Quick Bits: Townsville shutdown; Griffith GM; Christchurch protestors; UK Council funding boost

News

Townsville City Council has ceased all normal operations across its services, facilities and venues on Thursday and Friday of this week due to the expected impacts of Tropical Cyclone Kirrily.

The decision, based on advice from the Bureau of Meteorology, will impact scheduled bin collections and residents have been urged to secure their bins so that they don’t become a danger to the community.

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Brett Stonestreet, General Manager of Griffith City Council, has had his contract renewed for another year, extending his term until August 21, 2025.

Mr Stonestreet aims to guide the Council’s transition through the first year of the 2024/25 budget, manage the impact of the Water Amendment Act 2023, and provide the opportunity for the next Council to appoint a General Manager for a longer term commencing August 22, 2025.

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Christchurch City Council has voted to consider a bid for a future Commonwealth Games despite protests and concerns about potential financial and environmental impacts.

The Otago Daily Times reported that a group of about 20 protesters crashed this week’s council meeting, arguing that hosting the Games would be financially irresponsible and increase greenhouse emissions.

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UK Councils have been given six months to produce new ‘productivity plans’ for the government as part of the terms of additional funding announced.

They have also been warned to consider whether diversity programs are value for money, according to a report from the Local Government Chronicle.

The communities secretary, Michael Gove, confirmed that social care authorities will share an additional £500m in 2024-25, with a further £100m to be spent on increasing the rural services delivery grant and raising the funding guarantee to 4%.

More on the next edition of the Local Government News Roundup, Australia’s number 1 podcast for local government news.