After much debate and a number of false starts it would seem that structural reform is about to commence in Western Australia (WA).
The second-term Barnett Government has committed to soon produce a plan for the structural reform of metropolitan councils.
Likely within weeks rather than months, the framework is expected to set out to reduce the number of metropolitan Councils from 30 to between 15 and 20.
However reform of the sector has to be more than simply reducing the number of councils to a predetermined target.
It is anticipated that the consolidation in metropolitan councils will result in local governments with the sufficient scale to meet the expanding scope demanded by contemporary society.
Local Government across the nation and certainly in WA is nothing like what it was 50 or even 20 years ago.
The impacts of changing demographics, cost shifting by other sectors, higher expectations from the community and the availability of more agile service models requires Local Government to adapt.
As the community requires more of their councils, it is necessary for Local Government to have the economies of scale and scope to cater for expanding services and more fragmented customer segments.
In WA the reform process will provide the opportunity to establish financially robust local governments that can move beyond the traditional core functions of road maintenance and rubbish collection to adapt and align with the changing needs of society.
If properly supported by both the State Government and the affected councils, metropolitan reform in WA could position Local Government with a sound foundation and structure to meet future demands.
It could also create an environment of greater cooperation and collaboration between the State and Local spheres.
The conflict between the State and Local Government almost always comes back to resource limitations.
A more cooperative approach will not create additional resources but it would better align both sectors’ objectives so that the available resources are not being spread between competing interests.
Greater alignment of strategic objectives at the macro level would be expected to eventuate in greater synergies between local governments and departments in key deliverables.
In effect, the energy and work put in at the start of the process would translate to greater ease in implementation for local governments and higher compliance levels for State departments.
The implementation of the reform framework for the metropolitan area should enable the State Government and councils to commence this strategic conversation.
