
A call for nominations for two elected positions will go out on 12th May, with all councillors at a VLGA member council eligible to nominate and to vote.
Greater Geelong’s newest library has been officially opened.
The $9.15M Boronggook Dysdale Library features an innovative circular design and an amphitheatre; and roofscape that is the first of its kind in the region – it features 4,300 plants providing habitat for birds, bees and butterflies.
Source: Greater Geelong City Council
Greater Bendigo will host a climate summit on the 27th May, with a key focus on how to electrify the city.
Inventor, scientist and author Dr Saul Griffith will be a key speaker, along with Minister Lily D’Ambrosio, a debate on zero emissions in transport and a panel discussion on climate justice.
Bendigo Mayor Andrea Metcalf said everyone is welcome to come along and learn how we can reach zero emissions together by 2030.
Source: Greater Bendigo City Council
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Now for some of the stories making local government news from around Australia this week.
The mayor of Canterbury Bankstown, Khal Asfour, is expected to resign his position this week.
The Sydney Morning Herald reports that councillors were advised on Monday night of the pending resignation, and plans to hold an extraordinary general meeting on Thursday to elect a new mayor.
Mayor Asfour was subject of a parliamentary inquiry, which found his use of expenses were “outside community expectations.”
While some called it a political hatchet job with the expenses in line with Council policy, he ultimately lost his place on the Labor Party’s upper house ticket. Leader Chris Minns at the time said the claims were clearly not acceptable and a distraction.
Mr Asfour said the time is right to step aside, and that he would now be pursuing business interests.
Source: Sydney Morning Herald
Tensions will be high at this week’s Shellharbour City Council meeting, the first since four Labor councillors walked out of the chamber last month claiming that debate was being stifled.
The Illawarra Mercury has reported comments from one of those councillors, Cr Rob Petreski, who said there was a sense of “apartheid” in the chambers – due to a belief that the five independent councillors are using their numbers to vote as a block.
The Mayor, Cr Chris Homer, has described the apartheid claims as “outrageous” and an attempt to create a perception of dysfunctional leadership.
He says this week’s meeting will be “business as usual”, while Cr Petreski has said there will not be a repeat of last month’s walkout, which he said was not planned or premeditated.
Source: Illawarra Mercury, 8-5-23
The City of Newcastle is set to become a pollinator-friendly city – believed to be the first in the country to do so.
The ABC reports that Cr Dr Elizabeth Adamczyk, who is also a lecturer in planning, brought forward a proposal to ensure the city’s rapid growth is managed with pollinating species in mind.
The proposal was unanimously supported by the council.
Dr Adamczyk said biodiversity corridors are broken, and it’s imperative they be reconnected to allow pollinators to thrive.
Similar measures have been trialled successfully in the United Kingdom.
Source: ABC News
A long-term Gold Coast City Councillor is believed to be in the running for LNP preselection to replace outgoing Federal MP Stuart Robert.
The Gold Coast Bulletin reports that Cr Cameron Caldwell is seen as a strong candidate due his strong local connections, and as a long standing member of the Liberal National Party.
If successful, the council would appoint a replacement to serve for the remaining 10 months of the current council term.
Source: Gold Coast Bulletin, 8-5-23
The Mayor of Moreton Bay has stepped up calls for strengthened powers for councils to investigate and manage serious dog attacks.
Mayor Peter Flannery made the comments in a report on news.com.au, in the wake of a concerning trend of recent incidents, some in which young children have been seriously injured.
A state government convened taskforce has been considering strict new measures on dog ownership, with a discussion paper expected to be released for consultation soon.
LGAQ and Councils are calling for the work to progress quickly so that improved safety outcomes can be delivered.
Source: News.com.au
A war of words has broken out between the Lord Mayor of Hobart Anna Reynold, and the Tasmanian Deputy Premier, Michael Ferguson.
Mr Ferguson has described the council as one of the most anti-development in the country, after his government’s decision to fast track an urban renewal project that includes an AFL stadium was criticised by Ms Reynolds.
The Mercury reports that the Lord Mayor’s concerns centre on the project being nominated as a Major Project under state legislation, which means the Council’s planning role will be replaced by an expert panel.
Ms Reynolds has defended the Council’s record, saying 98.5 percent of all development applications since 2018 have been approved, and that the Deputy Premier is throwing around inaccurate and unfair insults.
Source: The Mercury, 8-5-23
Briefly:
There’s a new suburb in the City of Wollongong.
Last week, the suburb of ‘Stream Hill’ was gazetted, formalising the new boundary with Kembla Grange and providing 700 property owners with a new suburb name.
It’s one of a number of suburbs expected to be created in the fast growing West Dapto area.
Source: WaveFM
Meanwhile, five new suburbs have been created in the Caboolture West area of Queensland’s Moreton Bay Council area.
The names of Waraba, Lilywood, Wagtail Grove, Greenstone and Corymbia have been chosen to celebrate Indigenous language, and local wildlife, plants and rocks.
Source: Moreton Bay Regional Council
The Hills Shire in NSW is proposing to name a new sporting complex after the late monarch, Queen Elizabeth II.
Construction on the North Kellyville Reserve is underway and due to be completed by late next year. Mayor Dr Peter Gangemi said the proposal to name it the Queen Elizabeth II Reserve was a fitting local tribute.
Source: The Hills Shire
Now for today’s International Spotlight:
A clear picture has emerged from local government elections in England last week, with the Labour Party now the largest party at the local level for the first time in 21 years.
The Guardian reports that the Labour party gained 632 seats, while the Lib Dems gained 417.
The Tories lost over 960 council seats, losing control of nearly 50 councils – with a small number of results still to be finalised as at Tuesday of this week.
Notably, the Green party has taken majority control of its first UK council with a win in Mid Suffolk.
One election was abandoned due to the death on Friday of one of the candidates. The condition of incumbent conservative South Derbyshire councillor Gillian Lemmon deteriorated rapidly after taking ill just a few days prior to the election.
Source: The Guardian
There was of course another event in the UK on the weekend – the coronation of King Charles III.
The Independent has reported local councils’ spend on coronation events over the long weekend, and says it adds up to more than £3.8M of council funds.
The report is critical of the council spending amidst a cost of living crisis, with many warning of cuts to fund energy price rises and inflationary cost pressures.
It estimates the overall cost to taxpayers for the coronation to be between £50 and £150M.
Source: Independent
A man has been arrested during a Los Angeles City Council meeting – the third such incident this year.
NBC Los Angeles reported that the protester started shouting during a presentation by a Council member on Cinco De Mayo, and the Council President asked officers to remove him from the chamber.
He allegedly injured an officer during the incident, and was found be carrying a concealed dagger on his person.
A spokesperson described the disruption of the meeting as shameful and disrespectful.
Source: NBC Los Angeles
Elswhere in California, the City of Sacramento has deployed an army of sheep in its city parks to help reduce fire risk in a sustainable manner.
800 grazing have been at work since April and being moved through various locations as part of a planned grazing program.
A city spokesperson told CapRadio that the sheep can get into tighter spaces than tractors, produce fewer greenhouse gas emissions, and don’t run the risk of sparking fires.
The program, which is in its third year, started with a mix of sheep and goats – but they’ve found sheep are more effective as they consume more weeds with their larger size and metabolism.
Source: CapRadio.org
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That’s the latest from the Roundup for the 10th May 2023.
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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.
I’ll be back soon with more of the latest local government news. Until next time, thanks for listening, and bye for now.