Member Councils of the Municipal Association of Victoria (MAV) overwhelmingly endorsed changes to the MAV Rules at a Special State Council meeting held on 28 February. The key feature of the reforms was the introduction of a 12 (plus the President) member Board.
This allows each member of the Board to represent one of the 12 regions across the State. Before the Rules Review, the MAV had an eight member (plus President) Board. Other amendments to the Rules include an internally elected Deputy President, the option of postal voting, and a more democratic quota for future Rule changes.
MAV President, Brad Matheson, said the new rules were designed to increase participation of members in MAV activities and to make that participation easier.
“The new Rules recognise the regional groupings that have emerged around the State and the enormous capacity of these regional groupings,” he said.“They allow the MAV to connect with the power of these regional groups and enfranchise each individual member Council to influence the direction of their peak body, the MAV.”
Councillors from the 76 member Councils will now have enhanced and expanded opportunities for participation in MAV activities.
“Importantly, the new rules define the responsibilities of Board members to liaise with member Councils in their regions as a direct link through to the strategic direction and priorities for the MAV,” Brad Matheson said.
The new MAV Rules will now be sent for approval to the Governor-in-Council who will give effect to the new Rules by signing-off on the changes as required under the MAV Act 1907. This process is expected to take between one and three months. Once the new Rules are gazetted, the current Board becomes an interim Board as the next elections will be under the new regional governance structure.
The President and Vice President will continue in their roles during the period of the interim Board. A date for the elections and the annual meeting is to be set for mid year.
At the first meeting after the Rules are operational the interim Board will declare the regions, as decided by the members in the consultation process that was run parallel to the MAV Draft Rules Review. The members will be formally notified of the regions and the elections will be conducted on a regional basis as required under the new Rules.
For further information contact Sarah Jones at the MAV on (03) 9667 5569 or email sjones@mav.asn.au
