The very nature of our democratic system ensures all spheres of government regularly face their electorate. For Councils, the inevitability of end of term is often predetermined. Most Local Government Acts specify an exact date, such as the third Saturday in March every three years. This inevitability of end of tenure must be very much in the minds of our elected representatives. It is for this reason the priority that is actually given to long term planning needs to be questioned.
Elected representatives for all spheres of government understand the importance of long term planning for the ongoing prosperity and wellbeing of the community they serve. At the same time, they are just as aware that in just a few short years their constituents will want to see tangible runs on the board. This balancing of long term planning with short term results is a major issue facing all governments.
Add to this the fact that, as we rapidly move towards the new millennium, people are very open to embracing new ideas and approaches. This willingness by the community to take up and run with a ‘brave new future’ is unlikely to stop dead in its tracks on 1 January 2000, rather it is predicted to continue well into the next century.
Voters undoubtedly will endorse those elected representatives they believe can deliver the brave new future they seek. Speaking at the recent 9th National Local Government Engineering Conference, keynote speaker David Rhodes said that all governments need to be asking, ‘Do people want more things or more happiness?’
He said that courage and creativity is needed by governments to develop the social capital that makes people happy. Alongside this, people are becoming more attuned to sustainability. That is, meeting today’s needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs.
David Rhodes believes that an enormous pressure is on governments, through decision making and forward planning, to ensure we do live within our limits.
Describing the last 100 years as our most consumptive era, he said that all communities need to look at what we have learned and decide, ‘What do we want to take with us into the next millennium and what do we want to leave behind?’
Delivering the community’s current aspirations and, at the same time, projecting ahead to shape the community we want in 15, 20 or even 50 years time is a major challenge for all governments. Not the least of these is local Councils, closest to the people and responsible for providing many of the basic necessities of life. Moreover, it is Councils that are best placed to facilitate and drive a range of community development initiatives.
