In each edition we feature the views of a Local Government Association president. The following is from Councillor Beth Davidson, President of the Victorian Local Governance Association (VLGA).
With the VLGA’s surveys showing that more than 50 per cent of Victorian Councillors will not restand at the November elections, we are concerned by such a massive ‘brain drain’. However, as the glass is always half full, this also presents significant opportunities. I believe that if we are appropriately resourced and supported, we can enter a new era with smart, flexible local leaders emerging.
Newly elected Councillors will be under immediate pressure to sign off on a four year Council Plan within their first six months. The VLGA, Local Government leaders and the State Government are readying the sector for this challenge, by working together to deliver the most extensive package of governance, fiduciary and land use training ever seen in Victoria.
New approaches to training will be needed to guarantee the success of this exciting investment. Old approaches where Councillors sit in large lecture theatres passively receiving ‘facts’ from corporate ‘experts’ will not give local leaders what they need for the future.
A contemporary approach with a mix of online training, peer facilitators and technical advisers with practical governance experience will be needed.
One thing is certain as we head towards Local Government elections, there will be the usual tabloid coverage of ‘Councillors behaving badly’. That’s part of democracy playing itself out and we should not have kneejerk reactions.
However, to ensure good governance gets an early kick start, our approach to training must be supportive rather than punitive. After all, it’s better to invest early to guard against things going wrong. The costs of waiting after things have allegedly gone wrong and putting all our eggs in the more punitive approach of Conduct Panels or the like are too high.
The VLGA is excited about recent developments such as the launch of the Local Government Leadership and Learning Centre (LGLLC).
We are also optimistic that by working with the State Government and the sector, we can deliver the best resourced and most relevant governance, fiduciary and land use training ever seen in Victoria.
Local communities and newly elected Councillors will both be the winners from this approach.
