The Department of Local Government in Western Australia is currently developing Key Performance Indicators for Local Government.
While Councils are required to develop and publish performance objectives and indicators under the Local Government Act (1995), the great diversity of Local Government has meant it is difficult to compare this data.
To overcome this difficulty, the Department is creating a set of common core objectives and indicators.
Manager Information and Statistics with the Department, Neil Woods, explained that by developing models for statistical information Councils will be able to compare their performance in those areas which constitute a principal activity for them.
“We are not trying to come up with something common to all Local Governments but trying to develop models that Councils can use if that principal activity applies to them,” he said.
“Under this system, instead of merely trying to find another Council similar to themselves, a Council will be able to identify a principal activity they have in common with another Council and then compare their respective data.”
To ensure the success of this project, Councils have been involved in the process from the start. The Project is being overseen by the Local Government Statistics Committee. This comprises representatives from the Australian Bureau of Statistics, the Western Australian Municipal Association, and the Institute of Municipal Management.
For further information contact Neil Woods, telephone (08) 9222 0511.
