President of the Municipal Association of Victoria (MAV), Councillor Dick Gross, said that Local Government is working in collaboration with the State Government to reform business practices and harness greater efficiencies.
Speaking at the MAV’s recent Annual Conference he said, “It is clear that this reform process is happening with us, not to us.”
Some 250 delegates representing 72 councils heard from a range of speakers including a video linkup presentation from the Canadian Shadow Minister for Health, Dr Carolyn Bennett.
Dr Bennett said that the key objectives of good governance are being fair, transparent and taking people seriously.
“There is no point asking residents if you have already decided what you want to do,” she said. “Ask people what is wrong, listen and then together prepare a plan. Report back so people know that they have been heard.”
In what she described as ‘democracy between elections’, Dr Bennett said that it is vital to provide a public space where people are comfortable to discuss their ideas.
“The web is new and an important space for such discussions,” she said. “People don’t want to govern but they do want to be heard.”
Victorian Minister for Local Government, Richard Wynne, said it is key that Local Government is seen as a distinct level of government, and that councils elections on
29 November – where for the first time all elections will be on the same date – will assist this.
He said the joint program between State and Local Government – Councils Reforming Business – aims to reduce red tape, lower costs and improve service delivery.
MAV’s Top Teams has been adapted from a UK program that brings elected members and management teams together to work as one.
Member of the Top Teams reference group, Councillor Bruce Wilson, told delegates that this program assists in reducing the gap and misunderstandings between a council’s two key teams and helps to build mutual respect and trust within Council.
“Managers and Councillors may not necessarily have chosen to work together but both have a joint desire to deliver for their community,” Councillor Wilson said.
He said that it is vital that management and Councillors are all agreed on the following:
• council’s vision and strategy
• community engagement process
• performance management
• roles and responsibilities.
Two councils, Nillumbik on Melbourne’s northeastern fringe and West Wimmera in Victoria’s western district, are currently piloting the Top Teams program.
Nillumbik CEO, Bill Forrest, said that you can’t get enough of good governance.
“Bad governance is very debilitating and can hang around for many years,” he said.
