Minister Gutwein: Local Government Act review tipped to modernise councils

A review of the Local Government Act has been proposed, with an eye to applying a more contemporary framework to the sector as a whole ...... With 2018 marking the 25^th anniversary of the act, Local Government Minister Peter Gutwein said it was “crucial” the legislation governing councils always “reflects and supports” community expectations. ...... “The past quarter of a century has seen significant social, economic and technological changes,” he said. ...... “The role of councils and community expectations have expanded in line with these changes.” ...... Mr Gutwein noted the act had been amended on a number of occasions over the preceding 25 years, responding to “an increasingly changing and dynamic environment”. ...... But he said the state government had formed the view that “continuous, ‘catch-up’ amendments” were neither efficient nor sustainable. ...... The review will seek to ensure greater innovation, flexibility and productivity in local government, less red tape and increased accountability and transparency in the sector. ...... A discussion paper will be released in the coming months.

AND THIS FOLLOWS https://www.examiner.com.au/story/5430766/state-government-must-take-leadership-on-local-government-reform/

"The state government needs to take a larger role in enforcing local government reform, according to two peak business bodies....... Launceston Chamber of Commerce executive officer Neil Grose and Tasmanian Chamber of Commerce and Industry chief executive Michael Bailey said the state government should review its policy of not forcing council amalgamations. ...... However, Local Government Association of Tasmania president Doug Chipman said councils were taking steps to improve efficiency, without merging. AND "Many of Tasmania’s smaller councils do not have the economy of scale to be financially sustainable. Launceston Chamber of Commerce executive officer Neil Grose. 

EDITOR'S NOTES: Ask any Alderperson/Councillor and they'll tell you that their council is an exemplary model of representational governance and amalgamations are not required, not desirable and generally not the way to go. The subtext being i want to keep my allowances.

So with impending council elections the Minister is bound to come out huffing and puffing looking like he wants to do something. It gets the natives excited and they'll seem all the more relaxed once he decides that he cannot really do anything given community attitudes or some such blither.

Quite clearly Tasmania' system of local governance is broken, 21st C irrelevant and way too expensive. It's time to get back to the basics. A councillor, in the capacity of an individual councillor, has the following three key . functions: to represent the community; to act in the best interests of the community; to facilitate communication by the council with the community.

The councillors of a council collectively have the following functions:

(a) to develop and monitor the implementation of strategic plans and budgets;

(b) to determine and monitor the application of policies, plans and programs for –

(i) the efficient and effective provision of services and facilities; and

(ii) the efficient and effective management of assets; and

(iii) the fair and equitable treatment of employees of the council;

(c) to facilitate and encourage the planning and development of the municipal area in the best interests of the community;

(d) to appoint and monitor the performance of the general manager;

(e) to determine and review the council's resource allocation and expenditure activities;

(f) to monitor the manner in which services are provided by the council.

So, looking around in a population of  a mere half a million in the 21st C, where can the number of competent people be found to adequately acquit themselves to fulfill these function and who would 'pass the pub test'? 

With 29 councils the seats around the tables are as often as not filled by lazy seat warmers, never-wassers, chancers, rent-seekers, virtue-signallers and various other reprobates. Taking all this into account there is a bit for the Minister to think about but will he?

There is something like a $2Billion expenditure committed to councils and given current outcomes the question needs to be asked .... ARE TASMANIANS GETTING VALUE FOR MONEY?

Martene J Notcher

THE EXAMINER AND SMOOTHED OVER VANDALISM

Popular sculpture the Tasmanian tableau will be reassembled in Civic Square before redevelopment is completed in the square. ..... The tableau was created by prominent Tasmanian sculptor Stephen Walker and is an attraction for both children and adults.  ..... RELATED STORY: Stephen Walker’s lasting mark on Civic Square  ..... Walker’s tableau was moved to make way for the redevelopment of Civic Square.  ..... Its elements, a family of Tasmanian tigers, a wedge-tailed eagle and some cassowaries ...

[Black Currawong, Strepera fuliginosa! AKA canaries]...were separated as part of its removal.  ..... However, City of Launceston general manager Michael Stretton said the art installation would be reinstated “in a prominent position” in the north-east part of the square.  ..... “The sculpture will be located at the entrance to the square and, combined with the large new play space in the square, we think it will continue to be popular with children,” Mr Stretton said.  ..... “We're also taking the opportunity to restore and replace some elements of the sculpture that have been damaged over the years.”  ..... Stephen Walker was one of Tasmania’s most prolific sculptors.  ..... His artwork is dotted around the state and the country.  ..... “The City of Launceston has had a collaborative and productive relationship with Mr Walker's estate, and we've been working with them on the final placement of the sculpture,” Mr Stretton said.  ..... Walker died in 2014.

EDITOR"S NOTE:  If it's in THE EXAMINER you know that it is dead right and the absolute last word on the subject – and very often it is the truth too! This missive sets out to let everyone know what's going on but what it is not saying is quite a bit more than interesting. 

The GM is attempting to smooth over a stuff-up in the planning process – albeit one that he inherited from his predecessor and/or the alderpeople collectively. Quite simply, it is clear that the current arrangement – this week's arrangement – of the sculptures is what was planned for in the redevelopment. Trouble is you cannot change an artist's work without consultation and approval. Once the artist's family found out about how the work was installed the council started 'working with them on the final placement of the sculpture"and here we are sweeping the dust under the carpet.

That'd all be OK unless Alderman Finlay – mayoral candidate – hadn't surreptitiously confirmed that there are indeed costs involved in all this despite councils vehement denial. It seems that she holds the deluded belief that if something – almost anything it seems – is costing more than you originally imagined, and if you have to spend that money on something that you hadn't planned for, that something costs 'nothing' – well sort of. 

Worryingly it seems that all the alderpeople bought that bit of silly spin. Ratepayers are smarter than that!

Now that the spin is out and it is being thoroughly debunked, the rumour mill around council is speculating about where their $20K/$30K/$40K for this or that went to at the end of the financial year. Just possibly from out of the proverbial 'hollow log' and to this cause given that there might be some cause for 'electoral embarrassment'. 

The  alderpeople who spruiked their business acumen should be hanging their heads in shame or in hiding somewhere. Instead of making good a stuff up, Ald. Finlay's savings might have been better spent on something like solar panels thus ultimately saving ratepayers money. 

As Kev Carmody says "from little things big things grow'" Here we can see how if you let little 'porkies' go they can grow and grow and grow! Anyway it seems that there is a hollow log in Civic Square with less in it – possibly nothing at all!

BRING ON THE ELECTION AND KEEP ON KEEPING THEM ACCOUNTABLE