In a break with tradition, this year the New South Wales Division of the Institute of Municipal Management held its Annual Conference outside of Sydney. Running from 3-5 August, the selection of Coffs Harbour as the venue proved a very successful and popular move.
“As well as having economic benefits for the local region, there has been great feedback on the standard and atmosphere of the conference,” said IMM President, Gerry Brus.
“There has been a very participatory feel to the conference thanks to the efforts of the organising committee and Coffs Harbour City Council.”
She said the balance of Council managers, experts and motivational speakers worked very well.
“A number of papers were presented by General Managers,” Gerry Brus said.
“This is extremely helpful for younger members who can hear first hand how problems and challenges are being dealt with.
“Delegates are listening to people who are hands on, not only hearing the theory.”
Pointing out the critical differences between the private and public sectors, Peter Black, General Manager at Marrickville City Council said that the complexities, challenges, contradictions and conflicts that are a fact of life in Local Government are not recognised in management text books.
“Public expectations, the greater range of stake holders, political accountability, running free of charge and subsidised services, the very public decision making process, and legal status of Council, are just some of the factors that differentiate Local Government from the private sector,” Peter Black said.
General Manager of Blacktown Council, Ian Reynolds said that as a service industry it is vital that all staff view customer service as a vital part of their job.
“Partnership between the front and back office is paramount,” he said.
“With customer service centres there is a risk that some staff may believe that customer service is solely the responsibility of these officers.
“Performance in one area of Council is critical to all other areas. Everyone must be a customer service officer.”
In the final session of the conference, ABC Broadcaster, Peter Couchman, hosted a panel session that honed in on some of the complexities and contradictions that are part and parcel of Local Government.
Acknowledging that Local Government is ‘not just about business but is also about politics’, he asked can a General Manager or Chief Executive Officer then apply the same managerial principles as the private sector.
He also posed the question for panellists and delegates, ‘what happens when good business decisions run up against good politics?’
