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